Annual Pass ?

[jcapizzi]

We are considering purchasing AP's for the theme parks. Can anyone tell me what the fringe benefits are. The web-site isn't too specific on this. I especially would like to know if you get a discount on tix for other people when purchased with an AP.

Thanks for your help ~ Joni

 

[michaelwilliammidd]

The biggest benefit to an AP is the Resort discounts...Today for example I saved around $600 on my resort reservation at POFQ. The resort discounts far outweigh the price of an AP.

 

[B'rer Karen]

You can also get discounts on meals, on tickets to PI and the Water Parks, and on mini-golf. You do not get discounts on other theme park admissions.

 

[jcapizzi]

Thank you - the discounts on the hotels sound really great. We would really like to stay at AKL and this would be a big, big help.

 

[llp479]

You also get 10% off most merchandise at the World of Disney at Downtown Disney.

 

[aimee11621]

Are the annual passes activated when you purchase them or when you use them?

For instance lets say I purchase the ap this month but don't use them til christmas. When is the effective date? In august or December?

 

[wdwrich]

When you purchase an AP in advance, you receive a voucher. When you visit a WDW theme park, go to the guest relations window to turn the voucher in for an activated AP. That is when your year begins.

 

[B'rer Karen]

There is an exception to this. If you buy the AP at WDW it will be a fully activated AP. I think this also holds true for those purchased at the Disney Earport Store and from the Orlando Welcome Center.

But if you buy them outside of Florida (including off the website) you do in fact receive a voucher as wdwrich states.

 

[B'rer Karen]

There is an exception to this. If you buy the AP at WDW it will be a fully activated AP. I think this also holds true for those purchased at the Disney Earport Store and from the Orlando Welcome Center.

But if you buy them outside of Florida (including off the website) you do in fact receive a voucher as wdwrich states.

 

[cobbler]

Oh my gosh, so worth the price. After the money I saved on my resort reservation today, I basically bought my AP for $121 for 365 days worth of disney

Basically for what I am going to use it this year and next year it will cost me just over $9 a day to enter the 4 parks

 

[DavidandDenise]

Keep in mind, when you renew your AP, it automatically starts the day after your current AP.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Do NOT factor resort discounts into your decision to purchase an Annual Pass!!!!!!

If the only reason you're going to purchase an annual pass is to get a resort discount, wait until you've actually been able to GET a reservation with an Annual Pass rate. Many people on the resorts board are coming up empty handed for Annual Passholder rates at the resorts because there are no more rooms available at that rate. You don't need the pass to make the reservation, only when you check in.

If you purchase an Annual Pass anywhere other than: Either of the Disney Stores at the Orlando International Airport, The Disney Information Center in Ocala, and Walt Disney World property, you will receive a voucher.

If you purchase at any of the places listed above, you have an ACTIVE pass.

 

[26555]

Does WDW property include DTD Guest Services? I ran in there this weekend and purchased what I hope is a voucher to be activated later. I'll check when I get home, hope its not already activated. It looks like a ticket.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by 26555
Does WDW property include DTD Guest Services? I ran in there this weekend and purchased what I hope is a voucher to be activated later. I'll check when I get home, hope its not already activated. It looks like a ticket.

Yes it does. There's a location in the Marketplace as well as one on the West Side.

 

[26555]

OMG! What do I do now? I even mentioned something about activating the pass later and she didn't correct me. Wouldn't they say something like 'you know your pass is activated now'. My intention was to buy a voucher to be activated in Dec.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by 26555
OMG! What do I do now? I even mentioned something about activating the pass later and she didn't correct me. Wouldn't they say something like 'you know your pass is activated now'. My intention was to buy a voucher to be activated in Dec.

Unfortunatley, I don't think there's really much that can be done. You can call and explain the situation, but I really think you're going to be stuck with the pass.

 

[GoldenOldie]

Originally posted by 26555
OMG! What do I do now? I even mentioned something about activating the pass later and she didn't correct me. Wouldn't they say something like 'you know your pass is activated now'. My intention was to buy a voucher to be activated in Dec.

If you have used that AP at all, you will have no recourse.

If it has not been used, then you have two options.

If you are still at Disney, go back to the Guest Relations office and explain what happened. They will take care of the problem now, usually by refunding your money.

If you aren't at WDW, go back to that Guest Relations in December. GR may (note the use of the word "may" as it isn't policy but rather more at the CM's discretion) reset your expiration date to December after you explain what happened. They will not do this until December however as there is no way to prevent an active AP from starting at a later date. They can only change the expiration date.

