Annual Pass free parking question

[skylock]

We have always activated our pass the day before we used it because the first year we had the AP, we had to pay parking that first day because the pass was not activated.

I have recently been told by a couple of people they did not activate it prior to first arrival day and got free parking that first day.

Can anyone share any insight into this?

It would save us a little time if we could skip that pre activation step.

 

[bumbershoot]

I haven’t heard that it has changed. But you can pull through to a waiting area to have one person rush out to activate theirs, then go back and park.

Or if these are renewals I don’t think you need to activate them each year.

 

[davper]

Activate them at guest services in Disney Springs.

 

[macraven]

Activate them at guest services in Disney Springs.

Universal has guest services at Disney springs??

 

[davper]

Universal has guest services at Disney springs??

Sorry, I get these in emails and don't notice which forum they are in. I go immediately to Disney.

 

[skylock]

Well, I think I found the answer. I called universal and asked and was told the pass has to be activated for the free parking.

Digging deeper because we all know about some things you are told on the phone, I found this right on the annual pass page.

Free & Discounted Self-Parking†

(after first visit)

So, I guess I have my answer. We will need to swing by and get the passes that are not activated yet, activated before that first visit.

We have added people to our group and will now have at least 4 cars.

 

[atricks]

I'm fairly sure you can activate an Annual Pass at one of the hotel concierge desks. Ie, pulling into Cabana Bay, Sapphire Falls, or Aventura would probably be the quickest, go find the concierge desk (not the checkin desk) in the lobby, get the AP card there. (They have stacks of the Annual Pass cards at the desk) Then drive into the garage.

Certainly less hectic than running into CityWalk and back.

 

[damo]

I'm fairly sure you can activate an Annual Pass at one of the hotel concierge desks. Ie, pulling into Cabana Bay, Sapphire Falls, or Aventura would probably be the quickest, go find the concierge desk (not the checkin desk) in the lobby, get the AP card there. (They have stacks of the Annual Pass cards at the desk) Then drive into the garage.

Certainly less hectic than running into CityWalk and back.

I always thought activating meant going through the turnstiles.

 

[macraven]

I always thought activating meant going through the turnstiles.

That was my thought also

Ap not activated until first used entering the park

 

[skylock]

The lady I talked to at UO said they had to be activated at the gate.

 

[TheBuckman22]

If you have the time you can drive down celebrity circle (its off one of the main entrance roads...GPS it...let one person off and they can walk into the outside guest services and get their pass...rejoin you in the car(might have to drive around the block a time or two as security patrols this area and wont let you wait more them a few minutes at a time if at all)..then use their pass for the free parking...Its a little time consuming but with the price of parking it was well worth it to us