I think i'm through with disney!!!

[disneyworldaddict]

So my husband and I are APHs. We have jobs that make it very difficult to schedule a week off. So we were able to get an entire week at the end of Aug and have already booked our airfare. The resort we would like to stay in does not have any passholder rooms available, thats fine. So we went to AAA. We can get a great deal on 2 rooms at Pop the week we want, through AAA. But in order to get the DDP we need to book park tickets!!!!! We are PASSHOLDERS!! They will allow us to book a room at Pop for full-price as passholders and purchase DDP without purchasing park tickets.

So the Happiest Place on Earth, known for it's customer service, is penalizing us for being passholders. We are not permitted to use an AAA discount and purchase a DDP, unless we by park tickets! But if we didn't have an AP we could. It's irrational.

Anybody have any other places in the Orlando area they could suggest? At this point I'm through with Disney. Hows the Harry Potter ride?

 

[msjprincess]

So my husband and I are APHs. We have jobs that make it very difficult to schedule a week off. So we were able to get an entire week at the end of Aug and have already booked our airfare. The resort we would like to stay in does not have any passholder rooms available, thats fine. So we went to AAA. We can get a great deal on 2 rooms at Pop the week we want, through AAA. But in order to get the DDP we need to book park tickets!!!!! We are PASSHOLDERS!! They will allow us to book a room at Pop for full-price as passholders and purchase DDP without purchasing park tickets.

So the Happiest Place on Earth, known for it's customer service, is penalizing us for being passholders. We are not permitted to use an AAA discount and purchase a DDP, unless we by park tickets! But if we didn't have an AP we could. It's irrational.

Anybody have any other places in the Orlando area they could suggest? At this point I'm through with Disney. Hows the Harry Potter ride?

Is that something new? Don't you always have to buy tickets in order to get the DDP unless you're staying at a DVC resort on points?

 

[disneyworldaddict]

Is that something new? Don't you always have to buy tickets in order to get the DDP unless you're staying at a DVC resort on points?

My understanding was in the past you had to buy a park ticket, but then you could get refunded. This year you are required to purchase a 2 day park ticket in order to purchase DDP. There was no mention of a refund. If it ever worked differently in the past, I don't know anything about it. This is the first and last time I will ever purchase an AP.

 

[KELLY]

My understanding was in the past you had to buy a park ticket, but then you could get refunded. This year you are required to purchase a 2 day park ticket in order to purchase DDP. There was no mention of a refund. If it ever worked differently in the past, I don't know anything about it. This is the first and last time I will ever purchase an AP.

That sounds like you are getting the free dining promo. There has always been a ticket purchase needed to get free dining.

You are paying rack rate for your room and ticket to get the free dining. Which requires a 2 day ticket to get free dining.

 

[mickeynut1]

Is that something new? Don't you always have to buy tickets in order to get the DDP unless you're staying at a DVC resort on points?

They changed it for AP holders awhile back and made it so they can book an AP + Dine package without having to purchase tickets.

This year you are required to purchase a 2 day park ticket in order to purchase DDP.

The 2 day park ticket requirement is for free dining; otherwise, it's just a minimum of a 1 day base ticket to get the DDP (unless you're a DVC member staying on points, renting points, or book an AP + Dine pkg).

That sounds like you are getting the free dining promo. There has always been a ticket purchase needed to get free dining.

You are paying rack rate for your room and ticket to get the free dining.

You are correct. It used to be just a 1 day base required for free dining, but now it's a 2 day.

 

[lovesdumbo]

Is that something new? Don't you always have to buy tickets in order to get the DDP unless you're staying at a DVC resort on points?

AP holders can book an "AP package" with DDP without buying tickets. This has to be booked as an "AP package" which could be either rack rate or AP rate.

All other packages-general public, AAA, free DDP- require park ticket purchase. You can save the tickets for use in the future-they can be used for AP renewal when that time comes.

 

[THERESA522]

If you're talking FREE dining, then I understand it. You can't combine two discounts on any reservation. In this case, the discounts would be dining (free) and AP's (discounted tix).

 

[disneyworldaddict]

No free dining, doesn't start until after we leave. My husband can never take vacation the last week in Aug.

 

[KELLY]

No free dining, doesn't start until after we leave. My husband can never take vacation the last week in Aug.

Ok. I'm just trying to figure out where your TA came up with a 2 day ticket to add the dining plan. I think it is just one day you must add. Is there any rooms with your Ap discount available?

 

[disneyworldaddict]

Ok. I'm just trying to figure out where your TA came up with a 2 day ticket to add the dining plan. I think it is just one day you must add. Is there any rooms with your Ap discount available?

