Not possible to buy an Annual Pass and get Hotel discount at the same time?

[xenon2000]

I have a big trip coming up early 2015. I want to stay at the Grand Californian hotel. The last time I looked at pricing, I was an Annual Pass holder and the pricing was a significant discount. Well right now I am currently NOT a pass holder. But I plan on buying an Annual Pass and using the first day of activation for the trip. Which would be the same night or the next morning from when we check into the Grand Californian Hotel.

Well, since I am not a current Pass holder, the website will not show me the discounted rates and will not let me reserve at the discounted rates.

This is what a phone call with Disneyland Guest relations told me last week.

They said that I have to be a current pass holder and so I would need to buy the pass, and then go to the park to start the pass. And THEN I can reserve my future trip with a discounted hotel price.

What? So I have to do at least one trip without a discount to then come again at a discount? And it's still expensive with the discount.

Are they correct? Or did I just get someone that didn't know what they were talking about? I can't be the first person that wants to buy an annual pass AND get the pass holder discount at the hotel on the same trip/visit.

Has anyone here every purchased an Annual Pass AND received the hotel discount on the same trip?

Seems like Disney should have the ability to see that I purchased the Annual Pass on their website, and then allow me to reserve the hotel at a discount. And simply require seeing the pass when I check in.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

A few things. The current annual passholder calendar doesn't go out beyond October right now. Standard AP discount is 10%. I'm pretty sure that the days of deep discounts are over or at least on an extended hiatus due to the incredible popularity of the resort. There are the occasional specials though for limited dates and better discounts than 10%. If you want to know about booking a hotel room with an AP discount, don't talk to guest relations. You need to talk to the hotel booking agents. I have booked the AP rate before without having to provide any AP information, and I have read about many others who have done the same. Unless stricter policies have gone into effect, then you can ask for whatever the AP rate is for your dates and tell the CM who is booking for you that you will be picking up your AP when there. Whether you will be required to have that AP at check-in or simply before check-out I don't know. You cannot book AP rates using online booking without an active AP; you will need to call and talk to someone. I don't believe you will have success asking for an existing reservation to have an AP discount applied to it after arrival.

 

[5forMickey]

I would call again. Let me preface this with I have never been an AP Holder so I have no clue if this CM is correct or not.

I called to add another day to an existing reservation the first of last week. I asked about the ability to buy longer than a 5 day hopper since we were extending our trip to 7 days and I knew from reading on here that they no longer offered passes past 5 days. The CM asked if I had ever thought about buying the AP. She looked up the price (I would need a premium since there were no block out day $699.99), looked at the savings (around $750.00) I would get on the hotel etc. I would actually be saving more on just the hotel than the ap costs . She also suggested that I could call anytime before we arrived and buy it and it would still be good for the hotel discount. She also said I could buy one a month or any combination of purchasing before arrival and that the passes would not start the 12 month period until we actually went on site in December, so I could buy one in August 2014, but if I don't use it until December 14 - it will be good until December 15.

I probably won't do this for at least another month but I will get it in writing before I purchase. Hopefully I get the same info next time I call

 

[xenon2000]

A few things. The current annual passholder calendar doesn't go out beyond October right now. Standard AP discount is 10%. I'm pretty sure that the days of deep discounts are over or at least on an extended hiatus due to the incredible popularity of the resort. There are the occasional specials though for limited dates and better discounts than 10%. If you want to know about booking a hotel room with an AP discount, don't talk to guest relations. You need to talk to the hotel booking agents. I have booked the AP rate before without having to provide any AP information, and I have read about many others who have done the same. Unless stricter policies have gone into effect, then you can ask for whatever the AP rate is for your dates and tell the CM who is booking for you that you will be picking up your AP when there. Whether you will be required to have that AP at check-in or simply before check-out I don't know. You cannot book AP rates using online booking without an active AP; you will need to call and talk to someone. I don't believe you will have success asking for an existing reservation to have an AP discount applied to it after arrival.

Thanks for the info. Do you have a phone number or a link where I can find the phone number I should call? Do I just call the Grand Californian Hotel directly and go from there? The online reservation is showing some early Jan 2015 dates which I used for testing my options. When I checked last year, Feb 2014 was going to be less than $300 a night for 3 adults and 2 kids for 3 nights, with the AP discount. Still, 10% is still a decent discount that I would like to get when I plan on getting the AP either way.

