Will be buying AP soon lots of questions to follow

[az4boys]

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!

We didn't do the AP's. Even with the rumored (now true) price increases, there were too many unknown variables. We would have done the deluxe for a family of 6 = $3600. We wouldn't start using the AP's until October though. I decided I'd rather keep the $3600 for now and deal with whatever price increases come between now and October. I didn't want to end up with AP that we couldn't afford to use because of all the other costs.

 

[PMGuernsey]

So we bought one signature AP and 2 deluxe AP... Thanks for everyone's help. My question now is, can we take advantage of discounts before activation of AP. For example we will want to go to Mickey's Halloween party, and will like to buy our tickets when they go on sell with AP discount, but we will not activate pass until we go the 3rd week in August. Will we be able to get discounted tickets? On the same subject when there are AP discounts for Disney property hotels can we get these discounts before activation, if our passes will be activated during our reservation?

 

[SMD]

For the on site hotels there is no standard discount. You can call and see if there are any available rooms at a discounted rate for your trip. If you already have a reservation, they can apply it. You'll just need to show the active AP at the hotel during your stay. For Halloween tickets, no. You need the active AP with the barcode on the back to buy discount items, register for events that require registration, get early access to runDisney races or access the AP areas of the site the require a log in. This includes viewing hotel rates, which is why you'd have to call.

 

[Speechphi]

So we bought one signature AP and 2 deluxe AP... Thanks for everyone's help. My question now is, can we take advantage of discounts before activation of AP. For example we will want to go to Mickey's Halloween party, and will like to buy our tickets when they go on sell with AP discount, but we will not activate pass until we go the 3rd week in August. Will we be able to get discounted tickets? On the same subject when there are AP discounts for Disney property hotels can we get these discounts before activation, if our passes will be activated during our reservation?

1) MHP tickets: pretty sure you're pass has to be activated to be able to get these during the AP advance sales & to get the discount. But someone may have better info based on experience

2) Hotel rates: you can call, ask about AP rates, & book over the phone. You won't be able to access the AP rates on the DLR website as you need an active AP to do that. But you won't have to present your AP until you check in. That being said, you'll need to activate your AP (by going to the park) before checking in. So...if you're like us, and go check in & drop your bags off & then head to the park (before the gates even open), you're out of luck. But if you arrive mid-day, then you'd just need to go to the park first & activate your pass.