Questions on getting an AP

Carter'sMommy

Practically Perfect
Joined
Mar 20, 2006
Messages
264
We (DH pirate: ME princess: and DS6 ::MickeyMo ) are contemplating getting AP's. We live in Houston and would probably make another trip (or 2)to DL in the next year so they would pay off --- if not I would be in the hole about $180 :scared1:

We went to DL in April 06 as well as Dec 06 and are kicking ourselves that we did not buy them then as they would have paid for themselves instead of buying 5day hoppers both times! :confused3

So here is the question, We are going to DL again in late August (18-23) :cool1: The 18th is a blackout date for AP's - that is fine as it is a travel day for us and would almost be a waste to use a hopper ticket for a few hours...IMHO (really NO day in Disney is a waste but for the time and $ it would not be the best use of hopper as if you cannot tell I am tight with the $).
Can we get a "shopping" pass and go into the park and get our AP's that day so we can make a quick entry the next morning Sunday the 19th which is not a blackout day? This is assuming that the ONLY place to get an AP is at the HPOE.

Also... I understand there are lots of discounts for AP holders and a specific website that explains all of this -- but... since we are not current AP holders I cannot go and look around. I do not want to go and eat/shop in DTD that first day we are there but without our AP's and blow my discount (again I am tight with the $). If at all possible is there some one who could/would let me lurk :cool2: under their login and get a feel for what the AP's benefits are?? I am willing to be a Fairy Godmailer or whatever for this privilege!!!!
If you are willing PM me -- and if this is AGAINST the rules -- I am VERY sorry :worship:

:thanks:
 
With respect to your shopping pass question: upgrade your 3 or 5 day-pass on the last valid day. If it is more than a year between visits, I have always done this, i.e., purchase a 5-day pass and upgrade to a deluxe or premium ap on the 5th day at the annual pass processing center.

With respect to your discount question: deluxe pass will typically give you 10% off dining (can't remember if there are any shopping discounts); premium will give you 15% off dining & 10% off most shopping purchases in the parks, hotels, and DTD. Premium will also get you 10% off in World of Disney, which Deluxe will not do.

If you are going to do a lot of shopping / dining on your first day and are undecided about the APs, just have one for one of the adults in the party so that you can get the discounts (if that is impt to you) and get the rest later.
 
The day you buy/activate your AP, it doesn't matter if its a blackout date; you can still get in the park. No need for a separate "shopping" pass. From experience, we purchased a Southern California Select AP from the Disney Store, and activated it at DL on July 4 (an obvious blackout day), and we were able to enter with no problems.

As far as discounts, Premuim APs get 15% off dining locations in the parks, 10% in Downtown Disney. All other APs get 10% off dining. I know Premium APs get 10% off merchandise in the parks and at World of Disney, and according to the AP website, all other APs don't get a merchandise discount.

In case you didn't know, only one person in your party needs a Premium AP to get those merchandise discounts, but that person needs to be present and must be the one to pay for the stuff at the register.

EDIT: Snookies beat me to it! :)
 
You can also purchase AP's on line through Disneyland.com: http://disneyland.disney.go.com/disneyland/en_US/reserve/ticketListing?name=TicketListingPage&bhcp=1
I haven't done this myself (I upgraded my hoppers), but it would probably be easier than trying to buy them while on a shopping pass.

And here is a link to the current AP newsletter (you don't need a password to access it)- it's got all the same info on discounts and promotions as are on the website:

http://adisneyland.disney.go.com/media/dlr_v0200/en_US/ap/BackstagePass_Spring2007.pdf

I hope you have a great time!
 

Any type of APs can get dining and store discounts in DTD. We always show our passes (deluxe and so cal select) whenever we shop! We have saved quite a few dollars at Fossil as my DDs love watches and their purses!!!
 
Even at DTD Premium Passes tend to get better discounts. If you are driving in you also get free parking at the structure with the Premium pass, an $11 a day savings!
 
With respect to your shopping pass question: upgrade your 3 or 5 day-pass on the last valid day. If it is more than a year between visits, I have always done this, i.e., purchase a 5-day pass and upgrade to a deluxe or premium ap on the 5th day at the annual pass processing center.

When you do this, does the AP expire one year from the first day you used your 3 or 5 day pass, or does it expire one year from the day you upgraded to an AP?
 
If you buy a AP from pre-exsisting tickets, the AP starts from the first day the original paper tickets were used.

You also can upgrade AP's any time during the year but expiration date does not change.
 
One option is to buy a parkhopper, use the EE, and then upgrade to an AP. The entire amount of the parkhopper applies to the AP. This doesn't help if you are staying on-site since on-site guests get EE anyway, but well worth it if you are not staying onsite and want to spend much time in Fantasyland. The downside of this approach is that you will not get your discounts until you upgrade, however, some of the discounts are available with AAA or Disney Visa.
 














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