New Dining Plan with Packages & AP Holders

[sherry8253]

Do you think Disney is trying to get rid of us out of state AP holders? We go to Disney every single year usually for about 10 to 12 days per trip. I would love to be able to add dining but I can't. AP always made sense for us because we would get 2 trips out of the tickets each year and sometimes squeeze in a long weekend too. AP room discounts were nice too. My DH said we may start going to Disney every other year instead of every year if we no longer buy AP's. Guess we will have to wait and see what room rates look like with their new ticket and dining plans.

 

[Tiffany]

Do you think Disney is trying to get rid of us out of state AP holders? We go to Disney every single year usually for about 10 to 12 days per trip. I would love to be able to add dining but I can't. AP always made sense for us because we would get 2 trips out of the tickets each year and sometimes squeeze in a long weekend too. AP room discounts were nice too. My DH said we may start going to Disney every other year instead of every year if we no longer buy AP's. Guess we will have to wait and see what room rates look like with their new ticket and dining plans.

We are also out of state AP holders and I honestly have not read anything that leads me to believe that they are going to do away with APs. If you go two to three times within a 12month time frame it is still the way to go.

 

[snowhopey]

I too have AP and am out of state. My third trip this year is in one week. Would hate to have to cut back if they take away this feature.

An asside - Any input on CR and a room with a view of MK, Cinderella's Castle, Fireworks etc. My first time in CR and want to be able to request a room or rooms that fit this bill.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

Guess we will have to wait and see what room rates look like with their new ticket and dining plans.

Room rates are out for 2005...and the new ticket pricing was just announced.

I assume that you are waiting to see what discounted room rates will be....

 

[sherry8253]

By getting rid of, I meant provide other enticing offers that will steer us toward their packages instead of buying AP's. If they offer the same kinds lf public discounts as they have been recently (our rate with AP was only about $5 a night cheaper than the regular public code), it may be a heck of alot cheaper to do one of their new package deals and dining. You get 2 meals a day with the dining right? It is easy to spend over $35 for dinner alone, so when you add a lunch or breakfast to it, I believe it will be a great savings. We just bought our AP vouchers about a week ago for our Jan trip so it looks like we are locked in for our Jan & Dec 2005 trips. It sure would have been nice if AP holders were offered this type of discount too. I know there is a Fl dining card but we can't get that either.

 

[ILoveWDW2003]

By getting rid of, I meant provide other enticing offers that will steer us toward their packages instead of buying AP's.

I guess it all depends on why you are purchasing AP's in the first place. If it is just to get the room discounts, then I do think that you may be looking at the discounts getting slimmer, ie. your AP rate only being $5 less or so than the public codes.

However, if you use the AP as it was designed - to go many times over the course of the year - then you will definitely get your money's worth.

If we use the Adult AP current price of $403.64 (includes tax) and compare it to a Magic Your Way pass (10 day pass for an adult is $209 + hopper option $35 + no expiration $100 = $344 plus tax = $366.36) --- it looks like the break-even point will be past the 10 day point.

It sure would have been nice if AP holders were offered this type of discount too.

Are you referring to the ticket or meal discount?

Looking at the 10-day ticket as I priced it above, you are getting each day in the park for $366.36 / 10 = $36.64 per day....if you normally go for 10-12 days per trip, and get 2 trips in per year - so if you go for 20 days in a year, your cost per day is $403/20 = $20.15...and AP holders do get dining, merchandise and tour discounts too....

It wouldn't surprise me if Disney offers a meal plan add-on for AP holders...

 

[sherry8253]

ooppss posted same thing twice by mistake.

 

[Tron72]

I at first was worried about them doing away with the AP, as I am a Florida Resident and enjoy the Seasonal Florida Resident Pass, it is an Annual Pass with Black Out Dates. Which is find with me because as living in Florida I use it when the park is the slowest which the black out dates usually are the most busy. Enough said on that. From what I read, it seems to be that they are doing away with the Park Hopper Passes, the 4 and 5 day park hopper and ultimate park hopper tickets as well as modifying the what they ususally call the Length of Stay Tickets. I have not read any thing on any of the Disney sites ei. Mousesavors or Debs allearness site, about Disney doing away with the Annual Pass. Disney is making a great deal of money off the Annual Passes I mean a Annual Pass for none Florida Residents is $403.64 as of March 2004, while a Florida Residents pay $299.00. Now that is for adults only and that is a lot of money that Disney would be loosing, as others had mentioned if they did away with those passes a good many people would be going less and not multiple times a year. Plus does anyone really think Disney is loosing money by giving us Discounts on the Hotels for being Annual Pass holders. I dont think so, as with a discount we tend to and a day or two to our stay and that means more money being spent in the park on food and toys for the children.

Well i have offered my opinion, but if any Passholders hear anything different let me know.

Looking for AP discounts for MAY 2005, WL bound and having a Grand Gathering.


tron72

 

[BCV23]

I would love a dining plan for AP holders too.

I wonder if the new pricing will dissuade folks from buying one AP to get a room discount. It seems to me it might and is very ingenious. I'm sure that is a tough nut for WDW to crack. A base 7 day ticket will be so much cheaper than an AP.

Regardless, it does get everyone so many more options.

 

[DisneyMomx7]

We buy APs because we take two long trips within a year. I really do wish though that we could get a dining plan like the new one being offered. I don't think anybody is really buying the APs just for the room discount because there really wasn't much difference between the AP discount and the room only discount available to anyone. The AP makes more sense for us but it does seem like Disney isn't really offering as many incentives to buy the APs as they used to.

 

[CarolA]

Robyn,
I do think people buy the AP for the room discount. (That is why when they don't offer room discounts are they are not huge some people get very upset!)

I go several times during the year and find them cost effective for me.

 

[airjoe]

The AP codes an public codes are almost the same. However. withe the public code BDP which is good until 04/16, you must have booked by 12/01. With AP you can book right up until 04/16.

 

[Chuck S]

DVCers are also not able to get the meal plans. In the past, most meal plans were "break even" at best, and the same thing could have been accomplished simply by purchasing a "pre-paid" Credit/Debit Card, in fact, you may often come out ahead.

Packages, IMO, are designed to attract "first time" visitors to WDW, those that may have been surprised by the cost of meals. This new package seems like a nice dinning option, but most package room rates made up for any savings in options.

As far as APs, they will be alive and well, DVCers have been offered a good Discount on them beginning in 2005, and are still the best overall park ticket option for a lot of out-of-state and local visitors.

 

[sherry8253]

Are you referring to the ticket or meal discount?

It wouldn't surprise me if Disney offers a meal plan add-on for AP holders...

I was referring to the dining discount. I hope you are correct and Disney adds a plan for AP holders too.

 

[Colorado Belle]

Does anyone KNOW what the current meal discount vouchers /plan is for Florida resident annual passholders? Two of our group of 4 have APs, so if we can order some discounted meals that would be great!
Please tell!
Colorado Belle