Will be buying AP soon lots of questions to follow

[PMGuernsey]

First I want to thank all of you who post on here so frequently, as I have learned much by just reading posts over the years.

My family (my wife and I and 2 daughters age 4 and 2 as well as son to be born in June) will be getting annual passes in August after I move to Portland, from Michigan. I know that this is a young family to be traveling frequently to Disney, but my daughters have been going at least once a year since birth and we have had a great time with them at this age, and plan on going more often. I have questions that I am starting to need some help with and thought making a thread to ask for some help would be a good place to start, as I usually just read others posts to learn.

Question: Is it best to buy AP at the park or online before trip? Any tips on buying AP would be great.

I have 2 trips planned so far middle of August for my oldest daughters birthday, as well as over labor day for the disneyland half. Planning on staying 4 nights each time. Im thinking of staying at hojo with waterpark, because of proximity to parks and ease of returning with the 3 month old for naps, as well as during the heat of the day if crowded I can take my daughters to water park.

Questions:
1. Is it worth getting a king kid suite for the second room for the kids for an extra $50 a night? I haven't reserved it that way as it would save us $500 not too over the 2 trips, but I am starting to second guess my self.

2. I reserved this as if I am an AP holder although I have not purchased our AP yet, planning on waiting until August. Is this ok to check in before purchasing AP, or do I need to purchase AP online pick them up then go check in? ( I should probably just call hotel and ask)

3. Is there a different hotel that my be better? (We have stayed in quality inn, Camelot, carousel, BW stovall's in the past usually because of cheap cost, with my new job however I will be making more money, just dont really want to splurge on DL hotel, or GC)

 

[ParkHopper1]

3. Is there a different hotel that my be better? (We have stayed in quality inn, Camelot, carousel, BW stovall's in the past usually because of cheap cost, with my new job however I will be making more money, just dont really want to splurge on DL hotel, or GC)

Take a look at the new Courtyard...two queens and bunkbeds are standard in every room.

 

[Niltiac]

Regarding the timing for purchasing AP's, if you know for sure you're going to be buying them I think it's better to buy online ahead of time in case of price increases. In fact, there's a rumor that there will be a price increase very soon (maybe this weekend).

 

[PMGuernsey]

Regarding the timing for purchasing AP's, if you know for sure you're going to be buying them I think it's better to buy online ahead of time in case of price increases. In fact, there's a rumor that there will be a price increase very soon (maybe this weekend).

Do they activate when I purchase them or at our first visit. We will not be able to go until August.

 

[Niltiac]

Also there's a promotion going on right now and you can get an extra month on your AP if you buy the voucher right away (promotion ends on the 11th, I believe).

 

[Niltiac]

Do they activate when I purchase them or at our first visit. We will not be able to go until August.

They don't activate until you visit. What you'll be purchasing is just a voucher for an AP. When you get to the park on the first day, you can either go to the ticket booth to get your AP, or go straight to the turnstiles, where they'll give you a 1 day ticket and instruct you to go to the ticket booth at some point that day to trade it in for an actual AP.

 

[cruisehopeful]

If you buy before Feb. 11, you get 13 months for price of 12 months. You will just bring your smartphone or a print out when you visit in August and they will issue your AP with that date as the start date/

 

[SMD]

Are you getting deluxe or signature APs? Deluxe have 2 Saturday blockout dates in August and are also blocked the Saturday and Sunday of Labor Day weekend.

 

[PMGuernsey]

Wow see you guys are saving me money already. We are getting the signature AP, that way we can travel to park for weekends, and we just wont go over Christmas.

 

[Nevada Jen]

Check out the Courtyard Theme Park for a hotel. I like it much better and it is a tiny bit closer. It has a really great little kid area in the waterpark plus onsite food and coffee and a fun lobby. That might be nice with the need for napping and all that jazz. But I actually found that PPH was only a tiny bit more expensive, so don't completely discount that idea. There is also sometimes a passholder deal there and I am not sure if you can see those deals before you activate your pass. Hopefully someone will tell you how that works. I would definately get your APs very soon. No reason not to and lots of reason to do so. Also, check the black out dates on the deluxe pass. It might be that the dates don't bother you (or be worth buying a single day ticket instead on black out dates).

 

[PMGuernsey]

Check out the Courtyard Theme Park for a hotel. I like it much better and it is a tiny bit closer. It has a really great little kid area in the waterpark plus onsite food and coffee and a fun lobby. That might be nice with the need for napping and all that jazz. But I actually found that PPH was only a tiny bit more expensive, so don't completely discount that idea. There is also sometimes a passholder deal there and I am not sure if you can see those deals before you activate your pass. Hopefully someone will tell you how that works. I would definately get your APs very soon. No reason not to and lots of reason to do so. Also, check the black out dates on the deluxe pass. It might be that the dates don't bother you (or be worth buying a single day ticket instead on black out dates).

Thanks this is helpful. I looked at blackout dates and it looks like we only would be interested in being in the parks 1-3 days that are blacked out. Now just need to decide if that plus the discount differences, and the photopass is worth $750 (cost difference of 3 passes deluxe vs signature ).... Also wonder what the cost of annual maxpass will be as this includes photopass and may make the benefit of the photopass included in signature psdd less valuable.

