Annual Pass and Resort Booking Questions

[kwatz]

Hopefully, this is the right forum for this question.

My family of four is planning a long trip to WDW next summer (2010) and are considering buying Annual Passes. To make this a more financially sound decision, we are also considering going for 4-5 days just before Thanksgiving this year (yes, in just a few weeks).

However, before I pay for four APs, I have some concerns.

1) How long will it take to receive the AP vouchers once I've purchased them online?

2) Once I receive the voucher, can I use its information to access the WDW passholder website before I activate it at a park to make a resort booking?

3) Perhaps more importantly, is there any way to determine if there are any AP resort rates available during our trip time before purchasing the AP, and if so, whch resorts they are?

Without this additional Thanksgiving trip, buying the AP may not be the best deal for our family.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

 

[dznygirl64]

Ok buy the annual pass its a good deal.Second yes you can call and ask for the annual pass rate on a room you just need to show the pass at check in sometimes.I would think twice going in the summer lots of people and the Florida heat.And annual pass room rates are not as good at peak time of the year.

 

[DisneyJoe]

MouseSavers.com will list AP discounts, http://www.mousesavers.com/disneyresorts.html#ap

 

[dznygirl64]

Yes Mouse savers is the best for info for AP users

 

[Monty]

Hopefully, this is the right forum for this question.

My family of four is planning a long trip to WDW next summer (2010) and are considering buying Annual Passes. To make this a more financially sound decision, we are also considering going for 4-5 days just before Thanksgiving this year (yes, in just a few weeks).

However, before I pay for four APs, I have some concerns.

1) How long will it take to receive the AP vouchers once I've purchased them online?

They usually send them by FedEx, so you'll have them within days.

2) Once I receive the voucher, can I use its information to access the WDW passholder website before I activate it at a park to make a resort booking?

Yes. You can access the site with the voucher.

3) Perhaps more importantly, is there any way to determine if there are any AP resort rates available during our trip time before purchasing the AP, and if so, whch resorts they are?

Without this additional Thanksgiving trip, buying the AP may not be the best deal for our family.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give.

Here's what's currently on the site [what's actually available is a different story]:

Passholders Enjoy Remarkable Savings on Fall
Room Rates

Now, a Passholder saves at least 34% on rooms at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels. Select nights now through December are especially grand times to visit, as holiday events, festivities and decorations transform the resorts and theme parks into spectacular places to celebrate this special time of year.


Select Disney Value Resorts

• Standard Room $69 per night, plus tax*
  for stays most nights from 10/30 - 11/24/09.
  That's 34% Off - A Savings of $36
• Standard Room $54 per night, plus tax*
  for stays most nights from 11/29 - 11/30/09 and 12/14 - 12/17/09.
  That's 34% Off - A Savings of $28
• Standard Room $89 per night, plus tax*
  for stays most nights from 12/18 - 12/24/09.
  That's 34% Off - A Savings of $46

Select Disney Moderate Resorts

• Standard Room $99 per night, plus tax*
  for stays most nights from 10/30 - 11/24/09.
  That's 41% Off - A Savings of $71
• Standard Room $89 per night, plus tax*
  for stays most nights from 11/29 - 12/2/09 and 12/12 - 12/17/09.
  That's 40% Off - A Savings of $60
• Standard Room $124 per night, plus tax*
  for stays most nights from 12/18 - 12/24/09.
  That's 40% Off - A Savings of $85

Select Disney Deluxe Resorts:
Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge and Disney's Wilderness Lodge Standard Room type

• Standard Room $169 per night, plus tax*
  for stays most Sunday through Thursday nights from 11/1 - 11/5/2009, 11/12/2009, 11/15 - 11/19/2009 and 11/22 - 11/24/09.
  That's 41% Off - A Savings of $121
• Standard Room $139 per night, plus tax*
  for stays most Sunday through Thursday nights from 12/13-12/17/09.
  That's 42% Off - A Savings of $101
• Standard Room $229 per night, plus tax*
  for stays most Sunday through Thursday nights from 12/20 - 12/24/09.
  That's 40% Off - A Savings of $156

