Estimated discount

[McKelly]

My family and I are planning a trip to Disneyworld in the beginning of December. We would like to stay at the Wilderness Lodge or the Polynesian. Does anyone have an estimated guess what the cost of a discounted room would be at this time? We are not AP holders. Thanks!!

 

[HaleyB]

www.mousesavers.com
has historical data on discounts. You may want to consider getting one AP so you can get the AP rates.

 

[McKelly]

Thanks for the advice about getting an AP. My question would be, are the AP discounts deep enough to spend the extra $150.00 or so instead of getting regular Park Hopper Passes. And have you ever had a problem getting an AP discount, since they say they are limited? Thanks again for any advice anyone can give!!

 

[AdventurerKat]

Keep in mind that only one member of your party needs to have an AP and that you can book up to three rooms with one pass.

Sometimes certain resorts may not be available with the AP discount but since you have two you are interested in, chances are you would at least be able to get an AP for one or the other, especially in a slow time like you are going.

 

[McKelly]

Okay, so just so I have this right, and I apologize if this is very redundant on these boards, but I have to ask anyway. If I get an AP, the other five people I am traveling with DO NOT need AP's, as long as I book and pay for the rooms. Also, if I read mousesavers correctly, you can get an AP voucher at Disneystore. Also, just to double check, I CAN IN FACT book rooms with the AP discount without actually having to activate my AP. This sounds like it would save quite a bit of money, if I am booking two rooms and the discounts are fairly generous. I guess it seems too simple to be true!! I am a pessimist, can you tell?!?!?! Anyway, if I purchase an AP, but I do not activate it, will I still get E-mails/mail that lets me know of upcoming discounts, or is that only for activated AP's? Again, THANK YOU SO MUCH for all of your help!!!!

 

[HaleyB]

Yes to everything, except, I don't know about the e-mails... but the codes get posted here and at Mousesavers really fast!
You don't need anything but the code and a credit card to book the AP rate. Lots of people also book rooms before the rates are released and then have the code applied once it is out... You do need an AP at check in (or at least they say you do, lots of people report a voucher for an AP being good enough). With one AP you can book up to 3 rooms. Pretty cool. isn't it?

 

[McKelly]

Yes, it does sound cool!! Too cool to be true, but I believe you and I will be purchasing an AP to get the discounts. Now I have to convince my husband how cool it is too, because he doens't believe it either!! LOL!! Thanks again!!

 

[SYDNCLAIRESMOM]

Another thing to keep in kind is there was an instance not to long ago where there were NO AP discounts (I cant remember when). So I wouldnt actually buy the AP (unless you were planning on buying one anyway) until the codes come out and you have the resevation that you want in place.
That is: Make the reservation rack rate- wait (and pray!!) for the AP code to come out, then apply the code. You can do this without actually owning an AP yet, so long as you have it at checkin.
After it is all said and done and have it exactly the way you want it, go pick up your AP. That way your not stuck with an AP that you didnt want or need.
APs have historically been the deepest discounts so if you can swing it do it!! Good Luck!!

 

[McKelly]

Thanks for the advice!! I think I will wait until closer to the time I leave or at least until I know there is going to be an AP discount. We are not leaving for several months, but I am little excited (LOL), so I am probably rushing things too fast.

I also had one more question about the AP's. If I buy one at Disneystore, would it expire on date of purchase or on date of activation. I'm thinking date of purchase, huh? But how would they know when you purchased it, if it was just a voucher. Do you have to fill something out? I should probably buy it the week before we leave, huh? In case, by some stroke of luck, we will be able to return to Disneyworld in 2005?

Thanks again!

 

[HaleyB]

Your year starts when you activate, but as above post advised, wait untill AP rates are a sure thing before you purchase them.

 

[tinkerbell211]

What they are saying is true! I had never bought an AP before I read about them on this board. I did exactly what they said. I made the reservation at regular rate. Then the AP rate came out. I called in the code that I got from these boards,WDW adjusted my rate w/out hesitation, THEN I bought the Annual Pass.
Worked like a charm. It sounds so "too good to be true" that I was nervous up until I checked in (At Carrib. Beach for $79.00 by the way). Things went just like they described.

