If I get an AP, Do the Discounts Kick In Immediately?

[Sherry E]

Okay, here I am, about to give in to the dreaded Disney 'snowball effect.' I had a perfectly nice little 2-night trip planned for October and then decided to add an extra night onto the hotel stay at PPH and made some sort of rationalization to myself as to why I was doing that. And we will be upgrading two one-day/one-park tickets to two 2-day Hoppers. This got me thinking. Bumbershoot had suggested quite a few months ago that the next time I go to DLR, I should probably just get an AP because, even if I made only two trips to DLR next year - 'trips' meaning two 3-day/3-night stays at a hotel - the AP cost would be worth it pretty quickly. I mean, to get three-day Park Hoppers for two separate trips next year would about equal the cost of a Premium AP, right, or maybe even surpass it? So I think the AP would be worth it for just two trips (with the option for more) and, not to be diminished, for the discounts! So what I am considering is this: When I go to DLR in early October, I MAY take my one-day/one-park ticket and instead of upgrading it to a 2-day Hopper, I could just upgrade to a Premium AP, get my photo taken (blech!) and all that. It is important to have the Premium AP because we tend to go on weekends and around holidays more than other times, so I need that access!

So, IF I do this (and it will depend on finances and a couple of other mitigating factors), will the benefits of the AP take effect right away? Like if I get the AP on October 2, will I be able to get discounts on merchandise and food on October 3rd or 4th? AND, if I want to go back to DLR in December of this year, will I be able to use my AP discount on hotel rooms that soon, or would I have to wait until next year?

Finally - and this is important - if the answers to the above questions are yes, then are there any blacked out days at the hotels in December where I would NOT be able to use an AP discount? Or can you use your AP discount at the hotel any time if you have a Premium pass? How does that work?

I appreciate any insight and info - this is uncharted territory for me, but it seems like it is beginning to make some sort of fiscal sense to bite the bullet and get the AP!!!

 

[tigger0215]

Well seeing i have had an AP for the past like 3 years , i am happy to tell you that the discounts DO begin when you get it!

 

[Sherry E]

Well seeing i have had an AP for the past like 3 years , i am happy to tell you that the discounts DO begin when you get it!

Thank you! Oooh...goody! So, I could do that on October 2, and then start reaping the benfits instantly on that trip, and then get an AP discount room for December.

But, Tigger, can you tell me if there are any blocked out dates for rooms at AP rates at any of the DLR hotels in December, or are they all okay if you have a Premium AP? AND, what are the 2008 rates for the three hotels with the AP discount? Do you know off-hand, without having to dig through a bunch of paperwork?

 

[shyboy72]

I'v been planning on getting one and finally on our trip in Oct. I can't wait to get one..

 

[Grim_Grinning_Girl]

We just bought Deluxe APs on our trip for the first time and yes the discounts are same day.

Just wanted to mention something to anyone considering the Premium for the free parking that I did not know - if you buy a Deluxe pass you can pay an additional $70 I think it was? and add on free parking. If you usually travel with the same people (in same car) and you all decide to buy passes, only one needs to be upgraded, that's what we did.

Be sure you know which stores & restaurants in both the parks and Downtown Disney give you a discount when you buy your pass, we missed a few that day .

 

[Sherry E]

We just bought Deluxe APs on our trip for the first time and yes the discounts are same day.

Just wanted to mention something to anyone considering the Premium for the free parking that I did not know - if you buy a Deluxe pass you can pay an additional $70 I think it was? and add on free parking. If you usually travel with the same people (in same car) and you all decide to buy passes, only one needs to be upgraded, that's what we did.

Be sure you know which stores & restaurants in both the parks and Downtown Disney give you a discount when you buy your pass, we missed a few that day .

Don't they give you a little booklet or list thingy that tells you what shops and restaurants have discounts? I would be upgrading my ticket to an AP because I usually make all the plans and need the discounts. However, my friend is usually with me on these trips and she drives so I would give the parking pass to her. I assume that would work if we were traveling together. I am most curious about what the hotel rates are with the AP discounts. It looks like from what I could gather, there are blackout days on hotel stays, even with a Premium pass. That sucks, because we usually would go on weekends, and we usually want to go right around Christmas. So it looks like any hopes of getting a discount on a hotel then are shot!

 

[toocherie]

Sherry--to answer your question about discounted AP rooms, I believe the normal 10% discount is available year round SO LONG AS DISCOUNTED ROOMS ARE AVAILABLE. So, if many APers have already called for your dates and reserved there may be rooms available but not discounted rooms. Also, the special AP rates--currently AP7--are only for limited times and do sell out. You can call now (before you get your AP) and reserve a room at the AP rate for December--you have to have the AP when you check in (but you can buy it through the hotel too.)

