Annual Pass Question

[canadadisney]

We are planning on purchasing a 6 day park hopper for January. If we return again in September, can we purchase an annual pass and put the price we already paid for the park hoppers in January towards the annual pass?

The reason that I ask is because if we stay more than 5 days in September it will be worth it to buy the annual pass, but I'm not sure yet how many days we will be staying in September.

 

[MAH4546]

No. You can only upgrade the pass when there is still an unused day on the pass, but not more than 13 days after it was first used.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

You can upgrade your PH in januarb before the end of your last day. You can bring it back in September. As long as you go at least 2 or 3 days in September you'll come out ahead on a deluxe AP. That is isn't even factoring in discounts on food, merchandise and possibly hotel.

 

[Malcon10t]

We are planning on purchasing a 6 day park hopper for January. If we return again in September, can we purchase an annual pass and put the price we already paid for the park hoppers in January towards the annual pass?

No. You would need to upgrade to the AP while the 6 day tickets are still valid. You can do it on the last day of your six days. A reminder, APs generally go up in price during Jun-Aug, so it would cost more in Sept anyway.

 

[canadadisney]

You can upgrade your PH in januarb before the end of your last day. You can bring it back in September. As long as you go at least 2 or 3 days in September you'll come out ahead on a deluxe AP. That is isn't even factoring in discounts on food, merchandise and possibly hotel.

I think I would need to get the premuim pass as our next visit will be for the Disneyland Half Marathon which is the long weekend in September. Do you think it would still be worth it?

 

[sonnyjane]

I think I would need to get the premuim pass as our next visit will be for the Disneyland Half Marathon which is the long weekend in September. Do you think it would still be worth it?

The only blockout dates for the Deluxe Passport listed on Disneyland.com are Saturday the 1st and Sunday the 2nd. As long as you're not going on those days, the Deluxe will work.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

I think I would need to get the premuim pass as our next visit will be for the Disneyland Half Marathon which is the long weekend in September. Do you think it would still be worth it?

Then most likely not. 2 6-day PHs are about the same price as a premium.

 

[canadadisney]

Thanks for the info. I was kind of thinking it would be about the same price. We would be going on Sept 2 and 3. My only other thought it maybe if I get the annual pass then I can convince DH to make another trip throughout the year!!

 

[amelie811]

What if you bought the deluxe AP, and just regular tickets for that one day that you're blacked out? You'd get the AP discounts that way but not sure how that works for you cost-wise...just a thought.

 

[sonnyjane]

What if you bought the deluxe AP, and just regular tickets for that one day that you're blacked out? You'd get the AP discounts that way but not sure how that works for you cost-wise...just a thought.

If you have an AP and are only blocked out one day, it is cheaper to buy a special blockout hopper ticket for $59 than a 1-day hopper, currently $105.

 

[canadadisney]

Thanks! What a great idea. I think I convinced DH to do this. We are planning on doing the holiday tour in January and we can save 14 a person by being AP holders! So we save about 60 already and that's not even the meals etc. I am so excited!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Thanks for the info. I was kind of thinking it would be about the same price. We would be going on Sept 2 and 3. My only other thought it maybe if I get the annual pass then I can convince DH to make another trip throughout the year!!

When you posted this I thought they wer both block out dates. A deluxe AP and one block out ticket would be the way to go.

 

[canadadisney]

One more quick question:
If I get the annual pass by purchasing online, how do I get the actual pass? I would like to buy online the beginning of December and then buy the Holiday Tour a couple days after I buy the AP. Would I still be able to get the discount on the Holiday Tour if I buy the annual pass a couple days before I buy the Holiday Tour tickets?

 

[sonnyjane]

One more quick question:
If I get the annual pass by purchasing online, how do I get the actual pass? I would like to buy online the beginning of December and then buy the Holiday Tour a couple days after I buy the AP. Would I still be able to get the discount on the Holiday Tour if I buy the annual pass a couple days before I buy the Holiday Tour tickets?

