AP rates in June -vs- December

[PennyHM]

I am sure I know the answer to this question already but I want to ask anyway LOL (just in case).

When are AP rates lower, June or December? Specifically the first full week of June and the week after C'Mas.

I am trying to plan our next couple of trips.

Thanks.

 

[CarolMN]

To the best of my knowledge, there have never been AP rates offered for the week after Christmas.

Historically, AP rates have not been offered in October, November or December. Last year was the only exception that I can recall. (Even last year, AP rates were not offered for arrivals between Christmas and New Year's Day). No one knows what will happen this year.

 

[PennyHM]

Thanks .. that helps with my planning. We have free Radisson nights and I think I'll use those in Dec. and stay onsite next month. Thanks again!!

 

[Momto8]

You might want to rethink your plans. The week after Christmas is the most crowded time at WDW. It is better to stay on site even if you don't have a discount, because their parking lots can reach capacity and they close the parks to outside guests. I've gone twice the week after Christmas and seen where they were only allowing resort guests into the parks several times during the week.

CarolMN is correct in that they usually don't offer AP discounts from Oct-Dec, but I have gotten DC discounts in early Dec. Last year they offered AP discounts through 12/25 and if you checked in by this date, they would carry your discount thru your entire stay. I had discounts at POR for 12/25 for 6 nights for $89/night, which is a great rate for this time. But this was the exception due to low attendance from 9/11. In 1998, we had to pay about $169 for the same room with no discount for the same tiime. What happens this year remains to be seen. We ended up cancelling POR and going to Universal instead.

Good luck with your plans whatever you decide.

 

[PennyHM]

Can not rethink plans as that is when DH gets his December vacation. That can't be changed and I am planning to get APs so that is when we'd want to go again. So, are you saying that any one that is not a resort guest will get booted out of the parks early? What is normal closing time anyway?

 

[sandy3550]

I think what momof8 means, although I could be mistaken, is that on some days (especially around holidays) the parks close & they will not allow people into the parks because of capacity limits, as early as 11:00am. On-site guests, from what I understand, are allowed, but off-site guests are turned away. Someone else know for sure?
Sandy

 

[PennyHM]

Here are my options. Stay onsite next month (AKL for 143.19 per night including tax) and stay offsite in December (Radisson). Stay offsite in June (free nights at Radisson) and onsite in December (probably the value resorts because we probably will not have as much $ then LOL). What would you do?!

 

[Momto8]

PennyHM, When I said you might want to rethink your plans, I didn't mean to change the dates. What I meant was it might be wiser to stay onsite Christmas week and offsite for your June trip. We too cannot go in the off season because of taking the kids out of school and end up going in June and the week after Christmas. We expect crowds and are prepared for it at Christmas. June is also crowded, especially toward the end of the month, but not nearly as bad as Christmas week. Sorry for not being a little clearer in what I was saying.

No, you will not be asked to leave once you are in the parks. If the parks close early, they will close it to outside guests that haven't already entered the park. They will still allow Disney resort guests in by bus or monorail. If it gets too full, they will not even allow resort guests, but I don't know if this has ever happened. If you leave the park in the middle of the day, you run the risk of not being able to return later because they have closed it to outside guests. If this happens, I've seen them redirect guests to other parks that are still open. Don't know if all the parks were closed at the same time.

If it were me, I would make sure I stayed onsite during Christmas week, but that is JMHO. If you decide to stay onsite for Christmas, I advise you to book the AS now as they fill up quickly for this time. I've had trouble booking AS for that time and have ended up at the moderates because they were already booked. Keep reading the DIS boards and check out Mousesavers.com and hope for discounts. If they have them, they probably will only go through 12/25 the latest if we're lucky. I'm planning on going also that time, so I need to call myself.

 

[CarolMN]

As long as you get to the park EARLY, you will get in, even if you stay off site. If you leave the park, you MAY be refused re-entry if the park has reached capacity. (This last may be true for WDW resort guests as well. See comments below).

It is true that as a park approaches capacity, off site guests are refused entrance before WDW resort guests are refused. At some point, all guests may be refused entrance.

My understanding is that resort guests are guaranteed entrance to a park, but not necessarily to a park of their choice. For example, if the MK is at capacity, resort guests will be directed to one of the other parks.

Again, if you stay off site during the week between Christmas and New Year's Day, just plan to be at the parks 30 - 60 minutes ahead of the scheduled opening.

Enjoy your trips!