For those of you with Annual Passports...

[caligirl stuck in va]

I am planning our 2010 trip to DLR which at this time is a 20 person Family Reunion. 5 of this 20 is my DSis and her family - DSis was last @ DLR in 1987 and her family has never been. A large portion of their trip will be paid by me. I am thinking of getting a Deluxe Annual Pass or even a Premium. I have been studying the discounts associated and it is a good deal. I am curious, though, from those of you that have them....We do normally eat our meals together while in the parks - would I be hassled if I used the discount and paid for the entire meal? Are there limitations on the usage of the discount for large groups?

Any insight here would be great - thank you!

 

[Jennifer03]

I have a deluxe annual pass and when paying for food the cast member has never asked if everyone in the group is an AP member. However, this has not been with a large group so I don't know if that makes a difference.

 

[mechurchlady]

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/general/loadGeneric?genericName=APTermsPopUp

They used to have a limit on how many people could get the discount off of one card. In other words an AP could not bring 40 people to get the discount. This may have changed and I do not see it on the site. I used my AP on Sunday and they did not check who was I was buying for or ask for a discount for them. I always remove my credit card and my AP at the same time so I do not forget.

Parking is extra.

If stolen you must provide a police report for a free replacement or pay $20 as that is what I had to do for my friend, argh.

Premium gives you a 10% discount on merchandise that adds up to least $10 and 15% instead of 10% discount in select restaurants. Both give you 20% off of tours. Block out tickets can be bought and used only at the parks and on that same day used to upgrade the AP's account which is nice to know if you are not sure if you will need the pass during blackout days.

BENEFITS/DISCOUNTS: An Annual Passholder must present his/her valid Annual Passport prior to purchases to receive any applicable benefits and discounts. Benefits and discounts are nontransferable and may not be combined with any other offer or promotion. Discounts apply only to a minimum purchase of ten dollars ($10) (excluding taxes, fees and gratuities). Merchandise discounts, as applicable, are not valid on artist originals, limited editions, selected collectibles, Disney Dollars, gift cards, gift certificates, admission media, arcades, shipping, or taxes. Dining discounts are not valid on alcoholic beverages, tobacco products, taxes or gratuities. Benefits and discounts are determined solely by Disney and may be valid at only select locations.

 

[pixiewings71]

Premiums APs have parking included, Deluxe APs can have parking added for $59. We added parking to my Deluxe and then when we upgraded to Premiums I got credit for that $59. Just so you know. There is a minimum purchase of $10 to get your Premium AP discount in stores and the AP holder does have to pay (we took our girls' BFFs last trip and the cashiers all had me get the money from the kids and then pay after using my discount). I have no clue what dining issues you might run into with that many people. Other than finding someplace for you to all eat! LOL

 

[All About The Mouse]

Depending on how many days you will go a pass is a great idea. My fam and I have Deluxe passes as we spend a few weeks in Cali in the summer and want to be able to go as often as we can. I added parking to mine and it was a great idea.
I have used my pass in Oct. and this past week so it paid for itself many times. Discounts on food and tours add up as well.

How nice that you can pay for your sister and her family. I bet you can call Disneyland directly and talk to someone about where to plan meals for such a large group.
I don't think I could survive a family reunion as too many don't always get along.

 

[fairykin]

We took a big family trip at christmas, not as big as your family, and i found that having a Disney Chase visa and the Disney Premium Annual Pass was really worth it.

Show your premium annual pass at the meal and pay for the meal with the disney chase visa.. you get a great discount.

We had 8 in our group with no problem. I don't know of anywhere where 20 of you can sit at the same table.. so perhaps if several members of Your party have the disney visas and premium annual passes you could break up into groups of 6 or 7.

Also..a trick i did was open a savings account just for Disney and put money away so that when it came time to buy the annual passes... I used the Disney Visa and got the rewards points and i think a discount.. i might be wrong.. Someone will Jump in and tell me if i am

Anyway You should get good disney rewards on purchasing that many annual passes. Perhaps enough for a nice meal in the park.

 

[mechurchlady]

The Chase Disney Visa credit card gives back 1% on purchases. I bought the entire month worth of groceries and our trip to DLR and dinner earlier in the week and mom's stuff. I will pay it off today or when I do bills.

some things to think about when going with an AP:
How many days will you need admission to the parks?
How much is parkhoppers and annual passes?
Can you return to the parks before the AP expires?
Would it be the ultimate super deluxe gift to family even if you know they will never use it again? "Aunt Becca got us into the parks" becomes "OMG, my wonderful Aunt Becca gave me this super deluxe annual pass to Disneyland!".

You need one AP per car for the free parking. One AP per person who is doing the shopping. A person can buy Disney Dollars then give the dollars to the AP who then buys the merchandise with their AP discount. Disney Dollars are also accepted at cash only places like carts and there are no ATM withdrawal fees. You get real American cash back when you use Disney Dollars for more than the purchase amount.

