[Question] Considering getting an AP need help

[wonton]

I live in Sacramento, but I was thinking that I paid for a 3day hopper in Feb this year and now I am buying another one (at a higher price) this October and that it may have been cheaper to have just had an AP. I had a few questions though. Is it worth paying the extra for the premium since you get 15% off some dining and 20% off merch or is the extra 200 not worth it? Are there a ton of restrictions on the food and merch that you purchase?

Also is it too late to get an AP should I wait until January so I would have the whole year or does it start from time of purchase?

[swampymarsh]

Re: Considering getting an AP need help

Some ways I benefit having a premium instead of delux may be the same for you.

I sometimes use Priceline to bid on nicer hotels down Harbor and drive to the Disney parking lots instead of depending on shuttles. This often saves me $50 a night on lodging, but more importantly $15 a day on parking. For me this is roughly $100 a year saved but I go about once a month and stay down there every 3rd of 4th time.

The other thing is since I go when my neice has off from school it includes a lot of weekends and I don't worry about being blocked on Saturdays. This isn't likely an issue for you but if you end up going in the Summer or a school break it would.

I dine onsite a lot so am sure I've saved a lot with the extra %5 off food.

I don't buy a lot of stuff, but when I do the extra merchandise discount is the icing on the cake.

---------- Post added 08-20-2012 at 06:28 PM ----------

Are there a ton of restrictions on the food and merch that you purchase?

Also is it too late to get an AP should I wait until January so I would have the whole year or does it start from time of purchase?

In the parks and hotels the discounts are fairly widespread. Mainly just not on snack carts and a few stores.

What you should do is get a 3 day hopper or longer, use the Magic Morning and the upgrade to the AP at the ticket booths before the end of the third day.

[whitestrat]

Re: Considering getting an AP need help

Also, its a year from the time of purchase, and not a straight calendar year.

And I agree with getting the hopper and then upgrading.

[mouseknotts]

Re: Considering getting an AP need help

get the hopper and then upgrade. That is what we did a few years ago.
If you will be going on weekends then you will want to avoid the delux pass, if you will be going to the DLR only during the week then consider the delux pass. The other thing to consider is how much will you be buying, that 20% adds up quick and it is good at the Parks and the Disney store in DTD.
The food discound does not work for the outside vender carts, but the little red wagon is not an outside vendor.
You can also get hotel rooms at a discount, the Disney hotels give you a discount, and so does HOJO. ther are a few others as well.
If you go for multiple times a year for several days then an AP is a good idea.
Good luck.

[joy bells]

Re: Considering getting an AP need help

reading thru i was just wondering why three people recommended getting the 3 day and upgrading? are there perks to that? what does it matter in the long run?

[mouseknotts]

Re: Considering getting an AP need help

you would often get a pacage deal park hopper with hotel tickets, you can save a fair amount that way. Also you can get into the park right away with the park hopper.
When you upgrade you will be asked some questions to make sure that you are the one who bought the tickets. Your Ap will start the day that you first used those tickets.
Wait untill you get your AP before you make any large purchases, and when you get your Ap you will have to go to one of the Photo pass people and get your photo taken for the AP records.
So the short answer is why park hoppers instead of an Ap to start with, some times there can be a delay on gettting the Ap, and often it is just a voucher. With the parkhoppers you can just go to the gate if you want and then upgrade the pass latter.

[BradleyC]

Re: Considering getting an AP need help

I purchased a premium pass. $87 down and $46 a month, free parking, (Don't forget about parking it's $15 a day normall) and includes the discounts and I can go any day I want. This is truly only worth it if your going to be going atleast once a month n my iew.

Just so you know though, if you do the monthly pay,ent plan,Disney WILL charge the first month as soon as you goto the park for the first time. I wasn't really expecting this and purchased 5 annual passes and it hit me good.

[wonton]

Re: Considering getting an AP need help

thanks for all of your feedback. i think i may hold off one more year.

[swampymarsh]

Re: Considering getting an AP need help

thanks for all of your feedback. i think i may hold off one more year.

There is a little tip that may help you. Whoever pays the bill gets the AP or maybe in your case the Premium insead of Deluxes. The AP holder gets discounts when they pay. Sometimes you can save when that person has an AP, but the others in the group just have regular park tickets or a lower level AP.

[Broadway Guru]

Re: Considering getting an AP need help

How often do you go to DL? If you go more than twice in a 12 month period (not a calendar year), an AP is a very good deal. If you go to DL and nowhere else when you come down, ditto. If neither of these things are true for you, it's not such a great buy.

