Only one discount per stay.
If you get hoppers, APs become a more economical choice for admission after 11 days in a 365 day period. APs are good for 365 days, so if you activate it on December 9, 2008 you can use it through December 9, 2009.
AP discounts aren’t always the best discount. We go every year for 10 days, so APs are a no brainer. However, the AP discount for our upcoming stay later this month wasn’t much of a discount at all. By getting the package discount, we paid less. And now we have 1 day base tickets to upgrade for a new AP later-2010 so the ticket will be worth even more than it is now. You must always compare (and keep comparing) discounts for your stay. Generally in the past, the AP discount has always been very good, even earlier this year.
Free dining isn’t always the best deal either. Before deciding to add the dining plan or not (and you can with an AP now), I always make our dining plans without regard to cost. I then price it out (using
the menus at All Ears if necessary) and see how the dining credits fit. I then compare it to the cost of the dining plan (figuring in tips and OOP costs, again using info on what I would have paid at
All Ears). I also don’t forget to include my 20% off from the DDE card, where applicable. If the dining plan would save me money, I add it. If not, I skip it.
“But the dining is free, isn’t it?” you ask. Not really. You must pay rack rate and buy tickets. Often times, during free dining promotions, are room only (usually AP) discounts. So, I must compare the cost of rack rate and tickets to the cost of discount room and paying for dining. This year, discount room and paying for dining beat out free dining on being the least expensive option. I’ve heard other people have the same results.
If you do upgrade tickets, use the ticket at least once before upgrading (which must be done within 14 days of first use). This way you get to retain any discounts you may have on the ticket since it will then be worth full gate value. Otherwise, it is only worth what you paid for it. Also, your upgraded AP will expire 365 days from the first time you used the upgraded ticket and not from the day you upgraded it.
There are also lots of other discounts/perks available with an AP besides the DDE card and occasional discounts on rooms, like discounts on tours, Disney Quest, Water Park tickets, AMC Movie Theater, miniature gold, retail stores, etc. But I call these gravy discounts. I highly recommend purchasing an AP for admission, unless a current AP code is out there that you’d save a ton on when you wouldn’t be in the parks 11 days during a 365 day period. Don’t buy hoping for a future AP discount.
ETA: More questions?
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