Worth purchasing an AP at this point?

[BostonEd]

I'm currently considering going with my family of four the last week of August, Mon-Fri. (Actually that bleeds into September slightly). NOT Florida residents.

Would it be worth it for me to get an annual pass for a potential hotel discount? Is it too late to consider that? If we stay onsite, we would be at either Royal Pacific or Sapphire Falls.

For the days we're going, I think I would be eligible to use the least expensive pass, because it is not in any blackout dates. Are there any other perks which would help make the decision for me? I wouldn't be parking. The food discount is only for the more expensive passes.

Thanks.

 

[macraven]

Have you done a check to see what hotels have ap rates available for your dates ?

If they do, play with the numbers and see if the savings is worth it for you

There are discounts in the parks for food and merch besides the hotel rooms

 

[CAPSLOCK]

You can always look for the discount first (they won't be out this early for August), then upgrade to the Seasonal AP if you get a good hotel rate. You do not need an AP in hand to book the rate, you only need it during your stay to keep the rate. Generally, if you can get an AP hotel rate it is worth the upgrade. You can even buy tickets now and upgrade to the AP at the hotel ticket desk when you get there (in case you're looking at the promo tickets).

 

[BostonEd]

Oh, I looked a little bit, but I didn't see anywhere that I could check for the hotel discounts. I thought I already had to be an AP holder to check. Where can I find those?

 

[Mamabun]

Oh, I looked a little bit, but I didn't see anywhere that I could check for the hotel discounts. I thought I already had to be an AP holder to check. Where can I find those?

https://res.windsurfercrs.com/ibe/d...hildren=0&promo=aph&iata=&group=&hotels=&ada=

 

[BostonEd]

https://res.windsurfercrs.com/ibe/d...hildren=0&promo=aph&iata=&group=&hotels=&ada=

Hmm... either there are no discounts for my week, or that does not have AP discount info. I see the rates which are available to anyone.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

The AP rates aren't released this far in advance.

 

[Mamabun]

Hmm... either there are no discounts for my week, or that does not have AP discount info. I see the rates which are available to anyone.

Try looking for all hotels on a date like Jun 1, I know there are AP rates available that day. If you can see the discounts on Jun 1 (or any other date), then any date you’re not seeing them for means they aren’t available. It shows other rates if the AP rate isn’t available.

 

[djmeredith]

Make sure you check every single day because the AP rate rooms seem to be going fast these days. I forgot and went a few days without checking for my end of May trip. By the time I remembered the rate was only available 1 of my 4 nights and I haven't seen any since then.

ETA: I found the AP rate approximately 3ish months before my dates and this was for a premier hotel - Portofino Bay.

 

[Pooh's World]

I'm currently considering going with my family of four the last week of August, Mon-Fri. (Actually that bleeds into September slightly). NOT Florida residents.

Would it be worth it for me to get an annual pass for a potential hotel discount? Is it too late to consider that? If we stay onsite, we would be at either Royal Pacific or Sapphire Falls.

For the days we're going, I think I would be eligible to use the least expensive pass, because it is not in any blackout dates. Are there any other perks which would help make the decision for me? I wouldn't be parking. The food discount is only for the more expensive passes.

Thanks.

I have found that I regretted not getting the 2nd top pass that gives you food and merchandise discounts. If you go enough those discounts more than pay for itself.

Also, if you like the Mardi Gras concerts, alot of those dates are blacked out for the bottom two tiers. (Although this year for power pass they did add they you could go in after 5 pm for the concers)

 

[BostonEd]

If you go enough those discounts more than pay for itself.

Only going once, so probably not. And given what everyone else is saying about having to be right on top of it when the AP discounts are release, I'm starting to think this particluar "strategy" may not work for me. C'est la vie.

 

[BostonEd]

On second thought... I just checked for a week that had AP rates available, and there is a savings that would make it worth it to get the AP.

I could always book a room at a regular rate, then cancel and switch to an AP rate if I get one later, right?

 

[DoryGirl1963]

On second thought... I just checked for a week that had AP rates available, and there is a savings that would make it worth it to get the AP.

I could always book a room at a regular rate, then cancel and switch to an AP rate if I get one later, right?

You can actually book the AP rate before you buy the AP - Just present it at check in !

 

[djmeredith]

You can actually book the AP rate before you buy the AP - Just present it at check in !

Actually, you do not need it until you check out. I reserved the AP rate and did not upgrade my tix to AP until after I checked in.

 

[chimoe]

I can pretty much guarantee, if your staying at a Deluxe hotel, the AP savings will more then pay for the AP itself. On my 1st trip the standard room rate at Portifino was about $600/night. I was able to grab AP rate of around 400$/night. I saved almost $650 on 3day stay by using AP rate. The hotel savings paid for my AP ticket and some.

Keep that URL that was provided in the above posts, and just scan it every so often to check for the AP rates.

 

[DoryGirl1963]

Actually, you do not need it until you check out. I reserved the AP rate and did not upgrade my tix to AP until after I checked in.

Yep, you're right! Should have said "at some point during your stay." Hope I didn't confuse anyone!

 

[Sue M]

On second thought... I just checked for a week that had AP rates available, and there is a savings that would make it worth it to get the AP.

I could always book a room at a regular rate, then cancel and switch to an AP rate if I get one later, right?

No, you’d need to book the AP rate asap. Later it will probably be gone. You don’t need to have an AP to book. You do need one to show at hotel when you check in or the next day.

 

[Sue M]

The AP rates aren't released this far in advance.

They’re out at least for the first 2 weeks of August. I booked last week for both SF and PB. Split stay.

 

[ClapYourHands]

On second thought... I just checked for a week that had AP rates available, and there is a savings that would make it worth it to get the AP.

I could always book a room at a regular rate, then cancel and switch to an AP rate if I get one later, right?

Also realize that you only need to have one AP to get the AP rate. Everyone else in the room can have a regular ticket.

Fair warning : APs can end up being more expensive because they sit there taunting you to go back. “Oh, please,” they whisper, “just check and see if there’s any cheap airfare - a quick little trip won’t cost much when you’ve already got us to get you in for free!” And then - bam! - you’re planning your fifth trip on the passes, and the money you saved on the hotel the first trip has been overtaken by the expenses of the following trips, but you’re hooked and find yourself monitoring airfare and hotel rates like a day trader watching the stock market. I mean, that’s what I hear - not that I have any first hand experience with that.

 

[KateDrake]

I have never actually been asked for my AP during either of my AP rate stays! So I'm not sure they check when you check out, either. But yes, you can absolutely get one when you arrive and you'll only need one for your party.

It may also be worth it for your family if you are staying that long. We ended up getting APs because we came during the pandemic and had to stay 5 days (because we literally could not get a flight home at any other time). Since it was our first time we figured it sounded great, and upgraded our "4 days for 2 days" tickets (that we had purchased from Undercover Tourist) to APs. It was literally something like $22 for all of us. We were then able to get the AP hotel room rate, small merch and food discounts, and go to the parks on our check out day. Ended up coming back the next year on a similar deal - super cheap plane tix, great AP rate at the hotel and another wonderful trip!