Annual Pass Strategy

[ahalper0227]

Hi everyone!

My wife and I are going in December and are looking to purchase Gold (DVC) annual passes starting in December. Our original plan was to purchase 2 day passes so we can do our FP+ at 60 days and do the bridge to the annual passes once we get to Disney (just to spread out the cost a little bit). I was looking at some history, and it appears that Annual Pass increases have typically occurred in October. Since this is our first time wanting to buy annual passes, I haven't really monitored that closely in the past.

Does Disney typically give a few days notice before the increase? Or is it day-of-announcement is when the increase goes effective?

Also I'm looking for some advice on strategy of what to do. From my understanding, once we buy the 2 day passes, they can't be upgraded to annual passes until we begin using them at WDW. I'd hate to buy the 2 day passes in advance just to have the annual pass price go up soon after. If absolutely needed, I could probably suck it up and buy the voucher before the price increase.

Thanks in advance!

 

[CMNJ]

Hi everyone!

My wife and I are going in December and are looking to purchase Gold (DVC) annual passes starting in December. Our original plan was to purchase 2 day passes so we can do our FP+ at 60 days and do the bridge to the annual passes once we get to Disney (just to spread out the cost a little bit). I was looking at some history, and it appears that Annual Pass increases have typically occurred in October. Since this is our first time wanting to buy annual passes, I haven't really monitored that closely in the past.

Does Disney typically give a few days notice before the increase? Or is it day-of-announcement is when the increase goes effective?

Also I'm looking for some advice on strategy of what to do. From my understanding, once we buy the 2 day passes, they can't be upgraded to annual passes until we begin using them at WDW. I'd hate to buy the 2 day passes in advance just to have the annual pass price go up soon after. If absolutely needed, I could probably suck it up and buy the voucher before the price increase.

Thanks in advance!

Disney does not officially announce price increases but they are generally leaked (without specific info) a day or two in advance. I don't beleive Oct is a set time that Disney raises AP rates. Last year there were actually 2 increases-one in Feb when all tickets increased and again in Oct when they added photopass entitlements to the AP and introduced the Gold AP. Nobody can tell you for sure if AP will go up again before December but it seems unlikely to me that Disney will go over a year before raising AP prices again. That's why we bought gold AP vouchers for our upcoming trip in Oct

 

[linzbear]

Sometimes we get advance notice, sometimes not. Generally you want to buy what you need as soon as you can swing it.

Says the lady who is putting off buying 5 Gold passes.

 

[ahalper0227]

Sometimes we get advance notice, sometimes not. Generally you want to buy what you need as soon as you can swing it.

Says the lady who is putting off buying 5 Gold passes.

So this being said, are you able to book FP+ using the voucher? That's why we wanted to use the 2 day passes then upgrade

 

[marciemi]

So this being said, are you able to book FP+ using the voucher? That's why we wanted to use the 2 day passes then upgrade

Last year there was no notice and we actually bought my son's the day before and really, really wanted the new pass option instead so had to spend an hour getting it upgraded at MK. There may have been a few rumblings a day or two out that something was likely to happen but nothing official announced and the changes last year were major.

That said, yes, as soon as you purchase your voucher online you can use it to make FPP up to 30 days out (60 if onsite).

 

[Accident]

Does Disney typically give a few days notice before the increase? Or is it day-of-announcement is when the increase goes effective?
!

My experience is no, one morning they just cost more.

So this being said, are you able to book FP+ using the voucher? That's why we wanted to use the 2 day passes then upgrade

Yes you can book fp+ as soon as you purchase it before it's activated. If you know your getting AP, it's just paying that cost earlier. If there is any doubt you may not get them, you'll need to decide if the risk of them being more costly is worth waiting.

I forget the site but someone has been tracking ticket increases and I remember seeing oct was AP for most years when I first researched when to buy.

