Originally Posted By Jenasweetemotion I am planning a trip to Disneyland for April of next year still a little bit away but wanted to know if purchasing an AP will be worth it? what kind of perks do you receive ? I know I will most likely be staying at a Disneyland Resort but that is not final of course because the new season prices and all that have come out yet. I am not sure if it will be used but for a week, let me know please .
Originally Posted By Darkbeer Is an AP worth it? First off will you make a second visit within the 12 months? If the answer is no, then more than likely you shouldn't get an AP. Disney offers special discounted multi-day ParkHoppers that time of year. Also, there are plenty of discounts available for the hotels in the area, Disney and non-Disney owned. MouseSavers does a good job of keeping track of all the discounts... <a href="http://www.mousesavers.com/" target="_blank">http://www.mousesavers.com/</a> As for the discounts you get with an AP, it depends on the type of AP you get, the Premium AP at $379 gets the best discounts, while the main discount with the Deluxe AP is 10% most food purchases. Here is a link to the MouseSavers DLR AP page, that talks about the discounts in more detail. <a href="http://www.mousesavers.com/dlticketprices.html#annual" target="_blank">http://www.mousesavers.com/dlt...l#annual</a> If you are planning to make 2 or more trips to Disneyland in a 12 month period, you still might want to buy the ParkHopper first to avoid Blockout dates and to get a Magic Morning (Early Entry) then upgrade after the last blockout date during your first visit.
Originally Posted By Mrs ElderP Some people have done the math and found that having one AP in the group saves them money. They pay more for that AP, but with discounts on hotel room and merchandise they cover the extra. However, you only need one AP for all your discounts. So, take that into consideration. Like Darkbeer said, there may be plenty of deals on hotel rooms even if you don't have an AP and just the 10% on food wouldn't make up for the difference you'd pay.
Originally Posted By 73baloo I live in Washington State. My rule is if I know that I will be making 3 trips within a year's time that I go ahead and get a Prewmium AP.
Originally Posted By Jenasweetemotion I am not sure if I will be going a second time within the year, I would like to but am not sure. do you get in the park early with having the passport or any special things?
Originally Posted By Mrs ElderP nope... all it's good for is discounts... (depending on the level of pass) discounts on hotels, on food, on merchandise. To get the most discounts you have to have the most expensive pass--of course! When something new is comming, like Toy Story Midway Mania, APers sometimes get "special previews" a day or two before the thing officiall opens. Even these are spotty though, because recently they haven't even made it available for everyone, they've had a drawing and *some* AP holders have gotten a chance to go in early. After innoventions dream house which is opening soon (is already opened?) I know of nothing major opening in the next year or so, so don't base buying your pass on that!
Originally Posted By Jenasweetemotion does anyone know how much an AP discount would be for April for Paradise Pier or Grand Californian ? I know they have on Disneyland.com for the AP listing for April but it does not say how much.
Originally Posted By DLTheo I figure the Deluxe AP costs about what a six-day pass would, so if you are going to be visiting the park 6 or more times within a 12-month period, get the AP. Remember, it is good for 12 months from when you activate it, so if you are not going again until next year, but the second trip is a week earlier in the year you will be able to use your annual pass for both trips.
Originally Posted By Jenasweetemotion Great Point DLTheo I don't know why I did not think of that I will be going the following year around the same time. With the cheaper of the Ap it shows Saturday's blocked out does it cost $40.00 for that day ? and I am still curious if anyone knows what April discount would be for Paradise Pier or Grand California ?
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains No one knows what or if there will be a discount at that time - when is spring break falling next year - Disney puts out the AP rates on the AP link on Disneyland.com -
Originally Posted By DLTheo Don't they post those a quarter at a time? So we won't know until January of next year what the prices will be in April? Seems like it is usualy around $129 or $139 a night at PPH, but don't quote me on that! I think the cost to get in on blackout dates is $30/day per person. Can anyone verify that? However, for this year do what Darkbeer suggested and get a regular multi-day parkhopper pass until all the blackout dates are passed, and then convert your passes to APs. That won't help for next year, but it will for this one. We're going to try that this August. One other thing about the AP. When you have one you feel this gravitational force pulling you to the park, from wherever you live. You start to think, "Hey, if I was in Anaheim right now I could just walk right into the park!" Before you know it you are loading up the car for an impromptu 3 day trip! We live in Washington, near Seattle, and we ended up getting in four trips for a total of 21 days in the park on our passes. Not bad when you consider you break even after 6 days! Plus, when we get into town at 8 or 9 pm, we don't think anything of dropping into the park for just a few hours before closing because we aren't wasting one of our precious days from a 5-day pass. These, to me, are the biggest benefits. The 10% discounts are just a nice little side-benefit.
Originally Posted By serendipityaey I was going to go look at the AP Calendar for hotel prices, but the website isn't working at all for me... anyone else having this problem? Also, if you have an AP and you are going to be there on a Saturday consider using that day to shop at World of Disney, do downtown Disney stuff, rest, swim or maybe even go to the beach. Then you can get your shopping done on your own time and build up your energy for lots of Disneyland time the next day!
Originally Posted By DLTheo Yes, I have that problem with the Disney site from time to time. They have some media objects on the page that my company won't allow to open so I can't access it. I agree with serenditpityaey on the rest day. We never take a rest day from Disneyland unless we are forces to by a blackout date, so it is actually a benefit for us. Don't forget to visit the Character warehouse in Fullerton (just a couple miles north of Disneyland). Or, just hang out at the hotel watching the Disney Channel!
Originally Posted By mater4 Easter sunday is April 12 next year. So you can pretty much plan on the 2-3 weeks before and after to be busy as everyone's spring break differs. I will be surprised if the offer big AP discounts on hotels around that time. You never know you could get lucky.
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains The last ap nights was in May - started at with PPH being the lowest at $169 a night
Originally Posted By gottaluvdavillains I think just in Jan and Feb -- and maybe the very beginning of March.