 

[xenon2000]

I would call again. Let me preface this with I have never been an AP Holder so I have no clue if this CM is correct or not.

I called to add another day to an existing reservation the first of last week. I asked about the ability to buy longer than a 5 day hopper since we were extending our trip to 7 days and I knew from reading on here that they no longer offered passes past 5 days. The CM asked if I had ever thought about buying the AP. She looked up the price (I would need a premium since there were no block out day $699.99), looked at the savings (around $750.00) I would get on the hotel etc. I would actually be saving more on just the hotel than the ap costs . She also suggested that I could call anytime before we arrived and buy it and it would still be good for the hotel discount. She also said I could buy one a month or any combination of purchasing before arrival and that the passes would not start the 12 month period until we actually went on site in December, so I could buy one in August 2014, but if I don't use it until December 14 - it will be good until December 15.

I probably won't do this for at least another month but I will get it in writing before I purchase. Hopefully I get the same info next time I call

Yeah, the last time I bought an AP, I had 1 year to activate it. And then of course the first day of use, starts the 1 year of the pass. But it is nice that you can buy the pass up to 1 year in advance before you plan to use it. Which would have been nice to know about the 2014 price changes a few months ago, I might have bought my AP before the price increase.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Thanks for the info. Do you have a phone number or a link where I can find the phone number I should call? Do I just call the Grand Californian Hotel directly and go from there? The online reservation is showing some early Jan 2015 dates which I used for testing my options. When I checked last year, Feb 2014 was going to be less than $300 a night for 3 adults and 2 kids for 3 nights, with the AP discount. Still, 10% is still a decent discount that I would like to get when I plan on getting the AP either way.

I don't remember what number I called last time I booked. It was several years ago; we usually stay off-site. I suppose I would start with the phone number on Disney's GCH website and let them direct you from there if that's not right. Less than $300 a night? I would be amazed! But truthfully I don't keep up all that well with onsite pricing. There is another recent thread here on the Dis saying that 2015 bookings haven't opened up yet but are expected to on July 31 or in August or September depending on who you're talking to. I don't know if that was for packages or room-only also. Never hurts to call and ask for yourself.

 

[figment_jii]

As longtimedisneylurker said, the current online AP calendar only goes through October. The lowest price I saw for the GCH (from now until 10/31) is $380 per night (plus taxes and fees) and that was for a weekday in early September. The prices went as high as $510. The online AP calendar is showing that only select nights have an AP discount.

I too would just call the regular Disneyland Resort Hotel reservation number (((714) 956-6425)and explain that you'd like to get the AP rate, but you'll be getting your AP when you arrive. Hopefully the CM will be able to help you. I know you cannot book online without a valid AP.

 

[xenon2000]

As longtimedisneylurker said, the current online AP calendar only goes through October. The lowest price I saw for the GCH (from now until 10/31) is $380 per night (plus taxes and fees) and that was for a weekday in early September. The prices went as high as $510. The online AP calendar is showing that only select nights have an AP discount.

I too would just call the regular Disneyland Resort Hotel reservation number (((714) 956-6425)and explain that you'd like to get the AP rate, but you'll be getting your AP when you arrive. Hopefully the CM will be able to help you. I know you cannot book online without a valid AP.

Yeah, I expect it to be higher in 2015. But when I looked at Feb 2014 back in mid 2013, the AP discount brought the cost to under $300/night. Of course the prices are likely up along with park pricing. But if $380/night is the cheapest I can get without the discount, it will still be nice to get the 10% off.

I too normally stay offsite. This is a one time special event that I don't plan on repeating for a long time.

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

But if $380/night is the cheapest I can get without the discount, it will still be nice to get the 10% off.

Just to clarify, I understood figment_jii to be saying that $380 is the lowest price with discount as shown on the AP rate calendar for September.

 

[xenon2000]

The focus is all wrong. The final price is not the point. The point is that I want the discount. And I think that has been answered. That I will need to call.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/hotels/grand-californian-hotel/

if you check right now. That page says nights start at $365/night. While the AP discount calendar may only go out to Oct 2014. The non-AP calendar goes to part of Jan 2015.

