AP vs MYW quandry

[Carys]

(Sorry for the long post in advance - you can probably tell how confused I'm getting myself!)

Hi everyone, I hope this is the right board to post my question on - it's a bit of a mix between tickets/resorts/dining...I've been reading through the posts alot, so I hope I'm not inadvertantly repeating a common question.

I'm going to WDW for my first time ever in December, twice. The first time I'm staying at POP by myself for 6 nights, and the second time at POP for 4 nights with my elder sister. (As you can see in my ticker graphics ) Currently, I've booked through the WDW website for rack rates, MYW park tickets and the dining package, with a $200 deposit down on each stay. The total cost of both holidays for me, and my sister and I, is $2311.

At first I was just so excited about going to Disney, I thought ANY price was a good price Now after fanatically reading these forums for the past couple of weeks, my (distant) scottish ancestry is kicking in and I'm pondering whether I'm getting the best deal I can.

The MYWplus 7 day ticket for the first stay is $285, and the combined cost of our MYW parkhopping 4 day tickets is around $470, for a total of $755.

Having heard the term 'AP discount' so often on resort rates though, I decided to crunch a few numbers, and if I buy an AP for myself (421) , and pay for a 4 day ticket for my sister (235) , then the cost of park tickets would decrease by $99 to $656.

Also, looking at the dining plan, I'm wondering whether the DDE card would be of more value to me, as I'm not much of a red meat fan (which seem to be the highest prices and thus the best value for the dining plan) and 6 solo table service meals might be a bit of a bore, speaking as someone who doesn't know what to expect.

Plus, there's the tantalising prospect that if I DO shift to an AP, I might even end up with discounted rates on the rooms. SO..here are my questions, to those of you kind people who have yet to fall asleep,

1. Am I likely to get AP discounts at this stage on rooms at POP on either Dec8-Dec14, or Dec26-30, or both?
2. Does it seem that the money I might save ($99 on park tickets, $AP discounts on rooms, unwanted mealplan TS meals) would be worthwhile, or am I missing something that really reduces the difference to peanuts?
3. Am I being silly by making this complicated for myself and should I lump my Scroogey self back into a cage?
4. If I decide to change, do I unmake my bookings and rebook from scratch, or will disney switch it for me if I stay up to an ungodly hour and call the CRO from NZ, or should I find myself a travel agent and let them magically make it all happen for me? I'm not used to using TAs but I'm beginning to see possible benefits Oh, and would I need to unbook the current bookings (made by myself through the WDW website) to get a TA to help, or would they still get their commission if they did all the changing for me?

I'm so confuzzled

Thanks anyone who is kind enough to reply - even if someone knows a link to a thread that might help, or could suggest a TA (by pm) who could answer my questions, that would be great

 

[cobbler]

Welcome! Your trips will be fun.

As for your questions there is a possiblity of AP rates for your first trip but not for your second trip. They don't discount during holiday season. And if you have read recently the only way to get the discount is through the best rate program in which you need an activated AP or the voucher in hand to do so. You run a risk of them not being avail for your exact dates at your resort so if you are flexible for your first trip then fine.

2 - Don't forget that DDE costs $50 for the Annual passholder and you would save 20% on your sitdown meals. It is accepted at a few counter service places - like POP - but not in the parks except Animal Kingdom. So you will have to be doing the sit down meals anyway.

IF you don't like the dining plan you might be better off going the 10 day MYW non expire for you and getting your sister whatever ticket she needs, maybe forgo the package and just book everything ala carte, room, tickets and then worry about your meals later.

4 - If you decide to switch you will have to cancel what you currently have and rebook. Again your second trip there won't be any discounts for AP room so you may want to keep that package as is unless you go ahead and do the above where I mentioned doing everything seperate.

HTH some!

 

[CTdiznymom]

Carys, I am sure you and your sister are looking forward to your trip(s). I took a peek at the Best Rate site for you and for Dec.8-14 a standard room at the Pop is $394.80. Preferred is an additional $80.28. I wasn't able to find any availability at a value for you for the 26th-30. Hope this helps. It can be so confusing. Have you tried getting a AAA rate at all?

 

[Carys]

Thanks for your replies, Cobbler and CTdiznymom! I found both replies very helpful and I might stick with what I have - it sounds like there's potential for headaches if I try the route of switcharama, and since my dates aren't very flexible (they fit with non-refundable international air tickets and my sister's work schedule) it sounds 'safer' to keep the bookings I have.

2 - Don't forget that DDE costs $50 for the Annual passholder and you would save 20% on your sitdown meals. It is accepted at a few counter service places - like POP - but not in the parks except Animal Kingdom. So you will have to be doing the sit down meals anyway.

Eeps! I didn't pick up on that at all, I need to start reading the details more carefully! That would have caused me a series of hiccups in my carefully laid plans Thanks for the heads-up

Have you tried getting a AAA rate at all?

Being from New Zealand, I'm a member of the NZAA (NZ Automobile Association). I know we have reciprocal agreements with alot of overseas associations, including the AAA, but I don't know whether it extends to Disney discounts.

I read a thread about symbols on the back of UK association cards that were valid, but our symbol was different again (The letters A I T each in their own circle, the circles interlinked like olympic rings, with a larger circle surrounding all three circles, all in black and white.) So I don't know whether I'm eligible for the discount or not.

Thanks again for the help