Convincing My Mom To Get AP's.

[-_Stitch-Up-Scrump_-]

Hey guys!

So I really want to get AP's as my christmas/birthday gift this year. My mom knows I LOVE Disney, but the problem is is that I have 2 sisters, so she would have to buy 4 AP's which is around 4,000 dollars. Along with that, we would have to get a hotel room. I try to get her to stay at Value resorts but she probably won't. She was a travel agent, so we get discounts, but we can also stay at the Swan or Dolphin like we have in the past since she is a SPG Member and can use her points there. We fly standby, so that is not a problem, but we also have to pay for food and other things. So obviously, that is a lot of money.

Anyways, can you guys give me tips on how to convince her to get AP's?

Thanks!

PS: I know this sound greedy or whatever but I just want this, it would be fine if I didn't get it, but, I would just like to have it. Also, I would like some tips though rather than some "good lucks" or "it is just up to her". I am just looking for ways to try and convince her to buy them.

 

[StacyStrong]

I mean.... You could just convince her to take a Disney trip without APs?

I'm not sure I would convince any parent to get their underaged kids APs and then also book several trips with flights and hotels to make them worthwhile.

If the parent can afford it and wants to do it, all the power to them. But I would never try to convince them it's a good idea lol

Sorry, you're on your own here.

 

[StacyStrong]

I would like to suggest that you save up your money and pay for your own though!!! How can I do that?

 

[-_Stitch-Up-Scrump_-]

I mean.... You could just convince her to take a Disney trip without APs?

I'm not sure I would convince any parent to get their underaged kids APs and then also book several trips with flights and hotels to make them worthwhile.

If the parent can afford it and wants to do it, all the power to them. But I would never try to convince them it's a good idea lol

Sorry, you're on your own here.

I only want to get season passes so we can go multiple times throughout the year. My mom always wants to go during a busy time, but if we get AP's she might go some other times as well. I also think she would like the Photopass, discounts, hoppers, and the idea that I can go without her to other parks and not have to *pay* that time. And, we fly for really cheap (like less than a 100 for all four of us) and she probably would get cheap rates for the value resorts as she is also a travel agent. Whenever we have gone in the past, she really only paid for the tickets and food, the 5 day tickets are almost half the price of the AP's not including Photopass and everything else, so if we went multiple times throughout the year, we could really save money. I am trying to convince her to get them for me this year, but if that doesn't work, I want to try getting them for my 16th birthday. Only problem is trying to convince my twin to agree with that. We could go for like 2 weeks in the summer or go on multiple week trips throughout the year, and since we live in AZ, that wouldn't be that much of a problem for us. Some years, we go on a cruise, but I want to try to convince her to buy AP's instead of going on a cruise, since we could technically use it more. I can get a job right now, I want to, so if I did I could try to pay her for the hotel (at least some of it).

 

[bumbershoot]

and the idea that I can go without her to other parks and not have to *pay* that time.

Is this just referring to hopping? Otherwise I don't understand it.


So the reality is that you're not asking your mom for an AP. You're asking her to create an entire year of vacations around your wish. You ARE trying to make it less expensive for her by getting APs instead of normal tickets, but you're also increasing costs as well. And you're going to have to get your siblings OK with the idea, too, and it sounds like one isn't keen on the idea.

This is not just a Christmas request; this is a series of conversations to be had with your family.

 

[StacyStrong]

You wouldn't be saving money going multiple times in a year.

Good luck convincing her. I don't know what your mom can afford, but I hope you appreciate all she can offer anyway!

If she's able to do this for you, that's great! Good luck.

 

[-_Stitch-Up-Scrump_-]

Is this just referring to hopping? Otherwise I don't understand it.


So the reality is that you're not asking your mom for an AP. You're asking her to create an entire year of vacations around your wish. You ARE trying to make it less expensive for her by getting APs instead of normal tickets, but you're also increasing costs as well. And you're going to have to get your siblings OK with the idea, too, and it sounds like one isn't keen on the idea.

