Child's AP - Discount Question

[Marthasor]

I just purchased an AP for DS9 and would like to take advantage of his AP discounts on upcoming trips. I know I will have to carry his passport as ID for the discounts, but I'm wondering how we should pay at restaurants, merchandise shops, etc. He has charging privileges on his MB. Is that sufficient? Or should we carry cash to pay? Thanks!

 

[bumbershoot]

I would use cash or gift cards.

Given that the costs are the same for the ap, why did you get it for him and not an adult to save jumping through hoops?

 

[Marthasor]

I would use cash or gift cards.

Given that the costs are the same for the ap, why did you get it for him and not an adult to save jumping through hoops?

Thanks bumbershoot! I had considered getting one for myself, but I have a bunch of non-expires plus can get an industry discount ticket (that can't be bridged) at least once a year. I crunched the numbers and the AP just didn't make sense for me right now. Based on how we travel to WDW, however, it totally made sense to get one for DS.

 

[china mom]

I know this has nothing to do with your question but, I would prefer not to carry around a passport (too large/bulky, too expensive to replace). Consider getting him a state issued ID card. My son got his first when he was nine.

I am sure that charging privileges on his MB would work fine. I am also pretty sure that most places will let you use your CC to pay with his discount.

 

[Accident]

I would be prepared for the possibility they want the AP holder to make the payment. It's rare but I've run into situations where it was my AP for the discount but my daughter was paying the bill (she has an ap but didn't have the card with her to show it and I don't care what the ticket booth says, CMs at stores can't tell if your an AP from a band scan).

I've also noticed more of a well dressed cm in the store so it could have been their boss was there to make sure everyone was by the book.

 

[Accident]

I know this has nothing to do with your question but, I would prefer not to carry around a passport (too large/bulky, too expensive to replace). Consider getting him a state issued ID card. My son got his first when he was nine.

I am sure that charging privileges on his MB would work fine. I am also pretty sure that most places will let you use your CC to pay with his discount.

My daughter had a passport card which seemed to work anywhere in the US she had to have an id as an alternative to state id option, especially since they have a passport. We never tried to use it at disney but it should work.

 

[Marthasor]

I know this has nothing to do with your question but, I would prefer not to carry around a passport (too large/bulky, too expensive to replace). Consider getting him a state issued ID card. My son got his first when he was nine.

I am sure that charging privileges on his MB would work fine. I am also pretty sure that most places will let you use your CC to pay with his discount.

That's a great idea! Yes, I'm a little hesitant to bring the passport for fear of losing it. I'll look into the state ID.

I would be prepared for the possibility they want the AP holder to make the payment. It's rare but I've run into situations where it was my AP for the discount but my daughter was paying the bill (she has an ap but didn't have the card with her to show it and I don't care what the ticket booth says, CMs at stores can't tell if your an AP from a band scan).

I've also noticed more of a well dressed cm in the store so it could have been their boss was there to make sure everyone was by the book.

This is precisely why I asked the question as I believe it's the policy that the AP holder make the payment and, trust me, DS9 will be thrilled to do it! I just wanted to see if his MB would suffice or if we should bring cash or, as someone else suggested, a gift card. I may also add him as an additional authorized user on my Disney Visa which, if it's even possible, would make this pretty simple. On our last trip, I actually saw a CM give the AP discount to a child because he simply had an AP slider on his MB and then his dad paid the bill, so I'll be prepared for all scenarios from the loosey-goosey to the strict AP policy.

 

[Accident]

This is precisely why I asked the question as I believe it's the policy that the AP holder make the payment and, trust me, DS9 will be thrilled to do it! I just wanted to see if his MB would suffice or if we should bring cash or, as someone else suggested, a gift card. I may also add him as an additional authorized user on my Disney Visa which, if it's even possible, would make this pretty simple. On our last trip, I actually saw a CM give the AP discount to a child because he simply had an AP slider on his MB and then his dad paid the bill, so I'll be prepared for all scenarios from the loosey-goosey to the strict AP policy.

If your staying in a resort and room changing with the band is an option, that's perfect for this situation and kids love doing it.

 

[Brian Noble]

Unless things have changed, you can't use a Child AP to get Resort Room discounts.
https://www.mousesavers.com/walt-disney-world-annual-passholder-discounts/

I have no idea if that also translates to merch/food discounts.

