Yeah Dual Enrollment is way better than AP.
Honestly, APs can be 3x the work of an actual college course while delivering a quarter of the intellectual stimulation. Not to mention, if you get to know a professor well and they are impressed with you, then feel free to as for a letter of recommendation.
Also, with the whole credit thing, I would consider transferring to a different online school. Where I live, it is super easy to transfer. If its the same where you live, I would consider transferring in order to find a school that will accept your credits.