The benefits of AP?

[Sherry E]

And lastly, at Disneyland resort, you can upgrade from one AP to another higher one any time during your year. There is NO pro-rating, and you don't get the higher discounts retroactively, but if you suddenly find yourself in need of a vacation with multiple blocked out dates on your lower level AP, you can simply upgrade.

So if your first visit is during dates not blocked out, go with the Deluxe (or if you are eligible for a so cal pass and that works you can start with that), then if future trips are during blocked out dates, upgrade to the pass that works for that trip.

If you only have one or two blocked out dates, maybe just get the blockout passes at $40 a person each blockout date, but figure out the discount percentage difference to make an educated decision on that!

Yep! I always 'comparison shop' and do exactly that - I am always figuring out differences in prices and what would be the cheapest or make the most sense, so I know what you mean about the percentage differences!

 

[Corpsebride]

We saved so much $$ last year with our AP's.
We got the So Cal pass (not the select) We upgraded the parking pass which is just the letter P on your pass which was 50-.
We went about 48 times last year. So, not including the $$ we saved 10% here, 10% there on coffees and cookies and stuff like that, here is about what we saved:
47 times admission ($98 park hopper ticket x2 there are 2 of us)=$9,212
46 times using parking up grade (46x 11)=$506
------------------------------------------------------------------------
So our over all expenses to get to DL including buying the passes was about:
gas ($20 each time x's 48 trips 1 calendar year of DL trips) $960
Dl So Cal passes (was 169 ea.) $338
Parking upgrade $50-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
How much we would have spent if
we hadnt purchased passes and
parking upgrade=9718.00
Total expenses with the passes
for 48 trips = $1348
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So we saved about =$8370.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
So our average cost for DL was:
Gas- 20-
Food -30-50-
-----------
50-70- a trip.
And sometimes we would go nuts and spend a couple hundred bucks on sit down meals and souvineers but for the most part just gas coffee and something to eat and RIDES RIDES RIDES PARADES FIREWORKS and Mickey Mouse!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
We wouldnt have been able to go more than once or twice instead of 48 times. So if you are truly wondering if AP's are worth it I have done the math for you. I wouldnt worry about the 10 or 15% off discounts because think of all the money you will save in just being there! lol
Granted most of you dont live right down the freeway from DL and many of you have children so yes the price of food and souvineers may cost more but even still, you wouldnt be paying for admission every time.
So, there ya go!
Hope that helps

 

[JaneJetson]

We saved so much $$ last year with our AP's.
We got the So Cal pass (not the select) We upgraded the parking pass which is just the letter P on your pass which was 50-.
We went about 48 times last year. So, not including the $$ we saved 10% here, 10% there on coffees and cookies and stuff like that, here is about what we saved:
47 times admission ($98 park hopper ticket x2 there are 2 of us)=$9,212
46 times using parking up grade (46x 11)=$506
------------------------------------------------------------------------
So our over all expenses to get to DL including buying the passes was about:
gas ($20 each time x's 48 trips 1 calendar year of DL trips) $960
Dl So Cal passes (was 169 ea.) $338
Parking upgrade $50-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
How much we would have spent if
we hadnt purchased passes and
parking upgrade=9718.00
Total expenses with the passes
for 48 trips = $1348
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So we saved about =$8370.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
So our average cost for DL was:
Gas- 20-
Food -30-50-
-----------
50-70- a trip.
And sometimes we would go nuts and spend a couple hundred bucks on sit down meals and souvineers but for the most part just gas coffee and something to eat and RIDES RIDES RIDES PARADES FIREWORKS and Mickey Mouse!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
We wouldnt have been able to go more than once or twice instead of 48 times. So if you are truly wondering if AP's are worth it I have done the math for you. I wouldnt worry about the 10 or 15% off discounts because think of all the money you will save in just being there! lol
Granted most of you dont live right down the freeway from DL and many of you have children so yes the price of food and souvineers may cost more but even still, you wouldnt be paying for admission every time.
So, there ya go!
Hope that helps

That's exactly the way I looked at it. I had a premium AP for a few years. While living in Orange, we went to the park over 50 times a year. I even had a premium AP for a whie when I lived in the midwest. But I made it to the parks for a few days every couple months so it was even worth the money then.

I'd still have one now but we're only able to go to the parks for 2 or 3 days a year. Not worth the money for us anymore. But you can bet if we still lived 10 minutes from the park, we'd be premium AP holders.