 

[bumbershoot]

I'll be prepared for all scenarios from the loosey-goosey to the strict AP policy.

Excellent.

 

[mountdew1]

Unless things have changed, you can't use a Child AP to get Resort Room discounts.
https://www.mousesavers.com/walt-disney-world-annual-passholder-discounts/

I have no idea if that also translates to merch/food discounts.

Believe that is a throwback to when the child's AP costs less. Now an AP costs what an AP costs, regardless of your age. Many people speculated it was specifically to address people buying the more affordable child's AP to be eligible for the discounts.

 

[famy27]

My DD has an AP and will probably be buying things on her own on the next trip. We don't have time to get a state ID card or a passport before the trip. Are there any other options for what she can provide as ID? I can bring her birth certificate, but it obviously doesn't have a picture.

 

[Accident]

@ravenclawtrekkie is there anything specific about this in the official policy you might know?

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

@ravenclawtrekkie is there anything specific about this in the official policy you might know?

I honestly have no idea. A merchandise or food & beverage CM would know more about what's required to use discounts. I am trained in QS F&B but not on the use of their point of sale system. Sorry.

 

[wilkeliza]

Official policy states the AP holder has to pay. In some cases I have seen only the AP holder get the discount on their food and all others be charged full price. That is going a little extreme but I've seen it happen. In the OPs case for merchandise just make sure that your son has an ID and charging privileges. They don't care that the credit card is in your name on file just that you are authorized ot use it (funny enough this is how a ton of CMs get around the not letting others pay for discount merch rule). I don't believe their is a point that AP holders get audited (there is for CMs) so no need to worry about how much you spend.

At hotels it may get tricky as the AP holder is suppose to be the primary person on the room. A child can not be a primary so I don't know if it will let you book with a child's AP.

 

[Marthasor]

Unless things have changed, you can't use a Child AP to get Resort Room discounts.
https://www.mousesavers.com/walt-disney-world-annual-passholder-discounts/

I have no idea if that also translates to merch/food discounts.

There's really no such thing as a child's AP anymore. As mountdew1 pointed out, an AP costs the same, now, regardless of age and, yes, there was a time when people were buying the child's AP and then trying to get the discounts. I would imagine this is why the cost for the AP is the same now. I know we can get the merch and food discounts as we've done it before (my DS would just show his AP card and pay in cash). I really just wanted to know if his MB would suffice as payment. I have no clue if we can use it for resort discounts and would be surprised if we could, actually, as I would imagine they would want the lead guest to have the AP and the lead guest has to be 18. I really have no clue and had no intention of trying to get a resort discount, just food and merch.

 

[tjmw2727]

My DD has an AP and will probably be buying things on her own on the next trip. We don't have time to get a state ID card or a passport before the trip. Are there any other options for what she can provide as ID? I can bring her birth certificate, but it obviously doesn't have a picture.

Before my dd had her license they accepted her school ID for AP discounts, never had a problem. Otherwise if someone else has an AP and ID it would probably be easier for them to make the purchase.

 

[kmb584]

My DD has an AP and will probably be buying things on her own on the next trip. We don't have time to get a state ID card or a passport before the trip. Are there any other options for what she can provide as ID? I can bring her birth certificate, but it obviously doesn't have a picture.

My daughter is 7 and has an AP. On our most recent trip (earlier this month) she wanted to pay for her own things with her own spending money and no one ever asked her for ID when she showed them her AP. A couple of CM did, however, ask to see mine (and my ID) when she presented them with hers.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Official policy states the AP holder has to pay. In some cases I have seen only the AP holder get the discount on their food and all others be charged full price. That is going a little extreme but I've seen it happen. In the OPs case for merchandise just make sure that your son has an ID and charging privileges. They don't care that the credit card is in your name on file just that you are authorized ot use it (funny enough this is how a ton of CMs get around the not letting others pay for discount merch rule). I don't believe their is a point that AP holders get audited (there is for CMs) so no need to worry about how much you spend.

At hotels it may get tricky as the AP holder is suppose to be the primary person on the room. A child can not be a primary so I don't know if it will let you book with a child's AP.

Yikes! Official policy is AP holder plus up to 3 guests get the discount!

 

[wilkeliza]

Yikes! Official policy is AP holder plus up to 3 guests get the discount!

We just got ours but a few places would ask to see mine and my fiancé's even if it was only the two of us.