No. Which is fine, but we have AAA. We can get on nice price on 2 Pop rooms, but we have to buy a park ticket if we want dining. The second room is for my daughter and step daughter and they do not have APs. So they can get the AAA discount. We either have to give up the AAA discount, or purchase a park ticket. It doesn't make sense. We are being penalized for being passholders.

 

[nrpofp]

I understand your frustration. I booked a room in October with a bb and had to buy a one day ticket to get the dxdp. I thought I would change to an ap discount when they were released, but the ap discounts have been so crappy. I decided to switch to room only and give up the dxdp. It's a shame because I really like the dxdp. Its disney loss though because we probably won't spend as much on food now.

 

[kaffinito]

No. Which is fine, but we have AAA. We can get on nice price on 2 Pop rooms, but we have to buy a park ticket if we want dining. The second room is for my daughter and step daughter and they do not have APs. So they can get the AAA discount. We either have to give up the AAA discount, or purchase a park ticket. It doesn't make sense. We are being penalized for being passholders.

That's the way of it too. I liked being an AP holder in the beginning, when there were nice discounts to be had, but now that the Passholder discounted rooms are being released after the GP rooms, it's really tough to find a room with a discount.

It's sad that in order to add the DDP onto our ressies that we have to book using an AP or we have to buy tix too. That's been enough to keep me from doing the "free dining".

 

[Junebugwv]

I gave up the AP a few years ago and have never regretted that decision.

 

[PryncessChrysty]

If you're an APH have you considered buying the Tables in Wonderland card? Before we had AP's, we would get the dining plan, but if you're going to be eating at Signature restaurants, TIW is a WAY better deal. Our card paid for itself very quickly.

 

[Sue M]

Yes, the late summer/fall AP rates starting Aug 14 - Oct 1 I believe came out early July. WDW, like with all their discounts (AP, GP,Visa holders) only puts out a limited # of discounted rooms, and when they're sold out, that's it. And they may not put out the discount for all the resorts, like a sale anywhere there can be exclusions.

It's kind of hard booking a last minute trip with a discount. They go pretty fast. I book ahead, and watch for the discounts, and when they come out jump on it.

I know not everyone can book ahead, with work constraints, and I'm sorry that's the case for you.

But it's kinda like being mad at Macy's cause the sale was over, and you couldn't get off work to take advantage of it.

I hope you are able to find something.

 

[Sue M]

That's the way of it too. I liked being an AP holder in the beginning, when there were nice discounts to be had, but now that the Passholder discounted rooms are being released after the GP rooms, it's really tough to find a room with a discount.

It's sad that in order to add the DDP onto our ressies that we have to book using an AP or we have to buy tix too. That's been enough to keep me from doing the "free dining".

We booked the free DDP for POR in Aug, doing the Disney Math it worked out cheaper then the AP discount & adding on the DDP, even with the 2 day tix.

I don't like that they release the AP now after the GP discounts either or that the discounts aren't as good as they used to be either.

But the savings for me is not to have to buy multiple sets of tickets. We'll have 3 trips on this AP.

 

[mom2ee]

How many days going? can you just purchase the Minimium tickets and have daughter and stepdaughter use the days and you and husband use the APs. and have everyone on the DDP?

 

[Sandisw]

Just remember though, the dining plan is really a package add on. A package is room and tickets.

When it first came out, there was no way around getting it without the tickets. Disney then changed the rules to allow AP holders to get it but said only if you are were paying rack rate or were on an AP rate.

The AAA rate is a discount with its own rules. So, I don't see it as you being penalized that you have an AP, since they will let you book a stay without tickets, but rather that the rules for using an AAA discount as an AP holder doesn't necessarily make it a great savings since you have to buy a ticket.

Its like any Disney promotion out there. Some work well for certain families but not for others.

The great news is that at least it will save your other family members and for you, it will give you two tickets to be used to upgrade to your next AP's.

 

[mischief32]

Go the Universal. We did that this May/June for something different and we will never go back. If we want to go to Disney will stay at a Universal hotel and get a taxi over to Disney. We got a deluxe club level room for what we paid for a moderate at Disney. Wonderful time except for a few illnesses.

 

[ElizabethB]

Yeah, going to Universal is the right answer. Wonderful hotels with much, much better prices.

If, however, you are determined to stay at POP, there is a public code discount going on now -- about $89 per night. Does that compare with your AAA rate? I am able to book a package with dining buying a one-day basic park pass for each person. If the public code compares favorable to your AAA rate, you could call and see if they require the one-day park pass purchase for those with APs.