If I pick Jan 4th check in and Jan 7th check out, for 3 adults and 2 kids. The current non-discount price starts at $369/night. But I would likely get a Premium room instead of Standard. So that doesn't really matter now. And I am planning for Feb 2015, not Jan.

Anyway. I remember thinking $270/night with the discount was still high. But now I wish I was paying that. Prices seem to keep jumping up at a very fast pace.

When I see that non-AP calendar hits the end of Feb, I will try calling. I am not planning to start my actual process until Sept/Oct 2014 anyway. So I should be fine calling at that time to figure this all out.

 

[figment_jii]

Just to clarify, I understood figment_jii to be saying that $380 is the lowest price with discount as shown on the AP rate calendar for September.

Correct. This is the lowest AP price listed on the current AP calendar for the Grand Californian. Although, when I selected the dates on the calendar and clicked "Find Rooms" more options appeared. Some were at a higher rate and some at a lower rate, depending on the "view" or room type selected. So xenon2000, the price will depend on the room type selected. $380 appears to be the average price of the room available for that date in September. In the end, it's probably easiest to to just take the non-discounted rate and discount it by 10% to get the approximate AP rate. The discount probably isn't available at all times and on all rooms, but it's a good ballpark, starting point. I haven't called recently to inquire about it, but it's possible that the AP rates are not yet available for any rooms beyond October. I don't know how far in advance they announce the AP discounts.

I did see on the AP page that it says "Book your room online or call (714) 781-4567." So I would start by calling that number. Good luck!

 

[Rubygoose]

The CM you spoke to was misinformed. I was able to book the AP rate for DLH for our upcoming trip even though I haven't activated our APs yet. I just have to show them the AP on our check in day.

 

[nolenbelledavis]

I was told that the AAA discount and the AP discount are currently the same right now, 10% off. So if you have AAA you don't have to worry about activating or not.

I was also told they were going to have 25% off for AP in August along with a free photopass and something else. So I would keep an eye out until Jan to see if they happen to offer any better discounts.

I just got a 25% off for next week through orbitz.com.

 

[xenon2000]

The CM you spoke to was misinformed. I was able to book the AP rate for DLH for our upcoming trip even though I haven't activated our APs yet. I just have to show them the AP on our check in day.

Thanks. This is exactly what I was looking for and exactly what I thought would be the case. I will take care of that over the phone when the time comes. That is comforting.

 

[ILoveWD]

I also booked a room with AP discount for August 16 to 22nd without even having purchased an AP. I was told to show the AP voucher at check in and bring back the activated pass later to secure the discount.

There is a special AP room discount in offers and discounts at www.disneyland.com. The percentage was 25% for August 17th to 22nd. The 16th is only 10%. I had to call to get rates and book two reservations.

The package came out exactly 31 days before a AAA package I had booked so I cancelled with no penalty. Checking every day paid off for me. Adding in the cost of the pass, I am saving $58 but will get the 10% food discount.

The 25% off comes with 4 fast passes and a photopass print. I booked directly with Disney.

 

[GatorChris]

I believe that several of the surrounding hotels offer AP discounts as well. They're not Disney, but they know that if you have an AP, Disney is offering the discount to you. That means they want to match the savings. I think HoJo does it. There may be others if you check around.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Exactly what RubyGoose said. That's what we're doing in August, too. We have three comped nights at GCH and reserved a fourth. The reservation notes the AP rate for that night because we told them we were buying APs on arrival day.

 

[5forMickey]

The 25% off comes with 4 fast passes and a photopass print. I booked directly with Disney.

YIPPIEE -- I want fast passes - was that for your wdw package or from your AP purchase?

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

I believe that several of the surrounding hotels offer AP discounts as well. They're not Disney, but they know that if you have an AP, Disney is offering the discount to you. That means they want to match the savings. I think HoJo does it. There may be others if you check around.

I believe HoJo's is a standing 20% discount for APs.

 

[Rubygoose]

I believe HoJo's is a standing 20% discount for APs.

That's right, you can use the code LNAP on HOJO's site for the 20%. I got an e-mail from HOJO the other day that has some dates that are 30% off for AP holders. Ramada Maingate now has an AP package that includes an upgraded room and late check out along with their discount.