Need AP Advice

[Pomlover2586]

Hi! My DBF and I are leaving for DLR on Friday. We each have a 5 day park hopper pass which we purchased for $229 each. We are looking to upgrade these passes to AP's but are unsure if we want the Deluxe pass or the Premium pass. If we buy the Deluxe pass we will have some blockout dates for future trips but at $239 each we will only be paying $20 for both of us to upgrade. If we purchase the premium pass we will have no blockout dates, but at $359 each we will be paying $260 to upgrade.

My question is what do the AP and future AP holders on the DIS think about each option? Do you find the extra benefits of the Premium to be worth the extra $$? We live 6 hrs away from DLR and will be looking at maybe 1-2 trips to DLR within the upcomming year.

We would like to go during the Halloween decorations as well as the Christmas decorations. There are no blockoput dates in October but in December the 21-31 are blocked out. My question is do Christmas decorations go up the first few weeks of December or is it more mid month toward Christmas?

Also can anyone tell me how long the process of getting an AP takes? Thanks!

 

[carolynben]

We have both the premium and the deluxe passes in our family and find that the deluxe black out dates are not that big of a deal. On rare occasions my husband and I will go to DL for date night on a black out day and we just pay the extra $30 for his ticket. I use the premium for all food purchases, free parking and shopping discounts. The rest of my family has the deluxe. If you are not going more than six times a year - go with the deluxe.

Christmas decorations come out early. I think it's right around Thanksgiving time. You should be able to see all you want to see without going during the week of Christmas. They even film the parade for TV before Christmas so you can participate in that too.

 

[dizzyami]

We were in DL Thanksgiving of 2005 and all of the Christmas decorations were up. The process to get an AP is pretty quick - you go to the bank, get in line (it was short when we were there in June, long when we were there in Oct). You just give them your PH (be sure to use up your EE and do it after any block out dates) They take your basic info, snap a picture, and give you a card. DH was a bit distressed because they made him take off his hat (he doesn't usually wear one - but four hours into the day he would have rather kept it on!!! ) It took us maybe 15-20 minutes for the four of us - and that was partially because they were confused because our PH were from the disney store

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We opted for the Deluxe when we upgraded our park hoppers last week. We only had 3 day hoppers so the cost was quite a bit to go up to Premium. Just didn't seem worth it for us. Were going in October when there is no block out dates. And again in May of next year, and we'll just work around whatever the block out days are.

As for the Christmas decorations, if I'm not mistaken they put those up in November! So you could go in November or on the days that aren't blocked out in December.

Dizzyami is right, the process was quick and easy. The day we upgraded was actually a block out day! So what they did was give us our AP's, plus a day pass for each of us, so that we could get back in the park all day. So even if you upgrade on a black out day it isn't a problem.

 

[Pomlover2586]

Thank You All soooo much!!!!! I feel much better knowing the christmas decorations come out early! I think we'll go with the Deluxe because it's cheaper, the blockout dates don't seem so bad and we can use the extra $$ for fine dining lol Thanks again you guys are the best!

 

[nurse.darcy]

I have been a premium annual passholder for 2 decades. I would never own a pass with blackout dates as I live close and when I get a whim to go, I just want to be able to go. This is my humble opinion. . .

 

[fairycat]

Many people I know chose to do one upgrade to Premium and one to Deluxe, this way you don't have to pay all the extra money but can get all the benefits. I find that between free parking and discounts on food and shopping its so worth having at least one premium pass.

I have had a premium pass for the past 6 years and I love it, but I only live an hour and a half from the parks and go a lot so hate the black out dates. If you want to go on a black out date though its only $30 to enter the park, or you can upgrade to the next level at the time. My favorite is that even on a super busy day (like NYE) if they close the park to ticket sales you can still get in with a Premium pass.