What kind of discount can you get with an Annual Pass

[2disneycrazy]

I just started reading the boards here and I keep reading about everyone waiting for an AP rate. I have a trip planned for the month of July for 2 adults and 1 6-year old. I made 2 reservations, 1 for 6 days with 10 day park tickets plus water option and the other reservation was for 10 days at the AAA rate for room only.

Now I am reading about the Annual Passholder and people are waiting for an AP code to come out. How much can you save on the value resorts with the annual pass? Can I buy an annual pass as soon as an AP code is issued? Can I still get the discount? This is my first time on Disney property.

Does an annual passholder get the water park option or is it just the regular parks plus hopper? I don't know anything about it. Please help.

I really need help. I don't know what to do but I am trying to cut down my costs.

 

[nicolemarie]

We just returned from a 7 night stay at the Yacht Club and when I called to book the ressie, I asked what the passholder discount would be as opposed to the AAA rate. For me, the passholder rate was such a substantial savings that I bought an AP (only one in your party needs one to get the discount) and got the room for almost $100 less per night than AAA, and a very large savings over rack rate. As it gets closer to time of your trip, watch these boards and see when the AP rates for July come out. Then you can call and change your rate to AP if they are available, as long as you have booked with Disney and not AAA. I booked our trip about 5 weeks before we went and up until three weeks before, there were still AP rate rooms available at Yacht Club. I don't have any experience with values, but I am sure it is the same principal. Good luck - I found that if I don't use my AP ever again (it expires 3/07) I have still gotten my money's worth!!

 

[cobbler]

Well yes AP holders can get room discounts but they are not guaranteed. You have to be flexible with your dates and where you want to stay as there are a limited number of passholder rates avail.

The discount also varies by season.

It is really best to get an AP for park admission only as you may not be able to snag a discount. Most of the time you will but it does happen.

A regular annual pass is just like a regular ticket with a park hopper that costs 441 per adult (with tax) and 388 for kids. If you want the water parks (which it seems like you do) you will have to buy a premium annual pass and that is 574 per adult and 505 per child.

Last year the difference between the AP rate and the AAA rate for a value resort during my time frame of travel was only $2 per night. So the savings might not offset the price for the tickets.

 

[mmmears]

I would say, keep what you have and keep calling to see if they have any annual pass discounts for your time period. You do not have to buy the pass before you book the discounted room rate, so it never hurts to try. We did this for our Spring Break visit and were able to save about $100 a night with the annual pass rate. (We only bought one AP, and you can buy it with or without the water parks included). The $$ we saved more than made up for the extra cost of the AP, plus with an AP, you can get a Disney Dining Experience card ($65 I think) and save 20% off all your sit-down meals. So for us it was worth it -- and it costs you nothing to try for it.

 

[Samsma]

Without doing the math, I would say buying an AP for all of you would be a lot less than buying the 10 and 6 day hoppers with waterparks not including any discount that might come up. We are going twice this year for a week each, and we saved on just the tickets alone without considering any room discounts. We weren't doing premium annual passes though. You really just have to compare.

Also, if you buy an annual pass you can purchase the Disney Dining Experience for $60 which gives you 20% off table service meals for a year. This also helped me decide on an AP.

 

[Jesussavedme]

Boy is this a sore subject right now! We are waiting for codes for after June 3 and nothing has come out yet!!!