Annual Pass clarification

[BebopBaloo]

Please tell me if the following is correct:

1. I buy an AP online. It connects to MDE.

2. I can make FP+ (still 60 days out if staying onsite, but only for the first 7 days of the trip and then the 8th day can be booked at the use of day 1's FP+).

3. I can get AP room discounts when they become available and apply them to existing reservations.

4. I can do 2 and 3 even though my AP is not yet 'activated.'

5. When I arrive at my onsite resort, I can go to Guest Services and they will activate my AP. Any member under the age of 18 will not be required to have a form of ID to activate their AP.

6. My AP year (now 13 mo.) starts when it is activated at guest services NOT when I buy it online. Example. I buy it 10/4/16, but don't activate it until 7/4/2017. My AP year would be 7/4/17- 8/4/18.

7. I will only receive a Magic Band if I book an onsite resort room. It will automatically link to my AP through MDE. Otherwise, I will receive...something at guest services?

8. I can purchase a Magic Band to link up, or link one that I already have from a past visit to my AP before it has been activated.


Am I incorrect, or missing anything important?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If you're staying onsite you should be able to book for your whole stay. Not just the first 7 days.

You can't activate at the resort...you need Guest Services or a ticket window. Parks or Disney Springs. There's no Guest Services at resorts. Children don't need ID but they are supposed to be present.

You will be alerted to customize a Magic Band after your AP is activated, whether you are staying onsite or not. If you get magic bands from an onsite stay, you will still get to customize another Magic Band after your AP has been activated.

 

[subtchr]

7. I will only receive a Magic Band if I book an onsite resort room. It will automatically link to my AP through MDE. Otherwise, I will receive...something at guest services?

8. I can purchase a Magic Band to link up, or link one that I already have from a past visit to my AP before it has been activated.

MagicBands are not linked to APs or tickets, and APs and tickets are not linked to bands. Tickets and APs are linked to your MDE profile, and any active MagicBand you have (old or new, AP or complimentary or purchased) can then access that information.

 

[BebopBaloo]

You will be alerted to customize a Magic Band after your AP is activated, whether you are staying onsite or not. If you get magic bands from an onsite stay, you will still get to customize another Magic Band after your AP has been activated.

I activate at a park, or Springs and then I get a notice to customize the band, or when I purchase it online, I will be alerted before I am actually there and activating?

 

[loves to dive]

My first one I got the option to customize my MB after I got home, my renewal a few days ago, I got the option to customize it and have it sent before I activated it. My last renewal before this one had to be activated at a GS or ticket window but that might not be the case now so that might be why I was able to go ahead and customize now.

So to answer your question, after you return home from having activating your MB, you will get an email telling you that you can now go to MDE and customize your new one. The AP MB is just like any other MB except you get a little AP slider that goes on it. The slider does nothing, it doesn't allow you to get your discounts with your MB, you will still need you AP discount card to do that. You will get the discount card when you activate the AP at the window. You will also need an ID when using the discount card.

 

[BebopBaloo]

So to answer your question, after you return home from having activating your MB, you will get an email telling you that you can now go to MDE and customize your new one. The AP MB is just like any other MB except you get a little AP slider that goes on it. The slider does nothing, it doesn't allow you to get your discounts with your MB, you will still need you AP discount card to do that. You will get the discount card when you activate the AP at the window. You will also need an ID when using the discount card.

Okay, so if I wanted to use a MB and I purchased an AP; I should bring an old one on my first visit with an AP, so that when I activate it, I will have one with me that I can go ahead and use. That's very helpful to know about the discount card too.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You won't have the option to customize an AP band until after your pass is activated. Yes, that means you won't get one to use for your first visit with that pass, unless you are staying onsite. If you have an old one and you are not staying onsite, bring the old one, it will work. If you are staying onsite, use the one you get for staying onsite, it will work.

If you don't have any magic bands available to use on the first visit, use the AP card they will give you when you activate.

All magic bands assigned to you should work the same way. You won't have a distinct band that must be used with your AP. You can use any band assigned to you.

