AP Questions

[LifeIsTinkIsLife]

I bought my trip package online from the DLR website, and bought 6 day PH and the hotel. The total came out to $781 (I think). DBF and I want to upgrade to AP's once we use our MM. DBF is very hesitant and wants to get Deluxe passes, but I want to get Premiums because the majority of the time we are able to go is over the weekend, and DAP's are blocked on a lot of weekends. Anyway, I was wandering how much 6 day PH's are worth so we know how much we will have to pay to upgrade them. I saw online that they are on sale for $215 when they are originally $259. I have another question but it's been like half an hour since I started writing this so I forgot!

 

[sonnyjane]

The Deluxe is blocked on a lot of Saturdays, but not Sundays, and it's also not every weekend (http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...me=AnnualPassholderDeluxeBlockoutCalendarPage).

I have a premium, but I drive to the park for day trips and enjoy having the included parking. Looking back on it, I kind of wish I would have just got a Deluxe with parking instead of a Premium to save roughly $60, but then again I do like having the extra 5% on food and 10% merchandise discounts that aren't available with the Deluxe. If you think you'd be making mostly weekend trips, then the Premium would be worth it to get in on both days, but since I can go on weekdays most of the time, I probably didn't need it.

I can't help you with the price of the 6 day PH, though. Sorry!

 

[LifeIsTinkIsLife]

Yeah, we only go on weekends most of the time because we have work and school during the week, so it would be more worth it to get the PAP's. That sounds like fun though, I would love to be able to go at random times during the week!

 

[bumbershoot]

They value they used was the prepurchase price (not any specials, but the normal prepurchase) of a ticket when we upgraded.

 

[pixiewings71]

Ya, the ticket will be "coded" with what you paid so when you upgrade they will know what to credit you. Unfortunately I don't know if there is a way for you to know that without being there and asking.
You know how I feel, I think Premium is definitely the way to go! Especially now with the Deluxe APs being blacked out most Saturdays. When we had our Deluxe's a couple years ago we only had to deal with blacked Saturdays June-July so it wasn't that bad, but they've definitely changed that.......When/if we get APs again they will be Premiums....

 

[LifeIsTinkIsLife]

They value they used was the prepurchase price (not any specials, but the normal prepurchase) of a ticket when we upgraded.

That is what I was thinking, and if that's the case we won't have to pay that much more.

Ya, the ticket will be "coded" with what you paid so when you upgrade they will know what to credit you. Unfortunately I don't know if there is a way for you to know that without being there and asking.
You know how I feel, I think Premium is definitely the way to go! Especially now with the Deluxe APs being blacked out most Saturdays. When we had our Deluxe's a couple years ago we only had to deal with blacked Saturdays June-July so it wasn't that bad, but they've definitely changed that.......When/if we get APs again they will be Premiums....

Yeah I think Premium's are the best thing we could get. Because then we only have to pay for hotel and we get discounts on stuff. OH! That's what my other question was. What kind of discounts do you get? Like if one night at PPH costs $249 for the theme park view, how much would it be with the passes? What about food? Do Good Neighbor hotels have an AP discount?

If I had to compromise with DBF, would it be a good idea for us to get one PAP and one DAP? Then when we go we only have to pay ONE $45 fee and we still have parking, discounts and whatever? At the moment I haven't brought it up to him, but I thought it might make him feel a little bit better since we will only have to pay (as far as I know) $230 for one DAP and one PAP. ALSO, we decided not to do the Segway Tour because we want to save moneys. It's ok with me, we are probably going to do it when we go in April for our real anniversary.

 

[sonnyjane]

That is what I was thinking, and if that's the case we won't have to pay that much more.



Yeah I think Premium's are the best thing we could get. Because then we only have to pay for hotel and we get discounts on stuff. OH! That's what my other question was. What kind of discounts do you get? Like if one night at PPH costs $249 for the theme park view, how much would it be with the passes? What about food? Do Good Neighbor hotels have an AP discount?

If I had to compromise with DBF, would it be a good idea for us to get one PAP and one DAP? Then when we go we only have to pay ONE $45 fee and we still have parking, discounts and whatever? At the moment I haven't brought it up to him, but I thought it might make him feel a little bit better since we will only have to pay (as far as I know) $230 for one DAP and one PAP. ALSO, we decided not to do the Segway Tour because we want to save moneys. It's ok with me, we are probably going to do it when we go in April for our real anniversary.

Once you get your AP, you will have access to the AP site and can look up the AP hotel rates. There is no magical formula, so I couldn't tell you, and sometimes it's not even cheaper - for example right now, the Winter and Spring sale rates are better than the AP rate. DAP's (and SoCal AP's) get 10% off food (some places require a $10 min.). PAP's get 15% off food (same min.) AND 10% off of merchandise at a lot of stores in DL/DCA/DTD. The other AP levels do not get merchandise discounts unless it's a special promotion.

As far as getting one PAP and one DAP, I wouldn't. Think about it - if you do that just three days, you should have just got a PAP since the difference between the two is $140. (3x$45=$138). So, if you think you'll go to DL on three days that are blocked out, it's worth it to get the PAP.

 

[pixiewings71]

You could do 1 and 1 but I wouldn't. Because if you go on a blocked day you'll have to pay extra for a block out pass, just spend the money now, it's worth it. As for the AP rates, sometimes they are really great, sometimes they are not. It's really a gamble. But honestly, I'd go with 2 PAPs and go from there. The only Good Neighbor Hotel that has an AP discount is the HoJo, I believe it's 20%, we only used it once, all our other stays there were at the Ent Rate.

 

[aznshrek88]

I was just surfing and came across your thread; I'm not active on these board, but I thought i"d pitch in. So it really comes down to how often you go and when. I had a PAP for 2 years running and I thought it was totally worth it. Given each year I visited about 13-15 times a year divide that by the new price of 429? or something and it's not that bad. You do need to factor in when your going if you get one DAP/PAP because the DAP might get blocked out and the block out tix are expensive. I liked the PAP because of free parking, though I know you can add it to the DAP. You get something like 10%/15% off food and merchandise at select locations too. (No carts, mostly dine in or fast counter service). I really took advantage of rainy days as well; those are like a goldmine to me. NO LINES whatsoever and every ride is open; most of them are. You just cycle through as many times as you want. Mainly factor in:

1) Days you are going to go
2) If you need parking
3) Food Discounts

I noticed when I used my pass; my trips turned into more half day trips on slower days to avoid lines and feel more relaxed. Instead of running the gauntlet of 8-8 or whatever 3-day PH's need to do the parks, my friends and I always relaxed and hit the things we specifically wanted to do. Hopefully this helps your debate. I would recommend getting at least one PAP/DAP depending on your $$$$ alone because of the food discounts; it truly does add up and works in parts of DTD.