 

[Sherry E]

We saved so much $$ last year with our AP's.
We got the So Cal pass (not the select) We upgraded the parking pass which is just the letter P on your pass which was 50-.
We went about 48 times last year. So, not including the $$ we saved 10% here, 10% there on coffees and cookies and stuff like that, here is about what we saved:
47 times admission ($98 park hopper ticket x2 there are 2 of us)=$9,212
46 times using parking up grade (46x 11)=$506
------------------------------------------------------------------------
So our over all expenses to get to DL including buying the passes was about:
gas ($20 each time x's 48 trips 1 calendar year of DL trips) $960
Dl So Cal passes (was 169 ea.) $338
Parking upgrade $50-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
How much we would have spent if
we hadnt purchased passes and
parking upgrade=9718.00
Total expenses with the passes
for 48 trips = $1348
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So we saved about =$8370.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
So our average cost for DL was:
Gas- 20-
Food -30-50-
-----------
50-70- a trip.
And sometimes we would go nuts and spend a couple hundred bucks on sit down meals and souvineers but for the most part just gas coffee and something to eat and RIDES RIDES RIDES PARADES FIREWORKS and Mickey Mouse!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
We wouldnt have been able to go more than once or twice instead of 48 times. So if you are truly wondering if AP's are worth it I have done the math for you. I wouldnt worry about the 10 or 15% off discounts because think of all the money you will save in just being there! lol
Granted most of you dont live right down the freeway from DL and many of you have children so yes the price of food and souvineers may cost more but even still, you wouldnt be paying for admission every time.
So, there ya go!
Hope that helps

Corpsebride, you certainly have done the math! Wow, so you guys went basically (almost) once a week since you got the passes? The passes definitely paid for themselves and then some in your case! You got your money's worth - no doubt about it. I think for me, they would be worthwhile even if I just made two more three-day/three-night trips in the next year, let alone more than that, and it would help to have the discounts on the hotels. I tend to end up there around holidays and weekends, so the Premium would be best for me, but as Bumber suggested, I could always get a lower level AP to start with and then upgrade just before I decide to go on a blackout weekend, or buy the $40 tickets. And I have a bad habit of buying too many souvenirs when I spot cute stuff, so any reduction of price there would be handy!

I am curious to know - when you go to Disneyland so much during a year like that, do you basically just spend a couple of hours there each time, or is each trip a full day? A couple of friends of mine got the Deluxe passes, I think, and they go maybe just to ride a couple of things and eat, and then they leave. And then they go back in another couple of weeks and spend another couple of hours. But they never stay a long time because they know they can just come back.

 

[JaneJetson]

Corpsebride, you certainly have done the math! Wow, so you guys went basically (almost) once a week since you got the passes? The passes definitely paid for themselves and then some in your case! You got your money's worth - no doubt about it. I think for me, they would be worthwhile even if I just made two more three-day/three-night trips in the next year, lete alone more than that, and it would help to have the discounts on the hotels. I tend to end up there around holidays and weekends, so the Premium would be best for me, but as Bumber suggested, I could always get a lower level AP to start with and then upgrade just before I decide to go on a blackout weekend, or buy the $40 tickets. And I have a bad habit of buying too many souvenirs when I spot cute stuff, so any reduction of price there would be handy!

I am curious to know - when you go to Disneyland so much during a year like that, do you basically just spend a couple of hours there each time, or is each trip a full day? A couple of friends of mine got the Deluxe passes, I think, and they go maybe just to ride a couple of things and eat, and then they leave. And then they go back in another couple of weeks and spend another couple of hours. But they never stay a long time because they know they can just come back.

I know you didn't ask me but I'm going to respond too. We used to go once a week or more. Many times we'd just go for a few hours after my husband got off work. On weekdays after 5pm the parks were pretty empty so we were able to get some dinner and go on quite a few rides. We also did full days on weekends fairly often. It was nice to be able to just go for a few hours and just hang out.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

im gona get the aps though disney and they offered the 20dollers more for package landyard and prefeard seeting and the 10% coupon book before..so were thinking we can get it any ways.

we will know for sure if its aps or not by the time we order..tho we can almost aford normal aps eathier way. (and go again next year for halloween time if that was the only time that worked out ited still be worth it. we want to do this christmas one to)

 

[Sherry E]

I know you didn't ask me but I'm going to respond too. We used to go once a week or more. Many times we'd just go for a few hours after my husband got off work. On weekdays after 5pm the parks were pretty empty so we were able to get some dinner and go on quite a few rides. We also did full days on weekends fairly often. It was nice to be able to just go for a few hours and just hang out.

