Question about AP and codes

[MzDiz]

I'm planning to take my family to WDW in March and have recently been thinking about purchasing an AP in order to save money on our room. My husband would love to stay at AKL but POR is more in our budget range. There are five of us, which pretty much restricts us to that one moderate.
What I'd like to know, is if it would be wise to purchase an annual pass for one of us and wait for a code?
Are codes pretty much guaranteed?
Right now I'm looking at March 5-11 (5 nights) for five people, plus basic park tickets at POR for $2173. Everyone says don't pay rack rates.
What would you do?

Krista, long time reader, first time poster.

Hi Dis!!

 

[pennst8r]

I feel like I always say the same thing on this board! But here goes, again! We have 5, too. POR was our favorite in the past, but I wanted to get DS off the floor (trundle) this vacation! So, we were going with AAA rates for 2 rooms at a mod. I switched over to AP and BRP to get 1 room at YC for $200 less than the AAA price. That covered my AP (the difference between 8 day MYW and AP), plus I could now purchase the DDE for $50 which gives us 20% off meals!

oh, and the same 2 mod rooms with BRP would have been even cheaper, but I thought it was nice to upgrade.

 

[Lives4Disney]

MzDiz - Hi! Welcome to the DIS!!

I just did what you are wondering about - I bought my AP yesterday over the phone. We are also going in March for spring break - not until the 25th, though.

I was in the same boat. It is just costing me about $150 -$200 more than the hopper I was going to buy. I will probably just buy my family the hopper passes right before we leave for vacation. (Maybe APs if I think we will go in the summer)

I wanted to get access to the ap site and possible discounts. We usually stay concierge, but with the peak rates are thinking about skipping that this trip, but if a discount comes up things could change for us.

We all had APs that expired the end of August and I did not renew them becuase I have a son starting HS and couldn't just get up and go whenever I felt the need for a Disney fix - so this way (buying it fresh) I can access the AP site and it won't become activated until I actually make to to WDW. With our APs from last year, we made 5 trips to WDW and got the room discounts on 4 of those trips. (the only one we didn't was a Thanksgiving trip that I booked in the middle of October, last minute)

I just don't know or remember if they offer any AP discounts during March as it is "peak season". If anyone knows - that would be valuable info!!!

Happy planning!

Lives4Disney

 

[MzDiz]

Thanks for the info you two. I used to think that planning this trip would be so cut and dry, but every time I find something out it seems like it opens up five more questions. Now I have links and books and daily message boards to read and I'm driving my family bonkers!