Annual Pass question

[lovedisneycruise]

I have read all the threads I can find on this, plus Allears links, and am still confused. I am thinking of buying my first AP; I am not a FL resident.
It sounds like if I purchase an AP online, I will receive a voucher in the mail that I then have to convert to an active AP at Guest Svcs at one of the parks. And it will then start the one-year period on that day. Correct?

Does this mean the AP is an actual pass--like a credit card--rather than a Magic Band? For some reason, I assumed the AP would be a different type of magic band, since I thought actual passes were passe' at WDW.

TIA!

 

[Robo]

I have read all the threads I can find on this, plus Allears links, and am still confused. I am thinking of buying my first AP; I am not a FL resident.


1. It sounds like if I purchase an AP online, I will receive a voucher in the mail that

2. I then have to convert to an active AP at Guest Svcs at one of the parks.

3. And it will then start the one-year period on that day. Correct?

4. Does this mean the AP is an actual pass--like a credit card--rather than a Magic Band?

5. For some reason, I assumed the AP would be a different type of magic band, since

6. I thought actual passes were passe' at WDW.

TIA!

1. Order with the "WILL CALL" delivery.
(There is no reason to have anything shipped to you.)
2. Correct.
3. Correct.
4. Yes. During your first trip with a new AP, it will be a plastic card that you will use
at the gates and for FP+ and for other AP perks.
5. After you return home from your first trip, in a short time you will be asked
to customize a MagicBand and one will be SENT to you, free of charge.
You can then use that MagicBand and/or your AP card for any other WDW trips
for the rest of the year that your AP is valid.
6. Thousands of guests still use flat plastic RFID "passes."
Not everyone gets a MagicBand.

 

[lovedisneycruise]

Ok I just read more and was going to add that, but I see there is already a response - thank you!

So the main thing is the FIRST trip I will have a plastic card and then a Magic Band for future trips.

Soooo...I will still get another Magic Band if I stay at a Disney Resort for this first 2015 trip (to use for the room), but I will NOT be able to connect it to my new AP, since it has not yet been activated? (If so, I never expected that extra step - I thought it would be just like buying regular tickets online. I wonder why they do this--for ID purposes?)

 

[Robo]

Ok I just read more and was going to add that, but I see there is already a response - thank you!

So the main thing is the FIRST trip I will have a plastic card and then a Magic Band for future trips.

Soooo...

1., I will still get another Magic Band if I stay at a Disney Resort for this first 2015 trip (to use for the room),

2. but I will NOT be able to connect it to my new AP, since it has not yet been activated?

3. (If so, I never expected that extra step - I wonder why they do this.)

1. Correct.
2. You WILL be able to use your new AP on that resort MagicBand during your first trip.
3. You will just need to go to any ticket booth or Guest Relations to ACTIVATE (and pick up the AP CARD for) your new AP.
Then, your AP can be connected with your MDE account and accessed via your resort MagicBand for use on this first trip.
(You will still need to carry that AP CARD to use for any AP "perks" like food and merchandise discounts.)

Then, after you return home from your first trip, in a short time you will be asked
to customize a MagicBand and an additional new MB will be SENT to you, free of charge.
You can then use that MagicBand and/or your AP card, and/or your MB from the first trip for any other WDW trips for the rest of the year that your AP is valid.

 

[lovedisneycruise]

OK now I am REALLY confused. How can I use the new AP on the resort magic band during my first trip if it hasn't yet been activated? Do you mean when I exchange the voucher at GS they will link it to the resort band I am wearing??

P.S. Really appreciate the help; I am usually a self-proclaimed Disney expert, but I know nothing about the APs.

 

[lovedisneycruise]

One more question - is the AP magicband that I will customize after activation different from the typical resort Magicbands? At they patterned or different colors?

 

[Robo]

OK now I am REALLY confused. How can I use the new AP on the resort magic band during my first trip if it hasn't yet been activated?
Do you mean when I exchange the voucher at GS they will link it to the resort band I am wearing??

P.S. Really appreciate the help; I am usually a self-proclaimed Disney expert, but I know nothing about the APs.

The MagicBands don't have anything "ON them."
They don't need to have anything "linked TO them."

They will link your AP to your MyDisneyExperience account file.
THAT'S where everything is stored and accessed by the MagicBands and ticket cards.

Just to keep things as clear as possible-


There is no reservation info, or ticket info, or credit card info,

or FP+ info "put onto" a MagicBand.


The MagicBands just contain (and weakly "transmit") a unique serial number that is used to access the information that is stored in your MyDisneyExperience computer file.


