May Trip -- Lots of questions / Suggestions needed

[jeffk410]

Hello all,

Once again, I would like some advice / suggestions regarding my upcoming trip. So, I just made a May trip official. We will be going from May 14th to May 22nd, 8 nights – 9 days. We rented DVC points (we normally do this) and are splitting the stay 4 nights at AKL Jambo house savannah view and 4 nights at BLT Lake View. With this being said, there are a few potential issues I see. First, we are receiving two sets of magic bands, one for AKL and one for BLT. I see this be a problem for two reasons: 1. Will we be able to link our tickets to the bands? 2. Will we be able to use the resort mugs? ( I cannot afford to pay for a mug for each stay…..)

I should also mention the group will consist of two couples --- ages range between 21-24.

An additional statement regards tables in wonderland. I have frequently been an AP holder, but have never used this. I need some convincing to make sure it is worth it. We do plan on doing one nice dinner a night and there will be four of us. I imagine this will pay for itself in three or four days, but feel that there must be some drawbacks. Are there strict limitations on what alcoholic beverages have discounts?


Lastly, since two of us are planning on getting AP’s, I want to make sure there won’t be any issues with fastpass +. Are there any negative impacts on using AP’s with the new system? (I don’t know enough about this at the moment)


Any thoughts or feedback is greatly appreciated.


Thanks!

 

[ratherbeinwdw]

Hello all,

Once again, I would like some advice / suggestions regarding my upcoming trip. So, I just made a May trip official. We will be going from May 14th to May 22nd, 8 nights – 9 days. We rented DVC points (we normally do this) and are splitting the stay 4 nights at AKL Jambo house savannah view and 4 nights at BLT Lake View. With this being said, there are a few potential issues I see. First, we are receiving two sets of magic bands, one for AKL and one for BLT. I see this be a problem for two reasons: 1. Will we be able to link our tickets to the bands? 2. Will we be able to use the resort mugs? ( I cannot afford to pay for a mug for each stay…..)

I should also mention the group will consist of two couples --- ages range between 21-24.

An additional statement regards tables in wonderland. I have frequently been an AP holder, but have never used this. I need some convincing to make sure it is worth it. We do plan on doing one nice dinner a night and there will be four of us. I imagine this will pay for itself in three or four days, but feel that there must be some drawbacks. Are there strict limitations on what alcoholic beverages have discounts?


Lastly, since two of us are planning on getting AP’s, I want to make sure there won’t be any issues with fastpass +. Are there any negative impacts on using AP’s with the new system? (I don’t know enough about this at the moment)


Any thoughts or feedback is greatly appreciated.


Thanks!

You will surely recoup your money with a stay that long if you are eating at sit down locations each night.
You are allowed 10 people on your bill, but you must pay. They cannot pay.
They automatically add an 18% gratuity on your bill, you will save that plus 2% at sit downs. At several places, Landscapes of Flavors at AOA, Restaurantasaurus, and Pizzafaria, you save a full 20% off the bill as there is no gratuity at those locations which adds up quickly. Just for two of us, we saved 4.00 each morning for breakfast at AOA. For four of us at SciFi, we saved 16.00. At Crystal Palace for 8 of us, we saved around 40.00+. We got our money back in one long weekend trip.
Don't forget that with your AP, there are several places where you can't use your TIW that you can use your AP. The discount is usually 10%. You can use it at places like Earl of Sandwich and most Disney owned merch. stores.

 

[jeffk410]

Yeah, I did most of the math regarding Tables in wonderland. It looks like most of the restaurants we will be eating at do accept it. However, I just can't find information regarding alcohol. I need to make sure upgrading from just the 10 percent AP discount to the 20 percent discount will be worth the pass. I am sure it will be, but need a little bit more confirmation.

 

[Tuvalu]

Hello all,

Once again, I would like some advice / suggestions regarding my upcoming trip. So, I just made a May trip official. We will be going from May 14th to May 22nd, 8 nights – 9 days. We rented DVC points (we normally do this) and are splitting the stay 4 nights at AKL Jambo house savannah view and 4 nights at BLT Lake View. With this being said, there are a few potential issues I see. First, we are receiving two sets of magic bands, one for AKL and one for BLT. I see this be a problem for two reasons: 1. Will we be able to link our tickets to the bands? 2. Will we be able to use the resort mugs? ( I cannot afford to pay for a mug for each stay…..)

I should also mention the group will consist of two couples --- ages range between 21-24.

An additional statement regards tables in wonderland. I have frequently been an AP holder, but have never used this. I need some convincing to make sure it is worth it. We do plan on doing one nice dinner a night and there will be four of us. I imagine this will pay for itself in three or four days, but feel that there must be some drawbacks. Are there strict limitations on what alcoholic beverages have discounts?


Lastly, since two of us are planning on getting AP’s, I want to make sure there won’t be any issues with fastpass +. Are there any negative impacts on using AP’s with the new system? (I don’t know enough about this at the moment)


Any thoughts or feedback is greatly appreciated.


Thanks!

MagicBands: Having two sets is not a problem. Simply link your tickets in your MDE profile and you can use both bands interchangeably.

Resort Mugs: If you purchase the "lengthy of stay" option and tell the CM the total number of days for the trip (explain you have a split stay) you won't have to buy two mugs.

Tables in Wonderland: A card costs $100, so once you spend over $500 in food and drinks you have recouped the cost of the card. We have never encountered any restrictions on alcoholic beverages.

AP with FP+: No negative issues.

