Which AP to get?

[Boo Bear]

I'm trying to decided between the Deluxe and Premium APs. My drawbacks for the Deluxe are: I won't stay at a DLR each time I visit because I can't afford to and I might make day trips and just drive from and back to Santa Barbara. I also go to a school that has a weird schedule.... go 7 weeks get the 8th week off. So I might want to take advantage of some days with blackout days. But for that the cost is only $40, right? So do you think its worth the extra $$$ because I'll probably need a place to park and will probably attend a few blackout saturdays throughout the year?

Thanks,

Bridgette

 

[mechurchlady]

Premium pass saves you 20% on tours, 15 on many restaurants, discounts on merchandise and free parking. Not sure but check at the Disneyland site to see if you are eligible for monthly payment plan. They used my debit card.

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

I would do the premium. You can go on Saturdays and not worry about blackouts. Plus parking is included. We have a premium and love not worrying about blackouts and the discounts on food and buying things helps out a bit.

 

[Boo Bear]

I just made my birthday hotel reservation at the DLH with the premium AP rate. She said that in order for me to be able to do a payment plan, it's best for me to buy it on my first day at the parks so it'll last a full year from that date. Thats no biggie because I'll be going to DL a week and 1/2 before my birthday visit. Yay!

 

[ScooterL]

With parking now $12/day, if you think you might go 10 days a year you've made up the price difference just in parking fees (though of course you could always add parking to your deluxe pass for $59, which I would HIGHLY recommend if you are getting the deluxe).

Anyway...with the parking add-on being $59, and blockout day passes being $40 each, if you think you will visit the park on two or more blockout days then you will be ahead if you buy the premium rather than the deluxe. And that doesn't take into consideration the merchandise discount you get with the premium, plus the additional restaurant discounts - though if you don't buy much that's not going to be a big factor.

Me, I'd get the premium. And remember that Disney will let you pay for it over the course of a year now, so you don't have to come up with the $389 all at once.

 

[pixiewings71]

Well, we went with Premiums this year, why? Because most of our trips are made on the weekends and my bday falls on Mem. Day and the Deluxe had that whole weekend blacked out. With 4 of us buying blackout passes at $40 a pop that pays for one upgrade! So we went ahead and got Premiums. Something you might consider....if you have the cash and have a Costco membership (or know someone who can go with you) the So Cal Costcos had Deluxe APs available, they are $269 but they come with a $50 gift card at the time of activation. So, we used those towards our upgrades and we paid $50 less.

 

[roxy72]

I just made my birthday hotel reservation at the DLH with the premium AP rate. She said that in order for me to be able to do a payment plan, it's best for me to buy it on my first day at the parks so it'll last a full year from that date. Thats no biggie because I'll be going to DL a week and 1/2 before my birthday visit. Yay!

Do you mind if I ask the price of a night at the Disneyland Hotel, with a premium (or other type) AP? I would LOVE to stay at a hotel on-site, but it's just too costly for me.

 

[bumbershoot]

Unless something has changed, the tour and hotel discounts are exactly the same between the premium and deluxe APs. And even the two so cal APs can get hotel discounts.

The basic hotel discount is something like 10% off rack rate. But they sometimes (or more recently, *often*) have special deals. They have special rates seasonally (used to just be one season, now it's more often), right now it's called the AP8 deal, and it can, for instance, right now, get you PPH for $149 on the 27th of this month. That's just one example. Before they extended AP8 to April 30th, they had a 40% off rack rate deal through the same date. You can always call and ask for the best AP rate (with things like AP8 (which go sequentially) you'll likely need to state the exact name of the promo, which you'll often find around here) to see.

 

[Boo Bear]

Do you mind if I ask the price of a night at the Disneyland Hotel, with a premium (or other type) AP? I would LOVE to stay at a hotel on-site, but it's just too costly for me.

It was $270 something but then I am paying a ton in taxes and the resort fee leaving me at = $320 for one night on July 16th.

 

[Zoemakes5]

I was going to get a deluxe this year, as the dates I knew I was going weren't blackout dates. But, if I had to pay $12 each time to park, I know I wouldn't go as often. Also, I know there'd be at least once I'd want to go when there would be a black out. I like the additional discounts, too. Some restaurants (for example in downtown disney) only give discounts for premium passes.
I do like the idea of getting the deluxe pass from costco and upgrading, though, that way you'll get the $50 off!
Edited to add....I have never stayed onsite since having my AP, so staying onsite hasn't been part of my consideration.