So, even if you were to lose a MagicBand, the info stays locked in your file.

Disney can just set up a new band (different serial number)

to access the info in your MDE file.

Disney can also issue ADDITIONAL MB's to a guest and each

additional band can be used for the same purposes as the first band.

So, yes, there can be multiple MB's per person, and each of them can be used by that person.



The MagicBand works like the combination to a locked safe, or a key to a locked door.



The MB, itself, is not the file of info or the container of the info.

The MB just unlocks the file of info, allowing it to be accessed from your MDE account when needed.

 

[lovedisneycruise]

Ok thanks. I understand much better from your revised post #4. Thank you!

 

[Robo]

One more question - is the AP magicband that I will customize after activation different from the typical resort Magicbands? At they patterned or different colors?

Nope.

I did want to add that even though the actual MB for AP holders is identical to the regular Resort MB, most (all?) AP holders will be sent (along with their new AP MB) a special "AP Slider" that attaches to the MB.

Example seen in the image below.(Click on thumbnail to see full-sized image.)

 

[winthropf]

One thing to add. If you have an AP voucher, you can activate the AP at any ticket window or GS, not just at GS. The lines at the ticket windows are usually faster than GS.

 

[Robo]

Have a great trip (and a great year with your AP.)

 

[Wendybird55]

Just a couple of points from my experience last year.

If you are staying on Disney Property the first time you go with your AP you can link your AP voucher to your resort reservation and magic band and use magic band if you prefer to AP for park entrance.
Even though you have to activate AP at parks, you can link the voucher to your MDE...I was able to do so with the help of Disney's IT dept. I had my vouchers mailed to my home and when I received them I call Disney to link them to my reservation. After Disney helped me link my AP vouchers to MDE I was able to book my FP+ 60 days out. Again, this is only possible if you have a resort reservation. Also, even though your AP is linked and you can book FP+ you still need to activate your AP vouchers at Disney. I used my resort Magic Band for park entrance instead of AP card however, you do need to have your AP card with you to show for discounts and such. After my first trip I was then able to order my AP Magic Bands...as Robo said the only difference is you get and AP slider.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

APs are different from other tickets. Whereas you activate a regular ticket the first time you use it to enter a park, an AP must be activated before you first enter the park. So when you buy one ahead of time, you get a "voucher" which at this time is nothing more than a number they will give you to link it to your MDX. This will let MDX know that you have purchased an inactive AP and you can use that to make FPs either 30 or 60 days ahead of your visit, depending on whether you have a Disney resort reservation or not. That is temporary until you arrive at WDW and get your pass activated. Once you activate the pass, the "clock" is running on it and it will expire a year (on the same day the following year) from the day you activate it. Not the day you purchased it, or the day you first use it to enter a park (although the vast majority of the time, the date of activation is the same day the pass is first used to enter the park>)

 

[star04]

In order to receive the voucher (which can be used to make FPs in advance), do I order the APs to be shipped or do will call?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

You don't need anything shipped. Link to your MDX with the voucher number. When you arrive and activate your pass you will receive an RFID card pass. You could also use any MBs you already have.

 

[Robo]

you can link the voucher to your MDE...I was able to do so with the help of Disney's IT dept. I had my vouchers mailed to my home and when I received them I call Disney to link them to my reservation. After Disney helped me link my AP vouchers to MDE...

For future reference, do not have the vouchers sent to you.

Choose "Will Call" (pick up at WDW) and just input the voucher/confirmation number
into your MDE account.

No help from Disney is required.

 

[Wendybird55]

Thanks for the update Robo..when I first linked AP to MDE, FP+ and all was still relatively new and folks were having problems and questions. I think it took me a few phone calls to find a CM to help link my vouchers to MDE. Happy to hear it's easier now.

 

[Robo]

Thanks for the update Robo..when I first linked AP to MDE, FP+ and all was still relatively new and folks were having problems and questions. I think it took me a few phone calls to find a CM to help link my vouchers to MDE. Happy to hear it's easier now.

Seems like I, too, remember way back when FP+ was new and confusing...

But now, it's not so new, but it's just as confusing.

 

[lovedisneycruise]

Nope.

I did want to add that even though the actual MB for AP holders is identical to the regular Resort MB, most (all?) AP holders will be sent (along with their new AP MB) a special "AP Slider" that attaches to the MB.

Example seen in the image below.(Click on thumbnail to see full-sized image.)

View attachment 2224

Thanks for the pic - at least that's a little different!

 

[lovedisneycruise]

Have a great trip (and a great year with your AP.)

Thank you very much!