More AP questions?

[Aggie89]

Still trying to figure out if getting an AP is worth the savings for our trip. Is parking free at HRH with an annual pass or is that just at the park? Is it less expensive to purchase the meal deal for a family of four or get 20% off of meals with the AP? If you purchase one AP first then can you get the other park tickets at a discount or does that discount only apply when you buy the tickets there? Where is the most inexpensive place to get the 3 other park tickets we need?

We're only staying 2 nights at HRH but would like to be in the parks 3 days and can't figure out the cheapest option. The rate drops from $259 to $149 per night with the AP and seems like that is the best route. Thanks for your patience.

 

[goofy!]

Still trying to figure out if getting an AP is worth the savings for our trip. Is parking free at HRH with an annual pass or is that just at the park?

The free parking is only at the parking garage of the parks. No discount on the parking at the hotels.

Is it less expensive to purchase the meal deal for a family of four or get 20% off of meals with the AP?

That is something I cannot answer, as we never get the meal deal. Since the AP discounts work at the City Walk restaurants, it is a no-brainer for us. But then, we have 5 in our family and always stay for a week or more.

If you purchase one AP first then can you get the other park tickets at a discount or does that discount only apply when you buy the tickets there?

Yes, you can. However, be aware that the AP discount on the tickets only applies to the full price tickets. You do not get discounts on any of the specials they are running, such as the buy 2 days, get 3 free. You cannot double dip on the discounts We have researched purchasing tickets for friends travelling with us in the past and have always found that the specials or hot deals that Universal runs are always a better deal than the AP discounts on tickets.

Where is the most inexpensive place to get the 3 other park tickets we need?

We always buy from Universal, but that does not mean that it is the cheapest, just easiest. Costco and AAA have discounted tickets. Beals is running a 2 year special on AP's and so is AAA until the 16th of July.

We're only staying 2 nights at HRH but would like to be in the parks 3 days and can't figure out the cheapest option. The rate drops from $259 to $149 per night with the AP and seems like that is the best route. Thanks for your patience.

You can't beat that price. You are saving $220.00 for the two nights you are staying there with the AP. You have just paid for your preferred AP. Now, all the meal and gift shop discounts are gravy.

 

[goNDmay9]

I second everything that goofy just said!

The only other thing that i would add is to check out the AAA rate too. At the last minute - i switched my rate from PAP to AAA and the rate went up by .20 cents a night. To get my rewards, it was worth it to pay those few cents. If you were not planning on using the pass for more than two or three days, and you can get a great AAA rate - it may not save a lot to get the AP. I feel you get the best savings when you get the AP rate on the room.

My family sometimes goes more than once a year, and we stay longer so buying the PAP is a must for us. Not to mention, we come down annually and most times, can use the pass from the previous year saving us even more money!

We also did not do the meal deal b/c most of the restaurants we like to eat at were not on the plan, so i am not sure about that.

 

[Aggie89]

Great tips! Thanks so much! The AAA rate is $233 so the PAP discount is the way to go and with the extra year it gives us a great reason to go back next year. I appreciate the help .

 

[magiroux]

I have been looking into the AAA AP rate. I heard about the offer, but can't get any info from my local office. Was this just a Regional AAA offer or is just something that I have to try and find after I join AAA?

 

[MScott1851]

I'll put it this way. Last year I was planning on purchasing discounted tickets for $99 using the "Buy Two get Three Free" promo, and paying rack rate for our room, at $229.

Instead, I bought a PAP for $179, and even though it was $80 more, I saved the same amount on the AP rate on my room, which dropped to $149 for each night. Since we booked three nights, I came out $160 ahead, in my mind, plus I had a whole year of free US/IOA admission. Then I ended up buying DH a regular AP using the Florida Fantasy 5 code, and his only cost $99.

So basically, we got a great deal because we're using the AP's again this year for our trip, plus getting the discount on the room.

You have to do the math. For us it worked, since we're using it for two trips and we book garden view. If you're only planning on using it for one trip, a couple of days, and are wanting Club level, the benefit might not be as great.