AP 13 month Promotion

[wdw4rfam]

So in my situation i am traveling down in April 2017 for Easter week - I am looking to purchase one of the no blackout date passes. Can I buy now and wait to activate once i am there in April 2017? It seems this would be the case as i don't see restrictions as to when the pass has to be activated.

i just got off the phone and was told as long as you purchase by Jan 3 you will get the 13 months, no matter when it's activated. We all know CMs aren't always right, and this may or may not end up being the case, but she was very confident this was the case.

 

[laura428]

i just got off the phone and was told as long as you purchase by Jan 3 you will get the 13 months, no matter when it's activated. We all know CMs aren't always right, and this may or may not end up being the case, but she was very confident this was the case.

I'm thinking this won't matter if my AP is due to expire in early April, since I'd only be eligible to renew 60 days prior. It'd be awesome if I could, though, and would pretty much make the renewal decision for me.

 

[wdw4rfam]

I'm thinking this won't matter if my AP is due to expire in early April, since I'd only be eligible to renew 60 days prior. It'd be awesome if I could, though, and would pretty much make the renewal decision for me.

That stinks- too bad they won't take your money early. I honestly don't think it will matter with us, because I don't think I will use the extra month anyways. Ours would likely expire in June, and I think we will most likely go back in May before it gets too hot and the crowds pick up.

 

[Bronte]

My husbands ap expires in late October so we renewed it on the 60 day mark because last year we really lost out with the changes.
If the renewed pass does not become active till October 24th is there any hope it will be switched to 13 months ???

 

[Lalalyn]

i just got off the phone and was told as long as you purchase by Jan 3 you will get the 13 months, no matter when it's activated. We all know CMs aren't always right, and this may or may not end up being the case, but she was very confident this was the case.

This is my question as well. We are going at the end of January. If I purchased now and activated then, I want to know if I get the 13 months from the date of activation.

Any idea how other than talking to random CMs on the phone one can get confirmation on this?

 

[NancyIL]

I renewed mine 2 days ago and my MDE account shows a 12 month expiration. Of course, I haven't activated it yet so who knows.

Renewals are automatically "active" and expire one year after the original expiration date. I doubt you will get the extra month.

 

[Accident]

This is my question as well. We are going at the end of January. If I purchased now and activated then, I want to know if I get the 13 months from the date of activation.

Any idea how other than talking to random CMs on the phone one can get confirmation on this?

I woudl print out the website offer and bring it with you.. It does say if purchased between now and early jan, not activate.

 

[HopperFan]

I think this is about to be a "cluster". Sadly we all know how every time you call or ask you get a different answer. I believe nothing a phone CM tells me. The fact that we have actual CM who does this as her specialty posting and felt her training was minimal ---- phone CMs are probably reading from a paragraph and are clueless. I def hope the upcoming training for this is very very clear and detailed because many are reading in to this many things. Given Disney has already taken the step towards pre-purchase expiration to cash value, seasonal pricing ........ it is not going to be unreasonable to anticipate more change.

When I read below I read it that the PURCHASE must be made/initiated on the dates October 2 - January 3, and any other dates it will not apply. What I don't see is fine print determining if I buy during those dates but do not activate until 6 mos from now or 24 mos from now, will I still get the 13 months. These are PR pieces, I think the fine print that comes with the actual purchase would be the only thing to hold up for any activation issues.

Also, both Disney sources state NEW. What is new? I don't consider a renewal as new. But this should be answered very quickly as folks renew. New to Disney in this respect may just mean initiate a purchase.


Disney's official press release wording:

Get 13 months for the price of 12 – Guests who purchase a 12-month pass will enjoy 13 months of unsurpassed passholder magic filled with seasonal events, unique attractions and stellar entertainment. New passes must be purchased between Oct. 2, 2016 and Jan. 3, 2017. Prices vary depending on pass type selected – Weekday Select, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Platinum Plus.

Disney Parks Blog release wording:

Starting tomorrow, Oct. 2, guests who are purchasing a 12-month annual pass will be able to enjoy an extra month. That’s right, 13 months for the price of 12! New passes must be purchased between Oct. 2, 2016 and Jan. 3, 2017. Prices vary depending on the type of pass you select: Weekday Select, Silver, Gold, Platinum or Platinum Plus.

