Annual Pass. Ship or Will Call?

[Nadine&Scott]

DW and I have decided to get our first annual passes. We will be at OKW for 7 days 3/25-4/1 and expect to go to SSR or BWV next Jan. for 8 days. The DVC discount sealed the deal. I would like to know if there is any benefit to having the vouchers mailed or using the will call option? Other than saving the $3 shipping charge.

Thanks in advance,
Scott

 

[CarolMN]

No benefit unless you also plan to purchase the Disney Dining Experience. You need the numbers on the back of the voucher for that.

Either way, you will have to go to Guest Relations at one of the majopr parks or Downtown Disney to get your actual pass. (Resorts aren't equipped to do AP/PAP transactions). Be sure to bring your DVC membership card and a photo ID when you do.

 

[Chuck S]

And unless there is a reason to prepurchase (ordering DDE or budgeting), there is no need to do so. You can get your discounted AP in person at any park (or DtD) guest services window, you'll need to stop there anyway to activate a voucher or pick-up your will-call, and you'll need you blue member card, whether activating a voucher, getting a will call, or buying in person.

 

[castleri]

The only advantage to having them shipped is if you wish to purchase a DDE card before you go. You need the number off the back of the voucher to order it. I did the will call one time and picked up my passes at DTD and also ordered the DDE card the same day since it was a weekday. I was then able to pick up the DDE temporary card at EPCOT at 5 PM prior to going into the park for a meal that evening. The date on the AP will be the date you pick it up at WDW as they don't mail you the actual pass and you have to turn the voucher in to get your pass when you get there. If you chose will call just be sure you have the confirmation will call number with you when you go. If you don't want to order the DDE before you go you can just buy the AP when you get to WDW. You will need the blue member card to get the discount and your phot ID.

 

[winniedapooh]

I have done both. The only thing is with will call is you must have your id and DVC card. I forgot the DVC card at Christmas and tried to get my will calls at EPCOT, 45 minutes and one fantastic CM later I was in. What a mess though and if I had had a not so nice or experienced CM

 

[Nadine&Scott]

Thank you all for the quick replys. Can't wait get back to WDW.

Scott

 

[Boardwalker]

So you can get the Disney Dining Experience just from the numbers on an AP voucher? DDE looks like a great deal. I was thinking about buying it, but then couldn't figure out how to do it logistically without having activated the AP already.
Does it really take a long time to get the card mailed to you for the DDE? I thought the estimate that I read on one website was 6 weeks. Is that the case?

 

[Chuck S]

So you can get the Disney Dining Experience just from the numbers on an AP voucher? DDE looks like a great deal. I was thinking about buying it, but then couldn't figure out how to do it logistically without having activated the AP already.
Does it really take a long time to get the card mailed to you for the DDE? I thought the estimate that I read on one website was 6 weeks. Is that the case?

If you order your card and it looks like it won't arrive on time for your trip, you can call the DDE number and they will have a temp card for you at EPCOT. You can also call the number after you get the activated AP, and get a temp card that evening at EPCOT...but remember that the DDE office is only open M-F during what used to be considered "Banker's Hours."

 

[Mr. Disney 652]

We just picked ours up at Will Call. Bad idea. I didn't want to pay shipping, so I did that. The first day at the parks we waited in line 55 minutes to get to a GR window and get the passes. Maybe the Gateway entrance at EPCOT would be better and quicker, just an idea...otherwise, fork over the $3 for the time and excitement you'll be stuck in line waiting for!

 

[castleri]

We just picked ours up at Will Call. Bad idea. I didn't want to pay shipping, so I did that. The first day at the parks we waited in line 55 minutes to get to a GR window and get the passes. Maybe the Gateway entrance at EPCOT would be better and quicker, just an idea...otherwise, fork over the $3 for the time and excitement you'll be stuck in line waiting for!

We did will call at DTD and had no wait at all. The GS area there is usually pretty quiet. Even if you have them shipped it is a voucher and you still have to get in a line somewhere to pick up the actual passes.

The DDE card is activated when you order it so if you plan to use it for more than one trip check with the DDE people about the best time to order. I ordered mine a couple of days before we went in December and it is good through the end of Jan 2008. It did take over a month for the permanent card to get to my house. There was a long line at EPCOT GR the day I went to pick up the temporary card (12/26) and think it would have been easier to get it later in the day - I was trying to get it before noon and there were lots of people there with "issues" that day. THe DDE card can only be picked up at the EPCOT GR window at the main entrance but the AP can be picked up at any GR window.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Just to reinforce what Chuck S said, that the DDE office is only open M-F. If you arrive on a Saturday (as we always do) and buy the card onsite, you'd have 2 full days of dining w/o the card before you could make the purchase. Which is why we always pre-order our DDE card once we get the AP vouchers in the mail.
And we always activate the AP at the DD Guest relations. Haven't encountered a line there yet!!
And last time we ordered the DDE, took just a day or so OVER one month for it to arrive...