Great question. If you buy your pass online, what you're really getting is a voucher. Your pass won't actually be valid until you go to the parks that first day and use it, and you won't have access to the AP website until you have done that. For the purpose of booking the AP rate at hotels though, it's enough to just tell them that you'll have the AP when you check-in and they'll book you at that rate as long as you have your valid AP when you check in. For the holiday tour, you can book starting 30 days out, and do so by calling (714) 781-4565. Now, for things like the WOC picnics where you can order online only, it's a problem for people that haven't gotten their AP's activated yet, but I'm thinking since you can book the tour over the phone, it might be similar to hotel bookings in that they will book you as an AP holder as long as you show the valid AP when you take the tour. I'm not 100% sure though so you may want to call.

As far as when you activate your AP, you will take your AP voucher to any ticket booth and they will exchange it for the plastic AP card. If you don't want to do this right away, you can go straight to the turnstiles and they will give you a temporary card stock ticket to get into the park, but you will have to go to the ticket booth at some point that day to exchange it for your actual AP.

 

[canadadisney]

You guys are all so awesome. I can search forever on the Disneyland site and never get the answers I am looking for!!!

 

[RayMusicCityUSA]

You guys are all so awesome. I can search forever on the Disneyland site and never get the answers I am looking for!!!

I'd like to jump in with a question. I called member services to purchase an Annual Pass for our daughter, her husband and our grandson. They're all residents of our home, but, I was informed that my son-in-law isn't considered 'immediate family'. (but, my brother-in-law would be!). Has anyone run into this problem. I really wanted to buy the whole family passes for Christmas.

 

[sonnyjane]

I'd like to jump in with a question. I called member services to purchase an Annual Pass for our daughter, her husband and our grandson. They're all residents of our home, but, I was informed that my son-in-law isn't considered 'immediate family'. (but, my brother-in-law would be!). Has anyone run into this problem. I really wanted to buy the whole family passes for Christmas.

Sorry, but I'm confused. You can buy gift vouchers for AP's online for anyone. I could buy one for you if I was so inclined! I'm not sure why you called member services? Also, are you talking about SoCal resident AP's? Maybe the CM you spoke to was confused and thought it was an issue of residency. I assure you, however, that you don't have to be family members to buy AP's for someone else.

 

[RayMusicCityUSA]

I guess it's easy for me to be confused, as we've only been DVC members for one year. I'd like to take advantage of our DVC discount on Annual Passes for WDW. We're supposed to be able to buy passes for our whole family at a discounted rate. The DVC member site states: 'Disney Vacation Club Members receive a discount on the Pass for themselves and their immediate family residing in the same household only.' (Valid drivers license required showing they live in the same house). They said that my 'son-in-law' wouldn't qualify. Seems odd to me that they include domestic partners, step brothers, step sisters, Mother in law, & grandparents.

 

[disneyfan4ever54]

I don't know if things have changed recently, but last year when I went to book a tour over the phone, I wasn't able to get the AP price because I hadn't activated our AP's yet. Unless things have changed, you need to pay for the tour when you book it. I went ahead and paid the full price for the tour because I was afraid that if I waited until we got to the park and activated our AP's, the tours would all be booked. Someone posted a question about this an another thread recently. They were wondering if they could get a refund on the difference between the regular price of the tour and the AP price once they activated their AP and showed it to them at the park. Because of this, I am thinking that you still need to pay for the tour ahead of time like I had to last year. It would probably be best if you called them and checked on this.

 

[sonnyjane]

I don't know if things have changed recently, but last year when I went to book a tour over the phone, I wasn't able to get the AP price because I hadn't activated our AP's yet. Unless things have changed, you need to pay for the tour when you book it. I went ahead and paid the full price for the tour because I was afraid that if I waited until we got to the park and activated our AP's, the tours would all be booked. Someone posted a question about this an another thread recently. They were wondering if they could get a refund on the difference between the regular price of the tour and the AP price once they activated their AP and showed it to them at the park. Because of this, I am thinking that you still need to pay for the tour ahead of time like I had to last year. It would probably be best if you called them and checked on this.

Thanks for that clarification. I wasn't sure if you had to pay when booking or not.