 

[Niltiac]

Thanks this is helpful. I looked at blackout dates and it looks like we only would be interested in being in the parks 1-3 days that are blacked out. Now just need to decide if that plus the discount differences, and the photopass is worth $750 (cost difference of 3 passes deluxe vs signature ).... Also wonder what the cost of annual maxpass will be as this includes photopass and may make the benefit of the photopass included in signature psdd less valuable.

I'm hoping they include maxpass as an added perk for the passes that already have photopass included. I have no reason to believe they will, it's just my hope. Some people will buy Deluxe passes for most of the family and just one Signature, and use the Signature for photopass and discounts, so that's one possibility you might consider.

 

[Speechphi]

Thanks this is helpful. I looked at blackout dates and it looks like we only would be interested in being in the parks 1-3 days that are blacked out. Now just need to decide if that plus the discount differences, and the photopass is worth $750 (cost difference of 3 passes deluxe vs signature ).... Also wonder what the cost of annual maxpass will be as this includes photopass and may make the benefit of the photopass included in signature psdd less valuable.

something to think about, that we've done, is to get one signature AP for one of the adults, and then deluxe APs for the other adult & all the kids. That way we get the photopass perk & the extra discount, but don't have to pay for those benefits for the kids (who don't need them). Granted, it doesn't help if you want to go when the deluxe APs are blocked out.

That being said...we are going in May for the Tinkerbell 5K, and our kids are blocked out that Saturday. To get 3 one-day PH tix for them will be $480! (Our kids are all 9 & up now, and that's "regular" admission, not peak.) So if you really think you'll be going when your passes are blocked out more than once, it would make more sense to get the signature passes.

 

[SMD]

Thanks this is helpful. I looked at blackout dates and it looks like we only would be interested in being in the parks 1-3 days that are blacked out. Now just need to decide if that plus the discount differences, and the photopass is worth $750 (cost difference of 3 passes deluxe vs signature ).... Also wonder what the cost of annual maxpass will be as this includes photopass and may make the benefit of the photopass included in signature psdd less valuable.

Also consider if this is just for 1 year, or if you plan to renew, or possibly lapse without renewing. When will your 2 year old turn 3? If you get signature, at that point will a deluxe work for your 3 year old? Or will you just buy kids tickets to keep the APs synced if you renew?

 

[PMGuernsey]

Also consider if this is just for 1 year, or if you plan to renew, or possibly lapse without renewing. When will your 2 year old turn 3? If you get signature, at that point will a deluxe work for your 3 year old? Or will you just buy kids tickets to keep the APs synced if you renew?

We will probably be getting AP for years to come. How does this affect us with renew? Do you get to renew at same price? My 2 year old will turn 3 in January 2018, so we will just buy her AP then and it will be out of sync. Thanks for your help. I'm leaning toward deluxe at this point because looking at blackout dates we will likely only want to go one or two days that are blacked out with deluxe.

 

[SMD]

There is a 40 day renewal period, so if there happens to be a price increase within your renewal period, then you can renew at the old price. Otherwise you pay the price increase. There is a renewal discount if you don't let your pass lapse, which for deluxe is $40. At the time of renewal you'll have to see when you're going on your next trip. If your APs expire in August and you know you won't be back for a few months at the time, it can be more economical to let them lapse and buy new ones at the start of your next trip. That's why I mentioned the child that turns 3. If you do most of your trips before January and think you won't be going back much for the rest of your AP year at the point, you may want to just buy some kids price tickets for the rest of the year and sync your APs. Of course the plus side of APs that aren't synced is if you do renew, it spreads out when the money is due.

 

[PMGuernsey]

something to think about, that we've done, is to get one signature AP for one of the adults, and then deluxe APs for the other adult & all the kids. That way we get the photopass perk & the extra discount, but don't have to pay for those benefits for the kids (who don't need them). Granted, it doesn't help if you want to go when the deluxe APs are blocked out.

That being said...we are going in May for the Tinkerbell 5K, and our kids are blocked out that Saturday. To get 3 one-day PH tix for them will be $480! (Our kids are all 9 & up now, and that's "regular" admission, not peak.) So if you really think you'll be going when your passes are blocked out more than once, it would make more sense to get the signature passes.

Buying one Signature pass and the other 2 deluxe passes is a very interesting idea and may work out well, thanks for this tip..... Gotta decide tonight thanks

 

[Winnowill]

We figured out that, given the number of days we're planning on being in the parks during our AP year, and just in parking alone, getting one Signature pass will pay for itself (14 days of parking is the break-even). Photopass and the other discounts are gravy.

 

[az4boys]

I have an AP question as well. We were thinking of buying AP's with the current 13 month promotion that expires tomorrow. The cost of Maxpass started to make me rethink that plan. Has Disney said anything about the cost of Maxpass for AP holders? I read a lot when it was first announced and all they said was more information was coming.

 

[Mcky36]

I have an AP question as well. We were thinking of buying AP's with the current 13 month promotion that expires tomorrow. The cost of Maxpass started to make me rethink that plan. Has Disney said anything about the cost of Maxpass for AP holders? I read a lot when it was first announced and all they said was more information was coming.

I'm in the exact same boat. I don't want to shell out $3,500 (family of 4) for signature passes and then feel like we need to pay $40 each day to use the Maxpass, especially when photopass is already a perk of the inflated AP prices. Now we're down to the wire though, so if we want the 13 month promotion we're going to have to do it in the next 24 hours!