AP Question - Someone PLEASE HELP!

[Kanga1]

Please, someone inform me about AP rates! I REALLY want to stay at the Contemporary, but am currently have a package booked at CBR for May 26- June 4. Would an AP save me money? Do I have to have purchased an AP BEFORE the rates come out? I am SO out of my league here!!! I already have a package booked through AAA that is costing roughly $2,600. (PHP and no meals.) Do you think there's ANY way I can get into the CR for roughly that amount...or a little more?

ANY and ALL help is appreciated!!

 

[JennyMominRI]

Please, someone inform me about AP rates! I REALLY want to stay at the Contemporary, but am currently have a package booked at CBR for May 26- June 4. Would an AP save me money? Do I have to have purchased an AP BEFORE the rates come out? I am SO out of my league here!!! I already have a package booked through AAA that is costing roughly $2,600. (PHP and no meals.) Do you think there's ANY way I can get into the CR for roughly that amount...or a little more?

ANY and ALL help is appreciated!!

It depends on whether or not codes come out... If you look at WWW.Mousesavers.com they will tell you all about the codes etc.

 

[ciera321]

If you are staying 9 nights, you might be better off with an AP. I an including AP rates for last year at the same time so you can check the different hotels. You do NOT have to have an AP when you make a reservation, but have one at the time of check in, in case the CM asks....

WDW Annual Passholders can get special discounted rates for check-ins 4/18/04-7/4/04. So far the following rate has been reported:
• Value Resorts - $59
• Moderates - $74 standard, $89 preferred
• Ft. Wilderness Cabin - $155
• Animal Kingdom Lodge - $124 standard, $145 pool view, $200 savannah view, $365 concierge
• Wilderness Lodge - $124 standard, $139 woods view, $175 courtyard view
• Contemporary - $149 standard view garden wing
• Beach/Yacht Club - $214 standard, $280 water view
• Polynesian - $229 garden view, $315 lagoon view
• Grand Floridian - $340 lagoon view report.php?p=7246773report.php?p=7246773

 

[Minky]

Hi,

I will try and help as best I can....Ok, first, you do not need to have an AP before they come out or even when they do, you just need to have one in your hand when you check in. From what I recall ap rates for wing rooms fluctuate between 125 and 199 a nite depending on season, and the tower is somewhere around 250 a nite. I dont know how many of you are travelling, and what your package includes, so I dont know what would worl best. I can tell you that you can get the AP rate with a childs AP, which is cheaper. So if you were to break it down to a room only res. in the wings you could pull it off, but the tower with the discount youre looking at 2000 plus tax. Its a huge savings over rack rate, but I dont know how much you want to spend. The CR is my favorite resort, but the CB is gorgeous too, you will love either one I promise.
Minky

 

[Eyore4Ever149]

codes for May and June typically are not announced until February. If you made your reservation through AAA (vrs calling Disney and saying you are a AAA member) you may or may not be able to change your reservation. If you purchased a package you need to call and ask what their cancellation policy is.
If an AP code comes out, you will need to book directly through Disney. You only need 1 AP to get the discount- everyone else can have tickets. Please note there are places to purchase discount tickets.

An AP costs $420 this year, renewal of $370 I believe.

 

[WDW LOVR]

You're better off with an AP when all the costs (room, tickets, food - discounts either the AP or a DDE purchased if you own an AP) are cheaper than without.

The arguement that you need to be going a certain number of days before an AP makes sense doesn't make sense to me.

Example: If you are going stay on site for 4 nights and visit the parks for 5 days and the AP costs $200 more than a regular admission ticket, but a AP discount code comes out that will save you more than $50/night, the AP is worth it regardless of the number of days at the park. If you consider discounts for food, one way or another (AP or DDE) you could save enough money in food discounts themselves to justify the AP.

We've reserved a room that we could afford using AAA or rack rates and then upgraded to a Deluxe when the AP rates come out. Like the earlier poster stated, keep checking Mousesavers or this forum board and if/when an AP code comes out, call and change your reservation. Then buy the AP so you have it at checkin and you're all set.

 

[fam4jc]

The other benefit to an AP is being able to purchase the DDE card at $50. For a nine night trip, a 20% savings on food would be BIG. My suggestion would be to cancel your package; rebook through Disney on a AAA discount (10 to 15% off rack) than watch the boards for news of AP codes for your dates. AS SOON AS THEY ARE RELEASED, call and wait on hold until you can apply the code to your current reservation. Once you have applied the code, then you purchase the AP in enough time for it to be shipped to you before you leave. I think AP holders can get a discount for park tickets purchased on site... Anyone know more about that? I am new and haven't gotten my Mickey Monitor or any other info yet. JMHO. Whatever you do, you will have fun!

 

[chipmunkfan]

Thank you fam4jc for some good advice. Yesterday I booked the package through WDW but was getting rack rates..no disc. I called WDW, cancelled my package and just booked the room through WDW using my AAA disc. I saved about $200. The CM said it was also better this way because if I do upgrade to an AP and a disc code comes out I will be eligible. Doing it the other way I would not have been eligible. It's so confusing...thanks to the DISer's to make it clear! What's strange is when I received a quote from my local AAA, they gave me the same price as the WDW package, no disc. I think I prefer dealing w/ WDW directly!