Question about AP rates.

[kevin75]

i am not currently an annual passholder but have been reading about the possible good rates they can get on rooms. my question is, do you have to be an AP before any codes or discounts are announced or can you become one after and still get the discounts?

 

[n2mm]

As long as you are an AP holder when you check in to your resort. You can call and make your ressie and buy your pass later. Keep in mind with the AP you can also purchase the DDE discount card for your meals.

 

[DrmWvr1299]

So let me get this straight (sorry). If an AP code comes out for a time period that I want and don't actually have an AP card yet, I can still call and reserve the room using an AP card that I don't have yet? I thought they would ask for card numbers or something to that effect. When I use AAA they always ask for the card number.

 

[01Sweetpea]

So let me get this straight (sorry). If an AP code comes out for a time period that I want and don't actually have an AP card yet, I can still call and reserve the room using an AP card that I don't have yet? I thought they would ask for card numbers or something to that effect. When I use AAA they always ask for the card number.

That is correct.

However, you want to make sure that it is worth it for you to buy the AP.

This is what happened to me. We are going to the GV Poly 11/18 - 11/25.
Originally booked with AAA disc - $2591.00
AP rate came out and booked that (don't have an AP) - $2276.00
Room only rate came out - $2394.00

Now the AP rate WOULD seem better, HOWEVER once I add in the park hoppers and the AP I needed to buy:

AAA rate with 5-8 day park hoppers - $3923.
AP rate with 1 AP & 4-8 day park hoppers - $3803.00
room only with 5-8 day park hoppers - $3726.00

Room only comes out cheaper.

We're thinking of adding the water n more option and the difference between the park hoppers & 1 premium AP is $170.

So I dropped the AP rate and went with room only.

 

[jmclester]

So let me get this straight (sorry). If an AP code comes out for a time period that I want and don't actually have an AP card yet, I can still call and reserve the room using an AP card that I don't have yet? I thought they would ask for card numbers or something to that effect. When I use AAA they always ask for the card number.

To clarify further: Use the AP rate code when making your ressies. Then, if you purchase your AP(s) online you will receive a voucher in the mail. You can check into your hotel and recieve the AP rates that you requested by showing them your AP voucher. Then you can activate your AP on your first day's visit to the park. (The AP date starts the day that you activate it no matter how long it has been since you made the purchase).

Hope this helps!

 

[Kycha]

For our trip in Dec 2004, I reserved 2 rooms with an AP rate. Didn't get my AP until we arrived in Orlando Airport. I walked right over to the Disney Store in the airport and purchased my AP so I would have it for check in at our resort. We had no problems at all. When I reserved the rooms, I told them I wouldn't have an AP until the day we arrived. They said that was not a problem as long as I had it for check in, I could get the discounted rate.

BTW, When you buy your AP at the airport Disney Store, it is an active AP. It is not a voucher. You can go right to the parks without stopping to exchange for a real ticket like you do with the voucher.

 

[jmclester]

Kycha, your eggs didn't hatch!!

 

[DVCkidsMOM]

Perhaps all others have been more lucky than I this year with AP rates. I've raved in previous years about the deals we got, but we were unable to get AP rates at the resorts we wanted any of the times I called this year. There was not availability for an AP discount in June (I called the morning that discounts were released) for anywhere other than DVC villas for a party of 5 on our June dates. (If I'd wanted to stay in a villa, I would have used our DVC points...) Then I called the second day of AP discounts available for December and couldn't get availability anywhere for less than $1000 per night (yes, I checked my typing - the only thing available was a multi room suite for over 1K per night) so I booked with Travelocity which did have 2 Pop Century rooms available. We have always used the APs to get great discounts on rooms - especially AKL and WLcabins when we're not using our DVC points, but have had no luck in 2006. We're not recommending APs to our friends anymore and will only get them for ourselves if we're going multiple times in a year AND get the current DVC discount on APs. Hopefully whatever room availability crunch WDW saw this year will ease somewhat and/or more rooms will be available for AP discounts in the future?

 

[jmclester]

Perhaps all others have been more lucky than I this year with AP rates. I've raved in previous years about the deals we got, but we were unable to get AP rates at the resorts we wanted any of the times I called this year. There was not availability for an AP discount in June (I called the morning that discounts were released) for anywhere other than DVC villas for a party of 5 on our June dates. (If I'd wanted to stay in a villa, I would have used our DVC points...) Then I called the second day of AP discounts available for December and couldn't get availability anywhere for less than $1000 per night (yes, I checked my typing - the only thing available was a multi room suite for over 1K per night) so I booked with Travelocity which did have 2 Pop Century rooms available. We have always used the APs to get great discounts on rooms - especially AKL and WLcabins when we're not using our DVC points, but have had no luck in 2006. We're not recommending APs to our friends anymore and will only get them for ourselves if we're going multiple times in a year AND get the current DVC discount on APs. Hopefully whatever room availability crunch WDW saw this year will ease somewhat and/or more rooms will be available for AP discounts in the future?

I agree with you. Historically, AP rate cuts have been deep. Now they are at best set dollar amounts that are where GP code rates used to be. I wonder if someone caught on to the fact that many were using the AP mainly to save money on rooms instead of it being a nice side benefit. I won't be renewing my AP's since we don't visit more than once per yr. At least the AP's paid for themselves in my case with visits Dec '05 and Nov '06.

 

[Kycha]

Kycha, your eggs didn't hatch!!

Thanks. They finally hatched. I was getting worried.

 

[jmclester]

Thanks. They finally hatched. I was getting worried.

Yes, I see. Nice!