Question Re: APs

[ema74]

I know this has been covered many many times before but I'm trying to convince DH to buy APs when we go in April so need your help... He would buy a dream pass but he wants to know if it's really *that* much cheaper to stay in an off site hotel. We know about the discounts with the APs in the shops and restaurants, free puschair offer etc.

The main thing is whether its worth buying APs but not just beacuse of the restaurants and the shops... I'm excited especially because we'll get my DD1's pass for free since the offer has been extended till November and DD2 will still go for free (she's only 18m old)

Many Thanks, really appreciate it.

Ema

 

[Ware Bears]

I don't think it is necessarily cheaper to stay off-site ~ I think it depends on the dates you are going and the size of your party. We always stay off-site at The Explorers as we are a family of 5 and it works out much cheaper for us than two rooms at a Disney hotel (the family rooms at DLH and NBC are very expensive) but if you are a party of 4 or less you may find the on-site hotels favour very comparably. We always go in school holidays as well so this does reflect in the price.

Just out of interest, we've only ever used our APs for dining and shopping discounts and they have saved us €€€ so whether or not you use them for hotel discounts they are excellent value.

 

[Rachie B]

work out how much it would cost you in "normal" tickets and compare the prices

we found theres not that much difference in us getting APs ( with 1 childs free) than it is to get 2 day hoppers !!

APs for the 4 of us (dream with 1 free child ) = £409 ( or £333 with 1dream , 2 fantasy & 1 free child )
2 day hoppers = £274

so a difference of £59 ( if we go for the cheaper APs)

which when you divide by the 4 of us, is less than £15 each extra !

we plan to use them for 3 days in Aug,then hopefully a few days in NOv/ Dec,again @ easter or may half term ,and lastly beginning of Aug 09 before they run out !

so a possible 4 trips out of them not to mention all the discounts etc

Are you planning to use them again within the 12 months ?

 

[kevankiki]

I assume that you have booked a package in April, and therefore will have passes included, that you can't trade in?

Things were different for us, as we booked an off site hotel, then subsequently worked out that Fantasy passes actually cost slightly less than a 4 day pass, when you take the 10% sponsorship discount in too.

In the end we actually went for Dream Passes, so as to get EMH and better discounts, etc. Although they worked out at more, we actually got this extra amount back with all the discounts, free luggage storage, etc!

So, for us it worked, particularly as we have been back twice since and obviously didn't need to pay for passes each time. At Christmas we stayed off site, but our next trip with be spent in the Sequoia Lodge, which I booked at a discount. Plus we hope to be able to renew our passes for free, as we both sponsored 3 people each!

I think that for it to really pay off though, you really have to suck it with that one trip staying in an off site hotel, so as to buy the annual passes without losing out.

 

[Cyrano]

The general rule of thumb is that a 3 day trip is the breakeven point where APs come into their own.
If you are going on more than 1 trip in a year then again APs are worth considering.

I agree with Elaine that off-site becomes more attractive if you are a family of over 4 where the Disney Hotels do not offer a good rate

In our case that is why we book DCR. Benefit of good AP discount and still staying on Disney property for a family of 5.

 

[A Small World]

WE had booked a package last Easter with tickets before we decided to buy APs We were staying at Santa Fe. We weighed up the costs of forfeiting the tickets to buy AP then but decided it wasnt worth it but did decide to stay on in the area for 2 nights to wind down. We priced Explorers and realised we could get it for similar price to Santa Fe but it had the pool etc which wouold be good as we had no park tickets.

In July we then returned and stayed off site at Holiday Inn to be able to buy APs (as we couldnt book room only without AP) again this worked out about same as Santa Fe but better hotel/more facilities.

Since then we have booked on site as the discount with APs has meant the price is cheaper than off site.

But of course there are the very cheap offsite hotels in Bussy which can often work out £30 night per room but are very basic and a bit further away.

We have also benefitted from 4 trips from APs - last July, December, this month, July just before they run out

 

[Rachie B]

I assume that you have booked a package in April, and therefore will have passes included, that you can't trade in?

Things were different for us, as we booked an off site hotel, then subsequently worked out that Fantasy passes actually cost slightly less than a 4 day pass, when you take the 10% sponsorship discount in too.

In the end we actually went for Dream Passes, so as to get EMH and better discounts, etc. Although they worked out at more, we actually got this extra amount back with all the discounts, free luggage storage, etc!

So, for us it worked, particularly as we have been back twice since and obviously didn't need to pay for passes each time. At Christmas we stayed off site, but our next trip with be spent in the Sequoia Lodge, which I booked at a discount. Plus we hope to be able to renew our passes for free, as we both sponsored 3 people each!

I think that for it to really pay off though, you really have to suck it with that one trip staying in an off site hotel, so as to buy the annual passes without losing out.

oooh i forgot about my 10% discount,so my pricings will be a bit lower than I stated