This is not just a Christmas request; this is a series of conversations to be had with your family.

Yes.
Well not an entire year, but like 3 or 4 trips. Like one in winter, spring, summer, and fall. In school, I have Winter Break, Spring Break, Summer, an then Thanksgiving Break or Labor Day Break. So any of those breaks we could go. Not saying we would go to all of them. For example, we could go for a week in winter and 2 weeks in the summer. Or just go whenever we feel like since we have that freedom. My older sister is in college, so technically she could be out of the picture, and then my twin would go with me, except she is a dancer so she would rather do an intensive. She has been doing those for like 5 years straight, so I feel as if she would be ok with skipping an intensive to go to DW. They would love to go to DW, but they would rather go other places, but I feel as if we got AP's they would feel obligated to go.

 

[StacyStrong]

I need to have a word with my parents apparently. I got a cake and some shoes, if I was lucky, for my birthday as a kid.

 

[-_Stitch-Up-Scrump_-]

You wouldn't be saving money going multiple times in a year.

Good luck convincing her. I don't know what your mom can afford, but I hope you appreciate all she can offer anyway!

If she's able to do this for you, that's great! Good luck.

Obviously, anything would be great!

I need to have a word with my parents apparently. I got a cake and some shoes, if I was lucky, for my birthday as a kid.

It would be Christmas and birthday combined, and that would be the only things I would want. Usually on my birthday I get like 2 shirts and like a video game. I'm not like one of those kids that get like 50 gifts for my birthday, we usually just go on a trip every year, and I think we should just get those instead of going on a cruise or something, since they are somewhat similar in price, depending on a lot of things

 

[OhDannyBoy]

Your asking for a $1000 gift according to your math.

That's one expensive game and some expensive shirts.

 

[StacyStrong]

Obviously, anything would be great!

It would be Christmas and birthday combined, and that would be the only things I would want. Usually on my birthday I get like 2 shirts and like a video game. I'm not like one of those kids that get like 50 gifts for my birthday, we usually just go on a trip every year, and I think we should just get those instead of going on a cruise or something, since they are somewhat similar in price, depending on a lot of things

I think what you need to do is go on the Disney website and price out 4 week long vacations for 4 with the lowest dining plan for an estimate on food. Then you need to take 30% off to be liberal with your discount. Then you need to add 4000 for APs and 400 for your likely unrealistic flight costs.

Cuz I'm looking at upwards of a $15,000 gift and that's...a lot of money for a birthday and Christmas present.

But if you really want to convince her, do the math. Price it all out. Compare it to your normal trips. Lay it all out. Show her the benefits vs the cost.

 

[OhDannyBoy]

Yeah how the heck are you flying 4 people anywhere for under $100? Do you know a pilot?

 

[-_Stitch-Up-Scrump_-]

Your asking for a $1000 gift according to your math.

That's one expensive game and some expensive shirts.

I’m just saying that is what I usually get for my birthday. The AP would be birthday, Christmas, and the trip we usually go on.

 

[-_Stitch-Up-Scrump_-]

Yeah how the heck are you flying 4 people anywhere for under $100? Do you know a pilot?

Standby honey pumpkins. We fly for basically free. Both of my parents worked for TWA which went into American.

 

[TheOneWithTheTriplets]

I am trying to convince her to get them for me this year, but if that doesn't work, I want to try getting them for my 16th birthday.

My older sister is in college

except she is a dancer so she would rather do an intensive.

So, your mom is looking at one kid in college now, plus the cost of two more in the next couple of years. In addition, your twin's dance lessons/intensives/studio time has to be quite an expense. I'm not sure what your extracurriculars are; perhaps they are free/low cost. Do you and your twin have/plan to get driver's licenses? Her car insurance will be sky high with 3 young drivers, even if your sister is away at school. You don't mention another parent, so it's not clear whether we're talking about a single parent or dual parent household trying to cover the cost of three teens/young adults.

