AP7 Rate????

[Hound 109]

I am trying to decide whether or not we should get APs and one of the considerations will be how much we can save on lodging - can someone explain what these different levels (AP4, AP6, AP7, etc.) mean?
Thanks!

The AP(4,5,6,7 etc.) rates are down & dirty rates offered to AP holders during slower times w/ limited availability. The number just means that 7 is after 6 (AP6 was the last time it was offered in LATE spring).

Last fall, the AP 4 (or was it AP5?) was available from Sept thru Dec. (with blackout dates). It was the reason I got an AP (for myself....rest of the family got regular tickets). I got the PP Concierge for $169 per night for two nights & saved probably $150-$170 over regular discounted room rates.

Buying the AP has saved me money (we'll be taking our third mini trip of the year in late Sept or Nov)....staying on-site gives me MM (since with an AP I wouldn't get MM unless i stay on-site). Booking an AP 7 when it comes out will give me the best of all worlds. (Assuming the "deal" is good).

 

[bethy]

I booked the hojo just in case for our october trip..... if the ap7 opens up I am there.. If not I have a back up!

Yes, normally that would be a great option for us. But since this is a special belated 10th anniversary and our first trip away EVER without kids then we just can't bear to do anything other than the GCH. I plan on spending much of our time at the hotel. So I will even pay rack rates if absolutely necessary. But normally we'd never pay those prices. I'm watching availability and it's looking quite good, thank goodness!

 

[TahoeMom]

The AP(4,5,6,7 etc.) rates are down & dirty rates offered to AP holders during slower times w/ limited availability...

Thanks for the explanation! I had not even thought about the possibility of only buying an AP for just one of us -that makes a lot of sense! We definitely want to stay onsite - at either GCH or DH - offsite just isn't the same for us! Since we will be there in early October it sounds like an AP might get us a really good rate!

 

[Hound 109]

Thanks for the explanation! I had not even thought about the possibility of only buying an AP for just one of us -that makes a lot of sense! We definitely want to stay onsite - at either GCH or DH - offsite just isn't the same for us! Since we will be there in early October it sounds like an AP might get us a really good rate!

I didn't know we'd go 3 times (in 12 mos.) when i bought it, but figured if i went twice it would easily pay for itself (with the park savings & hotel savings). As it turns out, I should have gotten one for DS 9 (Padewan Alec) too.... since I'll likely end up buying him (on 3 trips) a 2 day, a 2 day & a 3 day parkhopper.

Also, i paid the out of state $259 for my AP (which makes sense since i'm out of state) but am glad i have the $259 version since the cheaper SoCal AP has far more blackout days (& would have caused challenges for my scheduling).

 

[TahoeMom]

I didn't know we'd go 3 times (in 12 mos.) when i bought it, but figured if i went twice it would easily pay for itself (with the park savings & hotel savings). As it turns out, I should have gotten one for DS 9 (Padewan Alec) too.... since I'll likely end up buying him (on 3 trips) a 2 day, a 2 day & a 3 day parkhopper.

Also, i paid the out of state $259 for my AP (which makes sense since i'm out of state) but am glad i have the $259 version since the cheaper SoCal AP has far more blackout days (& would have caused challenges for my scheduling).

I probably will only go once in 12 mos. but we will go for 5 days and stay 6 nights onsite so it may still be worth it for me.

 

[bethy]

I probably will only go once in 12 mos. but we will go for 5 days and stay 6 nights onsite so it may still be worth it for me.

It would definitely be worth one AP for your family. Also if you want to go every year then just plan on going a week or more earlier next year and you can use the same AP again one more time. That's what we do. So we go every 51 weeks or so.

 

[DizMe]

So is it best to get the AP now? We were planning on getting 5-day hoppers for our trip in Oct (5 of us) and I was going to upgrade mine to an AP if the good rates came out. Now I'm wondering if I should get an AP now?

 

[CoolPool]

So is it best to get the AP now? We were planning on getting 5-day hoppers for our trip in Oct (5 of us) and I was going to upgrade mine to an AP if the good rates came out. Now I'm wondering if I should get an AP now?

You don't have to have the AP until you check-in. My experience on all 5 trips in the last year was that they DID ask to see it at check-in. Some people park the car at the hotel, run to the ticket booth to buy it and then return to the hotel to do check-in.

In fact, if there is an AP7 rate for your trip, then you can book the hotel and add an AP to your reservation. (That's how I did last year.) The reservation desk then issues your AP voucher on the spot when you check-in which is as easy as it comes.

 

[TahoeMom]

In fact, if there is an AP7 rate for your trip, then you can book the hotel and add an AP to your reservation. (That's how I did last year.) The reservation desk then issues your AP voucher on the spot when you check-in which is as easy as it comes.

So where do we look to see if and when the AP7 rate is made available?

 

[DizMe]

You don't have to have the AP until you check-in. My experience on all 5 trips in the last year was that they DID ask to see it at check-in. Some people park the car at the hotel, run to the ticket booth to buy it and then return to the hotel to do check-in.

In fact, if there is an AP7 rate for your trip, then you can book the hotel and add an AP to your reservation. (That's how I did last year.) The reservation desk then issues your AP voucher on the spot when you check-in which is as easy as it comes.

Thanks so much, CoolPool!!!

 

[kaity230]

So where do we look to see if and when the AP7 rate is made available?

If you don't already have an AP then you cannot access the AP website which will announce it but someone on here should announce it and then you just call the regular number for ressies and request the rate. If you already have an AP just use the AP section of disneyland.com and check it frequently

 

[amyamya]

You don't have to have the AP until you check-in. My experience on all 5 trips in the last year was that they DID ask to see it at check-in. Some people park the car at the hotel, run to the ticket booth to buy it and then return to the hotel to do check-in.

Actually, you have to go to will call, get a pass to go in the park, go to the Main Street Bank and get your AP and then check in. I called and asked. Depending on crowds, it could take awhile. I am thinking of buying it online a little while before we go to avoid having to do all that right when we get to the park...anyone have tips for buying it online or do you just get a temporary pass in the mail and then have to do everything as mentioned above?

 

[CoolPool]

Actually, you have to go to will call, get a pass to go in the park, go to City Hall and get your AP and then check in. I called and asked. Depending on crowds, it could take awhile. I am thinking of buying it online a little while before we go to avoid having to do all that right when we get to the park...anyone have tips for buying it online or do you just get a temporary pass in the mail and then have to do everything as mentioned above?

Just to be clear: my experience was I booked an AP4 hotel room at DLH last August. I did not posses an AP at all in advance, but I added one AP to my reservation. The front desk clerk checked us in and gave me my AP voucher to turn into "true" AP during my stay at the Bank. That was all I needed to check-in using an AP4 rate.

I understand that other people (I'm a SoCal resident) do things differently due to cost incentives to get the AP separately.

 

[Lynzer Torte]

DH bought his online & was able to print off a voucher that he showed the hotel upon check-in. Then we headed to the bank on Main Street and he redeemed it for his real AP.

 

[amyamya]

DH bought his online & was able to print off a voucher that he showed the hotel upon check-in. Then we headed to the bank on Main Street and he redeemed it for his real AP.

Thanks! This is what I plan to do. The difference is you pay upfront, but that is not a big deal...

 

[lillibet123]

Now that the other rate seems like a no-go for most people has anyone heard anymore about a fall AP rate?

 

[kaity230]

Now that the other rate seems like a no-go for most people has anyone heard anymore about a fall AP rate?

No - and we let our AP's expire until our next trip so I can't even obsessively check the site! I'm relying on you DIS'ers for information