Select Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts:
Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and Disney's Old Key West Resort

• Studio Room $189 per night, plus tax*
  for stays most nights from 10/30 - 11/24/09.
• Studio Room $169 per night, plus tax*
  for stays most nights from 11/29 - 12/1/09 and 12/11 - 12/17/09.
  That's 42% Off - A Savings of $126
• Studio Room $249 per night, plus tax*
  for stays most nights from 12/18 - 12/24/09.
  That's 41% Off - A Savings of $176

* The number of rooms available at these rates is limited. Savings based on the non-discounted price that a non-Passholder pays for the same room. Additional per adult charges apply if more than two adults per room. See Important Details.


Studio rooms at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and Disney's Old Key West Resort have amenities such as a kitchenette with microwave, mini-refrigerator, wet bar and coffee maker. Ask about One- and Two-bedroom villas for even more amenities like a well equipped kitchen, washer/dryer and whirlpool tub to make you feel right at home!

Book through December 24, 2009.

 

[mousefan1972]

You can also call Disney reservations and find out what resorts have AP rates available for your dates. You don't have to have already purchased an AP or voucher in order to book an AP discounted room; you just need it when you check in.

 

[kwatz]

You can also call Disney reservations and find out what resorts have AP rates available for your dates. You don't have to have already purchased an AP or voucher in order to book an AP discounted room; you just need it when you check in.

That would probably be the best solution. Thanks everybody.

 

[cinderellafan6]

If you buy them today on the website you will def have them way before your trip. When I purchased tickets online I received them within a week.

 

[Crush Dude!]

And hey, is it true, u can buy your AP and the 366 days dont start until the first time you use it???

 

[Monty]

And hey, is it true, u can buy your AP and the 366 days dont start until the first time you use it???

No. An AP starts the day it is purchased. An AP voucher however is good until you exchange it for an AP.

 

[Crush Dude!]

No. An AP starts the day it is purchased. An AP voucher however is good until you exchange it for an AP.

Ok just so i know, if i buy an ap online tomorrow, then i get my voucher, and wen i go to wdw next year and give it for my AP it is then active for a year from that point???

 

[DisneyJoe]

Ok just so i know, if i buy an ap online tomorrow, then i get my voucher, and wen i go to wdw next year and give it for my AP it is then active for a year from that point???

Yes.

 

[Crush Dude!]

Yes.

Thanx v much, def going to go with this for my next trip

 

[wdwwdeagle]

I've said this before on other threads, but will say it again...

If you are a member of AAA, you can get your AP vouchers at a discount. We saved approx. $160 on our AP vouchers for a family of 4. Details of how to do this are on mousesavers.com, except that mousesavers says you must purchase at the orlando AAA location. This is incorrect. The vouchers can be purchased at any AAA Auto Club South location -- which basically means any location in Florida, Georgia or South Carolina -- and you don't have to reside in one of those states to purchase. The discount is good for anyone who is a member of AAA.

 

[DWLhometous]

I just booked Wilderness Lodge last week for 4 nights checking in 11/24 with a passholder rate. I was not ask for information on my annual pass at time of booking. They told me that I may be ask to show my pass at check in. We are passholders so I have my pass available at check in just in case........Special note: A few years ago we got a passholder rate but had not actually purchased our passes yet. They had expired a few months prior. When we checked in they ask to see my annual pass. I ask if I could bring back by later in the day. We always check in early morning and go straight to a park. We went to the park, purchased our annual passes, and I stopped back by front desk that night to show my annual pass and that was fine.

 

[kwatz]

Thanks for all of the information, folks.

We booked a four day pre-Thanksgiving trip to the Polynesian. The price savings just for the room more than justifies the higher cost of the AP tickets compared to MYW tickets. And that's before even taking into account our longer trip next year.