 

[prncssmel]

We have never had any problems with them limiting how many meals discounted. We went with a group of 16 last year. When we ate I just gave them my AP, and they had no problem taking off the discount for the entire group. They even split our bill up after giving us the discount. I definitely think getting one AP is worth it for the discounts with a large group, plus you never know when the chance to go again might come up during the year.

 

[tripletlyblessed]

If you are going to get Deluxe APs, look at Costco and see if you can get them there. They have a $50 GC with it.

 

[bumbershoot]

Yeah but she's planning her trip for '10. Unless they still have the APs there then, I don't think the current ones will still be "good" for then.


I could be wrong, but I think the OP is only planning on an AP for herself (I assume you're a "her"), so that she can get the discount on things she's already planning to buy for others. I think it's a good idea.

I don't know about the 20 people thing, but since you're all family I would imagine it would probably be doable.

If you'll only be paying for food for family, either the deluxe (10% off most food) or the premium will work (15% off most food). If you want to buy them gifts as well, only the Premium gives a % off merchandise.

OK that's not 100% true, because there are discounts at various DTD stores with ANY AP...but for the park shops (that participate) and World of Disney...the Premium AP is the only way.



And just so you don't feel alone in buying an AP just for discounts...I've included buying an AP and checking out those discounts into our WDW vacation planning. Doubt I'd be back inside a year but IF I could get a room discount that made it worth it, I'd likely do it!

 

[Disney Dreams]

I have used my AP to pay for everyone in my party many times. However, if you use your AP, you must use YOUR credit card (or cash). You cannot use your AP and someone else's credit card.

Also, you can use your parking if you are in the car, even if you are not the driver. We have friends who have the parking on their 8 year old's pass only. Whatever car she is in (parent, grandparent, aunt) gets free parking.

 

[caligirl stuck in va]

Thank you, all! Yes, decisions decisions. I think if I were to get a Deluxe for myself, that I would definitely make back the difference in cost in the Parkhoppers vs the Deluxe - in food costs alone. We do plan on Ariel's this trip, although that would only be for 8 people, I would love to get a discount on that bill. Plus, I would like to take the rest of the kids to a Character Breakfast - that is pricey, too. I really would like to get the Premium, but not sure I can recoup that difference in the discounts.

I doubt that I would be able to make it back inside a year for a second trip. Our trip will be 6-7 days in the parks. I am considering getting a Deluxe/Premium for one of my sisters. It is possible (especially with that Deluxe or Premium) that they could return inside of a year and get the extra use out of the card.

I, too, was wondering if we would be able to be seated together in restaurants as a group of 20. I know that in the past, when our group was 14 people, it was tough. But if they would just seat us near each other, in smaller groups, that would be okay, too. We do go off season, so that helps.

I would love to get a great room rate with the AP and stay in one of the resort hotels, but that is not a deal breaker. And really, hard to make concrete decisions until costs for next year are released. I will certainly look into the Costco option - but like bumber said, may not be offered next year.

Thank you everybody - I will continue thinking and planning!!!

 

[pixiewings71]

Just remember that the Deluxe does have blackout days, this year Saturdays are blacked out starting the 14th of March. Just something to keep in mind.

 

[DizNee Luver]

We're planning on getting a premium AP when we arrive on Saturday. We were able to book the DL Hotel for AP rates. So between the disc on the hotel, meals & merchandise....I've more than paid for it. I would hope to get back within the year, but if I don't I'm figuring I'm coming out ahead. (there will be 6 in our group)

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Does the DV give a food discount? I've never received a double discount when I've used my DV to pay for a meal after showing my AP.

If the DV does give a food discount, then I don't think the deluxe AP is worth it if you're only planning one visit within the 365 days, especially if one of your days is blacked out. If you have a non premium AP with parking, parking is not free on a blackout day.

And bumber, to give you a heads up, WDW does not offer anywhere near the perks to AP holders as Disneyland does. They get loding discounts when applicable, 10% off $50+ purchases only at World of Disney, and they can buy the Tables in Wonderland card which then gives them a food discount. They also get occasional show perks in the parks.

 

[pixiewings71]

Does the DV give a food discount? I've never received a double discount when I've used my DV to pay for a meal after showing my AP.

If the DV does give a food discount, then I don't think the deluxe AP is worth it if you're only planning one visit within the 365 days, especially if one of your days is blacked out. If you have a non premium AP with parking, parking is not free on a blackout day.

And bumber, to give you a heads up, WDW does not offer anywhere near the perks to AP holders as Disneyland does. They get loding discounts when applicable, 10% off $50+ purchases only at World of Disney, and they can buy the Tables in Wonderland card which then gives them a food discount. They also get occasional show perks in the parks.

They don't give double discounts, I've asked a few times and been denied.

 

[Sleepless Knight]

That's what I thought.