Annual Passes "Paper or Plastic"

[dwelty]

I am going to purchase an annual pass at WDW in 2 weeks. Someone told me that they are paper. Is this true? The Disneyland annual pass is plastic. I don't think this is correct.

 

[FoodLover]

WDW Annual Passes are printed on a paper-like material. It's actually plastic-coated paper similar to Tyvek and it's untearable. They hold up remarkably well.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[dbm20th]

They are paper feeling, not plastic like a credit card. I thought it was chincy too, but Foodlover changed my mind. Thanks!

 

[dwelty]

Thanks for the info. I know the type of material you are talking about, I have an insurance card made out of it. I do think it is chincy. This pass is going to cost me $100.00 more that my DLR AP and it is cheaper material.
Sounds like the voucher is nicer than the real thing!

 

[LadyGracey]

Yeah, I thought it was chintzy too--when I turned in my nice plastic voucher card for regular ticket stock!!! But as long as you take good care of it, it will hold up well. I keep mine in one of those Pin Trading plastic zip cases that has the little clips and water-bottle holder on it (only $5 or so!), which keeps it from getting wet or bent.

 

[mickeymule]

I had one a few years back, I kept it in my wallet as I do with everything else, it got soaked on the rapids, used thouroughly and it had no issue what so ever. This is not just plain card stock, it is actually more expensive to make and more resiliant than the credit card type tickets.

 

[Dan Murphy]

Better than hard plastic, very durable.

 

[safetymom]

I have used my AP more than 60 times this year and it still looks as good as new. It is very durable.

 

[MOREMICKEY4ME]

I was thinking of buying an AP now and saving it for a few years when we are taking our next trip. Can this be done?
I thought I read somewhere that the AP is not activated until you actually visit the park, and then you have one year to use it.
Is this correct??
If so, I will get the pass and place it in a safe place. Nice to know it will hold up.

 

[Magickndm]

This subject comes up every once in a while and someone always says they paid a lot of money, they should get more than paper.
They are not paper, they are a very durable Tyvek type material. We have AP's, go at least twice a month, and have yet had anything happen to the actual pass. I've wiped out the magnetic strip on the back once or twice, but that is in no way related to the pass itself.

 

[WDW Poly Princess]

Also, if it starts getting a little icky looking, you can always trade it in for a fresh one.

 

[MycatlovesEeyore]

I hate to disagree, but I have to exchange mine for a new card at least once, sometimes twice during a week-long trip. They do not stand up well to water and you cannot keep them with any other cards with magnetic strips, including room keys. I don't know what I do wrong but it never fails that I have to get out of line at least once every trip and go to guest relations to get a replacement. I cannot help but think a harder plastic card would serve me better. JMHO

 

[RoyalCanadian]

I cannot help but think a harder plastic card would serve me better. JMHO

IMHO, a harder plastic card would not serve anyone better.

We were at WDW in March with our new APs and had no problem at all using it to gain admission to the parks or for getting FPs at the appropriate rides.

I watched a family trying to get FPs at Kilimanjaro Safaris in AK with their plastic KTTK cards. A CM came to help them and told them (loud enough for me to hear) that 80% of the problems with the FP machines are due to the plastic cards.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

I hate to disagree, but I have to exchange mine for a new card at least once, sometimes twice during a week-long trip. They do not stand up well to water and you cannot keep them with any other cards with magnetic strips, including room keys. I don't know what I do wrong but it never fails that I have to get out of line at least once every trip and go to guest relations to get a replacement. I cannot help but think a harder plastic card would serve me better. JMHO

I'm glad you posted, as I have the same experiences! Most people here never have a problem, and then are absolutely perplexed that some of us have many problems! I have to replace my card at least a couple of times over the years, as it quits working. What usually happens is the paper AP gets a bend in it, and then the magnetic strip won't make contact with the machine when I put it in. I wish I could bring cinder blocks on my trip and flatten my paper AP's straight again!! I know the paper APs won't rip, but it can bend! I much rather have something more durable. And I also had to leave the line and go to guest services and get a new ticket. No fun!

 

[tjmw2727]

I hate to disagree, but I have to exchange mine for a new card at least once, sometimes twice during a week-long trip. They do not stand up well to water and you cannot keep them with any other cards with magnetic strips, including room keys. I don't know what I do wrong but it never fails that I have to get out of line at least once every trip and go to guest relations to get a replacement. I cannot help but think a harder plastic card would serve me better. JMHO

I have had an ap for years and knock wood never have probelms. On our last trip however my dd's had myw on plastic stock and we had nothing but problems until I went to GR and had them switched to the "paper".

They don't offer the flexibility of the tyvek so they got jammed in the FP machines pretty easily. Also while they were all kept in the paper sleeves given only the plastic has ever de magnatized not the tyvek AP.

I am a fan of the paper ticket!

TJ

 

[AJMlovesRLM]

I purchased our 10 day, no expiration w/water option passes last Jan. and was dissapointed to see it was a "paper" ticket and not the plastic credit-card type we were used to. I even wrote to Disney to see if they would transfer my days onto one of our old plastic cards! (No)

Call me crazy, but the hard plastic tickets just gives me a more warm-fuzzy feeling than the flimsy paper ones do!

 

[Metro West]

My Universal AP is like a credit card with my picture and name on it. The Disney AP looks like a regular ticket. It used to bother me that I paid all that money to get a Disney pass and it's paper but since I don't carry the Disney pass around with me it doesn't have any signs of wear. I DO like the new finger scanner Disney has and are much better than the older ones...much easier to use and they actually work.

 

[eeyoreiscool]

Since I wind up carrying our AP's all the time, I like the fact that they are thinner. We haven't had any problems with ours over the years. The magnetic strip is just a susceptable on either the plastic or paper cards I have so problems will probably never go away.

 

[Shells9]

Ours have always held up REALLY well. DH plays havoc on the things in his wallet. He is forever having to order a new ATM card, but our passes seem to stay intact. We keep them in the sleeve they give you, and have never had any problems!

 

[Disney Doll]

They are some type of thick card-stock and very durable. I've never had a problem with them, and I do all the water rides, water parks, etc.