Hear-say, reports that DVC was telling owners to not buy their APs until October 2nd to get new benefits. This implies that only those that are bought those dates will receive the extra month.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

...between Oct. 2, 2016 and Jan. 3, 2017 - are those dates inclusive? I have tickets that I plan to upgrade to APs in January when we arrive for the rD race weekend. Right now we plan to arrive on Jan. 3rd. Wondering if I will be able to take advantage of this offer on Jan. 3rd, or if the 2nd is the last day.

 

[cvjw]

Well, it looks like the 13-month deal applies to renewals. I just checked the website and if I wanted to renew my AP, the cost would be the same but it states that the expiration date would be 13 months later. Sadly, I renewed last month while I was in Disney and if I had waited until today, I would have gotten the extra month. I guess that I can't complain because I was able to use a MYW ticket toward the renewal and I would not have been able to do that if I renewed thru DVC Member Services.

Oddly, my DVC Gold Pass shows up in MDE under my name, but it can also be "reassigned" just as if it were a regular ticket. The expiration date is correct but I don't understand how an AP renewal could be reassigned to another person. Has anyone else who has done a renewal seen this in their MDE?

Yes, we are a family of 4 and renew our passes every year. When I linked our ap renewals into mde, they were all transferable until actually activated.

 

[Madivan]

We purchased APs prior to the promotion and activated yesterday (the first day of the promotion) and did in fact receive the 13th month free. So I can confirm that if you have already purchased prior to promotion and activate during promotion that you will receive the 13th month.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

Ok, so after working yesterday, I bring a little bit of real-world information with regard to this promo.

1 - At least at my park yesterday, we were working under the rule that all certificates activated now are getting 13 months, regardless of when they were purchased. So, people who bought new passes (not renewals) online or on the phone before the promo and activating now are getting the extra month. Whether or not this will change, and whether or not other parks were doing it differently, I have no idea.

2 - New pass certificates purchased online now have a "13M" distinction on them in the computer. I would THINK - although I can't guarantee this - that if they're purchased during the promo and activated afterwards, we'd see the 13M and still set the expiration accordingly. There's a very, very good chance that this will be a huge point of contention in January and beyond. If you plan to do this, come prepared to (nicely) argue your point, just in case.

3 - The promo does apply to the WDW/DL Premiere Passport - it's explicitly written in the documentation. I have no other information with regard to that since I don't sell it or know anything about it besides that it exists.

4 - Renewals done pre-promotion are a whole other kettle of fish, and it depends on how the renewal was done, and I have no idea how to tell by looking at MDX because I've never renewed an AP of my own from a guest-facing perspective.
- If it's a renewal certificate and we have to delete it to cash and do the renewal manually at the ticket booths, it will get the 13th month when we do it. Over the phone renewals and any DVC renewals (aside from the ones done in person) are usually, but not always, this type.
- If it's a renewal that's already active, meaning it's not a certificate, it doesn't have the 13 months. Online renewals that aren't DVC are usually, but not always, this type.
- BUT, there are procedures for people higher up than me to give recent pre-promotion active renewals the extra month as guest recovery, so if you ask nicely, you may be able to make it happen.

5 - A pass purchased now with a 13 month expiration and upgraded later should not lose its 13th month, but since we won't encounter this situation for some time, I don't know this for sure, since nobody else knew for sure when I asked around. It makes logical sense based on how we do upgrades, though.

...between Oct. 2, 2016 and Jan. 3, 2017 - are those dates inclusive? I have tickets that I plan to upgrade to APs in January when we arrive for the rD race weekend. Right now we plan to arrive on Jan. 3rd. Wondering if I will be able to take advantage of this offer on Jan. 3rd, or if the 2nd is the last day.

I would guess the end date is inclusive, since that's usually how Disney words things. The AP Friends & Family promotion was listed as ending on Sept 30 and we could do them on Sept 30, for example.

 

[Marionnette]

Yes, we are a family of 4 and renew our passes every year. When I linked our ap renewals into mde, they were all transferable until actually activated.