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry--to answer your question about discounted AP rooms, I believe the normal 10% discount is available year round SO LONG AS DISCOUNTED ROOMS ARE AVAILABLE. So, if many APers have already called for your dates and reserved there may be rooms available but not discounted rooms. Also, the special AP rates--currently AP7--are only for limited times and do sell out. You can call now (before you get your AP) and reserve a room at the AP rate for December--you have to have the AP when you check in (but you can buy it through the hotel too.)

Thanks, Toocherie. That clears it up a bit more for me. So if I understand you correctly, there are specific AP7 rates - and those are the ones that have blackout dates after December 18 - but you think that the AP can also be used to get a 10% hotel discount any time of the year, as long as the rooms set aside for the dicsounts are available. See I thought there were only AP7 rates and that was it. And the blackout dates would prohibit the time when we were planning on going in December. I didn't realize you could use the AP to get a regular discount year-round, so that will help! I know that people jump on the AP7 rates because they are so good, but even if I can't get that, if I can get some kind of discount, it is better than no discount!

 

[jernysgirl]

You can call now (before you get your AP) and reserve a room at the AP rate for December--you have to have the AP when you check in (but you can buy it through the hotel too.)

This also sounds like you can get the discount on your hotel in Oct as well. IF you buy your AP at the hotel when checking in, they would give you the discount for that trip correct???? (or buy it in the park before checking in would work too I suppose.) So, you could save on your one night stay at PPH in Oct as well, if I am understanding correctly.

DH and I had APs awhile ago and then let them go because we knew we wouldn't be able to use them for at least a year or so. I cannot recall all the details. But, I am keeping my fingers crossed for getting APs again when we go next spring!

 

[Sherry E]

This also sounds like you can get the discount on your hotel in Oct as well. IF you buy your AP at the hotel when checking in, they would give you the discount for that trip correct???? (or buy it in the park before checking in would work too I suppose.) So, you could save on your one night stay at PPH in Oct as well, if I am understanding correctly.

DH and I had APs awhile ago and then let them go because we knew we wouldn't be able to use them for at least a year or so. I cannot recall all the details. But, I am keeping my fingers crossed for getting APs again when we go next spring!

And that is exactly what I would do - use the AP (assuming I get one in October) for a discount at PPH - but I already booked three nights there with the PIN# discount rates that were floating around a few weeks ago! So those rates are good - only slightly higher than what the AP rates would be. It is the December (potential) trip I am brainstorming on now as far as lessening the hotel bill! But all this madness with upgrading tickets and eating at places and not having discounts is what got me thinking that it just might be worth it to get the AP, because otherwise, I would be getting three-day Park Hoppers in December and then probably again next year in October. Might as well have the Premium AP and get the benefits that come with that!

 

[pixiewings71]

Sherry! I hope you can do this! I hope things are looking up for you!

Yes, the AP is immediate, you get it before you leave the bank!! And yes, your discounts are available immediately! It's pretty exciting!! And yes, you can get the standard discount as long as they have it available, which in my experience it was available every time.....wasn't as good as the prices I could get staying on Harbor so we only used the AP rates twice (once for GCH and once for PPH) but it was so worth it!! We stayed at the GCH in Nov. for $225 a night!!! WITH a DTD view!!! We loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just make to ask everywhere if you qualify for a discount, you might be surprised at how many are available.

 

[toocherie]

Yes, there are two different levels of AP hotel discounts--the 10% off the rack rate which is available year round and the "special" numbered rates--currently AP7.

Oh, and not sure if this would apply, but if you have a senior going with you (I think the age is 55 or 60--can't remember) then you get 30% off the rack rates any time of the year.

I would think the 10% discount would be less enticing than the pin rate that went out?

 

[Sherry E]

Yes, there are two different levels of AP hotel discounts--the 10% off the rack rate which is available year round and the "special" numbered rates--currently AP7.

Oh, and not sure if this would apply, but if you have a senior going with you (I think the age is 55 or 60--can't remember) then you get 30% off the rack rates any time of the year.

I would think the 10% discount would be less enticing than the pin rate that went out?

