Buying an AP

[lynzi2004]

DH and I are considering buying APs. Our first trip with them would likely be in the Spring 2018. What do you all suggest is the best way to go about buying them?

1. Buy an AP directly sometime before the (expected Februaryish) price increase and just activate it on our trip?
2. Purchase some sort of Disney promo package with tickets and then upgrade once we are there? I know there have been some changes to the "bridging" process. But I also saw where someone bought a package with free dining and then upgraded those tickets. Thinking there might be some more value there but not sure?
3. Purchase something from UT or Parksavers with the Buy 4 days, Get 1 free and then upgrade?

We have 2 kids (ages 5, 4) that would also need tickets and are unsure whether to do APs for them or just buy their tickets for the trip this year and then we plan to take another trip before the APs expire the following year, but could buy tickets again hopefully with a promo. I know that at least one of us will do APs for the memory maker and discounts on dining, parking, and room. But it may be a wash for all of us, especially if any great deals like the Buy 4 days, get 3 free promo comes out again.

We don't live close enough to make several trips a year, but if we had APs could likely get down around Christmas and if DH and I had them maybe our anniversary.

Opinions?

 

[CrazyHare]

The only thing I can say is if you go the upgrade a package route, do not add Memory Maker to the package. It took them 1 1/2 hours to figure out how to handle giving me credit back for the MM when I upgraded my package tickets to annual passes 2 weekends ago. In the end, they got it worked out, but it took a lot of time to get it worked out.

And make sure you have an idea of what you should be paying for an upgrade. I had prices on a post it note and that saved the day when I upgraded. They weren't giving me enough credit for my tickets. Once I pointed it out, they could see what they were doing.

We had free dining that required ticket a ticket purchase, so that was why we did the upgrade there.

 

[PSUGuy]

We have 9 day hoppers from UT which were less $$ than from Disney, our window opened 3 days ago and we have all our FP+ choices. When we get there we'll upgrade to APs, be sure to ask for your discount card if you go this route, and PhotoPass comes with APs so no need for Memory Maker.

Bill From PA

 

[SanderMC]

I don't have an answer for you but one thing to keep in mind is that AP increases tend to happen in Oct, not Feb.

Also just because you say you don't live close enough to make several trips year doesn't actually mean much when you have an AP. There is something about having an AP that causes people to find ways to use it more. I've read thread after thread on it but here and on other boards I frequent. I couldn't understand how people make it happen; and thought they must be rolling in cash. Well as of June I have an AP. It was bought with the intention of using it for 2 trips. That has now grown to 4 trips. I'm telling you there is something about owning an AP. It sucks you in!

 

[Texans_loyal]

I plan on upgrading to an AP from my free dining package in 2 weeks. so far 4 trips booked since i made the decision

 

[bookgirl]

I don't have an answer for you but one thing to keep in mind is that AP increases tend to happen in Oct, not Feb.

Also just because you say you don't live close enough to make several trips year doesn't actually mean much when you have an AP. There is something about having an AP that causes people to find ways to use it more. I've read thread after thread on it but here and on other boards I frequent. I couldn't understand how people make it happen; and thought they must be rolling in cash. Well as of June I have an AP. It was bought with the intention of using it for 2 trips. That has now grown to 4 trips. I'm telling you there is something about owning an AP. It sucks you in!

Same thing happened to me on my first AP, I thought I'd have two trips plus a week where I would be in Orlando and planned to use the AP for some stolen moments. I ended up with all of that plus two more trips hahaha. I actually just did another AP purchase due to the cost evening out over a planned trip in Dec and plans to go twice next year. Well I ended up with great (read Free) airfare in October and sure enough I just purchased the AP early because 'hey the tickets will already be covered"

There's no avoiding it for me it seems. If I have an AP I will spend more money for Disney.

 

[buckeyeguy1]

I don't have an answer for you but one thing to keep in mind is that AP increases tend to happen in Oct, not Feb.

Also just because you say you don't live close enough to make several trips year doesn't actually mean much when you have an AP. There is something about having an AP that causes people to find ways to use it more. I've read thread after thread on it but here and on other boards I frequent. I couldn't understand how people make it happen; and thought they must be rolling in cash. Well as of June I have an AP. It was bought with the intention of using it for 2 trips. That has now grown to 4 trips. I'm telling you there is something about owning an AP. It sucks you in!

This!!!!!

We purchased them for our family of 3 because we had 2 trips planned and financially, it was the better option.

Fast forward nearly a year later and we have been 6 times. Not all were week long trips, but when you see that $40 plane ticket or enough airline points for a few round trips, it gets pretty difficult to say no.

I'm not sure if they credit you the difference between the park tickets and the AP if you purchase through someone else other than them. I would check that out.

I just went to our local grocery store and bought a lot of gift cards (which I got $.20 of a gallon of gas for every $50 in cards) with my 2% cash back credit card and paid for them that way.