Myself, it seems like every year I contemplate getting an AP and yet never get around to it. Southern California is full of so many fun and unique things to do (many of them free) that an AP isn't worth it for me.

[tgdiver]

Re: Considering getting an AP need help

Depends on how often you go, for how long, how many are in your group, and how much you eat and buy in the park. We (my daughter and I) live in Arizona, and the Premium AP works for us. We go at least twice a year for several days. We stay off-site, get free parking, eat at the park (usually one meal and a few snacks), and save on "much-needed" purchases (lol!). I bought the first AP years ago when I went with two kids for two weeks. Haven't regretted it since.

[wonton]

Re: Considering getting an AP need help

does it include getting into WDW?

[swampymarsh]

Re: Considering getting an AP need help

does it include getting into WDW?

No. However their is a Premier AP that does. That's what I have because I get to WDW at least once a year and that covers the extra cost.

The Premier AP give you the access and perks of a DLR Premium AP at DLR and a WDW Premium AP at WDW. It's costs $849 while a Premium AP at DLR is $649. For me the $200 difference is worth it easily since a 6 day hopper at WDW is well over $300. Simply is you go to one resort for 3 days and the other twice for 3 days, you cover the cost and save over ticket prices.

[Poisonedapples]

Re: Considering getting an AP need help

I live in Sacramento, but I was thinking that I paid for a 3day hopper in Feb this year and now I am buying another one (at a higher price) this October and that it may have been cheaper to have just had an AP. I had a few questions though. Is it worth paying the extra for the premium since you get 15% off some dining and 20% off merch or is the extra 200 not worth it? Are there a ton of restrictions on the food and merch that you purchase?

Also is it too late to get an AP should I wait until January so I would have the whole year or does it start from time of purchase?

Withthe Premium AP, and well any AP the time on it starts from when youpurchase it, so it doesn't matter what month or day you buy it, youstill get the whole year, so if you bought it now in september thenyou have this september till next september, a whole year. I have apremium and I don't have any restrictions on merchandise or foodpurchase with discount the only thing is—the carts( I think all ofthem) do not take the AP discount. And the parking is free sotherefore your saving on parking too BECAUSE $15 A DAY does addup!! i think it's worth it even if you are using for 3 days at a time when you come and visit, as long as you use it before it expires in next september, which i assume you will..

---------- Post added 09-06-2012 at 12:33 PM ----------

reading thru i was just wondering why three people recommended getting the 3 day and upgrading? are there perks to that? what does it matter in the long run?

yeah ur putting the price of the hopper toward the pass.

[Tink1969]

Re: Considering getting an AP need help

I was going to post a similar question. I'm going to be at Disneyland for a week in January at the Disneyland Hotel. What is the discount at the hotel? Is it worth it for me to spend the money on the premium pass?

[swampymarsh]

Re: Considering getting an AP need help

I was going to post a similar question. I'm going to be at Disneyland for a week in January at the Disneyland Hotel. What is the discount at the hotel? Is it worth it for me to spend the money on the premium pass?

When in Januray near the Holidays or not when deals are likely? Sometimes it can make sense. You can call Disney and ask for the AP hotel rates then compare them to the prevailing normal rates. Then see if that plus the ticket price is worthwhile. Consider the percent savings with the 17% hotel tax rate.

If during the offseaon you could end up not saving as much if they put out a special offer for hotel rooms, this could make it tricky to evaluate.

If it looks like an AP will work out, keep in mind this important note. The AP holder receives discounts when they are the one paying. So if one person in your group pays the bills they are the only one who needs to have the AP to get the group discounts on the rooms and meals.

[Poisonedapples]

Re: Considering getting an AP need help

Sometimesin the off season the hotels of DLR will do a special deal to get youto go and rent a room for a few days. Also HOJO has great AP ratestoo, and it' s a 5 min walk to disneyland! I have never really cameacross a good hotel deal with my pass, but I guess some people have..Also the person with the AP gets the discount, if somoene in yourgroup wants the AP discount on their merch purchase, they have to payin cash in order to get the AP discount from the AP holder.. forexample, my friend has a lower pass then me, she doesn't get as gooddeals, so she will buy a mug or a tshirt when we go and instead ofusing her pass to get the discount, we use mine, but she has to payin cash to get my discount. I have a Premium.

also i just learned yesterday that the cozy cone stands at Carsland does not take the AP discount ...