How do AP rates work for booking a stay?

[momisgoofy]

How do the AP rates work for booking a resort stay? Am planning a stay for Thanksgiving week with myself, DH, DS 8, DD 5. When would an AP rate come out for this time period? Should I get the pass now or should I see if can get the rate first before I get the pass. Where do I check to see if they have come out besides here and moussavers.com? Has anyone ever had for for this time period? Do they work for just the room? How do they work in restaurants?

Thanks.

 

[llebrekniT]

The discounts for that time came out in Sept. last year.

You do not need an AP to book an AP rate. They may ask for it when you check in though. You could buy AP vouchers now and have them validated when you get to the park. You don't want your start date to be before your trip. That way you can use them longer.

There are some other discounts for AP holders. I think there is a good section on that at www.wdwinfo.com

Just keep checking the resort board here at the DIS and you will know when the rates are released. You can sign up at www.mousesavers.com and they will send you an e-mail too.

Good luck!

 

[PamNC]

We just bought our AP's on 2/9 and visited the world 2/9 - 2/16. Here's what we did. We booked about 2 months prior to the visit. We hadn't bought our AP's yet but that doesn't matter because you don't have to have them in hand while booking. The official rule says you need an activated pass at check-in. So, we opted to purchase our passes at Downtown Disney because those are already activated. When we went to check in, they didn't even ask to see our passes. But, just to be safe I would have them before your check in. No need to buy them now or stress at all. It's easy.

They usually offer AP discounts about 2-3 months ahead. But that changes all the time. Check these boards and mousesavers.com. I think they do offer discounts for your time frame EXCEPT for Thanksgiving and that weekend. However, I believe the way discounts work as far as AP discounts is it's valid for check-in dates. For instance, we checked in 2/9 with an AP discount at the Poly of $179. On 2/12 that rate expired and went up considerable. But, since our checkin date was 2/9 we got that rate the entire time.

PamNC

 

[cheerdaddy]

PAMnc:
that's correct...you're rate on your day of check-in is good for the entire stay, even if rates increase during your stay.