 

[jeffk410]

MagicBands: Having two sets is not a problem. Simply link your tickets in your MDE profile and you can use both bands interchangeably.

Resort Mugs: If you purchase the "lengthy of stay" option and tell the CM the total number of days for the trip (explain you have a split stay) you won't have to buy two mugs.

Tables in Wonderland: A card costs $100, so once you spend over $500 in food and drinks you have recouped the cost of the card. We have never encountered any restrictions on alcoholic beverages.

AP with FP+: No negative issues.

Awesome, thanks for all the feedback. However, I guess that 500 actually means 1K, since I would still get 10 percent off with AP discount.

There are really no downsides to AP's and the MDE?

I had heard that the mugs now have a chip in them to allow access at the resort you are staying? I feel like this will be an issue when I switch resorts. (My source could be wrong though)

Thanks for your response, I appreciate it.

 

[minniemickeyfan]

Had 3 sets if Magic Bands last trip and all worked fine with the AP and FP+. Getting into the room was another story.

 

[Tuvalu]

Awesome, thanks for all the feedback. However, I guess that 500 actually means 1K, since I would still get 10 percent off with AP discount.

There are really no downsides to AP's and the MDE?

I had heard that the mugs now have a chip in them to allow access at the resort you are staying? I feel like this will be an issue when I switch resorts. (My source could be wrong though)

Thanks for your response, I appreciate it.

The 10 percent AP discount is not available at all dining locations and can be limited to lunch only at some Epcot restaurants and resort restaurants. And I don't think alcohol is included with an AP. So be careful in comparing the 10 percent AP with the 20 percent TIW.

The mugs do have a chip but the chip is not resort specific and as such a mug can be used at ANY resort.

Please explain your concern about a downside to an AP and MDE?

 

[jeffk410]

The 10 percent AP discount is not available at all dining locations and can be limited to lunch only at some Epcot restaurants and resort restaurants. And I don't think alcohol is included with an AP. So be careful in comparing the 10 percent AP with the 20 percent TIW.

The mugs do have a chip but the chip is not resort specific and as such a mug can be used at ANY resort.

Please explain your concern about a downside to an AP and MDE?

No specific concern, I guess. I have not been as active on the boards recently, therefore, am not used to be out of the loop. I guess it should all work out fine! I am assuming an AP can link to a magic band? Two of us will have AP's, the other two will just have park hoppers.

Great news about the mugs; I always feel I get my money worth on those.

 

[jeffk410]

Had 3 sets if Magic Bands last trip and all worked fine with the AP and FP+. Getting into the room was another story.

I am sorry to hear about the bad luck with room access. I have read a few of these posts. Hopefully the kinks will be worked out by May. Were there problems because of resort hopping?

 

[Tuvalu]

No specific concern, I guess. I have not been as active on the boards recently, therefore, am not used to be out of the loop. I guess it should all work out fine! I am assuming an AP can link to a magic band? Two of us will have AP's, the other two will just have park hoppers.

An AP links to a MagicBand the same way as any other ticket. If you add your traveling companions as "friends" in your MDE account you will be able to make FP+ for all 4 of you at the same time. I recommend you do so when your 60 day window opens.

 

[minniemickeyfan]

I am sorry to hear about the bad luck with room access. I have read a few of these posts. Hopefully the kinks will be worked out by May. Were there problems because of resort hopping?

It may of been at first, I stayed at AoA first, then moved to Pop where I had to do a split stay because of a room rate change. Disney sends you a set of MB for each reservation so I had 3 sets. AoA was no trouble, but Pop was a mess from the start. Then when I went back to have them fixed, they ended up trying to code all my bands. Then I'd go back to the room and some would work and ones that worked before wouldn't work now. Back to front desk, etc. I ended up carrying all the bands because you never knew which ones were going to work and you wouldn't dare carry one-carrying 3 gave me more chances to get in the room! Hopefully next time with 1 new band this wont happen but I'm hearing from others it does.

 

[jeffk410]

One more question.... In order to make Fastpass Plus reservations in the 60 day window do you already need to have your park tickets linked? I planned on buying AP's when I got to the world, but do not want it impacting my fastpass selections.

 

[Tuvalu]

One more question.... In order to make Fastpass Plus reservations in the 60 day window do you already need to have your park tickets linked? I planned on buying AP's when I got to the world, but do not want it impacting my fastpass selections.

You will not be able to make FP+ selections until your tickets are linked so if you wait to purchase APs when you arrive you won't be able to make FP+ until then. What you can do is purchase APs online in advance ~ you will be sent vouchers with numbers that you link to your MDE, and you can make FP+. When you arrive at the parks, you exchange the voucher for the AP. Your AP expiration date will be a year from the day you use it, not a year from the voucher purchase date.

We did this last October and did not use our APs until December.

 

[jeffk410]

OK perfect, looks like that will be my plan of action. Thanks for the input, it is helpful. Kind of stinks that we have to do it now to purchase passes, but I don't want to miss out on my FP + reservations.

 

[Weather_Lady]

A random, unsolicited bit of feedback on your dates (in case you didn't see this already): your trip straddles a Star Wars weekend at DHS, so if you aren't interested in doing the special Star Wars events, be sure to avoid Hollywood Studios from Friday to Sunday, as it will be unseasonably crowded. Otherwise, the crowd levels will be below average the whole time and you've picked a great time to go. Have fun!

 

[jeffk410]

Hey, thanks for the feedback. I have been going in Mid May or Early June for awhile now. I tend to notice that the first few weekends of Star Wars weekends are not too bad. I am not sure if this is just my perception; however, I did find early June to be much worse.