Observation about APs

[disneyfan55]

I was just thinking how the AP discounts have become one of the last discounts to be offered lately. Last year WDW was promoting APs with the 10% off passalong cards where the receiver received 10% off the AP price and the giver received a $25 GC. I guess they wanted to sell more APs. Now all the recent offers, are not AP friendly. There are 2-5 day ticket requirements so not that AP friendly. I guess, as I have said in other posts that WDW is really pushing ticket sales. I currently have an AP, but am really thinking about not getting one in the future due to many offers requiring the multiday ticket purchases now and the AP room discounts one of the last out there. I know the reason for an AP is not the offers but the use of tickets, but the discounts are a part of what an AP had been about in the past (or the discounts/offers) or they wouldn't have been out there to take advantage of.

 

[ancestry]

I understand what you are saying. DH and I bought APs in May since we are taking an adult trip in October. We didn't get APs for the kids. Now with all of the offers that are out we are sort of stuck as to get free dining we have to purchase tickets (which we don't need).

One of the reasons I did get an AP was for the room discounts but I didn't realize that they often wait so long to release the AP rates. I start watching air fare 6 months out and buy it when it is at a good rate but often AP rates aren't out that far in advance.

Frustrating.

 

[fla4fun]

This is nothing unusual. Way back before the Internet was so prevalent, I would start calling every day starting in mid-June and it was typically some time in July when the September discounts were released. I always considered the AP and Florida resident discounts to be sort of a last minute clearance sale. It's a trade off. To get the best rates you have to be patient and wait. If you need to plan airfare earlier, then book the best you can afford without a discount, and then change your reservation if a deal comes out. If you have done the math the past few years and the packages are a better deal for your family, then an AP may not be for you. Every family is different.

 

[Ted in Halifax]

We have decided that when our AP's are up, we will not renew.

 

[disneyfan55]

This is nothing unusual. Way back before the Internet was so prevalent, I would start calling every day starting in mid-June and it was typically some time in July when the September discounts were released. I always considered the AP and Florida resident discounts to be sort of a last minute clearance sale. It's a trade off. To get the best rates you have to be patient and wait. If you need to plan airfare earlier, then book the best you can afford without a discount, and then change your reservation if a deal comes out. If you have done the math the past few years and the packages are a better deal for your family, then an AP may not be for you. Every family is different.

well, we have had APs since the early 80s on and off. Back then WDW was more AP friendly, one thing they used to do was to let you upgrade ANY ticket for up to a year of first use. That meant if you bought a 5 day July 1, 1980 you would have until up to 365 days to upgrade to an AP and pay the difference. We would go say July 1 and return with our used up 5 day pass mid June of the next year and pay the difference in cost (always a nice savings) Also, Yes, I know it's a last minute clearence of rooms, but now it seems all offers are out there way before and not that many rooms are avail with AP discount. AP and FL discounts were the main discounts avail prior to a few years ago. The offers up until this year while they required a ticket purchase, it was a 1 day. Now all the offers this year are requiring a 2-5 day ticket purchase. That's the issue.

 

[disneyfan55]

We have decided that when our AP's are up, we will not renew.

thinking along the same lines. While we never renewed actually (always went just before they expired and a new one the next trip) we have had the passes many times over the years. If you have read the thread on disney going downhill, I feel a lot is true taking out the bickering. We have done many other vacations along with WDW including driving cross country, cruises (we did the Canada/New England 3 times for 499pp 7 days on Princess!)and many shorter visits to National Parks/historic sites. Will have to wait and see. Most likely when/if we do return after our Nov trip probably no AP! Maybe free dining even though I'm not that crazy about the dining plan now either. It was great when all was included (tip and appy) Also, when we did that we stayed Value and now they are not really included in the regular DDP (although all those res. and preplanning did take away from the easy going atmosphere)

 

[Ted in Halifax]

We still don't expire until March 2011, so Feb 2011 is still open as a possible trip, but President's weekend is nuts. So ... I just thinking the $2,000 for our passes, plus airfare, plus accom, plus food, would go a long was on a European vacation. Right now their euro is a bargain ....

 

[disneyfan55]

We still don't expire until March 2011, so Feb 2011 is still open as a possible trip, but President's weekend is nuts. So ... I just thinking the $2,000 for our passes, plus airfare, plus accom, plus food, would go a long was on a European vacation. Right now their euro is a bargain ....

