Tickets...AP... I'm So Confused!!!!

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

We didn't get to vacation this year, so DH has agreed to a short trip in Feb 08 and a longer one in Sep 08 if they offer free dining to the rest of us (and if we save up the $$). How great is he?

Anyway, I still can't figure all the separate ticket vs package stuff out. The more I look into it, the more I get confused. Feb would be a 5 day trip. Sep could possibly be a 10 day trip. We will probably have DDP in Feb.

Would the AP save me money? I know you could get a room only discount. How does all this work in connection to the DDP? I know only one person has to have the AP to get the room discount. So, for a package with DDP, if you had to buy at least a 1 day ticket, do you lose savings?

I'm lost... thanks for the help! We'd be at a value if it makes a diff.

 

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

Is anybody out there?

 

[DLBDS]

I chose the AP last year for the room only discounts. Did I get any? NO! We went 3 times and are going again in a couple of weeks (for a total of 4 trips - 28 days). The only discount I've been able to score is AAA (15%) (on 2 out of 4 trips). It was just never available for my dates at my resort. We did get the DDE (Disney's Dining Experience) card though which saves you 20% on both food and alcoholic beverages. It's only available to APholders and FL residents. We also saved a bit at the World of Disney store at DTD where APholders get a discount. The AP is definitely worth it IF you plan on going to WDW for 10+ (?) days. It'll save on park admission. The rest is just gravy. Please don't expect a room discount though. You could set yourself up for a HUGE disappointment.....like I did. I can't help with the DDP...we've never done it. Good luck with your decision!

Here are a couple of links that may be helpful:

AP Info
http://allearsnet.com/pl/apass.htm

DDE
http://allearsnet.com/din/dde.htm

 

[byoung]

We use the AP discounts a lot, but it will not help you for the free dining. You have to pay rack rates to get it if they offer it next Sept.

 

[TBGOES2DISNEY]

Okay. This is starting to make more sense. So say you didn't get an AP discounts, but you went for a 5 day trip and bought 6 day tickets and another trip for 10 days and bought 11 day tickets, if the second trip is free dining, and you have to buy at least a 1 day ticket, is the annual going to save any money?

 

[Mickiethepooh]

First of all there are not always AP rates, no guarantees there. second you can't do the dining plan paid or free if you book just room you must have at least a one day ticket per person in the room to make it a package and add dining. you CAN still use the AP for your tickets and then turn in the 1 day tickets for credit when you go to renew your AP.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I'm sorry, I can't answer you r last question, but the AP makes alot of sense for my family. I have the certificate to exchange at the gate for our trip in December and have trips booked for April/May 08 and December 08. Currently I have AAA rates for the two 2008 trips, but am prepared if discounts are offered. We usually go during a time when the discounts are offered, because WDW is usually less crowded. For my trip in December 2007, I have 2 nights at CR with a AAA rate and 2 nights at AKL with the AP rate (I saved about $320 off these 2 nights and would have saved more, but we have an extra adult). I have almost paid for one of my AP's with the discounts I have gotten so far and I know I will use it at DTD, DH will play mini-golf and AP holders get 50% off that, and we are also going to get the DDE and will save money on most of our meals.

For our trip in December, I booked a package with AAA for the discount, got 3 one day base tickets, and the DDP (this only makes sense for us on longer trips). I booked the AS Music Family Suites for 8 nights/9days with the above options plus insurance for $3031.92. That includes a 20% discount on the first 6 nights, the last 2 are during Holiday season when there is no discount (I believe). If we decide not to re-new our AP's during that trip, we will have to use the 1 day base ticket for our last park day.

Suzanne

 

[star2500]

Here's my scenario...not sure if it would help or not.

We are going for 10 days. I grabbed a room at the Contemporary with a AAA discount (15%) off the room. Which I was happy to get. No AP discount is available for the time I'm going. I then made my ADR's. I then looked at the menus where I have the ADR's (which wasn't that bad cause about 60 percent are buffets one set price) and I figured out how much I can save with the 20% discount from the DDE. I subtracted the cost of the 10 day MWY pass from the cost of the annual pass, added in the cost of the DDE, and subtracted my estimated savings on food and a small amount for discouns on merchandise. For me, buying an AP would benefit because I would be able to save at least $475.00. We are a family of 6 so the discounts on the food adds up. I hope that helps a bit. I know it seems a bit time consuming but it wasn't as bad as it sounds trying to figure it out.


Any questions....let me know....happy planning.