Can someone explain the whole AP discount when staying onsite deal?

[CoolPool]

I'm going to attempt to do some math. I'm assuming your booked a standard Disneyland hotel room.

4 x adult 5 day PH = $676
rack rate hotel: $345 x 5 = $1725 + tax/resort fee (I'm not sure what rate he quoted you so I grabbed this one off the website.)
This is the how much you'd pay if you booked a package but excludes the freebies you mentioned.

in the 2nd scenario:
1 x deluxe AP = $259
3 x 5 day PH = $507
5 nights DLH standard room at AP5 ($159/night) = $795 + tax/resort fee

Without going into the tax/fee situation you'd be looking at diffy of 2401-1561 which equals $840 in savings (more since your overall tax situation would be less at the AP5 room rate. If the $840 does not make up for the loss of whatever freebies you get, then its not worth it to get an AP and go with the AP discount.

Golly I hope I understood and got the math right. Where is that blushing face icon when you need it?

 

[Lynzer Torte]

Here's my numbers:


5 nights (2/27-3/3) DLH 2 adults, 3 children (1 infant)

Booking through DTC:
w/ 6 day PH & coach shuttle: $2338
+$150 GC (don't really care about the other freebies- we have them all!)

Booking ala cart w/ 1 AP:
Room w/ 3 5 day PH: $1478
+ $259 AP
+ $125 (approx) coach
- 10% off meals

OR
+ $379 AP
+ $125 coach
- 15% off meals
- 10% off merch.

I think it's really a toss up.

 

[CoolPool]

Here's my numbers:


5 nights (2/27-3/3) DLH 2 adults, 3 children (1 infant)

Booking through DTC:
w/ 6 day PH & coach shuttle: $2338
+$150 GC (don't really care about the other freebies- we have them all!)

Booking ala cart w/ 1 AP:
Room w/ 3 5 day PH: $1478
+ $259 AP
+ $125 (approx) coach
- 10% off meals

OR
+ $379 AP
+ $125 coach
- 15% off meals
- 10% off merch.

I think it's really a toss up.

LoL. There are people known to cry over a $326 cost savings. Sounds like you are more like me.

 

[Lynzer Torte]

I need to figure out if the 10% off souvies & 15% off most meals are worth it I guess.

 

[Lynzer Torte]

Can I buy the AP when I book our room using the AP5 rate?

If we were to buy it online ahead of time, do we get immediate access to the AP holder's site?

Sorry for all the questions, this AP thing is a whole new world we've never realized existed!

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Here's my numbers:


5 nights (2/27-3/3) DLH 2 adults, 3 children (1 infant)

Booking through DTC:
w/ 6 day PH & coach shuttle: $2338
+$150 GC (don't really care about the other freebies- we have them all!)

Booking ala cart w/ 1 AP:
Room w/ 3 5 day PH: $1478
+ $259 AP
+ $125 (approx) coach
- 10% off meals

OR
+ $379 AP
+ $125 coach
- 15% off meals
- 10% off merch.

I think it's really a toss up.

Something to note: The "cost" of the PHs included in your package can be applied toward the cost of whichever AP type you decide to get.

Basically the APs have a fixed price, either $259 or $379 depending on which one you choose. In a package it's hard to say what you are paying specifically for the PHs, because but the amount is printed on the PHs. (Maybe you call call and ask what that amount would be?)

Once you know the amount you will pay for the PH, you can subtract that amount from the cost of an AP! You will pay the difference in price. Does that make sense?

As for actually turning your PHs into APs, there are tips for how to do that to make sure you can still get Early Entry and get into the park on blackout days (with your PHs)...

 

[Alex2kMommy]

Oh, hang on, I forgot about the AP hotel rates in my last post. That does pose a wrinkle, because if you upgrade the PHs to APs before check-in (to get the AP hotel rate, you have to show either your AP or AP voucher), do you lose the PH's entrance to the park on blackout days? And what about EE?

EE is a no-brainer if you are staying onsite (DLR hotel); as a DLR guest, you get EE any day it is offered; if you stay offsite, then you lose the EE privileges.

As for the blackout days, maybe someone else can address that? I'd always heard to upgrade to an AP toward the end of your stay so as not to be impacted by blackout days (and also not miss out on EE), but I think someone posted fairly recently that they were allowed entrance to the park on a blackout day by showing their receipt for the PH upgrade as well as their AP...? Not sure I'm remembering that right, though.

 

[mindylovesmickey]

Oh, hang on, I forgot about the AP hotel rates in my last post. That does pose a wrinkle, because if you upgrade the PHs to APs before check-in (to get the AP hotel rate, you have to show either your AP or AP voucher), do you lose the PH's entrance to the park on blackout days? And what about EE?

EE is a no-brainer if you are staying onsite (DLR hotel); as a DLR guest, you get EE any day it is offered; if you stay offsite, then you lose the EE privileges.

As for the blackout days, maybe someone else can address that? I'd always heard to upgrade to an AP toward the end of your stay so as not to be impacted by blackout days (and also not miss out on EE), but I think someone posted fairly recently that they were allowed entrance to the park on a blackout day by showing their receipt for the PH upgrade as well as their AP...? Not sure I'm remembering that right, though.

The Premium AP of course has no blackout days so they would be fine. The deluxe is mainly blocked out most Saturdays and holidays. So, if they are there over a Saturday or holiday it could pose a problem. But, I've heard of people getting around it by getting a note that they upgraded to AP, but had a ParkHopper for those days, it's cumbersome but it's been done.

