[Disneyfever]

I ordered my AP for Disneyland today. However, we won't be taking our trip until Nov. Well, I just read on a message board that the AP needs to be activated within 90 days of purchase. I called the Disneyland guest service line and they told me the same thing. So, I am cancelling my order and ordering again when it is closer to my trip. I just wanted to let everyone else know, just in case you didn't.

[Disneywife]

It's a good thing you checked! So, you can order it in August.

[Disneyfever]

The Disney people were wonderful when I explained the situation. They were able to cancel the order before it ever got shipped. I e-mailed them, called & left a message and then called another number this morning. When I called this morning the lady was so nice and actually put me on hold to check to see if it was shipped. Then about an hour later I got a call from Disney because of the voice message I left. I was very impressed with the service! I will just buy my ticket in August.

[Experiment6-2-6]

Originally Posted by Disneyfever

I will just buy my ticket in August.

Hopefully they won't raise the prices again this year. Last year they raised the premium from $200 to $325... Not to rain on anyone's parade..

Keep an eye on the price, it might be worth it to go earlier?

[Disneyfever]

We already have our airline tickets purchased for Nov (it's kind of a family reunion type thing)...otherwise I would love to go earlier! I don't think I could sell that idea to my DH though, considering we just went to WDW in March, and before that in Nov. Oh well. I hope the price doesn't go up any higher. I had to think twice before I decided on paying the $325. They increased the price by $125 in one year? That must have something to do with the 50th.

[jodilt]

Actually, I think the new management was trying to lower the number of AP owners (at least that is what I read somewhere). I guess they had a lot of locals (maybe?) that were AP owners that came and didn't spend much money in the park. They were hoping by raising the cost by that much that it would force more people to by park hoppers each time they came and not renew their APs.

[The Goof Father]

Last year I purchased an AP for around $225... It was WELL worth it for my family's one and only trip of 2004. The rest of my family members had 5 day Park Hoppers, but the one Premium AP sure went a long way for the entire family of three kids, my wife and myself...

In the end, I believe I spent about $100 more for the Premium AP than I spent on one of the 5 day Park Hopper tickets.

The benefits outweighed the cost - even with us visiting only once!

• The 10%-15% off at many of the shops and restaurants alone may have made up the difference in the cost for the AP in comparison to a 5 day Park Hopper.
• I was able to get room rates at the Grand Californian for about $130 a night, which made the purchase even better. Cha-ching!
• Add on other cool things like all of the pins we got for our dining at certain restaurants and some of our trading pin purchases and we came out far ahead (now my family love to trade pins at DL!).
• Having a Premium AP also just made feel pretty darn cool and special!

Even at the current rate of $325 or so for a Premium AP, I will still plan to purchase another one before my family's next DL trip. I think I have learned the ropes enough to make it well worth the expense, even though it will not be as huge of $$ a windfall as last year was.

If you are able to leverage the power of the AP then I say it is an EXCELLENT way to go...

[yesimaprncss]

I'm planning on making a couple of trips to DLR during the 50th Anniversary celebration - mostly likely in the fall (after the kids are back in school). Considering that there are very few black out dates after Labor Day, aside from the premium times of Thanksgiving and Christmas, I'm looking at a Delux AP - which is only $209! Does the Delux AP come with all the same perks (Disney hotel discounts, shopping/restaurant discounts, etc.) as the Premium AP?? If so, this is a no brainer for me - even if I only make 1 trip.

[dznygrl]

Originally Posted by yesimaprncss

I'm planning on making a couple of trips to DLR during the 50th Anniversary celebration - mostly likely in the fall (after the kids are back in school). Considering that there are very few black out dates after Labor Day, aside from the premium times of Thanksgiving and Christmas, I'm looking at a Delux AP - which is only $209! Does the Delux AP come with all the same perks (Disney hotel discounts, shopping/restaurant discounts, etc.) as the Premium AP?? If so, this is a no brainer for me - even if I only make 1 trip.

KRISTY!!!! Where have you BEEN, girl??? Missed you around here!!!!!! *hugs*


Thanks for the heads-up Disneyfever...our APs expire tomorrow...waaaah! ...so we will be needing to get new ones in the future, and I'm thankful to know about that 90-day rule.

[Disneywife]

Originally Posted by yesimaprncss

I'm planning on making a couple of trips to DLR during the 50th Anniversary celebration - mostly likely in the fall (after the kids are back in school). Considering that there are very few black out dates after Labor Day, aside from the premium times of Thanksgiving and Christmas, I'm looking at a Delux AP - which is only $209! Does the Delux AP come with all the same perks (Disney hotel discounts, shopping/restaurant discounts, etc.) as the Premium AP?? If so, this is a no brainer for me - even if I only make 1 trip.