 

[BebopBaloo]

One more question- when booking a resort room with an AP discount, I only need the voucher..not an activated AP, right? Then do I need to activate the AP before check-in? Can I still pay it off in advance, like other non AP bookings? (Okay, that was more than one question..)

 

[BebopBaloo]

Annnnd one more .... :/ Could I book a room with my AP discount for someone who is not an AP holder, but is traveling with us? Would they just pay off the balance at check-in, or would I be required to pay since I'm the holder? Just looking at all scenarios, since this is completely new to me.

 

[LowesChevy]

I recommend activating at Disney Springs--it's air conditioned! guest Services at the parks are always jam packed. We decided to drive over from Universal one day to do it, that way we didn't lose any park time. You will get customized Magic Bands, but not get your cards till you activate.

 

[WishICouldSpeakWhale]

We did not activate our AP before checking in. We fly into Disney and use magic express to go to our hotel. There's no option to go to park guest services before getting to the hotel.

 

[bumbershoot]

Okay, so if I wanted to use a MB and I purchased an AP; I should bring an old one on my first visit with an AP, so that when I activate it, I will have one with me that I can go ahead and use. That's very helpful to know about the discount card too.

You said you're staying onsite so you'll get a Mb from that. So bring that.

After the ap is activated you'll be able to customize new aps, and they'll be sent once you customize.

 

[MinnieMSue]

While kids don't need ID to activate AP almost every cast member insisted my 13 yr old show ID to get discount on purchases. Thank heavens she decided to bring her school ID. They accepted it. I questioned cast members in stores on it and they all insisted everyone even children needed ID. When I asked what kind of ID little kids might have they just shrugged their shoulders and insisted they have ID. Last trip I had to step in and show my AP and ID for a few purchases she was making.

 

[BebopBaloo]

Thanks all for your replies. Now I just need to know if I can book with an AP discount when available if I have not activated my AP yet?

 

[patink]

Thanks all for your replies. Now I just need to know if I can book with an AP discount when available if I have not activated my AP yet?

Yes you can book AP discount before your AP is activated. I purchased my AP online, but will not activate it until I go at Thanksgiving. As soon as I assigned my AP to myself on MDE I was able to log on and see the AP discounts for rooms. If you already have a reservation and then you purchase the AP online I believe you will have to call to get the AP room rate applied to that reservation. As far as I know there is no way to convert a current reservation to an AP reservation online.

I also have the option to customize my AP MB online. My AP is not active. I have not done that yet, but it is a separate option from the MBs I customized for my room ressie.

 

[Accident]

Yes you can book AP discount before your AP is activated. I purchased my AP online, but will not activate it until I go at Thanksgiving. As soon as I assigned my AP to myself on MDE I was able to log on and see the AP discounts for rooms. If you already have a reservation and then you purchase the AP online I believe you will have to call to get the AP room rate applied to that reservation. As far as I know there is no way to convert a current reservation to an AP reservation online.

You can change it online like any other reservation (unless it's really close to when your traveling then yu can't do it online). you can also get AP discounts without an AP if you call.. The catch22 there is you must upgrade another ticket to an AP or purchase it within 24 hours of check in or you'll be charged the full price of the room with no discounts.

I also have the option to customize my AP MB online. My AP is not active. I have not done that yet, but it is a separate option from the MBs I customized for my room ressie.

They won't ship until your ap is active which will arrive 10 days later unless they've changed it recently.

 

[BebopBaloo]

Thank you!! It definitely plays into my desicion making, so it's great to know that it does not need to be activated yet.

 

[Minniekins]

....
They won't ship until your ap is active which will arrive 10 days later unless they've changed it recently.

Actually they must have changed it then. We bought new AP's a few weeks ago, not activating until Nov 12, and customized the bands right away. My DD26 and I each got ours about 10 days later! Nice as we'll want to use it on our trip of course, and it comes with a nice little passholder slider(orange slider this time).

 

[Accident]

Actually they must have changed it then. We bought new AP's a few weeks ago, not activating until Nov 12, and customized the bands right away. My DD26 and I each got ours about 10 days later! Nice as we'll want to use it on our trip of course, and it comes with a nice little passholder slider(orange slider this time).

thanks for the update.