Annual Passes

[erionm]

AP follow up question. Can you renew an AP before activating it? i.e. say mine expires in September 2020. I'd like to get the renewal price but don't plan on using it right away (until say May 2021). Is that possible? Or when you renew does it automatically activate? Sorry if these seem like super basic questions, but DH and I are trying to learn as much as possible about them to see if they're a good fit for our current (and future) travel plans!

The renewal window opens 60 days prior and ends 30 days after the expiration date of the active pass. Also, a true renewal will extend the expiration date of the pass being renewed by 1 year.

They typically won't let you renew outside of that window unless your AP will expire mid trip and you need to renew early to be able to schedule advance FP+ selections for the length of stay.

 

[karrit2000]

AP follow up question. Can you renew an AP before activating it? i.e. say mine expires in September 2020. I'd like to get the renewal price but don't plan on using it right away (until say May 2021). Is that possible? Or when you renew does it automatically activate? Sorry if these seem like super basic questions, but DH and I are trying to learn as much as possible about them to see if they're a good fit for our current (and future) travel plans!

Since you hypothetically would have a pass that expires in Sept 2020 & don't plan to visit again until May 2021 I would advise against purchasing a renewal. While it doesn't technically activate it will retain the September date of expiration but for Sept 2021. That would be 8 months you are sitting on an unused AP that will expire in Sept 2021. So at most you would only get 5 months use out of it providing you planned other trips before it expired in Sept 2021. The savings on a renewal lose their value after sitting unused for a few months. Best option is to purchase a new AP with the DVC Discount to activate at a future date if a special deal is being offered or imminent price increase is announced.

 

[SuzGM84]

Since you hypothetically would have a pass that expires in Sept 2020 & don't plan to visit again until May 2021 I would advise against purchasing a renewal. While it doesn't technically activate it will retain the September date of expiration but for Sept 2021. That would be 8 months you are sitting on an unused AP that will expire in Sept 2021. So at most you would only get 5 months use out of it providing you planned other trips before it expired in Sept 2021. The savings on a renewal lose their value after sitting unused for a few months. Best option is to purchase a new AP with the DVC Discount to activate at a future date if a special deal is being offered or imminent price increase is announced.

Thank you - that answers my question perfectly!