AP's Question

[shm_helene]

Sorry, I'm sure this has been brought up many times I did a short search but I wanted to see if I'm making sense...I'm trying to figure out the cheapest way to get an AP.

$600 of the price will be paid for using the giftcards from Target when they were 10% off and 5% cb on Discover (it bounced back when I tried to purchase more).

I figured the cheapest way would be to use UnderCover Tourist (via MouseSavers) or ParkSavers and upgrade at the park after 1st day use. I also know that through eBates I get 1% cashback for UT and then the regular old 1% on my CC.

Then, I went to Disney's site and pulled the cost of the AP to calculate how much it would be if I bought more giftcards via BJ's or Sam's (whichever is cheapest) and added in the 5% CB on Discover for wholesale clubs.

It looks like it will be slightly cheaper to go direct through Disney (by about $15 over 4 people so not dramatic). Am I missing something???

Notes: I know some have not been given gate price and had to pay the differential between UT price and AP.; I know UT/ParkSavers prices do change but I'm basing it off of today's prices. I live in PA so I can't do the Kroger's thing.

 

[Judique]

Sorry, I'm sure this has been brought up many times I did a short search but I wanted to see if I'm making sense...I'm trying to figure out the cheapest way to get an AP.

$600 of the price will be paid for using the giftcards from Target when they were 10% off and 5% cb on Discover (it bounced back when I tried to purchase more).

I figured the cheapest way would be to use UnderCover Tourist (via MouseSavers) or ParkSavers and upgrade at the park after 1st day use. I also know that through eBates I get 1% cashback for UT and then the regular old 1% on my CC.

Then, I went to Disney's site and pulled the cost of the AP to calculate how much it would be if I bought more giftcards via BJ's or Sam's (whichever is cheapest) and added in the 5% CB on Discover for wholesale clubs.

It looks like it will be slightly cheaper to go direct through Disney (by about $15 over 4 people so not dramatic). Am I missing something???

Notes: I know some have not been given gate price and had to pay the differential between UT price and AP.; I know UT/ParkSavers prices do change but I'm basing it off of today's prices. I live in PA so I can't do the Kroger's thing.

The only extra note I would say is are you sure you are looking at Disney with tax?

I usually do UT and then upgrade to an AP at Disney using my gift cards.

But in each case you have to do your own math to see what the savings are. In my case I don't have a cash back Discover card so that's a nice little chunk right there.

If you are not happy with the calculation when you go to a ticket window or guest relations, you can always walk away and try another site, or ask a question. I've not had a problem - usually they bridge exactly as I expect them to do. I'm always doing this at the International gateway booths at Epcot.

 

[afan]

The only extra note I would say is are you sure you are looking at Disney with tax?

I usually do UT and then upgrade to an AP at Disney using my gift cards.

But in each case you have to do your own math to see what the savings are. In my case I don't have a cash back Discover card so that's a nice little chunk right there.

If you are not happy with the calculation when you go to a ticket window or guest relations, you can always walk away and try another site, or ask a question. I've not had a problem - usually they bridge exactly as I expect them to do. I'm always doing this at the International gateway booths at Epcot.

Sorry to hijack but it is related. I'm going for 9 park days in November and want to get an AP because I'll go again in the next calendar year. With ticket prices generally going up in Feb I want to get tickets now before the increase and while I may still be able to get some type of sale deal through UT, Tickets at Work or elsewhere. I know my best money savings will most likely be tickets for less than 9 days especially if there are any buy x days get x days deals. Where I start to get confused is how to figure out which is the best savings.

I think I need to compare tickets with taxes so it's apples to apples and I'm looking for the one that has the highest difference to get the most savings. Then I take the Disney park ticket price and subtract that from the AP price to see what it should cost me to bridge the discounted ticket. Do I include tax when I do this last part? This is where it starts to get fuzzy to me because I've never seen it totally written out and this last part never says if I should be looking at the tax or not.

I also know I won't be able to get fp for the whole trip if I buy a shorter ticket but the last 4-5 days of the trip I'll be solo so it won't be a huge deal if I can't book the fp until after I upgrade on the first day.