 

[26555]

Thanks for the hope, I'm in tears about this since it screws up all my future plans. I even asked if the "vouchers" would have our names on them b/c I was worried about losing them before we were ready to use them in DECEMBER. She said to treat them like cash but keep the credit receipt seperate. I mentioned making photo copys and she said it couldn't hurt. Its my mistake but I would have thought something in that conversation would have brought up the fact I was buying activated passes. I'm not at Disney now but was buying passes at GR instead of AAA b/c I was upgrading from a single day unused ticket and had to do it there. I'll call them about it later when I get myself together about it. Haven't managed to put it in perspective quite yet.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Originally posted by jcapizzi
We are considering purchasing AP's for the theme parks. Can anyone tell me what the fringe benefits are.

It took me forever to type this up, but here is a complete list of fringe benefits direct from the Passholder site:

General Benefits:

• Passholder Hotline: Call (407) 560-PASS (7277) for Walt Disney World Resort reservations, priority seating at Resort and Theme Park restaurants, information on special events or questions about your pass.
• Mickey Monitor Newsletter: Get the latest information on new attractions, upcoming events, Passholder offers and discounts in this delightful newsletter mailed four times per year (Feb., May, Aug., Nov.) One newsletter per active household is mailed within the U.S. and Puerto Rico.
• Passholder Get-Togethers: Look for details in upcoming Mickey Monitor newsletters about the special Disney moments - filled with fun and surprise - offered throughout the year

Ticket Discounts:
Share the excitement! Your friends and family can join you (up to three Guests per visit) at special savings of $4 off regular admission prices for Guests ages 10 and up and $3 off for Guests ages 3-9 to the following:

• Downtown Disney Pleasure Island
• DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park
• Walt Disney World Water Parks

Resort Offers:

• Special Resort Rates: Take advantage of the special Passholder rates that are sometimes available at selected Walt Disney World Resort hotels and Disney Vacation Club Resorts. See your Mickey Monitor newsletter of the Special Offers section of this Web site for specific offers.

Food & Beverage:
Walt Disney World Food & Beverage Discounts

• Resort Lunch Discounts: Get 10% off food and non-alcoholic beverages (excluding tax and gratuity) during lunch hours. Monday through Friday for the Passholder and up to three Guests at selected Walt Disney World Resort hotel Table Service locations. Call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463) for Priority Seating. Lunch hours vary by location. Ask at time of booking.
  <ul>
  <li>Disney's Bonnet Creek Golf Club: Sand Trap Bar and grill
  <li>Disney's Contemporary Resort: Concourse Steakhouse
  <li>Disney's BoardWalk Inn & Villas: ESPN Club
  <li>Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground: Trail's End Buffeteria
  <li>Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa: Grand Floridian Cafe
  <li>Disney's Old Key West Resort: Olivia's Cafe
  <li>Disney's Polynesian Resort: Kona Cafe
  <li>Disney's Wilderness Lodge Resort: Whispering Canyon Cafe
  <li>Disney's Yacht & Beach Club Resorts: Yacht Club Galley
  </ul>
  
• Epcot Lunch Discount: Get 10% off food and non-alcoholic beverages (excluding tax and gratuity) during lunch hours. Monday through Friday, for the Passholder and up to three Guests at all Epcot Table Service locations. Call (407) WDW-DINE (939-3463) for Priority Seating. Lunch Hours vary by location. Ask at time of booking.
  <ul>
  <li>Alfredo di Roma Ristorante
  <li>Biergarten Restaurant
  <li>The Garden Grill Restaurant
  <li>Le Cellier Steakhouse
  <li>Les Chefs de France Restaurant
  <li>Mitsukoshi Tappanyaki Restaurant
  <li>Nine Dragons Restaurant
  <li>Restaurant Akershus
  <li>Restaurant Marrakesh
  <li>Rose & Crown Pub and Dining Room
  <li>San Angel Inn
  <li>Coral Reef Restaurant
  </ul>
  
• Official All Star Cafe at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex: Get 10% off food and non-alcoholic beverages (excluding tax and gratuity) for the Passholder and up to three Guests in a setting that celebrates sports with amazing memorabilia. Offer valid for all meal periods.