Perhaps your parents have excellent incomes and live well within their means. They may have plenty of savings to support three kids in college. If so, congratulations! By all means, try to convince your mom to plan 4 vacations this year. However, if she, like most families, is feeling the pinch when it comes to the expense of high school and college age kids, then there's no way on this earth that you're going to convince her to do this, and rightfully so. Think seriously about how much you and your sisters cost, just by being normal kids, give her a hug, and go get a job to start saving so that you can maybe afford those APs/trips on your own in a couple of years. Or, you could put that savings towards college expenses and take some of the burden off of your family.

 

[BalooFan]

The price for your AP may be $1,000, but what you are requesting will require your mom to also pay for APs, rooms, food, and airfare for herself and the rest of your family for more than one trip in a year. Perhaps I’m missing something, but I don’t understand how this saves her any money. You are asking for a very generous gift. Do your sisters also want APs as their birthday/Christmas gifts? If not, you’re sort of imposing your will on them, right?

I know this isn’t the type of answer you want. You need to have a discussion with your mom and get her feedback. If she doesn’t want to purchase APs, listen to her reasoning maturely and respect her decision.

 

[-_Stitch-Up-Scrump_-]

nvm

 

[bryanb]

This is a very ambitious request, but if you think you have a shot of getting this from your mom, I would put together a presentation for her. It can be in Word or Powerpoint.

I would use both left-brain (logical) reasons and right-brain (emotional) reasons. For the left-brain, it sounds like you have an idea of the total cost of a Disney vacation.
Start by pricing out everything (including the costs of tickets without an annual pass). Then show her on the right column, how much everything would cost with an Annual Pass. When calculating the cost of SPG (Marriott) points, keep in mind she might want to use those points for something else, so you should include the value of those points. Assuming you can convince her to take multiple trips to WDW, I would show how many trips it would take to break even on the investment.

On the right brain, I would explain the benefits of this plan for you and your family. Because you have to convince her that it's actually a good idea to go multiple times. You can intersperse it with pictures of happy moments everyone has had playing together at WDW. Express how a year of Disney vacations will help bring everyone closer, create lasting memories, etc. You might browse the Disney website (maybe even DVC website) for sample marketing language. You know your mom best, so you should tailor the language to her.

Before presenting this to her, it would be helpful to run it by your siblings to ensure they agree with the plan. It will make your case much stronger than if someone has an objection. They can also help poke any holes in your arguments, which you can then go back and strengthen for the final pitch. When you do the pitch, do it after a meal. I would probably help out with dishes or do something really nice (over and above your usual chores) to make sure she's in a good mood.

Don't forget to close the pitch by asking for "the sale" with confidence.

Edit: I don't think it would work with my parents, as we didn't have airline privileges or even a lot of money for vacations. But since I don't know OP's circumstances, this could still be a great learning opportunity on how to build a fully thought-out, calculated, and convincing case for something that's hard to win. And who knows?

 

[DisneyWishes14]

So, why don't you just lay it out the way you've laid it out for us?

Instead of going to WDW once a year plus going on a cruise, I would like to purchase AP's for 3 and take at least 2, week-long trips in one year. Then show her the costs - AP's, air, hotel, food. If you can show your mom and twin sister that going to WDW at least twice a year is more fun and more cost effective than going to WDW during a busy time + a cruise, maybe she'll say yes. If I were you, I would think of a plan B - something you could ask for (perhaps WDW-related) that would cost less. Perhaps an AP for you and mom? Could you go on a second WDW trip while your sister is at her dance intensive? Or perhaps one WDW trip with something extra - a fireworks party? hard-ticket event, etc?

 

[FCDub]

I don't know whether I'd laugh or be furious if my kid proposed such an idea.

Good luck, I guess. You said you didn't want that, but you'll need it.