What are AP rates?

[GoofyB]

I keep reading threads about AP rates being listed and people's attempts at calling and getting the rates. Can someone PLEASE tell me what these are? Why they seem to be available incrementally (from this date to this date, etc). Are they for any AP holders?

Thanks!

 

[drusba]

If you have an Annual Pass (the "AP") to the parks, you can get discounts on room rates. Generally, Disney announces such discounts only a few months or less before the applicable time period, although sometimes discounts are announced further in advance.

 

[GoofyB]

Thank you!

Now, a related question. If you're a DVC member (we're awaiting the scheduling of our closing right now), is it worthwhile to get the AP for the AP rates? I mean, the point of joining DVC is to book rooms using points, so would it make sense to go the AP route too? Did that make any sense?

 

[DebbieB]

If you are a DVC member, you could use the AP rates if you want to add cash nights with your points nights (for example, do points Sun-Thurs and cash Fri & Sat). I am a DVC member and have had an AP since before I was a member. Not for the room discounts but it's much cheaper to get into the parks. We go twice a year (at least ) but schedule our trips to get 3 trips out of the AP. For example - 2nd week May 2003, 2nd week Dec 2003, first week May 2004 (leaving before it expires). We get at least 20 park days out of each AP, less than $20 per day.

 

[drusba]

In my view no, because if you are a DVC owner you will be going almost exclusively to DVC resorts; frankly, for most DVC owners, there is not a huge interest to stay elsewhere becuase the DVC resorts themselves are deluxe resorts. In other words, many of us would consider staying at a non-DVC resort as a step down, not up.

Nevertheless, there a huge number of DVC owners who also have AP's, including me. But we have them because we actually go to WDW more than 9 days a year.

 

[westjones]

We are considering getting APs in 2005 and hoping for some good discounts on rooms. We are DVC members, but we only own 150 points (which is all we want because we know when our kids are older we will not be going to WDW as much, and don't want to be over committed).

We were out of points this year, so we stayed at PC and the Swan just last week for our Christmas trip.

If you own a lot of points and won't be staying anywhere else, then the AP rates probably won't interest you. To be honest, I would LOVE to stay at each and every Disney Resort at one time or another. Right now the FW Cabins are tempting me.

So I guess it is a matter of how you plan to vacation as to whether an AP would make sense.
DJ

 

[GoofyB]

Thanks to all. Very helpful!