Do AP Rates really work?

[Efastpitch]

I keep reading about the AP Rates, how do you find out the rates and when? We are considering a AP pass but would like some more information. Can you please help?

 

[magsmom]

Here's Mary Waring's site on annual passes:

http://www.mousesavers.com/disneyresorts.html#ap

There is currently a thread watching for January and February 2004 AP rates.

I think that if you go to the parks 8 or more days or so within a year is the break-even point on annual passes.

There are also other perks, 10% off at World Of Disney, restaurant discounts, mini golf, etc.

Don't bank on getting an AP rate for the room, however. As crazy as I am in attempting to get a AP rate for my stays, I do treat them as icing on the cake - as a little extra magic. We will be staying on property in February AP discount or no AP discount - and from what I have read, availability can be tight.

Good Luck!

 

[Gary M]

AP room only discounts really do work if they are offered for your stay and you reserve the room before all the rooms allocated are taken. I see by your countdown that you will be going to WDW in Dec.. AP room rates were offered for this year up to Dec. 26. All the discounts have probably been taken by now, but you could call to see. To reserve a room with an AP discounts you don't have to have a AP card, but need to have one when you check in(or voucher).

AP room rates aren't offered all the time and the number of rooms available are limited.

Check this site and www.mousesavers.com to see when they become available.

 

[CamColt]

They can work and they cant work. We checked in and activated our APs on August 24th. This was the first time in quite a long time no AP rates were offered. However we are going back in December, during "holiday season" and are paying 134.00 at the Swan and 170.00 at the Poly. That works for me. The savings from our 5 nights at the Poly pays for our 4 passes right there.
Even without room discount we will still be getting over 20 days in the parks so it was definitely worth it for us. Although we probably would have done 10 days less(no Dec trip) had we not had the passes.

 

[Geoff_M]

Adding to the chorus... Only buy the AP if it'll save you money for park admission. AP room rates are not guaranteed. They used to be plentiful in recent years, but starting last Spring the WDW marketing department seems to have shifted strategies and actually started offering discounts on their packages. This seems to be working to increase room occupancy, so there are a lot fewer rooms to offer discounts to AP holders. When the rates for Oct-Dec were released, the discounts for many dates were gone in a matter of a couple of hours from the release.

 

[AirForceRocks]

Keep in mind too that you don't have to have the AP in order to book the room. I would call and see if there are AP rates available for the time that you'll be there, and if so, book the room, then buy your AP later.

 

[Pig Pen]

I agree with AFR.

Call to see if any AP rates are available for your stay. If so, judge if buying an AP will be worthwhile for the room savings, especially if you are not staying long enough or frequently enough to meet the "break even" point.

If so, book the room and buy the AP right before you check in.

You don't have to buy everyone in your party an AP, just one will give you the room and meal discounts.

Beware - having an AP forces you to return to WDW over and over and over...

 

[KathyFP]

It worked for us. We got in three trips. Save 45% on AKL and I can not remember how much on POR. Used Disney club to get a discount on the AP.

Used AP discounts when eating (where possible) and shopping.

 

[Efastpitch]

Originally posted by Gary M
AP room only discounts really do work if they are offered for your stay and you reserve the room before all the rooms allocated are taken. I see by your countdown that you will be going to WDW in Dec.. AP room rates were offered for this year up to Dec. 26. All the discounts have probably been taken by now, but you could call to see. To reserve a room with an AP discounts you don't have to have a AP card, but need to have one when you check in(or voucher).

AP room rates aren't offered all the time and the number of rooms available are limited.

Check this site and www.mousesavers.com to see when they become available.

Thanks for the info. We have good rates for the WL in Dec. But we will be going back on March 6, 2004 thur March 19, 2004to visit our daughter at spring break.

 

[goin2disneyagain]

When the AP room rate discount is available, what is the percentage off? The previous poster posted 45% off AKL, does it vary from resort to resort and from trip to trip? That's a great discount so I was just wondering if that was the normal discount.