Downtown Disney Dining Benefits

• Wolfgang Puck Cafe - Downtown Disney West Side Get 10% off the regular price of food and non-alcoholic beverages (excluding tax and gratuity) daily during lunch and dinner. Valid for the Passholder and up to three Guests. Priority Seating is available by calling (407) 938-9653.
• House of Blues - Downtown Disney West Side: Get 20% off the regular price food and non-alcoholic beverages (excluding tax and gratuity) for the Passholder and up to five Guests daily before 6:00 pm. Also receive 10% off regularly-priced merchandise for the Passholder only, excluding books, leather, tobacco, jewelrey and selected CDs.
• Planet Hollywood - Downtown Disney West Side:Get 10% off the regular price food and non-alcoholic beverages (excluding tax and gratuity) for the Passholder and up to three Guests daily. Also receive 10% off selected regularly priced merchandise for Passholder only in the Planet Hollywood Shop.
• Rainforest Cafe - Downtown Disney Marketplace: Get 10% off the regular price food and non-alcoholic beverages (excluding tax and gratuity) for the Passholder and up to three Guests daily from 11:30 am until 4:30 pm. This discount is also available at the Rainforest Cafe located at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. 15% off selected regularly priced merchandise purchased at the Rainforest Cafe retail store at Downtown Disney Marketplace only. Valid for the Passholder only. Priority Seating is available by calling (407) 827-8500
• Portobello Yacht Club - Downtown Disney Pleasure Island: Get 10% off the regular price of food and non-alcoholic beverages (exluding tax and gratuity) during lunch or dinner for the Passholder and up to three Guests. For Priority Seating call (407) 934-8888.
• Fulton's Crab House - Downtown Disney Pleasure Island: Get 10% off the regular price of food and non-alcoholic beverages (excluding tax and gratuity) during lunch or dinner for the Passholder and up to three Guests. For Priority Seating, call (407) 934-BOAT (2628).

Merchandise:
Walt Disney World Merchandise Disounts

• Leave A Legacy Tile: Buy one Leave A Legacy Tile at Epcot, and get one free. Proof of valid Annual Pass required in order to receive this offer. Limited one per Passholder.
• Virgin Megastore Downtown Disney: 10% discount off total purchase. Must present valid Pass at time of purchase. Discount valid only at Virgin Megastore Downtown Disney West Side. This offer may not be combined with any other coupon, discount or promotional offer. Not valid on virginmega.com or at airport locations. Excludes personal audio, DVD players, interactive software and accessories, game hardware, gift cards, Virgin Mobile Top-Up cards. Valid for the Passholder only.

Downtown Disney Merchandise Discounts

• Downtown Disney area: 10% off merchandise at World of Disney Store located at Downtown Disney marketplace for the Passholder only.**
  **Discount not available on purchase of Disney gift certificates, Disney Dollars, videos, food items, film, film processing, Walt Disney Classics Collection and other select merchandise. Discount not available on purchases of merchandise in Walt Disney World Theme Parks.
• Eurospain by Arribas Brothers - Downtown Disney Marketplace: 10% discount off total purchase of merchandise (subject to certain restrictions, exclusions and/or limitations including, but not limited to, Giuseppe Armani Line, Crystal World, Lladro, Nao by Lladro, Swarovski, The Arribas Collection, Waterford and other select merchandise). Valid for Passholder only and valid Passholder ID must be presented at time of purchase.

Walt Disney World Tours:
15% off on the following Tours and Experiences:

• Magic Kingdom Park
  <ul>
  <li>Disney's Family Magic Tour (all ages)
  <li>Keys to the Kingdom (ages 16 and over)
  <li>The Magic Behind Our Steam Trains (ages 10 and over)
  </ul>
• Epcot
  <ul>
  <li>Backstage Magic (ages 16 and over)
  <li>Dolphins in Depth (ages 13 and over, adult must accompany)
  <li>Epcot Seas Aqua Tour (ages 8 and older, Guests ages 8-16 must be accompanied by an adult)
  <li>Epcot DiveQuest (ages 10 and older, SCUBA certification required, ages 10-14 must be accompanied by an adult)
  <li>Gardens of the World (ages 16 and over)
  <li>Hidden Treasures (ages 16 and over)
  <li>The UnDISCOVERED Future World (ages 16 and over)
  <li>Yuletide Fantasy (ages 16 and over, offered seasonally)
  </ul>
• Disney-MGM Studios
  <ul>
  <li>Backstage Magic (ages 16 and over)
  </ul>
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park:
  <ul>
  <li>Backstage Safari (ages 16 and over)
  <li>Wild by Design (ages 14 and over)
  </ul>

For information and reservations call (407) WDW-TOUR (939-8687). Valid for Passholder only. Certain restrictions apply. Advance reservations required.