I think the 10% discount for AP holders may be slightly less than the PIN# discount I used for PPH in October, but the problem is you can only use the PIN# discount once, and it has blackout dates in December, so I can't use it again in December. And the PIN# discount rates were slightly lower than the AP7 rates, I think. No seniors in our group - though we certainly feel old! No AAA, either. So IF I get the AP and couldn't go on one of the days/nights with the AP7 rates, then I would just use the 10% discount on a room. Better than nothing, I guess! These APs do seem to be a good investment when you think about it. It seems frivolous up front but when you start delving into all your expenses each trip and how everything is broken down monetarily, and then figure in the food, hotel, ticket and merchandise discounts you could get WITH an AP, it almost doesn't make sense to NOT have one, unless you only plan to go to DLR one time in the next year, for one day or something.

 

[Hester]

I have a question on the same subject...

So, an AP7 rate is DIFFERENT than an AP rate?

So, if I call now and ask for an AP7 rate, it will be different than an AP rate?

Curious because I booked 3 nights at TGC at the AP 10% rate and I remember back when I was previously an AP holder (several years ago), we got much better rates than just 10% off rack. Obviously I am still hoping to cancel my current reservations in hopes of a better rate on the room.

 

[Sherry E]

Sherry! I hope you can do this! I hope things are looking up for you!

Yes, the AP is immediate, you get it before you leave the bank!! And yes, your discounts are available immediately! It's pretty exciting!! And yes, you can get the standard discount as long as they have it available, which in my experience it was available every time.....wasn't as good as the prices I could get staying on Harbor so we only used the AP rates twice (once for GCH and once for PPH) but it was so worth it!! We stayed at the GCH in Nov. for $225 a night!!! WITH a DTD view!!! We loved it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just make to ask everywhere if you qualify for a discount, you might be surprised at how many are available.

Pixiewings, Thanks for the kind words. Things are not entirely looking up for me yet - they kind of keep ebbing and flowing, going up and down like a roller coaster - but I am trying to hang in there for the ride! I had cancelled the GCH reservation that I made through WDTC for this coming December, because there is just no reason to spend more than $200 extra on a hotel room that I could get by going directly through Central Reservations and paying less money. I saw what the extras were in the package we had last year, and they are not worth more than $200 extra. That PIN# discount presented itself to me just at the time we were thinking of making a Halloween-ish visit for the day to DLR. My birthday was in July, so a couple of friends offered to pitch in towards the October trip in different ways, so that is how that one came together. But I was still left with the December dilemma. I just LOVE those holiday things at DLR! I want to go back to GCH but cannot use the PIN# again. And it wouldn't be possible to go during the week, unfortunately, when I could probably get the AP7 rates. So if I DO get the AP when I go in October, at least I could apply the 10% discount to a hotel room, whatever hotel that ends up being! And if it is PPH again, that si fine - we will just go and SIT in the lobby of the GCH and pretend like we are staying there!

I don't know if I will for sure get the AP, and I don't know if I will do the December trip for certain, but as I just stated in my last post, it almost does not make sense to not get an AP because it can be used for shopping, eating, tickets, hotels, whatever. It seems more sensible than getting two or three-day Park hoppers every time I go. Anyway, I am playing it all by ear, just depending on the finances!

I can't believe you got such a good rate at GCH in November - was it after the holiday decorations came up, or before? If you went after the holiday stuff was up, I would say that price was a REAL bargain at GCH! Because, otherwise, without any kind of discount - yikes!! I love those rooms with the DTD view - I had one back in 2001. Great view of the fireworks!

Thanks for all the good help and info - and I will ask everywhere I go if I qualify for a discount (if I get the AP), just so I don't miss a good opportunity!

 

[Sherry E]

I have a question on the same subject...

So, an AP7 rate is DIFFERENT than an AP rate?

So, if I call now and ask for an AP7 rate, it will be different than an AP rate?

Curious because I booked 3 nights at TGC at the AP 10% rate and I remember back when I was previously an AP holder (several years ago), we got much better rates than just 10% off rack. Obviously I am still hoping to cancel my current reservations in hopes of a better rate on the room.

If I am understanding what everyone here has said correctly, it sounds as though when you went before you got the special AP rates (it wouldn't have been AP7 a few years ago, but AP4 or whatever, I assume), which are very good deals, and those are the ones that have blackout dates - you can't use them during certain designated periods like holidays or whatever. And then there is the regular AP 10% discount off the rack rate, which you have now. And that one is not as big of a bargain. Maybe you booked for a date that was blacked out of the AP7 rates, and so the 10% was applied instead. I am only guessing.

 

[Hester]

If I am understanding what everyone here has said correctly, it sounds as though when you went before you got the special AP rates (it wouldn't have been AP7 a few years ago, but AP4 or whatever, I assume), which are very good deals, and those are the ones that have blackout dates - you can't use them during certain designated periods like holidays or whatever. And then there is the regular AP 10% discount off the rack rate, which you have now. And that one is not as big of a bargain. Maybe you booked for a date that was blacked out of the AP7 rates, and so the 10% was applied instead. I am only guessing.

