Is an AP worth the price?

[Brander]

Could anyone confirm what the AP discounts have historically been for hotel stays in July? I have AAA discount already, but am wondering if the price of the AP can be offset with room discounts.
Any help will be aprreciated!

 

[klh999]

Remember..

That a Universal AP, not only gets you discounts on hotels but also food and merchandise. I easly made back my money between merchandise and food discounts, hotel and being able to go back to Universal was just a bonus. Flex-play just made up my mind, less money to put out before the trip!!

 

[lindalinda]

What is the discount on food and merchandise? Because AAA also gives you discounts for these 10 % I believe.

 

[klh999]

DISCOUNTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR THE FOLLOWING

Universal Studios Florida & Universal's Islands of Adventure Theme Parks

10% savings on single day & 15% savings on multi-day theme park tickets (up to 6 people)
Free admission to select special events, such as Mardi Gras
Special discounts on separately ticketed events, such as Halloween Horror Nights and Rock the Universe
10% savings on select VIP Tours (call 407-363-8295 to book your VIP Tour - dates subject to availability).
20% savings at merchandise stores and carts (excluding The Master Coin Monster and Mystics of the Seven Veils)
15% savings at all restaurants (excluding carts and alcohol)


Universal CityWalk Orlando Entertainment Complex

20% savings on a CityWalk Party Pass (up to 4 people)
CityWalk venue discounts* are as follows:
Air Brush Wizard - 10% savings
Bob Marley, A Tribute to FreedomSM - 15% savings on food & beverage
Cinnabon® - 20% savings
CityJazz® - 15% savings on food & beverage
Dapy® - 20% savings
Decades Cafe- 15% savings on food & beverage
The Endangered Species StoreSM - 10% Savings
Get Wired - 10% savings
Glow!® - 20% savings
Hair Wraps - 10% savings
Hard Rock Café® Orlando - 10% savings on merchandise, food and beverages
Hard Rock LIVE - 2 free admissions to "Livewire" & "Jam Bando" local nights (118 and up only - call 407-351-LIVE for schedule of events)
Horse Drawn Carriages - 10% savings
Jimmy Buffet's®; Margaritaville® - 10% savings on savings on food, beverages, and merchandise
Latin QuarterTM - 15% savings on food & beverages
NASCAR CaféTM - 10% savings on food & beverages
NBA City - 10% off food on food & beverages, one (1) free interactive game card per passholder, and one (1) $3.00 off merchandise voucher per party
PastamoreSM Ristorante & Market - 15% savings on food & beverages, plus kids (ages 3-9) eat free for dinner with the purchase of an adult entrée (limit one (1) per party for up to $4.95)
PPat O'Brien’s® Orlando - 15% savings on food & beverage, plus kids (ages 3-9) eat free from 4:00 PM-9:00 PM eastern with the purchase of an adult entrée (limit one (1) per party)
The grooveSM - 2 for 1 domestic drafts
Quiet Flight® Surf Shop - 10% savings
Rant N Rave Jewelry - 10% savings
Starbucks - 15% savings
Universal Cineplex - $6.00 admission after 6:00 PM on Sundays though Thursdays AND $2.25 off admission on Friday & Saturday
Universal Studios Store® - 20% savings


Universal Orlando® Resort Hotels
Save up to 30% off* room rates at each of the three (3) onsite hotels (for reservations call 1 866-PASS-4-FUN)
10% discount at Mandara Spa at the Portofino Bay Hotel (Call 407-503-1244 for appointments)
Save 10% at the following restaurants*:
Trattoria del Porto® at the Portofino Bay Hotel, A Loews Hotel
The Kitchen at the Hard Rock Hotel
Islands Dining Room at the Royal Pacific Resort
Wantilan Luau at the Royal Pacific Resort (call 407-503-DINE to receive discount)


Wet 'n Wild Orlando Water Park

Save $20.00 off the regular price Annual Pass (valid for the passholder only- not applicable to the purchase of a Weekday Annual Pass)
Save 25% off the regular price of an all-day admission to Wet 'n Wild Orlando (valid for the passholder only - blackout dates apply)
Save 10% in the Breakers Beach Shop (excluding sundries)


Additional Discounts

Free self-parking each time you visit, or pay for 2 hours of valet parking and get the rest of the day for free.
Special price of $4.00 for preferred parking (regular price is $13.00)
10% discount at Samsonite Company Stores (call 1-800-547-BAGS for the store near you)
Free use of kennels for one (1) pet on the day of your visit (subject to availability)
$100 off Birthday Parties (call 407-224-BDAY for more details)


*NOTE: Above benefits cannot be combined with any other offers or discounts. Beverage discounts apply to non-alcoholic beverages only, alcohol excluded. Special Events and Holidays excluded on all hotel offers above.

 

[JohnnySharp2]

We are from the UK and have APs - they are great value for money.
As previously stated you get reductions at stores, free parking and to renew your AP costs just $100 approx, cheaper than the Flex Ticket.

 

[robvia]

Most food places in the parks accept the AP. You just flash it and they give you the discount. It adds up when you hit a bunch of cart stands.

 

[macraven]

i use my AAA for the hotel discounts and park food/merch discounts.

also have the universal mc, fan club card and magicorlando card which all give the discount like AAA.


still trying to make a decision if i should buy the AP for universal. don't know if i will still come out ahead money wise.

i only can make one trip a year which i do for the second weekend of october. i am a total and complete addict for hhn......
my stays are 3-4 nights on site.

help me decide ......buy the AP or just use the AAA for the discounts.

 

[momnum1]

Just wanted to add (if this hasn't changed recently) that if you get your AP with one payment (as opposed to flex-pay), it only cost $99 to renew every year. The first yr. always seems like alot to spend, but it's much cheaper to renew and you really feel like you're getting your $$'s worth.

 

[minijeanie]

how much is AP? How many times do you need to go before you have break even point.

I know we bought AP at WDW this year because we were going twice and wanted to take advantage of AP discounts on hotels. But that didn't pan out, because resort discounts for AP holders this year was a joke. AAA was better.
Still, it was worth it because we went 2x plus we were able to get dining card and utilize that as well.