Sports and Recreation

• Golf: 30% off Day Visitor Rates for Passholder and up to three Guests in the party. The discount is available on Day Visitor Rates for play anytime of day. Discounts cannot be applies to any other discount or special rate including, but not limited to, Twilight Rates. Tee times at this rate are limited and may be made up to 14 days in advance. Advance reservations are required. Call (407) WDW-GOLF (939-4653).
• Miniature Golf: 50% off for the Passholder and up to three Guests.
  <ul>
  <li>Disney's Fantasia Garden Miniature Golf
  <li>Disney's Winter Summerland Miniature Golf
  </ul>
• Grand Floridian Spa & Health Club: 10% off one spa treatment per visit for the Passholder only. Reservations are required and can be made by calling (407) 824-2332.
• Richard Petty Driving Experience: $20 discount off the regular price of a Ride-Along Experience or $35 off any Richard Petty Driving Experience package. Valid only at the Walt Disney World Speedway for the Passholder. Not valid with any other coupon or discount. Call (800) BE-PETTY (237-3889) for reservations and information.
• Sammy Duvall's Watersports Centre: 10% off Parasailing, Water-Skiing and Wakeboarding at Sammy Duvall's Waterports Centre at Disney's Contemporary Resort. Reservations are required. For more information, call (407) WDW-PLAY (939-7529).
• Marina Boat Rentals: 15% opff the regular price of boat rentals for the Passholder at any Walt Disney World Resort Marina. Discount subject to availability; certain restrictions apply. Excludes specialty cruises.

Other Discounts

• Save up to 20% off your next car rental at Alamo Rent A Car! For reservations, call Alamo at (800) 354-2322. Or, book online at Alamo.com. Be sure to request ID #****** and Rate Code ** when making your reservation.
  
  Terms and conditions: Discount applies to base rate only. Taxes (including VLF taxes up to US $1.89 per day in California) other governmentally authorized or imposed surcharges, license and concession recoupement fees, airport and airport facility fees, fuel, additional driver fee, one-way rental charge and optional items are extra. Renter must meet standard age, driver and credit requirements. 24-hour advance reservation required. May not be combined with other discounts. Availability is limited. Subject to change without notice. Offer valid only at airport-serving locations through 1/01/05. Blackout dates may apply.
• Rent from National Car Rental and you can save up to 20% off your rental Call National today at (800) CAR-RENT (227-7368) or book online at nationalcar.com. When making your reservation, be sure to request Contract ID#*******.
  
  Terms and conditions: Discount applies to base rate only. Taxes (including VLF taxes up to US $2.06 per day in California and GST) other governmentally authorized or imposed surcharges, license recoupment/air tax recovery and concession recoupement fees, airport and airport facility fees, fuel, additional driver fee, one-way rental charge and optional items are extra. Renter must meet standard age, driver and credit requirements. Valid on DAILY/WEEKLY/WEEKEND rentals. Advance reservation required. May not be combined with other discounts. Availability is limited. Subject to change without notice. Offer valid only at participating National locations only through 1/01/05. Blackout dates may apply.

**Annual Pass Entitlements

• Your Annual Pass entitles you to admission (during normal operating hours) to Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park, as well as Theme Park parking (excluding special events) and the flexibility to visit multiple Parks and locations on the same day.
• Your Annual Pass is valid for one year from your Anniversary Date, which is printed on the back of your pass.
• Not valid for special event requiring a seperate admission charge; or special events that are not open to the general publicl or for any park commencing operations after May 1, 1998.
• Persons under the age of 10 years must be accompanied by a person over the age of 21 years while attending Walt Disney World Water parks and the DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park. Persons under the age of 7 years must be accompanied by a person over the age of 21 years when attending the Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios or Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park.
• Parks or attractions may change operating hours; close temporarily due to refurbishing, capcity, inclement weather or special events; and may otherwise change or be discontinued without notice and without liability to the owners of the Walt Disney World Resort.
• The owners of the Walt Disney World Resort reserve the right to revoke the Annual Pass if it is presented for admission by anyone other than the Passholder of record or if the Passholder violates the policies of the Walt Disney World Resort.
• The owners of the Walt Disney World Resort shall not be liable for non-utilization of ticket components or loss of recreational opportunities due to refurbishing, capacity, inclement weather, special events or any circumstances beyond their control.

Usage Information

• Present your valid Pass at time of purchase in order to receive Passholder benefits. Benefits are valid through January 1, 2005.

**Entitlements are different for the Premium Annual Pass

 

[DizBelle]

THANKS for typing all that up. It really helps.