Qu about AP and how many?

[PJackson]

Can anyone help - I'm a tad confused after reading bits on here and the AP stuff. Not definite yet but we are looking to go end September 08 for 4 days. There will be 4 adults (DH, Me, my Mum & Stepdad), and one child (DD 3.5) and one infant (DD 5 mths). Not sure what passports we should go for. Was thinking of buying 2 Dream APs for DH & I and hoping then we'd get a free Dream AP for DD1 - is this correct? Clearly we don't need one for DD2 - is it 3 and upwards that they need APs? Is it worth both of us buying APs though? We may only make one trip back within the year... Would it better just to buy one Dream AP and get a free one for DD1?...

I don't think it's worth getting Mum & Stepdad APs as they are probably not going to go back within a year. So what would be the cheapest way to do it all?

Would it be to buy 2 adult APs, hopefully get one free for DD1, then buy Mum & Dad day hoppers each day and get the 10% discount off with the APs? Do I need anything at all for DD2 (will be 5 mths)?

Also, do we buy day hoppers on the way in then exchange them for APs at the passport office and they refund the cost of the ticket - think that's how it works? How would that work for the Mum & Dad tickets though - would we be able to get a refund of the 10% discount after buying our APs?


PPS - Really hope this all makes sense to someone

Thanks.

 

[ruthiebabie]

Answers as below in italics

Was thinking of buying 2 Dream APs for DH & I and hoping then we'd get a free Dream AP for DD1 - is this correct?

Yes if the child free offer is running then.

Clearly we don't need one for DD2 - is it 3 and upwards that they need APs?

Yes 3 and over.

Is it worth both of us buying APs though? We may only make one trip back within the year... Would it better just to buy one Dream AP and get a free one for DD1?...

You really need to visit the park twice within a year to benefit I think from the pass - if its just for the discounts then maybe only one of you should get the pass.

Do I need anything at all for DD2 (will be 5 mths)?

No

Also, do we buy day hoppers on the way in then exchange them for APs at the passport office and they refund the cost of the ticket - think that's how it works?

You can either buy a day pass and then exchange it at the AP office or pay in full for the AP and exchange it for the AP.

How would that work for the Mum & Dad tickets though - would we be able to get a refund of the 10% discount after buying our APs?

My understanding is that you need to have the AP in your possession to buy the discounted tickets so Mum and Dad would need to wait outside the park whilst you did all of this. The AP holder would then need to exit and buy the 10% off tickets for them to enter.

 

[PJackson]

Thanks Ruthie - that is most helpful. I think we may be best just to buy one AP then??? Then again we get the extra time in the parks with the Dream AP and then only one of us could benefit from that....

It seems a bit of a faff having to have people wait outside until you get your AP for the discount doesn't it!

 

[A Small World]

It usually works out cheaper to get APs if going for more than 3 days- the Fantasy pass (which doesnt give EMH) costs I think €1 more than a 3 day pass. So it might be easier getting these instead of day passes unless there are blackout days.

If you are getting a free child AP you dont get the money fort he day ticket back on the free one so really you need to buy the APs at the gate before you go in.

If you are getting discounted day passes everyday you will need to queue each day to get them I think as you cant get them all together. We looked into doing this at Christmas for DGM but it worked out cheaper and easier in the end to get a 3 day pass (with 4th day free) from Disney store before we went. We couldnt get her Fantasy AP due to blackout days

 

[PJackson]

Thanks A small world Sorry, don't mean to sound thick but you say you got your tickets from the Disney Store - do you mean in the UK? We don't have one near us - anywhere else we could get some in advance?

Thanks for the tip about the Fantasy pass - never thought of that! Just need to check the blackout days but I don't think it will be an issue end Sept.

 

[A Small World]

Yes sorry I meant from the Disney Store in the UK.

 

[DLPdaft]

You can also buy park tickets in advance at 365tickets, attractiontickets, and themeparktickets.

If you shop around, you may find these sites are cheaper than the Disney prices.

Elaine

 

[PJackson]

Thanks Elaine - will check them out. Thinking now though that we'll go for Fantasy passes and one Dream pass as we won't always be together so Mum & Stepdad can go off and get their discounts etc too.

 

[DLPdaft]

Cool - bear in mind though, your Fantasy and Dream passes have the photo of the pass holders on them, and you have to present the pass to your waiter/cashier to get the discounts.

What I do is, my sister/niece etc (non-pass holders) do the window-shopping, then when they've decided what they want and which shop its in, they do a mad shop-a-thon with me there, so they can get the benefit of my 20% dream pass shopping discount .

Elaine

 

[PJackson]

Great idea - I see the 20% is for one day only - after that it's 10% so it is a good idea to buy most things on the one day. As we are hoping to go for 4 nights the Fantasy passes work out better value than getting park hopper ticket thingies as they are just a little more expensive. But it means M&D can go off and get drinks/food on their own and benefit from a discount...

We just need to get booked up! I'm just a little worried about taking the plunge as my DD1 will only be nearly 5 mths so it's a lot with a 3.5 yr old and a 5 mth old

 

[A Small World]

With a dream AP its 20% off shopping everyday now and 10% off food and drinks