 

[Woth2982]

I did some crazy math last year, took me over 2 days to work it out. I bought a tickets at work waterparks and more PH ticket. It was a 7 day ticket with 3 days free (or something like that). I got this before the price increase. But even when the price increased the savings was still less than the new price of the AP (or break even) when I went to upgrade. I got a regular gold ticket as I don't care for water parks, so the additional cost for that was not worth it to me.

 

[PeasandCarrots]

So this being said, are you able to book FP+ using the voucher? That's why we wanted to use the 2 day passes then upgrade

Yes if its in MDE you can.

 

[linzbear]

So this being said, are you able to book FP+ using the voucher? That's why we wanted to use the 2 day passes then upgrade

Yes, for the purposes of booking FP+, AP vouchers count as tickets.

 

[sweetmama17]

Does anyone know if the vouchers have an expiration date? I'm willing to buy vouchers now if necessary. I'm concerned about the same thing but won't be going until February 2017. Thanks.

 

[cinebuff]

Let's say I have an Annual Pass for which I'm only allotted seven days of FP+ reservations within a 30-day period, and I'm attending the parks with my wife, who is using a 9-day "Magic Your Way" ticket. What's the best strategy for adding two more days of matching FastPasses to my Pass? Is it likely that Guest Services will leniently link my wife's last two days of FastPasses to my Annual Pass (perhaps after I've used up the first two days of my Pass's FastPasses?) Or should I instead purchase a 9-day ticket at the same time as my wife, link our FP+ reservations 30 days ahead, use the ticket for two days in the park, then upgrade to an Annual Pass? In which case, will the remaining seven days of linked FastPasses from my wife's ticket automatically transfer to my Annual Pass, thus sidestepping the initial "only 7 days of FP+ allowed for Annual Passes" problem?

 

[jmkjr72]

Does anyone know if the vouchers have an expiration date? I'm willing to buy vouchers now if necessary. I'm concerned about the same thing but won't be going until February 2017. Thanks.

I belive the 13 month ap vouchers are food for 18 months

 

[Geoff_M]

It's only a hunch of course, but I honestly believe that WDW won't change the prices of the APs until some time after the current 13 month promotion ends on Jan 2, 2017. Jacking the price by just 8% in the interim would wipe out any perceived benefit of giving people an "extra" month.

 

[jmkjr72]

Let's say I have an Annual Pass for which I'm only allotted seven days of FP+ reservations within a 30-day period, and I'm attending the parks with my wife, who is using a 9-day "Magic Your Way" ticket. What's the best strategy for adding two more days of matching FastPasses to my Pass? Is it likely that Guest Services will leniently link my wife's last two days of FastPasses to my Annual Pass (perhaps after I've used up the first two days of my Pass's FastPasses?) Or should I instead purchase a 9-day ticket at the same time as my wife, link our FP+ reservations 30 days ahead, use the ticket for two days in the park, then upgrade to an Annual Pass? In which case, will the remaining seven days of linked FastPasses from my wife's ticket automatically transfer to my Annual Pass, thus sidestepping the initial "only 7 days of FP+ allowed for Annual Passes" problem?

If you have an on site reservation you avoid the 7 day limit

 

[richmo]

It seems like a couple years ago that we would find out on a Friday of a Sunday price increase. However, I think the last price increase (and maybe the one before that) just happened...no advance notice.

 

[Paula Sedley-Burke]

Not sure what date you are going in December and I am sure you have checked but don't forget the block out dates around Christmas on the Gold pass.

 

[Robo]

I belive the 13 month ap vouchers are food for 18 months

Sounds delicious!

 

[dkrauss]

So this being said, are you able to book FP+ using the voucher? That's why we wanted to use the 2 day passes then upgrade

Probably been answered but........."Yes" you can book FP with the AP vouchers. What happens is once you buy the AP its linked to your MDE, which allows you to book the FP's. My wife and I did this for our November 2016 trip. I purchased the AP's in July...........didn't activate until we arrived in November. Had no issue booking FP's at 60 days.

Doug