AP Room Discount vs. DVC Discount

[kristenrice]

I'm looking WAAAAY ahead to June 2012 to help my dad plan for our extended-family trip to WDW. We will be a party of 14 (plus possibly an infant by then) and he is planning on (2) 2BR at OKW.

If we were booking with this year's prices, the AP discount would save us about $450 over the DVC Member discount. So, are these discounts both generally available? If so, I would advise my dad to buy (pay for) a DVC AP for me or DH so that we could book the AP rate. Since he was planning on buying a 6-day park hopper anyways, the added cost would still be a couple hundred dollars less than the savings so it would be justified. We would also be able to buy a TiW card too which would help defray *some* of our dining expenses. (*Note that we will NOT be dining as a group of 14!)

I advised him to look at buying some or all of the park passes before the prices go up in August. (I know that this is only speculation, but it is a fairly safe assumption.) That brings me to my next question....We currently have AP's that expire June 7. After that, we could get a voucher and not activate it yet, correct? I just do not want to end up with a renewal that will expire before our trip.

TIA!

 

[mountdew1]

If we were booking with this year's prices, the AP discount would save us about $450 over the DVC Member discount. So, are these discounts both generally available?

A discount of some shape is usually available. The amount and form can vary widely. Some times they may offer free dining only, others they may offer anything from a 20% to 50% off of rooms, or buy X get Y days free deal. However, there is no guarantee that these will be offered, or if they will be offered for the room type at the hotel you want. Recent comments from Disney management indicate that fewer discounts will be offered in the future. So they may smaller discounts, more package breaks, or nothing at all.

 

[Sandisw]

The only issue I would see is that the AP rates don't always come out until a few months before travel.

With a group that big, I would assume you would want to book in advance and may find that nothing has been released.

The good news is, however, that you can always try to book through MS, with your guaranteed 25% discount (providing availability, of course) and then if an AP rate comes out that is better, regardless of when, you can always try to switch.

And, if I am not mistaken, you can book with the AP rate without having the AP when you call. You simply need it when you check in so there will be time to get one!

 

[BrettS]

I advised him to look at buying some or all of the park passes before the prices go up in August. (I know that this is only speculation, but it is a fairly safe assumption.)

As long as he can act quickly then he probably doesn't need to purchase park passes immediately. The price increase is normally announced 2 days before they go into effect (they announce on a Friday and take effect on a Sunday). As long as you or your father keeps a close eye on the boards here you should be able to see when (or if) the prices are going to go up and buy your tickets on Friday or Saturday. Also, if he is going to purchase them ahead of time there's no reason not to use a discounter like Undercover Tourist to save a bit more money. Be sure he uses the mousesavers discount.