Qs about AP room discounts

[abnihon]

I'm going to be buying AP soon and may try to fit in last minute trips in the summer and October.
How far ahead are prices released?
Do you have to book right when they come out or will some still be available a few weeks out?
If you reserve with AP discount is cancellation policy the same?
Do they tend to have AP discounts in the summer?

 

[bcarey2k]

I'm going to be buying AP soon and may try to fit in last minute trips in the summer and October.
How far ahead are prices released?
Do you have to book right when they come out or will some still be available a few weeks out?
If you reserve with AP discount is cancellation policy the same?
Do they tend to have AP discounts in the summer?

There is a link:

https://www.mousesavers.com/historical-information-on-walt-disney-world-resort-discounts/

Historical dates.

There are a set # of available rooms at each special rate, so yes, they will 'eventually' become unavailable. It's kinda the square root of a guess on how long you can wait.

Same cancellation policy.

Yup, they're available in the summer too.

Brian

 

[hiroMYhero]

@abnihon ~ moving you to Resorts.

 

[abnihon]

Thanks! More questions : are AoA Little Mermaid rooms ever included in AP discounts?
(I've heard they are usually excluded from discounts...)

Are AP discounts much better than the general public discounts or booking through a travel agent who gets discounted rooms?

 

[bcarey2k]

AoA - no idea. (Someone will know though!)

AP - from my experience, they're about the same, if not identical. AP holders just get a week or so head start on them.

Travel agent - I've never gone down that path either.

 

[loves to dive]

As Brian said, sometimes they are the same as the general discount, sometimes they are 5% better. My advise is to never get an AP just for the discounts, if it makes sense for you to get one for ticket prices and memory maker then do it. The discounts are a moving target and you can never tell if they will be there. I've had an AP for about 5 years and I think I've used it for a room discount twice and that is going twice a year, last year 3 times. Most of the time I've been able to use the general discount through Orbitz and stack their 15% discount on top of it for a better deal. Like Brian, I've never used a travel agent so can't guess on that one.

 

[MsThumper]

Best deal - We went to Disney 4 times last year. January, best deal for us was through Orbitz, April and August trips, we used either FL Resident or AP discounts and for the November trip, a TA got us the best deal. You just never know.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

AP rates don't come out before various general public offers, it's usually several weeks after. Disney wants to fill their resorts with everyone else first, then us APs get a shot. Frankly it's frustratingly late in the Disney planning cycle.

But, you can book AP room discounts very late into the various promotion windows. Meaning, the "book by" date is much later.

We stay Deluxe and AP discounts have typically been in 5-10% range on top of the general public discount at the time.

The room discounts and better flexibility with last minute travel has been one of the best parts of having APs for me.

 

[PolyRob]

Exactly what @GADisneyDad14 said! Passholder promos are released weeks after general public, with different availability, slightly better deals, and allow you to book right up to last day of travel. More rooms also fall into the AP deal closer to travel dates. I have had woods/garden views booked and found standards open the week prior and switched.

If you plan on using an ap deal for a value resort, the potential of 5% extra savings would not justify the cost. On a deluxe, its more tempting.

AoA - no idea. (Someone will know though!)

As OP mentioned, I usually only see family suites included for AoA passholder deals.

Both current AP deals for spring and summer state:

"Offer excludes the following room types: campsites, 3-bedroom villas, Disney's Art of Animation Resort – The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms and Bungalows at Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows."

 

[abnihon]

Thanks! I'm definitely not getting AP just for the room discount. I already have two trips booked in 2017 (renting DVC points) so it made sense. And since I'll already have the AP and we only live a few hours away I may do some last minute trips this summer if I find good deals!

 

[PolyRob]

Thanks! I'm definitely not getting AP just for the room discount. I already have two trips booked in 2017 (renting DVC points) so it made sense. And since I'll already have the AP and we only live a few hours away I may do some last minute trips this summer if I find good deals!

Then it is definitely worth it! And the extra perks, especially for the 45th anniversary have been great! Hopefully Disney does something special for Epcot's 35th!!

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Thanks! I'm definitely not getting AP just for the room discount. I already have two trips booked in 2017 (renting DVC points) so it made sense. And since I'll already have the AP and we only live a few hours away I may do some last minute trips this summer if I find good deals!

Warning. APs are addicting! You will find yourself going far more than you expected!

Not complaining, it just happens that way!

 

[abnihon]

Warning. APs are addicting! You will find yourself going far more than you expected!

Not complaining, it just happens that way!

I can imagine!! I'm already thinking in addition to our May and December trips I'll need to go in the summer, in October for MNSSHP, next April....