Originally Posted By smoaky My DH and I are discussing finally going ahead and buying annual passes for our family of four. I'm looking at the Deluxe pass....what I was wondering was is it worth it to pay the considerable difference more for the Premium pass? Do you get any other perks other than no blackout dates and merchandise discounts? Does anyone know what kind of discount they offer on hotels and does it change depending on which pass you have? Thanks in advance for any help you can give
Originally Posted By Bucky N Satchel Unless you really want to go during Deluxe blocked days I would recommend that ticket. Keep in mind if you want the extra discounts of a Premium, you only need to buy 1 and have Deluxe passes for everyone else.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss <<Do you get any other perks other than no blackout dates and merchandise discounts?>> Parking is included with the PAP; it's a $59.00 upcharge with the DAP.
Originally Posted By cinderella143also AP discounts at the DLR Hotels have become few and far between it seems... I wouldn't upgrade for the hotel discounts... We did just stay there this past weekend because of the AP rate but I hadn't seen one in a really long time. Besides I think you can have any AP to get the hotel discount.....
Originally Posted By Darkbeer ^ So that means you would need to spend more than $700 in Merchandise to recoup the cost of a Premium AP compared to the Deluxe AP with parking.... If you don't plan to attend on a blockout day, get the Deluxe! Deluxe AP's get a 10% food discount in the parks and hotels, many stores at Downtown Disney also give all AP holders a discount, and you still are eligible for the special AP hotel rates.
Originally Posted By LacyBelle DH & I went through this same decision recently, smoaky. We decided to get two Deluxes. We don't need the parking as we usually stay on property or within walking distance (we've never even parked in the Mickey & Friends garage -- I feel like I'm missing out on something. LOL). We can also plan our trips around the blackout dates, making that a non-issue. The dining discounts only have a 5% difference between the Premium and Deluxe and we can use our Chase Disney Visa card for similar merchandise discounts that the Premium offers. We didn't feel we'd get the extra $120 value out of the Premium in the few discounts we would get. AP Room discounts are the same regardless of the level of pass. Good luck with your decision.
Originally Posted By LacyBelle Yes, the Chase Disney Visa has a 10% discount for merchadise and dining (short list of restaurants, so the AP may offer more). I'm not sure about restrictions, but I've been able to use it at all Disney stores in the parks and at WoD. You have to purchase at least $50 to get the 10% discount, so strategic shopping is required.
Originally Posted By smoaky Great! Thanks for all the info! It looks like the Deluxe is the way to go for us. "(we've never even parked in the Mickey & Friends garage -- I feel like I'm missing out on something. LOL)."............... I couldn't help but crack up when I read this! We've never used that garage either...I don't even know where it is! HAHA
Originally Posted By cinderella143also And if worse comes to worse, you can always upgrade later if you needed to...like if you went on 4 or more blockout days....
Originally Posted By familyguy The Mickey and Friends garage is awesome.....you really are missing out... ...last time we were there we spent the first half of the day checking out all there is to see in the garage...it's truly a Disney garage...loads of surprises around every corner...
Originally Posted By FerretAfros Like all the trash that has been left there since it first opened. They really need to pressure wash that thing. Not only is it gross from the fluids dripping off of cars (totally understandable), but there always seems to be trash all over it, and tons of old gun stuck on the ground (the kind that is so dirty that it just looks like a black dot, not the kind that still sticks to you).
Originally Posted By familyguy ...I didn't notice a whole lot of trash...I was too busy being entertained by all of the Disney magic! I couldn't believe the stuff they incorporated into a parking garage! It blew me away. Disney never ceases to amaze me. That's why I continue to troop out there year after year.
Originally Posted By Darkbeer ^ Maybe if Disney would put more than one trash can per level in the structure there would be LESS trash...
Originally Posted By junglejoy We've never parked at Mickey and Friends either. But the time is quickly coming, I fear... If we purchase a parking pass with our Deluxe AP, can we also park in Timon? Isn't it a little easier to get into and out of or do they limit parking there? Thanks!
Originally Posted By Darkbeer ^ AP's clearly state that you are only the Parking Structure parking is allowed. But in real life, the AP Parking pass is taken at all Parking Toll booths. FYI, most of the time you go into the Timon entrance, you are sent to the Parking Structure anyway, or you get set to the Simba lot, which is AWFUL, a longer walk than if you stayed at HoJo's or the Candy Cane Inn and walked.
Originally Posted By junglejoy So is it just easier to go to Mickey and Friends then? I'll have to look into how to get there. Maybe we'll just take ART. Thanks Darkbeer. I know you'd be the expert because you go there all of the time. Lucky guy!
Originally Posted By murfsmom can some one explain to me why ,if we get a kids premium pass, they have to pay for parking ??? the last time i was with my 6 yr old she wasen't driving yet !!!!!!!murfsmom
Originally Posted By berol Passengers can use their pass. Lots of families get 1 premium and the rest get deluxes.
Originally Posted By murfsmom thanks for responding berol, we did have the delux passes for the kids one year, but we would make plans to go to dl and forget they were blocked out certain dates so we all got premium passes, of course that didn't leave any money for gas to get there, but we wern't blocked out !! so i think i will just go for the delux passes for the kids again and make sure i check their block out dates, thanks again !
