AP worth it for Disneyland Hotel Rate Discount? About This Page:

[DF_Casey]

Hey all. I am new to the boards but appreciate all the great advice. My dilemna, my family and I (2 adults 2 children child 1 <1 second child 9 years) are planning a trip to Disneyland for November 24- December 1, 2007. I have been getting prices from the usual (Costco, Disney Travel Company, AAA, etc) but would like to get a rate for AP to see if the discounts merit purchasing at least one. When I inquire, I am told I can only get rates after I am already an annual passholder. Can anyone give me any advice on how to get the AP rate so I can make a good decision. Alternatively, can anyone let me know their experiences when facing this decision. This may be the only trip we make in the year so my decision will be based on this one 8 day trip. I understand that the AP allows multiple food and hotel discounts. I am just trying to figure out how much. Thanks for your time.

[Caldercup]

Well, I think the AP breakeven is like 6 days in the parks vs a park-hopper. (A 5-day park hopper is $249 for an adult and an AP is $239.00 for an adult.)

If you are going to be in the parks for at least 6 days, it would pay to get the APs regardless of the other discounts.

The discounts on meals alone would be pretty good.

However, I don't know how much of a chance there is for AP room discounts for that time period -- it's Thanksgiving, right?!

Plus, Disneyland doesn't release AP rates until *just* before the dates offered, meaning that they won't release those rates until early November, probably.

I hope someone with more info than me can give you more help!
Eileen

[cirquelover]

I also think that weekend will be blocked out for all but the premium AP's. So you would still have to pay for a blackout day ticket for park admission.

Have you checked into Doisneyland neighbor hotels? You can get a lot more for your money and usually a more spacious room to boot!

[DF_Casey]

Thanks for the advice. If I go with an AP it would be the premium one. It's overkill but then I have the incentive to return within the year. I am trying to see if the discount is worth it. Does anyone know of a way to get historical AP rates or preferably ones for this date range without actually purchasing the AP? Thanks again for all the advice.

[zacksmom_1993]

I don't think there's a pattern for AP discounts, and they don't really publish them like they do the WDW discounts. That being said, the discount could be outstanding for the latter part of your trip. Last year, they had substantial discounts for the two weeks before Thanksgiving, and for the week after Thanksgiving until around the 20th of December. On a similar rate deal, I got a standard view room at the Grand Californian for $184 a night (a discount of nearly $100.)

Eileen's right, though. They only publish them fairly close to the time that they are valid, presumably to fill empty rooms. My advice would probably be to go with the AP. Calculate how much you would pay for your tickets and then the difference in cost for the AP. Look at your dining plans and estimate how much a 15% discount would mean. How much do you typically spend on souvenirs? Add this discount into the "saved" column. My guess is that with just the dining and merchandise discounts, you'd get pretty close to re-couping the cost difference.

But, you can always upgrade your park hopper tickets when you get there, too. Mousesavers posts AP discounts at Disneyland. If they offer some for some of your dates, call Disneyland directly and book the room. You only have to have the AP to access the website, not to get the rate. Then, when you get there, upgrade one of your tickets to an AP to secure the rate. The nice thing about the non-standard announcement of AP rates is that you can usually book it last minute if it's available. Last year, I booked for Labor Day weekend at a rate of about $175 for a Downtown Disney view at the Disneyland Hotel about two days ahead of time. Good luck!

[DF_Casey]

Thanks to all for the advice. I think I will pull the trigger and purchase an AP. I will post if it was worth it or not. Based on discounts alone, it appears it will be.

[TLisi]

The $239.00 AP is the deluxe, it gives you 10% off meals, but no merchandise discount. The premium is $359.00 and gives a 15% dining discount, even at some of the snack stands as long as your purchase is at least $10, and 10% merchandise at most places...exclusions are the usual crystal, CD/DVD, I think the Disney Collection and stuff like that...regular souvies from the gift shops get the discount though.
The premium also has no block out dates like the deluxe does. I buy a premium for myself, for the discounts (since I'm the one paying for food and souvies) and the free parking; and I get deluxe passes for my kids. Since we go twice per year, it's a savings for all of us in ticket prices alone. The hotel discounts are great and in one trip you can save enough in hotel costs to pay for your AP, but as you've already been told, there is no rhyme nor reason (except maybe to fill empty rooms) to the time Disneyland offers AP discounts. It usually is in the off season, though. The AP is well worth the price. Don't know if that'll remain the same once the new park is added...but that's another post for the future. Enjoy your trip.