 

[castleri]

Just to reinforce what Chuck S said, that the DDE office is only open M-F. If you arrive on a Saturday (as we always do) and buy the card onsite, you'd have 2 full days of dining w/o the card before you could make the purchase. Which is why we always pre-order our DDE card once we get the AP vouchers in the mail.
And we always activate the AP at the DD Guest relations. Haven't encountered a line there yet!!
And last time we ordered the DDE, took just a day or so OVER one month for it to arrive...

This is correct but if you order before the trip and the card does not arrive before your trip you can call DDE when they are open M-F before you leave and ask to be able to pick up the temp card at EPCOT which you can do any day. You should call by at least Friday morning so they can get it to EPCOT by 5 that day if you want to pick it up on the weekend at any time that GR window is open. DDE is not located there. They just drop off the envelopes with your card and the list of participating locations there.

 

[tomandrobin]

DW and I have decided to get our first annual passes. We will be at OKW for 7 days 3/25-4/1 and expect to go to SSR or BWV next Jan. for 8 days.

Have a great trip!

We just went over to DTD and got our AP's at guest relations.

 

[BCV23]

We just picked ours up at Will Call. Bad idea. I didn't want to pay shipping, so I did that. The first day at the parks we waited in line 55 minutes to get to a GR window and get the passes. Maybe the Gateway entrance at EPCOT would be better and quicker, just an idea...otherwise, fork over the $3 for the time and excitement you'll be stuck in line waiting for!

Even if you have APs mailed, you need to go to GS to activate them so it is the same line.

We've always had luck with short lines at MK (and once at MGM) first thing in the morning. Lots of CMs and not many early birds. Also you should be able to purchase APs at any ticket booth as well.

Scott, I'm not sure from your post if you realize that you can just purchase them....no will call needed. In fact, will call only makes sense if you need to order to take advantage of the renewal discount and if you will be leaving for your trip before the APs would arrive.

As others noted, preordering makes perfect sense if you will be purchasing DDE and arriving after the DDE office closes at 5 on Friday.

 

[Delaware Mike]

We did will call at DTD and had no wait at all. The GS area there is usually pretty quiet.

We're doing "will call" also. Can you describe where one goes at DTD?

We're arriving on a Friday night, so I hope they're open after 5pm.

 

[BCV23]

We're doing "will call" also. Can you describe where one goes at DTD?

We're arriving on a Friday night, so I hope they're open after 5pm.

Do you really mean will call? As in you've paid for it before arrival and are just picking it up at GS? That is will call.

Anyway, GS is open after 5. It's open as late as DTD is I believe. There's one at the Marketplace. I think it is still where you use to be able to make your own CDs adjacent to the Disney sports store.

There is one near Pleasure Island...that free standing kiosk.

I believe there is on in Westside as well but not sure where it is.

 

[Delaware Mike]

Do you really mean will call? As in you've paid for it before arrival and are just picking it up at GS? That is will call.

Anyway, GS is open after 5. It's open as late as DTD is I believe. There's one at the Marketplace. I think it is still where you use to be able to make your own DVD adjacent to the Disney sports store.

There is one near Pleasure Island...that free standing kiosk.

I believe there is on in Westside as well but not sure where it is.

Thanks for the help!

Yep, we purchased on-line via the member's website and printed out the Will Call Certificate. So, we only have to show up with the certificate to get our PAPs.

 

[Nadine&Scott]

I seem to remember reading somewhere "or did I just dream it" that ticket prices including AP's may increase in early March. So the only reason I can see to order will call and not buy at the park would be to pre-empt that "we will not be ordering DDE for this trip, doing DDP". If I order after my Credit Card closes on Feb. 27, it will be just like making the purchase when we arrive on March 25 and if there is a price increase I will save money.


Scott

 

[BCV23]

I seem to remember reading somewhere "or did I just dream it" that ticket prices including AP's may increase in early March. So the only reason I can see to order will call and not buy at the park would be to pre-empt that "we will not be ordering DDE for this trip, doing DDP". If I order after my Credit Card closes on Feb. 27, it will be just like making the purchase when we arrive on March 25 and if there is a price increase I will save money.


Scott

Gotcha...good planning! I hadn't heard about the price increase. Seems like there was a price increase in the Fall as well?? Maybe not as time does fly!

 

[castleri]

We're doing "will call" also. Can you describe where one goes at DTD?

We're arriving on a Friday night, so I hope they're open after 5pm.

The one we used is between Arriba Bros and the ESPN sports store. They were open late the night I picked mine up Christmas Eve so agree that it is as long as DTD stores are open. Hope you have a wonderful trip and that the weather is good to you.