Thank you for your response. This is the first time that I've renewed an AP. In the past, I have always timed my visits so that we got 3-4 visits from an AP and then took time off before purchasing a new AP much later in the year.

So, are you saying that the hard plastic yellow card that I was issued at Guest Services is not an active AP, just a voucher? I renewed about 3 weeks prior to the expiration of my 2015/2016 AP, which expired last week. I thought that my new Gold Pass could just be used when I return. Am I going to have to go to Guest Services or a ticket window again in order to get my actual AP?

I guess that it's not that big of a deal, but if it's just a voucher, then according to @ravenclawtrekkie , I would get 13 months from the anniversary date instead of 12 when I go to exchange the voucher. But if it's already an actual AP, then I won't. It makes a difference as to when I make my DVC reservations for F&W next fall.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

So, are you saying that the hard plastic yellow card that I was issued at Guest Services is not an active AP, just a voucher? I renewed about 3 weeks prior to the expiration of my 2015/2016 AP, which expired last week. I thought that my new Gold Pass could just be used when I return. Am I going to have to go to Guest Services or a ticket window again in order to get my actual AP?

If you did a renewal in person, within the renewal window on your old pass (60 days before expiration until 30 days after expiration), and showed your ID (and DVC card for a DVC pass), you almost certainly have an active renewal. We almost never issue renewal certificates in person except at guest request or in special circumstances, they're mostly an internet/phone thing.

 

[Marionnette]

If you did a renewal in person, within the renewal window on your old pass (60 days before expiration until 30 days after expiration), and showed your ID (and DVC card for a DVC pass), you almost certainly have an active renewal. We almost never issue renewal certificates in person except at guest request or in special circumstances, they're mostly an internet/phone thing.

Thank you. That makes it easier for me to decide when to make my DVC reservation for F&W.

 

[Marionnette]

@ravenclawtrekkie - I have another question. Let's just assume that I don't get sprinkled with pixie dust and I can't get the extra month when I ask about it. If I were to upgrade the currently active DVC Gold Pass (with a late September 2017 expiration date) to a DVC Platinum Pass when I'm in Disney in December, would that qualify me for the 13 months promotion? The difference is $107 and at that cost, it would be worth spending the money to extend the expiration date into October.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

@ravenclawtrekkie - I have another question. Let's just assume that I don't get sprinkled with pixie dust and I can't get the extra month when I ask about it. If I were to upgrade the currently active DVC Gold Pass (with a late September 2017 expiration date) to a DVC Platinum Pass when I'm in Disney in December, would that qualify me for the 13 months promotion? The difference is $107 and at that cost, it would be worth spending the money to extend the expiration date into October.

I'm gonna go with "probably" as my answer here, since our training was that new passes, renewals, and upgrades done during the promotional period receive an extra month, but I didn't encounter any AP-to-AP upgrades yesterday, just ticket-to-AP. I would do it, but I can't say for sure that every CM is on the same page.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

got to do a renewal on a DVC pass on October 10. But I'll be in WDW that day, so it might be worthwhile to do it there instead of by phone (not sure a DVC renewal can be done online)...my actual pass does not expire until December 8 but Oct. 10 is the 60 days prior date.

 

[CMNJ]

1 - At least at my park yesterday, we were working under the rule that all certificates activated now are getting 13 months, regardless of when they were purchased. So, people who bought new passes (not renewals) online or on the phone before the promo and activating now are getting the extra month. Whether or not this will change, and whether or not other parks were doing it differently, I have no idea.

I think you had mentioned previously working at Epcot-is that the park that was (at least yesterday) activating passes with the 13 month exp date? I'm hoping so as we will be activating our AP there in less that 2 weeks-really hoping for that extra month

 

[Marionnette]

I'm gonna go with "probably" as my answer here, since our training was that new passes, renewals, and upgrades done during the promotional period receive an extra month, but I didn't encounter any AP-to-AP upgrades yesterday, just ticket-to-AP. I would do it, but I can't say for sure that every CM is on the same page.

Thank you again.

{{sigh}} This clouds my decision a bit. It would be a great excuse to make a trip between now and my 11-month booking window just to get a definitive answer. (Yeah, not gonna happen.)