No, no, feel free to answer! I welcome all sharing of experiences! I wouldn't be able to get to DLR that often, but it does sound like a nice idea to just be able to go for a few hours, have a leisurely meal, ride a few things and leave, not being in a massive rush to get a bunch of 'stuff' done as is usually the case when people go for a set number of days. This way, if you forget to ride or see something or the line is too long, you can just go back in a few days. I would imagine it is a much more relaxing way to see DLR because you don't have to go, go, go full throttle and wear yourself out!

 

[JaneJetson]

No, no, feel free to answer! I welcome all sharing of experiences! I wouldn't be able to get to DLR that often, but it does sound like a nice idea to just be able to go for a few hours, have a leisurely meal, ride a few things and leave, not being in a massive rush to get a bunch of 'stuff' done as is usually the case when people go for a set number of days. This way, if you forget to ride or see something or the line is too long, you can just go back in a few days. I would imagine it is a much more relaxing way to see DLR because you don't have to go, go, go full throttle and wear yourself out!

It was nice. It's pretty much the only thing I miss about living in Orange County. We've made two Disneyland trips (only for a couple days each time) since we've moved and our next one isn't until January. But I'm hoping we're still able to go at a leisurely pace because I really do think that's the best way to enjoy the parks.

 

[Corpsebride]

I know you didn't ask me but I'm going to respond too. We used to go once a week or more. Many times we'd just go for a few hours after my husband got off work. On weekdays after 5pm the parks were pretty empty so we were able to get some dinner and go on quite a few rides. We also did full days on weekends fairly often. It was nice to be able to just go for a few hours and just hang out.

Exactly!! Yes we would go atleast 1 time a week and sometimes just for like 3 hours, and sometimes for 10 hours. It is definitely a luxury to go at least once a week.

 

[mikayla73]

You get a handy dandy small brochure that lists the places you can use it. They SAY that the food purchase has to be $10 or more, but I have *never* been held to that as of yet.

I have had the $10 limit go both ways. I was able to get 2 dole whips and use the 15% discount, the next day I was told no. The next day (I really love them as you can see!) we were again given the discount. So I think it mostly depends on who's checking you out. Although if I remember correctly the dole whips have been taken off the list of available discounts with the AP's. The one exception to the $10 "rule" is the corn dog truck on Main St. I think the CM at the truck told me that, but then again, it could be the person working thing.

When in doubt - always ask! The worst that could happen is you don't get it and then what's the difference, but you could get it. We make a habit of carrying all our Disney "cards" with us (Visa, PAP, DVC) and just asking which one they take and if they do mulitple, which one is the best. Most of the time it is the AP.

 

[cheshiregirl]

We live 4.5 hours away and are Premium APs. We get to go approximately 5-7 times a year, typically for the weekend. We choose to be PAPs for a few reasons--#1 of which is not ever being blocked out on a day that we are able to go. Also, being PAPs allows us to not feel guilty about spending a few hours on Friday night and a few hours on Sunday before heading back to Vegas, whereas if we were paying for parkhoppers I would feel like I was "wasting" a day.

I did the math and figured out that 2 trips of 3 day hoppers plus parking for 6days works out to only about $10 less than 2 PAP cost for a whole year. Then, factor in the discounts and the fact that we typically go at least 3 times between Sept. and Dec. in order to hit both holiday seasons and an end of summer trip and we are way ahead of the game financially!

 

[bulldoggrl]

I'll throw my input in here too. My fiance and I have been Premium APs for two years now, and wouldn't change it for anything. We live about 40 miles away, and probably go once a month on average (more during the slow season, less during the summertime). Whether we stay all day or not depends on the crowd levels, since we CAN go whenever we want, we are less likely to wait in long lines on a busy day, so there have been multiple occasions where we get to the park, ride POC and HM, grab a corn dog or popcorn, and head home.

The merch and food discounts are some of the nicest perks, though the CMs have really been cracking down on not using our AP discount for friends and family when they are visiting with us.

 

[Sherry E]

I'll throw my input in here too. My fiance and I have been Premium APs for two years now, and wouldn't change it for anything. We live about 40 miles away, and probably go once a month on average (more during the slow season, less during the summertime). Whether we stay all day or not depends on the crowd levels, since we CAN go whenever we want, we are less likely to wait in long lines on a busy day, so there have been multiple occasions where we get to the park, ride POC and HM, grab a corn dog or popcorn, and head home.