 

[pixiewings71]

I was going to get a deluxe this year, as the dates I knew I was going weren't blackout dates. But, if I had to pay $12 each time to park, I know I wouldn't go as often. Also, I know there'd be at least once I'd want to go when there would be a black out. I like the additional discounts, too. Some restaurants (for example in downtown disney) only give discounts for premium passes.
I do like the idea of getting the deluxe pass from costco and upgrading, though, that way you'll get the $50 off!
Edited to add....I have never stayed onsite since having my AP, so staying onsite hasn't been part of my consideration.

You can just add parking to your Deluxe if you want. We actually did that before we decided to upgrade to Premiums, and yes when we did the upgrade I got that $59 credited back to me.

 

[DisneySuiteFreak]

It was $270 something but then I am paying a ton in taxes and the resort fee leaving me at = $320 for one night on July 16th.

Whoa! For that price you could stay at the GC hotel! Did you check other resources, like Expedia? Dang, for that price you could almost get a 2nd PP!

 

[Boo Bear]

Whoa! For that price you could stay at the GC hotel! Did you check other resources, like Expedia? Dang, for that price you could almost get a 2nd PP!

Really? I checked AAA.com and it said that the rooms were over $300. Where else should I check besides expedia?

 

[Boo Bear]

I checked orbitz, expedia, hotwire, and another place and it all says $310 per night for a standard room at DLH on July 16th. Hmmm

 

[pixiewings71]

July is peak season, it's really hard to get any discounts at any of the DLR hotel at that time. I'd look into a Harbor hotel, there are a lot that would be great for one night. Or even a Katella or Ball Rd hotel.

 

[bumbershoot]

Boo, it's the date. You said on the other thread it's July 16, right? Smack dab in summer, and there's no special going on at that time (there might be in the future, but not at this time). The GCH AP rate that night is 383, plus taxes, plus resort fee, plus tax on the resort fee.

 

[roxy72]

Unless something has changed, the tour and hotel discounts are exactly the same between the premium and deluxe APs. And even the two so cal APs can get hotel discounts.

The basic hotel discount is something like 10% off rack rate. But they sometimes (or more recently, *often*) have special deals. They have special rates seasonally (used to just be one season, now it's more often), right now it's called the AP8 deal, and it can, for instance, right now, get you PPH for $149 on the 27th of this month. That's just one example. Before they extended AP8 to April 30th, they had a 40% off rack rate deal through the same date. You can always call and ask for the best AP rate (with things like AP8 (which go sequentially) you'll likely need to state the exact name of the promo, which you'll often find around here) to see.

Wow, thanks so much for all of the info. I still need to buy an Annual Pass (trying to decide which one!) so I don't know any of that insider info about AP hotel discounts. Say, is there a thread where everyone is posting about AP hotel deals? Maybe something that I can reference throughout the month.

 

[Boo Bear]

July is peak season, it's really hard to get any discounts at any of the DLR hotel at that time. I'd look into a Harbor hotel, there are a lot that would be great for one night. Or even a Katella or Ball Rd hotel.

Are any of those within walking distance? I'd prefer not to have to rely on shuttle transportation if I can help it.

 

[bumbershoot]

There are a ton of hotels on Harbor and even on Katella that are walking distance! Many on Harbor are actually closer to walk from the esplanade than the DLH is. Some are closer even than getting into the GCH.

Here is a basic map showing the hotels. It's not as updated or nicely interactive as other maps, but I go back to it time and time again.

 

[pixiewings71]

Are any of those within walking distance? I'd prefer not to have to rely on shuttle transportation if I can help it.

The map that Bumber posted is the one I use all the time. We do have the Premium APs and have free parking but we would rather stay on Harbor if it works out. Our favorite hotels are as follows

HoJo (Ent Rate isn't avail. in July but I just made ressies for a Pavilion room w/2 double beds for $118 a night, not sure if we will keep those but at least I have them)
Candy Cane Inn, not really walking distance but they have a free shuttle and a good breakfast.
Tropicana & Best Western Park Place Inn, both right across the street and nice hotels.

I go with these 4 when we are on Harbor. Down Harbor is the Crowne Plaza which is nice and has a free shuttle, you could try Pricelining it but the resort does have a fee for parking. We've also stayed at the Peacock which is OK.