Booking room and activating AP

[sandiegoDeva]

Hi,

We are planning on taking our son to Disneyland for his fourth birthday in October. We are planning to purchase annual passes (we live in San Diego), and stay at the Disneyland Resort.

From what I understand, the "clock starts ticking" on your pass the first day you go to Disneyland and activate it, not when you purchase the pass. Is this correct? Also, we would like to take advantage of the AP discount at the hotel. I am wondering if we can get the discount if the pass has been purchased, but not activated. (By the time we actually get to the hotel we will have activated them, but not at the time of booking.)

Also, I've heard some people talking about waiting for fall discounts to be posted. Is this something I will be able to easily find once I get a pass?

Thanks so much!

 

[mvf-m11c]

Hi,

We are planning on taking our son to Disneyland for his fourth birthday in October. We are planning to purchase annual passes (we live in San Diego), and stay at the Disneyland Resort.

From what I understand, the "clock starts ticking" on your pass the first day you go to Disneyland and activate it, not when you purchase the pass. Is this correct? Also, we would like to take advantage of the AP discount at the hotel. I am wondering if we can get the discount if the pass has been purchased, but not activated. (By the time we actually get to the hotel we will have activated them, but not at the time of booking.)

Also, I've heard some people talking about waiting for fall discounts to be posted. Is this something I will be able to easily find once I get a pass?

Thanks so much!

You are correct, the AP activates on the date when you enter the turnstile at any of the two parks.

You will not be able to get the AP discount on the DLR hotels until you get your AP at any of the two AP centers in the DLR. You could call DLR hotel number and book a room for the AP discount. I have never tried this before, but I have on the phone when I have a current AP. I have heard from other DISers that you can do this, but someone needs to reply to this to be sure. When you get to DLR, go to the AP center and get your AP at the park, than go to the check-in at the DLR hotel you are staying and show your AP card and get the discount.

There is always some kind of discount in the fall. You can get really lucky and get a room at any of the DLR hotels at 40% (I got a standard room for $228 and the original price for the standard is $380). Hopefully DL will extend the AP merchandise discount to the holiday season. The AP merchandise discount ends on Sept. 30.

 

[amamax2]

Here's the confirmation: I have booked a room at a DLR hotel with an AP discount before I actually activated the pass. They do usually ask me if I have a pass at the time of booking, and I say yes, since I have purchased it.

 

[albertamom]

In 2008, I phoned to book a hotel stay and told the CM that I would like to add 3 parkhoppers and one AP to my reservation, and asked if I would be able to get an annual pass rate on the room by doing so. My sister did the same thing last fall, and in both cases, it worked out great. When we checked in, the CM gave me the AP voucher, and (I think - fuzzy memory) just asked me to bring my AP back to reception after I had it activated.

Bottom line (in my experience): you can definitely book an AP rate without having activated the AP, as long as you have the AP added to your reservation at time of booking.

 

[minniecarousel]

May I butt in here and ask: are there AP room discounts during the Christmas Holidays? (like the week between Christmas & NYE?)

 

[mvf-m11c]

May I butt in here and ask: are there AP room discounts during the Christmas Holidays? (like the week between Christmas & NYE?)

Yes, they do have AP discounts during the major holiday season, but it is not cheap. Right now, the AP website does not have the hotel availability calendar for the month of December. When I booked a room with the AP discount for new years eve, a standard room for PPH is going for $280, DLH is at $325 and the GCH is going for $450 a night in the standard room. When I looked it up at the regular price, PPH is at $315, DLH at $360 and GCH at $500.

 

[sandiegoDeva]

Thanks for the help! I'm wondering how you tell what the AP discount rates are...the lady on the phone said it was at least 10%, but could be more closer to the date (she wouldn't be too specific)...is this info on the site for AP passholders, or do I have to call? Thanks!!!

 

[maelstrom]

We just booked a room at the Grand Californian with the AP discount right after having purchased our deluxe annual passes on the Disneyland website. The woman on the phone said that as long as we have our printed out e-ticket at check-in, we're fine.

 

[sandiegoDeva]

Thanks, that is helpful!

 

[gatorfreud]

Thanks for the help! I'm wondering how you tell what the AP discount rates are...the lady on the phone said it was at least 10%, but could be more closer to the date (she wouldn't be too specific)...is this info on the site for AP passholders, or do I have to call? Thanks!!!

It's on the AP site but you have to login with your AP number.

You can also call.

Kim

 

[amamax2]

There are several kinds of AP room discounts. There is the "normal" 10% discount that I *believe* is always available; then periodically throughout the year, there are special, deeper discounts. These are listed on the AP section of the Disneyland website and you do need an AP number to log in and see. These usually are released a couple months in advance and there are only a limited number of rooms at that rate. There is a code you ask for when you book the room (ie AP10). I've seen anywhere from $149 - $189 for PP; $189+ for DLH, can't remember GCH (standard rooms).

But, yes, you can call, or just post on here and explain you haven't activated your AP yet and can't access the site and I'm sure someone would check the rates for you (I know I would.)

HTH!

 

[Disney Dree]

I saw Amamax2's offer to provide assistance for the AP website and I'm going to humbly ask for that help!

I'm taking my parents to DL in October (19th - 24th) to celebrate their 50th anniversary. There are seven of us going, and I've considered buying the premier pass because we typicially visit both DL & WDW - We could really take advantage of meal + hotel discounts. If I am buying a meal for all 7 of us, does my one premier pass discount of 15% apply to ALL of our meals?

I have two more questions - can someone tell me the rates on the AP website for the Disneyland Hotel and the Grand Californian for that time period?

I'm also wondering if we would have to choose between the fall promotion (maybe it will be 40% off the rooms) OR the AP 10% discount - or is it possible to get both deals??!! (That would be super!!) Does anyone know when the fall promotions are usually announced?

Thanks in advance for any/all help!!

 

[mvf-m11c]

I'm taking my parents to DL in October (19th - 24th) to celebrate their 50th anniversary. There are seven of us going, and I've considered buying the premier pass because we typicially visit both DL & WDW - We could really take advantage of meal + hotel discounts. If I am buying a meal for all 7 of us, does my one premier pass discount of 15% apply to ALL of our meals?

The premier pass counts as the premium pass at DL, so it should be np for you and your family to get the 15% discount at the restaurants. But that is only for the parks and resorts, there are some restaurants that won't give you the AP discount like the Napa Rose restaurant. If you are going to eat in DTD, it is only 10%.

I have two more questions - can someone tell me the rates on the AP website for the Disneyland Hotel and the Grand Californian for that time period?

During your stay the standards with the AP discount are right now at (PPH - $225, DLH - 4252, & GCH - $342).

I'm also wondering if we would have to choose between the fall promotion (maybe it will be 40% off the rooms) OR the AP 10% discount - or is it possible to get both deals??!! (That would be super!!) Does anyone know when the fall promotions are usually announced?

Thanks in advance for any/all help!!

There always a promotion, but right now they don't have any for Fall. I would say until we get to September, they should have one in place. But we have to wait and see if DL is going to do a Fall promotion.

As for the AP discount, as what amamax2 said is right, there could be a big discount on the rooms with the AP. The least is 10% and the biggest discount can be at 40%. But it is really random and it is possible to get a room at the 40% discount. You have to keep on checking the hotel availability and see if a room at any of the three hotels gets a big discount. If I were you, I would just get the promo (if DL has one during that time) and save a lot of money on the hotel room.

 

[Disney Dree]

Thanks so much for all of your help and advice!!