calling all AP holders... teach me!

[Thinktinknpixiedust]

Well I do believe we are now seriously looking into getting AP's. we have been to the World SEVERAL times without them and always gotten the standard MYW plus dining. From what I understand the room discounts are tremendous, and can still do the dining plan if i purchase a one day MYW base ticket (those are valid for how long??) for all of you with AP's i could use some help here sorting out all of this info. I believe that if we have AP's that we would be more inclined to drive down more often or fly if there are good rates... is it worth it? and what are the most important things you think I should know.

 

[loopner67]

Well I'm an AP holder, but I have no clue about the dining plan. Sorry!

Last year, for the first time, I bought an AP to get the hotel discount. It cost me about $200 more for the AP (vs. a 6 day hopper ticket), but we saved like $600 on the hotel.

Then, we purchased the DDE card (Disney Dining Experience) for $60, which gives you discounts on a ton of TS places including liquor. It's 20% off your entire bill and only one person in your "party" needs to have the DDE card to get this discount.

Also, only one of you needs the AP pass to get the discount on the hotel. That is why only I get the AP and my DH & boys get regular hopper tickets. BUT if the two of you then think you'll go to WDW more during the year, the AP pass for both of you could be worth it.

I live in PA and really have no way to just up and go to WDW by myself with my AP, but it's been weird to think (all this past year) how I could get into any of the parks any day until March 30th. I wish I lived closer!

Hope I helped, even a little bit.

 

[northriver]

I just did the same thing the pp mentioned. Purchased one AP for myself, and saved exactly the same amount of money. I have also purchased the DDE card. And I understand that you just need to ask about AP discounts everywhere - many places have discounts of some kind. I haven't actually been there with my AP yet, but there is more information at the official website as to different discounts.

 

[kileybeth]

do I have to buy the AP for an adult in my party or can I buy it for one of my under 9 yr old kiddos? could I use it for hotel ressies? and discounts?

not much chance we woudl actually go back within less than a year but we have done it a couple times over the last 20 years!

so would be getting it strictly for dsicounts as we all have 7 days and plusses let on non expiring tickets for upcoming trip but 4 year old will need ticket this time. . .?

 

[pamjb]

Here is some great info about AP discounts

http://allearsnet.com/pl/apass.htm

I am not sure if you will be able get the 4 yr old an AP and then use that for a room discount. I know that some have been able to do this in the past, but Disney has been cracking down on that practice. I have had an AP for 2 years now, and haven't been able to take advantage of room discounts. Either they aren't available for the resort I want, or the time period I want.

Here are some pocket guides that list the discounts as well:

http://mouseforless.com/tripplanning/PocketGuides.shtml

Good Luck whatever you may do.

 

[aubriee]

While it's true you can still buy the DDP and have an AP you must give up the AP room discount and pay rack price for the rooms and a one day ticket must be purchased for everyone in the room, not just one person. I have an AP, but it's main benefit is getting me in the park several times a year. I've used the DDP with it three times (free dining in Sept '05 and Sept '06, and purchased in May '06), but again have had to purchase a one day MYW ticket for everyone in the room each time and was unable to use my AP room discount on those trips. I'm doing the same thing this Sept--free dining is a better deal than the AP discount I might get.

Your one day tickets are good forever as long as you never put them in a turnstyle. You can always use them the next year and upgrade them to another AP. I did that last May. If you have an AP you can also buy (for $60.00) the DDE card which will give you 20% off most TS restaraunts and a few CS (AK and resorts that don't have a TS option). It will pay for itself in a trip or two.

As far as getting an AP room discount you now must have an Adult AP as only adults can make room reservations--Disney has really cracked down on this. There are also times of the year when AP discounts may not be offered--I believe last June and July were times room discounts were not offered for AP holders. I'm currently waiting to see if an AP code will be offered for my May trip. If so, I'll go with that and use my DDE card, but if not then I'll upgrade my room only to a pkg, add a one day MYW ticket, and buy the DDP.

You can also get AP discounts at the Basin, World of Disney store in DTD, backstage tours, Richard Petty Driving Experience at WDW, etc.

I love my AP, as it seems to have a habit of calling and booking extra trips I probably would not take otherwise , but it's main benefit is getting me into the parks. I also like the hopping option it give me.

 

[Juliah]

Just keep in mind that there's no guarantee of discounts on rooms with an AP. While it often happens, it may not--or it may, but not for the time you want to go. Or maybe it will for your first trip with the AP but not for when you want to go back later in the year. Also, sometimes there are discounts for the general public that are very good (not sure if they're quite as much as the AP, but maybe?) that wouldn't require buying an AP.

You would really need to look at everything, including whether you think you will go more than once a year. In the past, it only took about eight days on the AP before the rest of the days were free, so to speak, but with the new MYW ticket structure, you can get more days on a regular ticket (esp. if it's a non-hopper that expires) for the price of an AP, so buying an AP because you plan to make two trips in a year may or may not be the best deal on tickets--depends on how long you are staying each time and how strongly you feel about options like park hopping. So, even if you plan to go twice, you might do better with a 10-day non-expiring ticket, especially if there's no AP discount on the room when you want to go.

You don't have to make a decision about the AP right away; if an AP rate comes out, keep in mind that you can make a reservation with the AP discount before you buy one (if CRO asks, just say you are buying it when you get there), then you can wait and see if a public price comes out that's nearly as good. If the AP rate remains the best deal, all things taken into account, then you can buy it before check-in.

Hope that made sense. The MYW tickets have thrown so many more variables into the equation that it has gotten harder to figure out just exactly what to do and what the best deal is. There also seem to be more options for discounts and less pattern or certainty to them than when my family first started going to WDW in the late 80's...back when I got AP discounts two years in a row at the Poly for 1/2 price, which made the rooms $99 a night!