Annual Pass Question

[Seaton]

I have an annual pass question. If I were to buy an annual pass online today and have it mailed to me, would my year start today or when I first use the pass? And roughly how often do you have to go to WDW to justify purchasing an AP?

 

[Judique]

I have an annual pass question. If I were to buy an annual pass online today and have it mailed to me, would my year start today or when I first use the pass? And roughly how often do you have to go to WDW to justify purchasing an AP?

The pass would start on first day of activation at Disney. You can have a voucher mailed or you can just use a confirmation number to pick up your pass.

A pass has hopping privileges, and free parking attached to it, so it doesn't take many days for it to pay off if you are doing up the parks, touring and riding all the rides and are going on a vacation where that's what you want to do every day. Compare how many park days you would use on any trip and go from there. Get the cost of your average park day.

If you stay off site, consider the free parking as a value for each park day you would use.

I have a premium annual right now. I visited in March, June, November and will go again in February. My pass was a special purchase offered for $399. I've gone to the parks about 12 days although my actual resort stays were closer to 20 days total in the first 3 trips. I'm going for 2 weeks in February - I'll do parks maybe 5-6 times for a couple of hours each. I'm happy with the amount I paid.

Usually I buy a 10 day no expiration park hopper with pluses. I use it over 3-4 trips. The last one I bought of these was several hundred dollars less expensive then the current price.

So, not sure what the next choice will be. I know that I'm not ready to pay more then x amount of dollars per day to spend a few hours with Mickey.

So, the pay off justification is relative to your personal way of visiting. My future may just include another annual at a special price if offered or a lot of trips to the water parks and golfing to use up the gazillion pluses I have accumulated.

 

[ShelliRenee]

Does this apply to the Florida Weekday pass as well. My mom is going to buy this but our vacation is not until September. So, if we buy now, would her year start in September?

 

[Judique]

Does this apply to the Florida Weekday pass as well. My mom is going to buy this but our vacation is not until September. So, if we buy now, would her year start in September?

I am not sure about any type of Florida Resident passes. If you go to the board for Theme Parks and Strategies there is a sticky at the top created by Cheshire Figment that may answer your question.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

If you purchase any type of AP there are two possibilities.

One is that you purchase it directly at a WDW ticket or Guest Relations window. If you do this it is active immediately and will expire on the same date the following year.

The other is that you get it from any other source. This can include Disney Store, AAA, or mail, phone or internet order from Disney. You will receive a voucher (or exchange certificate or will-call reservation number). The date that you go to a WDW ticket or Guest Relations window to convert this to a live AP is the effective date, and the expiration will be one year from that date.

Note that a pre-purchase does not expire and can be held for several years prior to activation.

 

[manning]

If you buy it online you get a voucher.

When you trade it in for the pass that is when the clock starts.

 

[ShelliRenee]

Thanks!

I love this board! You all are so full of useful information.