If you have AP do you actually use the discounts?

[Mum23]

I am going on a girls trip with 5 day park hoppers. We were planning on going as a family of 5 next fall. I am trying to decide if we should just upgrade our tickets for this girls trip to the AP's. Thing is, we need a room with microwave/mini fridge when we go next fall because of allergy issues. Also I am not finding planning a last minute trip fun So I know AP gives you room only discounts but I don't know if those would be better that renting DVC points which we did last time. We don't do free dining (again, because of allergy issues) so I just am torn. Next fall trip would be 5 day most likely park hoppers too.

 

[acc82]

I DO use the discounts. I use the 10% off at the gift shops ALL the time. I would use the food discount but I have tables in wonderland and that discount is better (20%). I would highly recommend the AP.

 

[fla4fun]

It's really an individual decision. You have to take into account which of the benefits you might use keeping in mind that Disney can change or remove any benefit at any time. My advice is to buy an AP if it's the best admission value for you and consider any perk you get above and beyond that as icing on the cake.

As far as room discounts go, AP discounts are usually some of the last to be offered, so the availability is typically more restricted. You should always have a second or even third choice in mind, and alternate dates as well. I have an AP and I probably book a pretty even mix of AP discount and Bounceback discount - but I don't have a set resort in mind so I can be flexible.

 

[Disneylover99]

I use all the discounts. But I don't buy an AP for the discounts. I buy it because it makes sense for us based on the number of park days we do per year.

 

[Jon84]

You'd have to do the maths, but consider one person getting AP for the discount, and spread the cost amongst you. Over 5 days, it's gonna be tight to make a big saving.

TiW is great, but the break even point didn't make it worthwhile for us.

 

[Jon84]

Grrr, Double Post!

 

[pmaurer74]

I use it on merchandise, getting a discounted room rate and a discount on party tickets.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I agree with a previous post... If it works for you in terms of admissions, that is what is most important with a WDW AP since it is such an expensive pass. And making sure you aren't missing out on FD which you have already addressed.

 

[PeasandCarrots]

I am going on a girls trip with 5 day park hoppers. We were planning on going as a family of 5 next fall. I am trying to decide if we should just upgrade our tickets for this girls trip to the AP's. Thing is, we need a room with microwave/mini fridge when we go next fall because of allergy issues. Also I am not finding planning a last minute trip fun So I know AP gives you room only discounts but I don't know if those would be better that renting DVC points which we did last time. We don't do free dining (again, because of allergy issues) so I just am torn. Next fall trip would be 5 day most likely park hoppers too.

Even a high AP discount (which are hard to get) of 35% doesn't get you anywhere close to renting DVC points at the same resort. It's hundreds cheaper to rent DVC, even after adding on trip insurance (due to the no-cancellation policy). Also, even deluxe disney resorts do not have a microwave (I just stayed at Boardwalk) so don't assume a microwave. The cabins at Fort Wilderness and some family suites do, but those are usually moderate or value classification and therefore do not get the 35% discount but more likely 15-25%.

I would not get an AP just for discounts. I would only get it if you will be there enough days to justify it. We got 2-4 weeks per year so we can justify it just on ticket prices. Even if you decide to go with a room that might get a discount you won't know if you can get it until 3-4 months out from your trip. That's why I've switched to DVC point renting. The stress of trying to get a discount has just become too annoying even with my AP.

We do use food and merch discounts but no where near enough to pay for the AP.

 

[Happyjen27]

I just got an AP this year because it made sense for entry. The AP was only $15 more than the price of buying both sets of tickets separately (4 days in Sept, 5 days in Feb). I did use the discount on some merchandise but I'm not a big shopper. The dining discount isn't offered many places that I eat, but I did use the discount to get MNSSHP tickets.

The room discount is usually (rough guess) only 5% more than the General Public discount, so it's not going to tip me one way or another. The only way I considered it was running the numbers on the park tickets.

 

[wdwfanva]

We use the discount every where we can. The main reason we get APs is for number of days/ trips we take. One word of caution, be sure to ask for the discount, some places don't give it unless you tell them you have APs and want the discount.

 

[msmama]

I upgraded to an AP on my last trip because I knew I'd be going again within a year so it made financial sense.

That said, I did use my discount on merchandise. I have a Disney Visa which gets you 10% off $50 or more, but the AP gets it off any amount (maybe not at all stores, but where I was shopping at the time).

I planned another last minute (ish) trip recently and did NOT use the AP discount for rooms - I found a rack rate room cheeper than any discounts. Like others have said, I look at the discounts as the icing on the cake. I'm already saving money by not having to buy park tickets for another trip.

That said, the worst part of an AP seems to be the need to plan yet ANOTHER trip to get to use it again, lol!!

 

[North of Mouse]

I am going on a girls trip with 5 day park hoppers. We were planning on going as a family of 5 next fall. I am trying to decide if we should just upgrade our tickets for this girls trip to the AP's. Thing is, we need a room with microwave/mini fridge when we go next fall because of allergy issues. Also I am not finding planning a last minute trip fun So I know AP gives you room only discounts but I don't know if those would be better that renting DVC points which we did last time. We don't do free dining (again, because of allergy issues) so I just am torn. Next fall trip would be 5 day most likely park hoppers too.

We have mostly always gotten the AP's as we usually stay 10-14 nights per trip, and like the advantage of coming and going when and where without using a ticket for 1-2 hours, whatever - also use them for 2-3 stays. As for the discounts, we use them in restaurants sometimes, but the Disney Visa will get you the same 10%. We don't buy enough from the stores to make a large difference.

So, no, we don't buy them for the 'perks' - not any savings for us.

 

[North of Mouse]

We use the discount every where we can. The main reason we get APs is for number of days/ trips we take. One word of caution, be sure to ask for the discount, some places don't give it unless you tell them you have APs and want the discount.

True, but how else would they know??

 

[HopperFan]

While I have used the AP room discount often and with success in the past - I am finding myself more and more offsite due to Disney's every increasing prices. I get my days worth for sure but my AP gives me free parking, access to TiW which we more than get our monies worth to save on dining and every single time I am preparing to pay for anything I ask about AP discount, and they are all over the world.

Most of all just make sure you come out close to even or ahead with the cost of the APs vs regular tickets.

 

[ars0525]

I have never used my AP for room discount. But I have used it for clothes, food & merchandise whenever I can along with the Disney Visa discount if they take that (I always ask).

It might be better to buy only 1 AP for your group rather than everybody?

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

I use the discounts on merchandise and used to use the room discount but lately the AP room discounts haven't been better than the general public discount.

In your case since you need to make food for people, I'd just rent DVC points so you can have a microwave in your room.

 

[Hopelessly_Devoted]

yep. 10% is 10%. It adds up. If you spend $500 on souviners you save 50 bucks

 

[katmatry]

a 5 day hopper is $404, an annual pass is $697. If you are going on a family trip for 5 days within the same year as the girl trip then you should get an annual pass because you'll save yourself $100 before you use any discounts. No need for the other girls on your trip to get the annual pass unless they are planning on going again too.

 

[Mum23]

Thanks all. The girls trippers would both be going again on the family trip as well (my DD and I). I am trying to talk DH into it but he's a numbers guy. I think it's also insurance that we WILL go back in the fall which he is reluctant to do, this would lock him in