buying annual pass but activating later

[halfmonkey]

We're thinking about buying the annual passes through a vendor that can lock in the old prices now but we're not planning on actually using them til later on in the year. My question is, I know we can activate the passes on any day, even blacked out days and we'll be able to get in on that day and it seems that the expiration date for the pass is 12/31. If for whatever reason, we don't get around to going later in the year (wife is prego), am I able to just take all passes that I purchased to DL and activate them without the rest of the family being there? So for example, if we're not able to go this year, can I go to DL and activate the passes on 12/30/12 so that the passes will expire on 12/30/13 without them being there or do they actually need to be there for pictures on the passes or something?

[GrandBob]

No, everyone needs to be there to activate their passes. Sorry. But if you don't get around to doing so before 12/31, generally what they'll do later is credit you with what you actually paid, as a credit towards selling you tickets or passes at the then-current price.

HTH,
Bob

[halfmonkey]

Originally Posted by GrandBob

No, everyone needs to be there to activate their passes. Sorry. But if you don't get around to doing so before 12/31, generally what they'll do later is credit you with what you actually paid, as a credit towards selling you tickets or passes at the then-current price.

HTH,
Bob

...to clarify. So if we actually don't activate by the activation deadline of 12/31/12, are you saying that DL will simply credit me the money I paid on the annual pass gift cards/vouchers?

Also, I believe it's been discussed but to confirm, if I activate these new annual passes on a day that these annual passes would normally be blacked out, we still get to go into the park, correct? i.e. If we activate, let's say, Dec 25th, which is blacked out for these passes, DL will still let us into the park and enjoy that day?

[pixiewings71]

Originally Posted by halfmonkey

...to clarify. So if we actually don't activate by the activation deadline of 12/31/12, are you saying that DL will simply credit me the money I paid on the annual pass gift cards/vouchers?

Also, I believe it's been discussed but to confirm, if I activate these new annual passes on a day that these annual passes would normally be blacked out, we still get to go into the park, correct? i.e. If we activate, let's say, Dec 25th, which is blacked out for these passes, DL will still let us into the park and enjoy that day?

Yes, Bob is correct, you all have to be present to activate the APs as you do have to have a photo taken the day you activate them. Yes, you will get the money you paid credited towards a new AP voucher. IE, say you pay $400 for your current vouchers but you are unable to activate them prior to 12-31-12, you go to the parks on 1-15-13 and you receive $400 towards the current price of $650 leaving you with a difference of $250 to pay at that time. I hope that makes sense, my numbers are exact but rather a guesstimate. Finally, yes, you can activate your voucher on any day and you can enter the parks, so if you blacked out on the day you activate you are still good to enter, you just have to get a special ticket from the ticket booth so you can go in. DD16 and I did that in July with no problems.

[theluckyrabbit]

Originally Posted by halfmonkey

We're thinking about buying the annual passes through a vendor that can lock in the old prices now but we're not planning on actually using them til later on in the year...

May I ask which vendor (name, phone, website?) you are using? TIA.

[disneymum58]

I'm not sure that everyone has to be present to activate the passes on Dec.30? The picture doesn't need to be taken that day. I upgraded my PH to an Annual Pass the first day of our Labor Day weekend trip. I was told any Photopass photographer could take my picture. They did ask for my ID everytime I entered until I got my picture taken, but I didn't actually get my picture taken till a few days later after buying the AP.

[pixiewings71]

Originally Posted by disneymum58

I'm not sure that everyone has to be present to activate the passes on Dec.30? The picture doesn't need to be taken that day. I upgraded my PH to an Annual Pass the first day of our Labor Day weekend trip. I was told any Photopass photographer could take my picture. They did ask for my ID everytime I entered until I got my picture taken, but I didn't actually get my picture taken till a few days later after buying the AP.

Everyone getting an AP must be present. You are supposed to get your photo taken the day you activate your AP. We had ours done at night, after dark.