 

[Judique]

Sorry to hijack but it is related. I'm going for 9 park days in November and want to get an AP because I'll go again in the next calendar year. With ticket prices generally going up in Feb I want to get tickets now before the increase and while I may still be able to get some type of sale deal through UT, Tickets at Work or elsewhere. I know my best money savings will most likely be tickets for less than 9 days especially if there are any buy x days get x days deals. Where I start to get confused is how to figure out which is the best savings.

I think I need to compare tickets with taxes so it's apples to apples and I'm looking for the one that has the highest difference to get the most savings. Then I take the Disney park ticket price and subtract that from the AP price to see what it should cost me to bridge the discounted ticket. Do I include tax when I do this last part? This is where it starts to get fuzzy to me because I've never seen it totally written out and this last part never says if I should be looking at the tax or not.

I also know I won't be able to get fp for the whole trip if I buy a shorter ticket but the last 4-5 days of the trip I'll be solo so it won't be a huge deal if I can't book the fp until after I upgrade on the first day.

My experience is with upgrading the Undercover Tourist tickets only. Tax is already in this price so when I compare to the Disney price I make sure I have a Disney price with tax.

Then I glance at UT's little 'you are saving' column and I still do the math myself and try to get the best one at the lowest cost. I'm going to get 5% (at least) off doing the upgrade by also paying with discounted Disney gift cards. I figure this out to the $ value before I hit the ticket booth so I am not confused if their numbers are different than mine. So far, their numbers have matched mine.

Now, next week I'm going to upgrade a 7 day hopper from a deal from a few years ago. There are now extenuating circumstances as I can't exactly remember what I paid so I'll be making the decision right at the window as to whether it is worth it or if I should buy new. For us, we do get the DVC AP so cheaper to begin with.

 

[shm_helene]

The only extra note I would say is are you sure you are looking at Disney with tax?

I usually do UT and then upgrade to an AP at Disney using my gift cards.

But in each case you have to do your own math to see what the savings are. In my case I don't have a cash back Discover card so that's a nice little chunk right there.

If you are not happy with the calculation when you go to a ticket window or guest relations, you can always walk away and try another site, or ask a question. I've not had a problem - usually they bridge exactly as I expect them to do. I'm always doing this at the International gateway booths at Epcot.

Yup, I'm looking with tax Thank you though!

 

[razsav]

My experience is with upgrading the Undercover Tourist tickets only. Tax is already in this price so when I compare to the Disney price I make sure I have a Disney price with tax.

Then I glance at UT's little 'you are saving' column and I still do the math myself and try to get the best one at the lowest cost. I'm going to get 5% (at least) off doing the upgrade by also paying with discounted Disney gift cards. I figure this out to the $ value before I hit the ticket booth so I am not confused if their numbers are different than mine. So far, their numbers have matched mine.

Now, next week I'm going to upgrade a 7 day hopper from a deal from a few years ago. There are now extenuating circumstances as I can't exactly remember what I paid so I'll be making the decision right at the window as to whether it is worth it or if I should buy new. For us, we do get the DVC AP so cheaper to begin with.

If you log into Undercover Tourist, it will show you what you paid for the ticket. I just did this last month at Disney. I upgraded kid's tickets and adult tickets to an AP using the DVC discount for a Premium AP. I recommend doing this at guest services and just forgetting the ticket counter. It's really YMMV at the ticket counter. They specifically said at guest services that you pay for the upgrade with current Disney prices and they don't penalize you for purchasing the tickets at a discount. There's a thread on "ticket bridging" that's very detailed on this forum.

 

[Judique]

If you log into Undercover Tourist, it will show you what you paid for the ticket. I just did this last month at Disney. I upgraded kid's tickets and adult tickets to an AP using the DVC discount for a Premium AP. I recommend doing this at guest services and just forgetting the ticket counter. It's really YMMV at the ticket counter. They specifically said at guest services that you pay for the upgrade with current Disney prices and they don't penalize you for purchasing the tickets at a discount. There's a thread on "ticket bridging" that's very detailed on this forum.

Yes, no problem with what I paid for a ticket at UT. It was the United deal I can't remember what I paid and I couldn't find my email.