Yes, same perks, except the shopping discount and parking. You still get the restaurant discount. However, DL used to always mail us 20% off merchandise coupons in the mail! This is the same pass we used to always get - we felt it was the best deal. You can add parking onto one of the passes in your family - the whole family doesn't need it, just one of you. Last time we purchased the parking pass it was $35; I'm not sure what it is now.

[yesimaprncss]

Hey Dznygrl! Where you livin' these days? Did I read that you're working for The Mouse? If so, I'm so jealous!! I'm starting to plan my 1st of 2 DLR trips this fall - I can't wait!!!

BTW - tell your mom that my sister had her baby (boy). She went by the hospital to visit (aka - show him off) this week, so maybe your mom already got to see him. He's pretty darn cute!

[The Goof Father]

There can be some notable differences between the Deluxe and Premium.

• The Premium has parking included and I think adding parking on to the Deluxe is another $49 or so. If you are like me and stay within walking distance nearby this doesn't matter too much.
• The Premium has no blackout dates and the Deluxe has a bunch. If you can work around the Deluxe passport blackout dates I would think it would be just fine. Just keep in mind that if you have to buy a ticket or two to cover a blackout date then the Premium is the way to go! My previous trip included some blackout dates on a weekend, so I went with the Premium.
• The Premium and Deluxe *may* have some differences with hotel discounts – but I have not heard/seen anything to prove this point so far. The hotel discounts are important to me and if they are to you then I think giving the Disney folks a call may be in order just to make sure...
• The Premium pass has more discounts in regards to dining and merchandise. If you buy lots of gifts, merchandise and eat at the restaurants you may consider the Premium passport. Some restaurants do not even offer any discounts to the Deluxe passports and it just so happens that some of those restaurants are my family's favorites (Like the Blue Bayou which is 15% for Premium!) . Another possible biggie is the Premium passport gives you a 10% discount at all of the Disney souvenir stores and the Deluxe offers 0%.

When I was trying to figure out what passport made most sense to me I did a little imaginary trip in my head and estimated out what we would spend on hotel, dining and souvenirs and it really came out that the Premium would benefit my family.

yesimaprncss – I suggest that you do a similar exercise as I did and estimate out any cost savings for your trip(s). If your savings offset the increased price of the Premium passport then it may be the best passport to go with. The ultimate facts are that unless you spend like $1000 on your trip(s) for food and souvenirs and you can successfully keep away from the blackout dates then the Deluxe passport does indeed look like a no-brainer.

And since I do not live far away from you (Yay - Oregon!) I am very willing to hide in your luggage and tag along for your trips!

[pumouse]

yes, I agree. I have alot of people, 6, so we just get one premium pass for the parking and discounts and everyone else gets the deluxe.

[yesimaprncss]

Hi ksdonaldson! Yes, we are indeed close (I too am in the Portland area)! Want to sneak away from your family and join my girlfriends and I for a road trip in the fall?

I'm trying to do the calculations, but still needed more specifics on discounts to help me out (more than what the Disney site has)... so I broke down and called both the ticketing and hotel reservation lines!

Here's what I found (for others who may be deliberating between Premium and Delux APs)...

• Since both of my trips are going to be during times w/o blackout dates, the Delux AP would be more than sufficient. But if planning a/another trip next spring or summer while the 50th Anniversary is still going on, then may want to get the Premium AP (since the Delux has a lot of spring/summer Saturdays or whole weekends blacked out).
• DLR hotels offer 2 rates: the standard one and the AP one. There is no different rate for Premium AP holders than Delux AP holders. Advantage: still Delux.
• If staying at a DLR hotel (not a "good neighbor"), parking on hotel property is included in your hotel rate, so additional parking passes are not needed. Again, the Delux AP (w/o parking pass) will still be sufficient.
• Although I do like to shop, as ksdonaldson mentioned, I'd have to spend over $1000 for that 10% discount to pay for the difference in APs. But, if all the other people I traveled with on the various trips used it too, maybe it could get close.
• But the thing that really makes me still consider the Premium is that the nicer restaurants like Blue Bayou, the Vineyard Room, and some of the Downtown Disney places only offer dining discounts to Premium APs. Over the course of 2 (or 3) trips, with a few meals at these types of restaurants (which we tend to do), the discount for the group could pay for the difference in APs.
• *Plus - if my traveling companions feel generous because they've saved so much money thanks to my AP, maybe they'll cover some of my meals or something - then it's even more cost effective for me!

I need to stop now - my brain hurts!

[The Goof Father]

yesimaprncss - You are on the right track! You might be able to drop a casual hint that your pals "owe" you for your benevolent use of your AP. As it seems, if you are going with a decent sized group who all like to shop then the Premium could do miracles and may pay itself off faster than you expect! And it will make you look like a princess in your friend's eyes, which may not be much of a change judging by your tag...

And count me in for the road trip!