So many questions about AP's

[captaindavidhook]

My question about annual passes is very simple. I would just like to know everybody's opinion of it. If they think it's great or not and I feel like it was worth it when they got them. I know the types of perks you get with it such as the Great savings you get towards hotels. Along with merchandise and eating some restaurants. But I just thought I ask to see if I could everybody's opinion and pick your brain and see what they think about it.

 

[china mom]

Lol No no, I phrased that wrong, I meant I tested it as to make sure it recognized me as a pass holder. So when I grabbed everyone in our party to book a FP it told me everyone else had to wait while I was allowed to proceed because I had an AP. Thats how I knew I would be good to go when the time comes for us to book FPs. Lol if I could book now for June that would be one major glitch and i would NOT be posting it

You got me excited there for a minute.

 

[menardog]

Which quick service restaurants give the AP discount? I didn't know any of them did this! TIA~

The AP Quick Service discounts can be used at all of these places. The WDW Passholder site always seems to be down - but you can download a PDF book from the site that has a lot of useful information in it as well.

Magic Kingdom
- Jungle Navigation Co., Ktd. Skipper Canteen
- Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe

Animal Kingdom
- Flame Tree Barbecue
- Tiffins

Epcot
- Biergarten
- Coral Reef
- Electric Umbrella
- Liberty Inn
- Rose & Crown
- Garden Grill

Hollywood Studios
- ABC Commissary
- Backlot Express
- Hollywood & Vine
- The Hollywood Brown Derby

Disney Springs
- Fantasy Fare Food Truck
- Namaste Cafe Food Truck
- Superstar Catering Food Truck
- World Showcase of Flavors Food Truck
- D-Luxe Burger

Resorts
- Artist Point
- Beach Club Marketplace
- Boardwalk Bakery
- Boatwright's Dining Hall
- Cape May Cafe
- Captain Cook's
- Captain's Grill
- Citricos
- Contempo Cafe
- Olivia's Cafe
- Sanaa
- The Turf Club
- The Wave
- ESPN Club
- Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show
- Whispering Canyon Cafe
- Trail's End
- The Mara
- Roaring Fork
- Pizza Window (Boardwalk Inn)
- Narcoossee's
- Gasparilla Island Grill
- Grand Floridian Cafe
- Kona Cafe
- Jiko
- Flying Fish

 

[BigredNole]

OP, FPs are based off onsite (60 days out), AP (30 days out), offsite (day at the park). Since you are at AKL, you will get your MB prior to activating your APs and you get to make FP selections at the 60 day mark for the length of the trip. You will need to activate your APs the first time you go to a park or DS. You can link the MBs in MDE. It may link automatically when you activate the APs or the person at Guest Services can do it.

My question about annual passes is very simple. I would just like to know everybody's opinion of it. If they think it's great or not and I feel like it was worth it when they got them. I know the types of perks you get with it such as the Great savings you get towards hotels. Along with merchandise and eating some restaurants. But I just thought I ask to see if I could everybody's opinion and pick your brain and see what they think about it.

APs are only worth it if it provides a value to you. My APs were about $850 each. How do I get my money's worth? I need to take a minimum of 2 1-week trips. Add in the free Memory Maker ($150 value per trip), free parking (~$150 per trip), 10-20% off dining and merchandise, and the INSANE savings of staying offsite (~$1,000 a week), it makes it very worthwhile for me. It is the reason we are on the path of on year one, on year two, off year three. We make sure we get at least 2 weeks of trips. With the 13 month deal, we may squeeze in 4 or 5 weeks. Staying offsite makes it affordable to go. $600-$800 for a 2BR resort vs $1,000 for a Value Studio. We do splurge when the opportunity arises. AKL, WL, OKW, SSR may pose possible options in December when we take trip 3. Since we only have room expenses, that trip is more feasible to splurge.

 

[eeyoreandtink]

I have a quick AP question. Where in Disney Springs can we activate AP's? We are going there arrival night and would like to avoid having to activate when we get to the parks.

 

[china mom]

My question about annual passes is very simple. I would just like to know everybody's opinion of it. If they think it's great or not and I feel like it was worth it when they got them. I know the types of perks you get with it such as the Great savings you get towards hotels. Along with merchandise and eating some restaurants. But I just thought I ask to see if I could everybody's opinion and pick your brain and see what they think about it.

My scenario does not fit everybody's but here it is.

I have not found the hotel perks to be that big of a deal for me. I usually plan trips last minute and either it is not during a time when they are offering AP rates or they are offering but I waited too long and they are sold out. Recently, I booked a trip for my 12 year old daughter (AP holder) and my husband (not AP) and I was told that the reservation had to be under the adult and he had to have the A to apply the discount. So, I booked the room under one of the other promotions that was going on and it turns out that the AP rate was only a few dollars cheaper anyway.

I almost never do table service meals or buy souvenirs so those discounts do not help me.

