too much hassle

[pigletforever]

I have been trying and trying to figure out what we want in the way of a vacation to DL in January. I look at things and think - if we stayed here we could save $$$ ie one hotel over another, food plan, etc.

Is this crazy? Buy one annual pass now so I can see what the AP rates are. I know we will be buying them in January anyway. I think we will save $$ using AP for food. I would like to stay onsite but am not totally sold on it.

Also can you upgrade a regular AP for a Preimuim AP?

 

[pinktink83]

I think it depends on what you would be normally doing if you didnt have an AP. Would you still be eating in the parks for every meal? Would you still stay on the property? Would you still come back to the park sometime this year?

If the answers are 'yes' then for sure get an AP! It will save you money!

If any of your answers were 'no' (ie: we usually eat the free breakfast at the hotel before we go, leave for lunch, and only eat dinner in the park and bring our own snacks...or we usually stay in a hotel a little farther away to save money and take the tram over....or nope, we weren't planning on coming back, we dont have the money for hotel & gas to come again!) then I'd say it would NOT be worth it to buy an AP.

Do you get a better bang for your buck? Ya, but if you wouldn't have spent that money in the first place, then it doesn't really matter. I'd just think carefully about it, because its easy to be sucked into things like that "but it would save us $300...if we stay on property and eat all our meals there and come back 3 times this year..."

 

[Gisele]

I don't think it is a crazy idea, I know that there are many people that are far better well versed on the subject of AP's. however based upon what I have read, that is why I don't think it is a nutty idea,to purchase one AP, before going to Dl. one receives a slightly larger discount with the premium, and it also includes parking, but for the reg. AP, you can add parking to it.
In the end, how much money one might save, has everything to do with one's plans, and budget.
That is a good question, whether or not one can upgrade their pass, I am not positive about it, however, I don't see why that might not be possible, one can upgrade just about anything else.

 

[bumbershoot]

Buying the AP now won't help you see the AP rates, b/c most (or all) vouchers don't give you access to teh site. You would have to actually be there and get your card, to have the numbers, unless you can figure out the place to buy them where you get those numbers (I've seen people say their voucher gave them the numbers, but I don't remember where that was).

But you can call and ask them for the AP rates, without having the AP in hand.

BUT there were no special AP rates last January, just the normal 10% or so.

You can upgrade a Deluxe AP to a Premium AP anytime. You can upgrade any AP to a higher AP, actually, it's not just the highest levels of AP. There is no pro-rating, and you don't retroactively get bigger discounts, but still, upgrading can be valuable if it works for your situation!

 

[Bullseyebaby]

Also, keep in mind that only one of you has to have the AP pass to get the discounts. The few times I've used the AP rates for hotels, were on off peak times and told about them 2 months before. Not sure if anything has changed. Staying on property is cool, but probably over-rated. There are some good motels right next to DL that are reasonable & have free breakfasts & parking and within walking distance. Park Vue & Carousel are a few that we've stayed at and were fine, but..... they are NOT Disney! Just plain motel rooms, but comfortable enough & clean enough if you plan to stay at the park all day. We just stayed at the DL Hotel, and I was disappointed with the room for the price. We've stayed at the Grand Californian and that is beautiful & pricey, but we enjoyed it so it was worth it. That was a few years ago, and the prices have really gone up.