Disneyland APs - cheapest way, where to buy?

[aliceindisneyland]

We are getting APs again and will take our next trip in < 3 weeks! We are getting 4 Deluxe APs so I need either a deal on APs or a deal on $2000 in Disney Gift Cards!

AAA offers a $14.50 discount on the Deluxe AP, but that is only 2% off, plus 2% is my best travel points cash back (Costco Amex), so about 4% off.

Fry's (Kroger) has 2x Fuel Points [I maxed out what we will use in fuel through July with the 4x points] on gift cards. So $2000 in Disney gcs = 4000 points, or 4 fill ups of approx. 30 gallons each - but that's $1 off/gallon for DH's car for about 15 gallons, and only .66 off/gallon for me [he has to use Premium gas] = $24.90 saved per fill up, times 4 = about $100 off $2000, or 5%, plus 1% on my Disney GC = about 6% off. (up to 6.6% if both of our cars are completely empty every time we do tandem fill ups.)

Or the old standby, Target. Total 5%.

I don't believe Costco carries APs or even Parkhoppers anymore; is that correct?

I could do the Sam's Club deal by buying Walmart gcs first, but I don't know of any ccs that count Walmart as a grocery store to maximize that savings.

Best bet seems to be to quickly apply for a credit card with a great cash back on groceries. Any other ideas?

I'll be in southern California all next week (but not at DL!) so I can pop into any area stores where deals have been spotted!

 

[aliceindisneyland]

I'm replying to myself!
I signed up for the Amex Blue Cash Preferred last night: $150 cash back after spending $1000, and 6% at the grocery store up to 6k/year.

So for just the 2000 in gift cards, I'll get:
$120 for the 6%.
$150 cash back sign up bonus.
4000 Fry's (Kroger) 2x fuel points, saves me $25 on each of 4 fill ups.
_________
$370 saved on $2000 in Disney Gift Cards
18.5% off of my APs!

***
Total for 4 Deluxe APs is $2076 but I already have gcs to cover the bit over the 2k.

I'll get a little more back (3%) on the fuel purchases too, with either of my Amex cards, and the 6% in groceries on the remaining $4000 spend limit on groceries ($240 - $75 annual fee = $165) will go into the vacation fund as well!

***
Bonus: Fry's sells the Disney cards you can put up to $500 on, so the CM will only be swiping 5 cards at the ticket booth to get to $2076 instead of swiping 42 cards like the CMs have so nicely and cheerfully done when I have bought the $50 gcs at Target!

 

[KalamityJane]

If you can pay for the APs with a Disney Vacation Account, you can add another 2% by funneling the gift cards through there

 

[aliceindisneyland]

If you can pay for the APs with a Disney Vacation Account, you can add another 2% by funneling the gift cards through there

Great idea! It won't work in our case because we go in about 2 weeks and you have to have the acct for 120 days to get the gift cards, but I may end up opening up an acct to slowly build our WDW trip that we postponed since we can't stand being away from DL!
I'm just holding out because I think with all of the negative reviews they might come out with a sign up bonus or a better gift card deal! One can wish!