Hmmm...

I didn't ask for an AP7 rate, just for an AP rate (which was the 10%)

I also booked dates, Sun-Wed in late Feb., which I believe is off-season.

What I'm wondering is if I need to ask for an AP7 rate???

I'm confused

 

[Sherry E]

Hmmm...

I didn't ask for an AP7 rate, just for an AP rate (which was the 10%)

I also booked dates, Sun-Wed in late Feb., which I believe is off-season.

What I'm wondering is if I need to ask for an AP7 rate???

I'm confused

Well, it can't hurt to ask them, but my guess is that they don't have special rates yet (maybe they would be AP8??) for next February, so they just automatically gave you the 10% discount. But I don't know for sure. I could be wrong. Have you looked on the AP portion of the Disneyland website? If I recall, some members on this board have said that the rates are posted periodically on there (you have to have an online account) and when you spot the AP7 or AP8 rates when they come out, you copy the code assigned to them and then make your reservations using that code.

 

[Hester]

Well, it can't hurt to ask them, but my guess is that they don't have special rates yet (maybe they would be AP8??) for next February, so they just automatically gave you the 10% discount. But I don't know for sure. I could be wrong. Have you looked on the AP portion of the Disneyland website? If I recall, some members on this board have said that the rates are posted periodically on there (you have to have an online account) and when you spot the AP7 or AP8 rates when they come out, you copy the code assigned to them and then make your reservations using that code.

Well... that's part of my confusion. We're not yet AP holders... we're getting them upon arrival on our next stay and were able to book the 10% under rate since we'll have them upon check-in.

Which brings yet another question... if I were to purchase APs on the DL website, would I have instant access to the AP section of the website? And... for final clarification, would the expiration date begin at the time of purchase or the time of first use next Feb.???

 

[bumbershoot]

Hester, the AP7 rates are only "now through December 18, 2008". They won't have the AP8 rates out at the same time as the 7, and who knows when an AP8 might be for. So right now, I would think that the AP rate you have is the best they have right now for that time (and might be the best that they end up having).

When you buy your AP without being there, it's not active. An active AP means you've used it for entry and have taken your pictures and such. The clock starts when you use it, or if you're upgrading from a hopper, the first day you used that hopper. So when we first used our hoppers on Sep 18 last year, when we upgraded on the 20th, our expiration ended up as Sep 18 of this year. You get an entire year...since we had Leap Day in there, we will have had it for 366 full days, if you include even our blocked out dates (we got Deluxes).

Now as for getting access to the site, I've heard that *some* people have gotten access. That their voucher had the numbers that became their AP number, and those numbers worked to log into the AP site. But it seems that most people have to wait until they get their actual AP with their picture and all.

Sherry E, once you pay, give info, and have your pix taken, you'll be given your AP and the little pamphlet/brochure, and you could run right down the street to the bakery or a store (since you'll have a Premium) or Carnation Cafe and buy something and get your Premium AP discount with it. It's that quick.

when you start delving into all your expenses each trip and how everything is broken down monetarily, and then figure in the food, hotel, ticket and merchandise discounts you could get WITH an AP, it almost doesn't make sense to NOT have one, unless you only plan to go to DLR one time in the next year, for one day or something.

Yep. Now, for us, the discounts haven't added up to anything that would be worth it, and when I figure out what we *could have* gotten discounts on it doesn't add up to have made sense for any of us to upgrade to a Premium. For us, it's the tickets where the good deal came in.

It's possible we'll sneak in another trip before our APs expire this year, and if we can we'll try to get an AP7 deal (time's running out on these APs though), and then we would have really gotten good use out of our APs. But just for admission alone we've more than made up for it.


Only for those who absolutely positively will not be coming back within 365 days is an AP not worth it. If by the end of your trip you're thinking about coming back, it makes almost no sense to not upgrade to it (b/c you are probably hooked and you will be coming back, LOL) from whatever ticket you got in with. If you only have that ONE trip, though, Disney has been *very* careful that none of their tickets go over the Deluxe or Premium cost. In the US we can only get a certain number of days on our hoppers, but in other areas people have gotten hoppers that had many more days, and even those hoppers were less than the cost of a Deluxe. So if that is the ONLY trip you'll take, unless you carefully figure out what you'll eat and buy and find that the discounts will take you over the difference, then it's OK (I give permission, LOL) to not buy the AP.