The merch and food discounts are some of the nicest perks, though the CMs have really been cracking down on not using our AP discount for friends and family when they are visiting with us.

When you say the CMs have been cracking down, how do you mean that exactly? Like let's say you and four other people decide to go eat at, I don't know, Blue Bayou or something and it is one check for the whole table. You can apply your AP discount to the total of the bill, right? Because your friends and family would get the added discount that way, indirectly. Or do you mean that if one friend or relative wants to buy some stuff in the Emporium for themselves, the CM doesn't let you use your AP discount for their purchase? You would have to literally take their items and buy them yourself in order to get the 10% off?

 

[JadeDarkstar]

well acording to what ive ehard today monday the guy wants to talk to my dh about when my dh wants to work hours days and so on. its looking promising for this job menaing wed for surely get the ap so im getting excited

 

[Sherry E]

well acording to what ive ehard today monday the guy wants to talk to my dh about when my dh wants to work hours days and so on. its looking promising for this job menaing wed for surely get the ap so im getting excited

That sounds very promising! I don't think they would bother discussing hours and days and things if they did not want your DH. So good luck to both of you! I think I see an AP in your near future, so enjoy!!!

 

[bumbershoot]

The merch and food discounts are some of the nicest perks, though the CMs have really been cracking down on not using our AP discount for friends and family when they are visiting with us.

Interesting. I paid for my brother to eat at Blue Bayou (with the 3 of us) and they had absolutely no problem with my using the AP discount. In Sept, though.

 

[Lasty K]

Interesting you brought this topic up, I actually picked up a brochure yesterday from a Disney store at the local mall. I was debating with either purchasing the Deluxe or Premium package.

My GF and I opted for the Deluxe though. We have our benefits from the Deluxe rather than the Prem. Love the way how it pays itself off within taking only a few trips to DLR though.

 

[JadeDarkstar]

ty ty sherryme eathier thats why im so excited lol and i can see it to its just out my grasp but instead three feet away like a week ago its only a foot away now lol

 

[Sherry E]

Interesting. I paid for my brother to eat at Blue Bayou (with the 3 of us) and they had absolutely no problem with my using the AP discount. In Sept, though.

Yeah, I am still confused about this too. I can't wait to hear further info on it. I can't see how they could stop you from using it for a Blue Bayou group meal (or Goofy's or Carnation or wherever) if there is only one check. How do the CM's know if the AP holder is picking up the tab for the whole table or what?

I was assuming that maybe the PP meant that if we went to a walk-up restaurant and each person paid individually, or to a store to buy a knick-knack, that we couldn't hand over our AP to apply to our friends' or family's separate food/purchases, but I am interested to get clarification on this.

 

[BillyFan]

We saved so much $$ last year with our AP's.
We got the So Cal pass (not the select) We upgraded the parking pass which is just the letter P on your pass which was 50-.
We went about 48 times last year. So, not including the $$ we saved 10% here, 10% there on coffees and cookies and stuff like that, here is about what we saved:
47 times admission ($98 park hopper ticket x2 there are 2 of us)=$9,212
46 times using parking up grade (46x 11)=$506
------------------------------------------------------------------------
So our over all expenses to get to DL including buying the passes was about:
gas ($20 each time x's 48 trips 1 calendar year of DL trips) $960
Dl So Cal passes (was 169 ea.) $338
Parking upgrade $50-
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
How much we would have spent if
we hadnt purchased passes and
parking upgrade=9718.00
Total expenses with the passes
for 48 trips = $1348
----------------------------------------------------------------------
So we saved about =$8370.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------
So our average cost for DL was:
Gas- 20-
Food -30-50-
-----------
50-70- a trip.
And sometimes we would go nuts and spend a couple hundred bucks on sit down meals and souvineers but for the most part just gas coffee and something to eat and RIDES RIDES RIDES PARADES FIREWORKS and Mickey Mouse!!
------------------------------------------------------------------------
We wouldnt have been able to go more than once or twice instead of 48 times. So if you are truly wondering if AP's are worth it I have done the math for you. I wouldnt worry about the 10 or 15% off discounts because think of all the money you will save in just being there! lol
Granted most of you dont live right down the freeway from DL and many of you have children so yes the price of food and souvineers may cost more but even still, you wouldnt be paying for admission every time.
So, there ya go!
Hope that helps

I love that Disney Math! I use it too, every year when we purchase our PAPs.