Considering an AP purchase, please help.

[erin327]

We are evaluating our travel options for a trip this fall (hopefully). We have one member of our party who will be making an early trip with others. She is wondering if her getting an annual pass would be financially beneficial to her or to all of us. Would you help me with a few questions I have as I am doing the math? Where do I find a list of restaurants participating in the tables in wonderland program? How far in advance are AP room discounts announced? Are there most always room discounts available or are the blackout dates the same as other promotions? We are looking to travel mid-October and it is during the black out dates for the Free dining PIN. Would AP discounts likely be blacked out as well? Thanks for any help you can provide.

 

[akcire]

This has many components to consider. Let me add another variable. If someone gets an ap you can stay off site. You will not have to pay parking.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

We are evaluating our travel options for a trip this fall (hopefully). We have one member of our party who will be making an early trip with others. She is wondering if her getting an annual pass would be financially beneficial to her or to all of us. Would you help me with a few questions I have as I am doing the math? Where do I find a list of restaurants participating in the tables in wonderland program? How far in advance are AP room discounts announced? Are there most always room discounts available or are the blackout dates the same as other promotions? We are looking to travel mid-October and it is during the black out dates for the Free dining PIN. Would AP discounts likely be blacked out as well? Thanks for any help you can provide.

This page will tell you when AP and other discounts were released and for what dates:

http://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/

This is the website for TIW. In general, most of the TS restaurants are included and the only QS restaurants on the list are in locations where there is no TS. For example, the food courts at the Value resorts do accept TIW, but not the ones at the Deluxe resorts, because the TS restaurants are on the list.

http://tablesinwonderland.com/

When we've had APs, we've been able to get AP discounts when we've wanted them, but in the last several years the military discount has been better, so we've used that instead.

 

[Marionnette]

We are evaluating our travel options for a trip this fall (hopefully). We have one member of our party who will be making an early trip with others. She is wondering if her getting an annual pass would be financially beneficial to her or to all of us. Would you help me with a few questions I have as I am doing the math?

1. Where do I find a list of restaurants participating in the tables in wonderland program?

2. How far in advance are AP room discounts announced?

3. Are there most always room discounts available or are the blackout dates the same as other promotions? We are looking to travel mid-October and it is during the black out dates for the Free dining PIN. Would AP discounts likely be blacked out as well?

Thanks for any help you can provide.

1. http://tablesinwonderland.com/

2. Check the chart of past discounts on mousesavers.com. It will show when discounts were announced, including AP discounts.

3. AP discounts are offered when Disney needs to fill rooms. You won't see them during periods of peak attendance, such as Christmas and Easter. The discounts are not available for all dates or for all resorts. The amount of the discount will depend on how many rooms they need to fill.

 

[Colleen27]

I can only speak to this year because I'm a first time APer, but so far the AP discounts seem to come out fairly last minute but have fewer blackout dates than bounceback and general public offers. The weekend of my April trip was excluded from the current bounceback and the general public discount only covered part of the trip, but the AP rate applied to the entire stay. Aside from very major holidays like Christmas, Easter, and 4th of July the AP discount seems to be available most of the time, though you might have to be flexible about resort and/or room type if availability is slim.

 

[photos_101]

We just got our first Ap's a couple weeks ago. We priced out our 3 trips and found it was cheaper to get Ap's. We also bought the TIW card for dining. We only used it a couple of times on our May trip since it was just DH and I, and we were only there for 5 days. We ate mostly QS so couldn't use it. However, we did use it at POP food court. It will definitely pay for itself when we go in Aug. since there will be 4 of us (all adult eaters).

We also used the AP discount to book part of our aug trip since the Bounceback only covered the first half.

You will get to use the AP for discounts on Disney merchandise in the parks/resorts. I think it is 10% but we used it everytime we bought something.

I think for the most part there is usually some kind of discount out for most days and what the regular discounts won't cover, the AP discount does seem to. But like I said, this is our first experience with it.

Have a great time on your trips!

 

[eyor44]

I have had the TIW card for a couple years now and an AP for the past 4. While any discount can change at a moments notice, I have used the TIW at any Resort Food Court and at Pizzafari and Flame Tree Barbeque.

Get your AP before you purchase the TIW card and you will get the card for $75 instead of $100.
It is in a specific person's name, so make sure to get it in the name of the one who will use it the most. DH only goes when the whole family goes, I go multiple times a year, so it is in my name.
The card can not be used on major holidays. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Easter, and a few others.
Always have your picture ID with you, they will ask for it.

AP and TIW have definitly saved me money over the years.

 

[photos_101]

I have had the TIW card for a couple years now and an AP for the past 4. While any discount can change at a moments notice, I have used the TIW at any Resort Food Court and at Pizzafari and Flame Tree Barbeque.

Get your AP before you purchase the TIW card and you will get the card for $75 instead of $100.
It is in a specific person's name, so make sure to get it in the name of the one who will use it the most. DH only goes when the whole family goes, I go multiple times a year, so it is in my name.
The card can not be used on major holidays. Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Easter, and a few others.
Always have your picture ID with you, they will ask for it.

AP and TIW have definitly saved me money over the years.

Are you sure about the bolded above? We just got ours a couple weeks ago. We bought our AP's then immediately asked about the TIW card. We were charged $100.

 

[vicki_c]

Are you sure about the bolded above? We just got ours a couple weeks ago. We bought our AP's then immediately asked about the TIW card. We were charged $100.

You're right, that is wrong. TiW membership is now $100 for AP holders and DVC members, and I believe $125 for FL residents.

 

[bumbershoot]

To be clear on the quick service places....

Value resort food courts, including AOA,
QS places in AK park,
Sassagoula at POFQ, and
Artist Palate (or whatever that food court's exact name is) at SSR.



We get the AP for admission when it makes sense. Everything else is a bonus.

 

[andrews_dad]

Free parking if u drive in adds up fast.