need advice

[te2077]

ok i need some of you frequent dis planners advice.
i want to go to akl on oct 20th-26th. i am taking one child with me (if 12 is still considered a child) heres my question.

is it worth it to buy an ap just to get a hotel discont on these dates?

or is it better to join AAA and get that discount if availiable?

my other delima is do i go ahead and purchase a package? can i change a package if a ftp package comes out again this year?



any help is much appreciated

 

[safetymom]

I wouldn't buy an AP just for room discounts. There is no guarantee that WDW will release AP rates. AAA always has rooms. There is a limited supply but if you want to plan ahead I would go with AAA.

 

[MAGICinMYHEART]

Example of AP Discounts

Current AP discount prices for (Value Season) 10/31-12/19
Animal Kingdom Lodge - $109 standard, $149 savannah view, $209 deluxe savannah view, $249 concierge

Current Rack Room Rate (Value Season) 10/31-12/19
Animal Kingdom Lodge-$199 standard, $275 savannah view, $350 deluxe savannah view, $425 concierge

Now your asking about regular season for 2004 so prices may be more.

6 nights X rack rate standard room=$1194. + tax
6 nights X AP rate standard room=$654. +tax

6 nights X rack rate savannah view=$1650. +tax
6 nights X AP rate savannah view=$894. +tax

6 nights X rack rate deluxe savannah view=$2100. +tax
6 nights X AP rate deluxe savannah view=$1254. +tax

6 nights X rack rate concierge=$2550. + tax
6 nights X AP rate concierge=$1494. + tax

This is just for the room only your would also have to purchase one Annual Pass (Ages 10 and over) $369.00 + tax
A 12 year old is charged same as adult for Park admission so either an additional AP for your child or maybe a Park-hopper.

If you purchase a package they have different rules about cancelation.

With room only reservations you can cancel up to 5-days before arrival and recieve your deposit back. Deposit is one night room charge +tax.

Many people go ahead and make their reservations for room only, then when AP rates come out they call and have Discount applied if they become available

 

[Efastpitch]

Originally posted by MAGICinMYHEART
Example of AP Discounts

Current AP discount prices for (Value Season) 10/31-12/19
Animal Kingdom Lodge - $109 standard, $149 savannah view, $209 deluxe savannah view, $249 concierge

Current Rack Room Rate (Value Season) 10/31-12/19
Animal Kingdom Lodge-$199 standard, $275 savannah view, $350 deluxe savannah view, $425 concierge

Now your asking about regular season for 2004 so prices may be more.

6 nights X rack rate standard room=$1194. + tax
6 nights X AP rate standard room=$654. +tax

6 nights X rack rate savannah view=$1650. +tax
6 nights X AP rate savannah view=$894. +tax

6 nights X rack rate deluxe savannah view=$2100. +tax
6 nights X AP rate deluxe savannah view=$1254. +tax

6 nights X rack rate concierge=$2550. + tax
6 nights X AP rate concierge=$1494. + tax

This is just for the room only your would also have to purchase one Annual Pass (Ages 10 and over) $369.00 + tax
A 12 year old is charged same as adult for Park admission so either an additional AP for your child or maybe a Park-hopper.

If you purchase a package they have different rules about cancelation.

With room only reservations you can cancel up to 5-days before arrival and recieve your deposit back. Deposit is one night room charge +tax.

Many people go ahead and make their reservations for room only, then when AP rates come out they call and have Discount applied if they become available

I think that just about covers it.

 

[kevind65]

we have been every year since 1995 and have always purchased the PAP's. Although their is no "guarantee" on AP rates, we have always gotten AP rates every year. The only caviat is that you never know for sure which resorts will have the AP rates for the time that you're planning to go, so you have to maintain some level of flexibility about which resort you stay at. In general, it is almost always a better deal to book room only and purchase your theme parks tickets seperately, especially if you're planning multiple or extended visits each year. It has been our experience that the money we saved on resort AP rate discounts have nearly cancelled out the costs of the PAP. hope this helps....

 

[te2077]

thanks for all your help. this definately gives me the answers i needed.

 

[Bojangles]

They have also been releasing AP rates at the very last minute lately. I would hate to see you stressing out mid-October because you don't have a rate locked in yet. Also availability is extremely limited. If you want to take a chance, be prepared to be flexible with your resort/view choices.


If you need park passes, some of the recent package deals (like the Fairy Tale package) have been good deals.