 

[CoolPool]

Can I buy the AP when I book our room using the AP5 rate?

If we were to buy it online ahead of time, do we get immediate access to the AP holder's site?

Sorry for all the questions, this AP thing is a whole new world we've never realized existed!

You can add the AP to your AP5 room reservation. (I did this the first time I booked so I know for sure it works.) They hand you a voucher at check-in which gets you in to the parks. Then you take the voucher to the bank inside DL (with photo ID) where they take your picture and issue you a plastic AP. It doesn't take long.

I'm not sure about having access to the AP site beforehand; you need to create access to it by entering your AP number which you don't have. So maybe not. Hope this helps.

As Alex mentioned, the cheaper AP does have a blockout days. If you need to you can unblock the date for $40. Otherwise you can use that day as resort time/DTD/other activity day.

 

[Lynzer Torte]

The lady at DTC said you don't receive EE if you go through the hotel to book.

 

[mindylovesmickey]

I believe she is mistaken. You get EE just for staying in the DLR (DLH, GC, or PP). Now, you don't get Mickey's Morning Madness without a package. But EE and MTMM are different.

 

[cruisin'Mike]

Is there anywhere that lists all of the perks of each type of AP? We're using DVC points for the hotel, so won't be saving any money there, but were curious to see if it would be worth getting an AP for the other perks/discounts.

Thanks!

 

[JadeDarkstar]

idk who told you u didnt get ee for going though the hotle. It is so much cheaper to buy ap and rent hotle. (I am probley not staying on site but I was thinking about it till i decied 100 night wass just to good.(with jecuziey tub at desert inn)
I am getting the 379 ap for me so I can get 15% off all the charcter meals and 10% off world of disney the 259 dosnet have world disney off

 

[mindylovesmickey]

Here is a link to the website where it compares your discounts between each different type of AP. https://secure.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/ap/discounts?name=AnnualPassholderUngatedDiscountsPage

I did the math and just for the two character meals we are doing, the Premium pass gives me a savings of $34.74.

3adults + 1 child @ Lilo & Stitch breakfast = $102.81 w/PAP= $87.39
3adults + 1 child @ Goofy's dinner= 128.82 w/PAP = $109.50

Plus the discounts at other restraunts, merchandise discounts, etc. In the end with this trip I will probably break even with the cost of the passport, which I am getting a discount on through the military, but we will be making many more trips this year where I won't have to pay for the tickets. So, in the end it's worth it to be able to go back as many times as we want.

 

[Lynzer Torte]

Ok! One last question!

In order to get the discounts with the AP at all the relevant places, does the AP holder have to show their pass or can their spouse show it? I hope both of us can show it otherwise DH will be paying for everything!

 

[cutedisneygirly]

It depends.... the AP holder does have to show his or her own AP, but who pays can vary. For example, I showed my AP at meals for our group, but my mom paid. However, she wanted to use my discount on some stuff in the Emporium, so I showed the AP, but they made me pay with my credit card instead of hers for the merchandise where as at other stores I didn't have to pay. I think it depends on the person, but for merchandise especially, the AP holder should be prepared to pay.

 

[Lynzer Torte]

Thank you for all the responses!

It might be a little hard having DH pay for everything (I think we'll put the AP in his name just in case I'm feeding the little one and we need to get food) in order to get the discount but I guess it's worth it for the discount.


We've booked our trip using the AP5 code! We'll be there Feb 27- Mar 3 (Leap Day!). We're paying $1690.50 for 5 nights, upper pool view + 3 six day PH's.

Thanks again for all your help!

 

[toyota]

Hi lynzer--
How did you book your trip? Online, thru hotel directly, travel agent? Are you going to upgrade to AP when you get there? I noticed you said you bought PHs.

We are planning a trip in May and I'm trying to figure out all of the ins and outs.

Thanks much,
Karen

 

[thmar]

Another option for saving $ is the Disney Rewards Visa Card:

-Character Meet'n Greet Events with some of your favorite Disney Characters including a keepsake photo
-The Disneyland Resort offers 10% off at select restaurant locations
-Recieve 10% offf on selected merchandise purchases of: $50 or more at the World of Disney Store in Downtown Disney Marketplace at WDW Resort - $50 or more at the Disneyland Resort stores & pin cart locations
- must present your valid Disney Reward Visa Card & mention this offer
- 20% off the non-discounted price on select tours
-free stroller rentals at the Disneyland Resort
-Exclusive cardmember Vacation package at the Disneyland Resort
- Private cardmembers phone line to plan all your Disneyland Resort Vacation needs
-No Annual fee
-No Block out dates
-0% APR vacation financing for 6 months anytime of the year on select Disney Vacation Packages

http://disney.go.com/visa/today/index.html?CELL=6B5Q19

 

[Lynzer Torte]

Hi lynzer--
How did you book your trip? Online, thru hotel directly, travel agent? Are you going to upgrade to AP when you get there? I noticed you said you bought PHs.

We are planning a trip in May and I'm trying to figure out all of the ins and outs.

Thanks much,
Karen

We called the hotel directly- the number is: (714) 956-MICKEY.

We're going to buy my DH an AP online right before we go. You can print it off and turn it in for the real one once you get there.

The rest of my fam & I will just use the regular PH's- not everyone in the party needs to have an AP in order to use the AP discount.

I've read that the AP5 code expires March 6 I believe so you can't use it for your May trip. Maybe another code will come along for you to use?