We were actually in WDW the week before Pres. Day this year. We left the Fri before. It was very chilly esp. at night. There were many more people there than I would have thought as well. Yes, as far as europe. there are many cruises that can be taken for not that much of a cost as well! Have fun what ever you do. Where you hit by Earl? We were on a cruise in Oct 2004 and TS Nicole hit Halifax the day we arrived!! A rough ride in 70 mph winds and 25 ft seas!

 

[fla4fun]

well, we have had APs since the early 80s on and off. Back then WDW was more AP friendly, one thing they used to do was to let you upgrade ANY ticket for up to a year of first use. That meant if you bought a 5 day July 1, 1980 you would have until up to 365 days to upgrade to an AP and pay the difference. We would go say July 1 and return with our used up 5 day pass mid June of the next year and pay the difference in cost (always a nice savings) Also, Yes, I know it's a last minute clearence of rooms, but now it seems all offers are out there way before and not that many rooms are avail with AP discount. AP and FL discounts were the main discounts avail prior to a few years ago. The offers up until this year while they required a ticket purchase, it was a 1 day. Now all the offers this year are requiring a 2-5 day ticket purchase. That's the issue.

We have had AP's since the early 80's also, but we bought them exclusively - we did not buy another ticket and upgrade so I can't comment on that perk.

However, there were some other discounts that aren't offered any more, such as Magic Kingdom Club and Disney stockholder discounts, that were typically offered in advance of AP and Resident discounts - but weren't as good (just like AAA discounts aren't as good, but come out way in advance). The AP and Resident discounts were pretty much always the last on the list, but if you were patient, offered the greatest rewards.

The missing link is the packages. Disney didn't promote package deals heavily back then. That's why I said that if a family is finding that they are constantly booking packages with a ticket purchase requirement, then perhaps an AP is not the right ticket for them. You have to do the math both ways, for all the trips you are thinking about, to see what works best for YOUR family. If it's cheaper for you to book two or three package trips instead of two or three room only AP trips, then don't complain about the AP discounts. Book what saves you the most money. Period.

For me, these days most of my trips are solo trips, I don't like the dining plan, and I have flexibility to book a vacation within a couple months of arrival, so getting a good room only discount and using an AP for my ticket works best for me. But that's not true for everyone. Every family is different.

 

[disneyfan55]

We have had AP's since the early 80's also, but we bought them exclusively - we did not buy another ticket and upgrade so I can't comment on that perk.

However, there were some other discounts that aren't offered any more, such as Magic Kingdom Club and Disney stockholder discounts, that were typically offered in advance of AP and Resident discounts - but weren't as good (just like AAA discounts aren't as good, but come out way in advance). The AP and Resident discounts were pretty much always the last on the list, but if you were patient, offered the greatest rewards.

The missing link is the packages. Disney didn't promote package deals heavily back then. That's why I said that if a family is finding that they are constantly booking packages with a ticket purchase requirement, then perhaps an AP is not the right ticket for them. You have to do the math both ways, for all the trips you are thinking about, to see what works best for YOUR family. If it's cheaper for you to book two or three package trips instead of two or three room only AP trips, then don't complain about the AP discounts. Book what saves you the most money. Period.

For me, these days most of my trips are solo trips, I don't like the dining plan, and I have flexibility to book a vacation within a couple months of arrival, so getting a good room only discount and using an AP for my ticket works best for me. But that's not true for everyone. Every family is different.

No complaint - stmt of fact. Yes, we all have to work the numbers.

 

[Tweevil]

We are not renewing ours either.
Kicking it back down to once a year instead of 3 and doing other trips - thinking about going to Jamacia one time instead - compariable pricing to my trips to WDW if not cheaper. I get my Disney fix and I am letting the rest of my family chose the other vacations (never used to happen-lol!)

I did get a lot of good shopping discounts with the AP but when you shake it out with the discounted rooms vs. Pub discounts there wasn't much of a savings.

 

[DrmWvr1299]

I have a non-activated AP that I was going to use on our next trip in January 2011. I have had 2 APs in the last few years mostly for the room discounts which were good 2009 but not so good the year before. This year we were able to catch a great discount for room only through Disney. I went ahead and ordered a 7 day hopper to hang on to the AP. Good room only discounts for AP holders may come out yet, but I have a feeling they will not be much more than the discount I have now. We got a great discount for the YC for this past January but it was just a little more than the discount we have now for our upcoming trip. I am one of the majority of people that never get a pin so...