In general how good are the AP deals? Should we buy them?

[leeserw]

I'm trying to decide if I should get AP for our family. We go once each summer. We have gotten a PIN code for free dining or a room discount the last four years. I'm wondering if I'll keep getting the PIN codes and, if I do get them will I be able to use them if we have AP. The postcards and emails we get with PIN codes say it can only be used if you buy a package including park tickets. I'm just wondering if we'll end up saving enough if we have to pay full price for dining and/or room.

 

[fla4fun]

Don't buy an AP solely to get room discounts. AP discounts are not guaranteed - they may be there or they may not. Disney uses them to fill rooms that aren't being sold at full price. One thing though - if you are booking an AP room, you can add dining without having to purchase tickets. We just don't get free dining as passholders - we have to purchase it.

If you can time your trips so that you can get two year's vacation out of one AP, then that is a good reason to purchase an AP. Typically the break even point is around 10 days, so if your trips are usually that long anyway, you could get 20 days of admission out of the AP.

Yes, most of the packages do require a minimum ticket purchase. So if you are used to booking the packages and you want to continue to do so, then an AP may not work for you. You do have the option of using the tickets in the package toward the purchase of your AP, so you don't lose money - you just don't necessarily save it either.

It depends a lot on what resort level you prefer to stay in. A 35-40% discount on a deluxe resort is a pretty good amount of cash - more than enough to pay for your dining. But 15-20% off a value is not such a savings and could end up costing you more in the long run than a free dining package. You kind of have to run the numbers both ways.

 

[Mrs D]

PP hit the nail on the head!

 

[2ofUs]

You do have the option of using the tickets in the package toward the purchase of your AP, so you don't lose money - you just don't necessarily save it either.

Clarify for me please. I know an unused Park Pass can be applied to an AP purchase, but can you combine several?

I tend to go 1-2x per year w/o DH; we go together 1x per year. When together, we stay part of our trip in off-premise vacation club, but use AP for parking.

So, say we decide to take advantage of a pkg offer that requires each person to by PP. Can I apply BOTH of those to my 1 AP purchase next year?

 

[Mrs D]

Clarify for me please. I know an unused Park Pass can be applied to an AP purchase, but can you combine several?

I tend to go 1-2x per year w/o DH; we go together 1x per year. When together, we stay part of our trip in off-premise vacation club, but use AP for parking.

So, say we decide to take advantage of a pkg offer that requires each person to by PP. Can I apply BOTH of those to my 1 AP purchase next year?

You may upgrade a single ticket to any length ticket including to an AP. As far as I know you may not combine more than one ticket for any reason including to upgrade to an AP. hope this helps.

 

[texasteacher35]

The codes this past year haven't been as good as I initially expected. However, we love having the AP's! The discount code is a great back up code when nothing else is offered, or some PIN doesn't get sent to me. The discount is awesome, plus we save a ton by buying them and going to WDW 3x in a year. So they are worth it if you are going to make 2 or ore trips a year, alone! Plus the 10% discount is good, sometimes it has been higher!

 

[Sue M]

As mentioned, the break even is 10 days, or multiple trips in 12 mo period.
When we get an AP, we go twice a year, one 10 day or more trip & a 7 day trip. 2 years ago timing it right we were able to eek out a 3rd trip on AP

The AP discounts (and discounts in general) seem to be lower this year. Last year I got a 45% AP rate for Poly. All the Deluxe AP discounts used to be 45 % for Deluxe. Now I see they're 42% or less for Deluxe.

Moderate GP discounts are in general 30% discount with promos, and AP promo would be 35% off.

Right now we're booked with the Free dining in Aug at a mod, had to buy 2 day tix, and booked BC with the 35% GP discount, had to buy a 1 day park ticket so I could add DDP. When (and if) AP discounts come out for Aug, I hope to switch BC to the AP + DDP, hopefully with a 42% discount, and I can take off the 1 day park ticket. If not, I can live with the GP rate.

On the moderate, I'll have to do the math to see what's best. I can keep the 2 day ticket to renew AP.

 

[texasteacher35]

We are getting 3 trips out of our AP's for one year, that definitely makes it worth buying the passes. PLUS, we will do it again in the upcoming years because we are buying a timeshare, and it just makes sense...for us...LOL