AP Activation Question

[OKWMom]

I purchased our very first APs (thanks to the DVC discount). I know I have to show my DVC membership card and DH and I have to provide ID. I know the children don't have to have an ID (ages 11, 9, and 8), but do the 9 and 8 year old have to be present to exchange the vouchers for the APs? My plan is to activate the passes at DTD after we check in and run out for groceries, etc. It would be nice if the kids could remain at the villa with the others and maybe even go for a swim while DH and I do the errands. DH and I were discussing this last night and he said I should ask my "internet friends" because he is sure someone knows. TIA

 

[I'mNoPrince]

I would try it and if worse comes to worse you have to activate theirs later at the park.

 

[gruZ]

It's no problem. We just did this two weeks ago. My wife and I went to guest relations in DTD, kids and grandma stayed in the car. My wife and I did need our DVC card and photo ID's, but the kids didn't even need to be there. AP's activated without any problem

Have fun!

 

[JimMIA]

Technically, you're talking about picking up your passes, not activating them. They don't actually get activated until you run them through the machine going into a park.

You could buy them and stick them in a drawer for a while and they still would not be activated (i.e. the clock is running on your year) until you entered a park.

 

[OKWMom]

It's no problem. We just did this two weeks ago. My wife and I went to guest relations in DTD, kids and grandma stayed in the car. My wife and I did need our DVC card and photo ID's, but the kids didn't even need to be there. AP's activated without any problem

Have fun!

Thank you very much for the information.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Just remember that exchanging the vouchers for passes and activating the passes are two differen things. THe activation occurs when you use them the first time. That is when the finger scan happens, and you need to instruct them to push their fingers in ALL THE WAY and hold them still. Failure to do that can give you fits every time you enter the parks, because the scanner wants them in the same position. We had that issue with a pass once, and had to get a new one and do the process over again.

 

[GoldenOldie]

Technically, you're talking about picking up your passes, not activating them. They don't actually get activated until you run them through the machine going into a park.

You could buy them and stick them in a drawer for a while and they still would not be activated (i.e. the clock is running on your year) until you entered a park.

That was true up to the end of the 1990's but has not been the case since the year 2000. Your AP's are activated and the one year clock starts ticking the day you exchange that voucher. Use in a park turnstile is not required.

 

[n2mm]

That was true up to the end of the 1990's but has not been the case since the year 2000. Your AP's are activated and the one year clock starts ticking the day you exchange that voucher. Use in a park turnstile is not required.

Correct! When you exchange your voucher for the actual AP at guest relations, your pass has your name and that date on it. Starting on that date, you pass is ticking, so if you pop it in the draw for 6 months, you just lost 6 months of time. Whether you go in the park that day or the next week, it doesn't matter, your pass will expire one year from the day you actually pick it up from guess relations. However, if you buy a voucher online or by phone, they do not expire until you exchange them for the actual pass.

 

[Good Ol Gal]

so, where can we exchange our vouchers in for passes?

 

[n2mm]

so, where can we exchange our vouchers in for passes?

Guest relations. Each park has 2 locations, one inside the park, one outside the park and also downtown disney (which has great hours). I always prefer DTD or a guest relations inside the park, just so I don't have to talk through the glass. Also at guest relations at international gateway/EPCOT. So that is 10 that I can think of.

 

[BCV23]

so, where can we exchange our vouchers in for passes?

Besides guest relations, you can also purchase APs at the ticket windows at the parks.

And the finger scan is different now....just your index finger.

 

[OKWMom]

Do the children do the finger scan at the park entrance? On our last trip, everyone with an adult ticket had to do the biometric scan, but our youngest two children did not. DD9 is autistic and may give me a fit if I try to isolate one of her fingers to place it on the scanner (or she may surprise me and be fine, I never know how she is going to react to something “different”).

 

[BCV23]

Our two younger children never did the old scan either. One has cerebral palsy and the other Down Syndrome. Both are now young adults but our son had no problem using the single finger scan in Sept.. We didn't isolate his finger but just showed him how to do it. This system is much easier to use. Perhaps you will be able to model for your daughter? You don't have to isolate a finger at all really. It is just like pushing a botton. I don't anticipate our daughter having any problems next trip either. It is much easier for those with special needs IMO.