If the rates don't come out for your date, or if you change your mind, just cancel (w/in 48hrs of check in-I think). But it appears that they are coming back to back to me.

The one down side to the AP is...now I'm hooked! For the 1st time ever, I'm going 2 times in 1 year. I've made my 2nd reservation w/ the AP rate. I can't wait to show up at the parks in 10 days ALREADY PAID!!!
Best of luck!

 

[disneefamily]

Disnee Dad says.......................................and you get 366 days to an AP. We bought ours on 11-10-01, and used it on 11-10-02. btw, it doesn't matter when you buy it, nothing counts until you activate it.

Unless they changed things you didn't need to buy the pass until you get there. Just make sure you have it before you check in. We dropped in at DTD and picked ours up on the way to the hotel.

Oh, and start saving, you will go a second time!!! when you don't need to spend $12,567 for admission, the trip becomes affordable!!!

 

[Lollipop Mom]

to answer your question about how deep the discounts are, the rack rate for a Standard room at the WL in 12/03 was $199; the AP rate for the same room was $109. So assuming you would be staying for 2 or more nights, yes it would be worth it to spend the extra $150 for one AP!

 

[McKelly]

Thanks to everyone posting on this subject. $109.00!!! Holy Smokes!! Now I am even more excited than I already was. December seems sooooooo far away!! I am driving everybody crazy talking about it. I am glad I found these boards so I can speak about it and get information without everybody else getting cranky!!! But I am sure they will thank me in the end!! LOL! Thanks again!

 

[ChairborneRangr]

You've found the right place...

Understanding, Sympathy, Empathy, and a love for Disneyworld!

Nevermind they naysayers... they just don't get it. It's a Disney thing.

 

[KIRSTIN'S MOMMY]

I just purchased 3 AP's! One for me, one for dh, and one for dd! We are going in August and in Dec. for dd's 5th birthday. We were planning on buying the 7 day php passes, but when I found out it was only $54 more per ticket for the AP, I went for it! I am hoping for codes for both dates, but the fact that we live so close and are already AP holders at US/IOA makes me think we'll get a lot of use out of them, if we get codes or not....good luck and happy planning! Maybe we'll see you there in Dec.! We're planning a quick weeekend at the WL Dec. 10-12. DD's birthday is the 11th.

 

[jeankeri]

You have to cancel a room only reservation 5 days before your check-in for a full refund.

 

[rob'n]

Can I just say that you all are the best! Our trip isn't until October of 2005 and I just get so tickled by all of you. I am energized by all the ways I can save money. My DH thinks these boards are a conspiracy to help all mouselovers across the world convince their significant others to travel to WDW...hmmm...he might be right but hey we are all happy once we get there, aren't we?

Have a great evening everyone!
Robin

 

[jaross]

We bought an AP one year because we would be there for 9 days and it was cheaper than a park hopper. But, then we got that $109 at WL for eight nights. We found a cheap airfare deal a few months later and just me and DH went down for a few days and booked a $69 allstars AP rate.(no kids! It was so much fun!)

Then we went back to WDW 51 weeks later and stayed eight days at $109 AP rate for AKL Savanah view! (It was really booked at caribbean beach, but a few days after I booked they announced closing CB for renovations and I was upgraded).

Those AP's were probably the best investment I have ever made.
If you figure (and I'm rounding by memory so I might be off here and there) I saved about
$ 400 for the passes for four of us for the first nine days
$ 720 on the room at WL
$ 300 for the 3 day trip for two passes
$ 100 savings for AP rate 3 nights
$1300 for not buying passes when we went back in 51 weeks
$800 savings for AP rates 8 nights at AKL

That's $3,620 savings

Add in the $1200 for four AP's (I had Disney Club) and a free AP Halloween party while we were there....

I paid $1200 for nearly $4,500 worth of passes and hotel rooms!

Now that's a deal! If only I could do that with the stocks I buy!

Wow! That's the first time I put it all down on paper. I did even better than I thought and squeezed three trips into one year.

I know I started rambling.... but, my point is that an AP can really be used to your advantage with a little planning.

Chris