BUT, DH works for an airline so I fly free. I can hop down to Disney for the price of a hotel room only. Twice, I even went down just for a Saturday. My only cost was airport parking ($8) and rental car ($20).

I entered parks on 22 separate days on my last annual pass so I got my money's worth out of it. I love knowing I can go anytime.

Now, this last part is stupid but I gotta be honest. I love having an AP because I feel like I am a member of an exclusive club.

 

[BigredNole]

I have a quick AP question. Where in Disney Springs can we activate AP's? We are going there arrival night and would like to avoid having to activate when we get to the parks.

Good thing I looked because it looks like it moved since last time I was there. On the Disney site it says it is in Disney Springs Town Hall. More centrally located in the middle of the commercial side.

 

[ljmclin]

Can a ticket brought as part of a package still be upgraded to an AP once we get to Disney? My family is going in August and there is a possibility that my daughter and I may be returning in Feb/March 2018. I wanted to upgrade our tickets to AP in August if possible

 

[erionm]

Can a ticket brought as part of a package still be upgraded to an AP once we get to Disney?

Yes

 

[TinkLoverSam]

OP, FPs are based off onsite (60 days out), AP (30 days out), offsite (day at the park). Since you are at AKL, you will get your MB prior to activating your APs and you get to make FP selections at the 60 day mark for the length of the trip. You will need to activate your APs the first time you go to a park or DS. You can link the MBs in MDE. It may link automatically when you activate the APs or the person at Guest Services can do it.

Actually FP are 60 days out if onsite, 30 days out if AP (7 days max at a time) or offsite. And onsite guests with APs retain the onsite perks of 60 days out and booking fp for length of stay (so you can have more than 7 days of fp if you are staying for more than 7 nights)

 

[bumbershoot]

My question about annual passes is very simple. I would just like to know everybody's opinion of it. If they think it's great or not and I feel like it was worth it when they got them. ..... But I just thought I ask to see if I could everybody's opinion and pick your brain and see what they think about it.

Well, OK. It's admission to theme parks. If I'm going go to the parks enough in a year then I like it. I don't get it if I'm not. I definitely think admission is atrociously expensive. And that includes the APs.

Now, this last part is stupid but I gotta be honest. I love having an AP because I feel like I am a member of an exclusive club.

Yeah I agree. I'm still trying to make that wdw&dlr AP work for me financially...

 

[eeyoreandtink]

My question about annual passes is very simple. I would just like to know everybody's opinion of it. If they think it's great or not and I feel like it was worth it when they got them. I know the types of perks you get with it such as the Great savings you get towards hotels. Along with merchandise and eating some restaurants. But I just thought I ask to see if I could everybody's opinion and pick your brain and see what they think about it.

When we are doing 2 trips within one calendar year, they make sense for us. We save a bit over buying 2 7day tickets and get access to the discounts. If i wasn't planning another trip in the same year, i wouldn't get them because there is no way for us to use enough discounts in a week to make up the extra cost.

 

[Uncranky Donald]

From what I've read this is a *might* not a *can* in the sense you're using "can". It's not happening for everyone.

Thats a bummer, i wasn't aware anybody was having issues with this. I called Disney and had them link it for me so there wouldn't be any confusion as I WAS having issues with MDE early on. After they did this as I was on the phone with them I was good to go. Also don't know if it has to do with the kind of AP, mine is a Gold that I purchased online through MDE account

 

[sandyplayer]

I have a question about AP & photopass downloads.
Last trip (no ap) we bought memory maker & it was tied to everyone's magic bands. Easy. See a photographer, have the band scanned, it appears online for us to download.
This time we are two rooms booked under my mom's AP. How does photopass work? Will we use those cards given (cards were used last time we were there for those without memory maker) by photographers? & then have them linked to my mom's MDE Acct?
We may not always be with my mom when touring the parks.
Thanks!

 

[TinkLoverSam]

I have a question about AP & photopass downloads.
Last trip (no ap) we bought memory maker & it was tied to everyone's magic bands. Easy. See a photographer, have the band scanned, it appears online for us to download.
This time we are two rooms booked under my mom's AP. How does photopass work? Will we use those cards given (cards were used last time we were there for those without memory maker) by photographers? & then have them linked to my mom's MDE Acct?
We may not always be with my mom when touring the parks.
Thanks!

Anyone linked to you mom on MDE who is set to "See and Share Photos" will automatically link to your mom same as last time.

 

[sandyplayer]

Great! Thanks, that helps!

 

[Micca]

this last part is stupid but I gotta be honest. I love having an AP because I feel like I am a member of an exclusive club

I don't think that's stupid at all! Having AP provides a level of comfort for a WDW traveler. You don't think twice about burning a ticket to visit a park for a few hours, hop anywhere you want, and if an opportunity arises for an extra trip you know the ticket part of your expense is already covered. We also love the discounts because we still (after all these years) find some things in the shops that must come home with us.

 

[Babsy]

Don't forget the new express transportation between parks that is available to AP holders!! Awesome convenience!