AP and DDE card purchase questions....

[coasterbob]

As DVC members we want to purchase 2 APs and 1 DDE card for our trip this December. So far easy right? Here's our dilemma: I want to pay for the APs with DISNEY DOLLARS I have accumulated, and I'll need the AP voucher to qualify for buying the DDE card at the DVC discounted price of $60. Where can I buy APs locally (NJ/Philadelphia area)? I can't wait till I get to WDW to buy the APs because I want the DDE card, and you can only purchase the card over the phone or thru the mail, after you have your AP???? I hope some of this makes sense..... Thanks, Bob

 

[cherylp3]

Do you have aa Disney Store nearby, they might sell AP vouchers?

 

[MinnieGirl33]

In order to get the DVC discounted AP you must either purchase in person at one of the Guest Relations desks or online/mail order them.

Why not simply on-line order with a credit card & use the Disney Dollars for room charges/whatever when you arrive?

OR

DDE is open M-F, 9-5 (5:30?). If you arrive on a weekday & purchase your AP on site you can call DDE & they will issue you a printed letter that may be picked up at Epcot GS (this is the only location for pick up) after 5 or 5:30 that day.

FWIW, we have done the latter & really think it a pain in the neck. It's do-able but a hassle IMO.

 

[DebbieB]

FYI - the $60 is the price for DDE with an AP. DVC is not involved with the DDE.

 

[rigsby25]

In order to get the DVC discounted AP you must either purchase in person at one of the Guest Relations desks or online/mail order them.

Why not simply on-line order with a credit card & use the Disney Dollars for room charges/whatever when you arrive?

OR

DDE is open M-F, 9-5 (5:30?). If you arrive on a weekday & purchase your AP on site you can call DDE & they will issue you a printed letter that may be picked up at Epcot GS (this is the only location for pick up) after 5 or 5:30 that day.

FWIW, we have done the latter & really think it a pain in the neck. It's do-able but a hassle IMO.

IMO, this is really the best way to go. We ordered our AP vouchers on line. When we got to Disney, we went to Epcot first and exchanged the vouchers for passes. Then we walked 25 ft to GS and she gave us the number to call DDE. I called from my cell phone. Our temporary cards were at the GS office by 5:30 that day. (They run them out when their office closes at 5:00.) Now here is the best part. We were able to activate our passes and purchase the DDE cards on the same day so they will expire on the same day. The passes start when you activate them, and the DDE card starts the day you purchase the card.

 

[LSchrow]

we're arriving on a saturday. plan on buying a DVC AP for me (paying for it using a disney GC, since <a-HEM> i can't use my $400 GC for the DP ).

so there is no way for us to get the DDE until monday?

 

[Granny]

As DVC members we want to purchase 2 APs and 1 DDE card for our trip this December. So far easy right? Here's our dilemma: I want to pay for the APs with DISNEY DOLLARS I have accumulated, and I'll need the AP voucher to qualify for buying the DDE card at the DVC discounted price of $60. Where can I buy APs locally (NJ/Philadelphia area)? I can't wait till I get to WDW to buy the APs because I want the DDE card, and you can only purchase the card over the phone or thru the mail, after you have your AP???? I hope some of this makes sense..... Thanks, Bob

Do you mean you are paying for the AP with Disney Reward Dollars from a Disney Visa card? Some people call the Disney Visa Rewards dollars Disney Dollars. If not, then ignore the rest of this.

You can call MS to purchase your AP's with the DVC discount and applying the Rewards dollars. They then mailed me the vouchers (green plastic cards).

Then, about a month before your trip, you can call to get the DDE. You don't want to call now because the clock starts ticking on expiration of the DDE from when you order it, not from when you "activate" it. So if you order now, it will expire at the end of August, 2007. When you order the DDE, you can use the numbers off of your vouchers...you don't have to have the AP in hand.

If you don't get the DDE card before you leave, you can call the DDE number and they will arrange to have a temporary DDE card that you can pick up from Guest Relations at EPCOT and use during your trip.

 

[LisaS]

Another option is to purchase one AP with a credit card about 6-8 weeks before your trip. When you get the voucher in the mail, order the DDE card using the numbers on the voucher. Then when you get to WDW, use your Disney Dollars to purchase the second AP. Use the remaining Disney Dollars for meals, etc. during your trip.

 

[Granny]

If you have Disney dollars, then I think Lisa's plan is probably the best. That would keep you from having to do two transaction sessions at WDW (one to buy AP's and one to buy DDE) and you'd only have to buy the extra AP's. And also correct in that you will have plenty of options on how to use up those Disney dollars!

 

[MiaSRN62]

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but when I read this thread and about being able to pick up temporary DDE cards from wdw GS I perked up. I just purchased our AP's online last week. We leave for WDW on Aug 4. I was on the allearsnet site and it said to please allow "several weeks for processing" of the DDE card so I figured I wouldn't have time to get one for this trip ?

Now I'm reading these posts here and is it my understanding I can order the DDE card now and pick up temp card at GS near where I have to turn in my AP vouchers ? Is there a DVC discount for the DDE as well ?
Again, sorry to jump in here with these questions.......

 

[DebbieB]

After you order the card over the phone (Monday to Friday only), you can pick it up after 5:00 that day at the guest relations at the front of Epcot only.

There is no DVC discount for DDE. You must have an annual pass or be a Florida Resident, DVC alone is not included.

 

[BCV23]

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but when I read this thread and about being able to pick up temporary DDE cards from wdw GS I perked up. I just purchased our AP's online last week. We leave for WDW on Aug 4. I was on the allearsnet site and it said to please allow "several weeks for processing" of the DDE card so I figured I wouldn't have time to get one for this trip ?

Now I'm reading these posts here and is it my understanding I can order the DDE card now and pick up temp card at GS near where I have to turn in my AP vouchers ? Is there a DVC discount for the DDE as well ?
Again, sorry to jump in here with these questions.......

Yes, you can pick up a temporary card at GS at the front entrance to Epcot.

You might even have a slim chance of getting the real card if your AP arrives in a day or two. Our DDE card arrived in about two weeks this year.

 

[Granny]

I don't mean to hijack this thread, but when I read this thread and about being able to pick up temporary DDE cards from wdw GS I perked up. I just purchased our AP's online last week. We leave for WDW on Aug 4. I was on the allearsnet site and it said to please allow "several weeks for processing" of the DDE card so I figured I wouldn't have time to get one for this trip ?

Now I'm reading these posts here and is it my understanding I can order the DDE card now and pick up temp card at GS near where I have to turn in my AP vouchers ? Is there a DVC discount for the DDE as well ?
Again, sorry to jump in here with these questions.......

Maria...keep in mind that you can't order the DDE until your AP vouchers arrive. You'll need the numbers off of the vouchers to verify your status as an AP passholder.

If you ordered your AP's on line last week, you should see your vouchers in about a week. So as long as you get your vouchers before you leave, just call as others have said and they'll leave a temp DDE card at EPCOT GS for you.

 

[coasterbob]

Another option is to purchase one AP with a credit card about 6-8 weeks before your trip. When you get the voucher in the mail, order the DDE card using the numbers on the voucher. Then when you get to WDW, use your Disney Dollars to purchase the second AP. Use the remaining Disney Dollars for meals, etc. during your trip.

Thanks Lisa, I like your idea. Now, If I buy 1 AP on-line and get the voucher, what would be the latest I should I call DDE to order the card and still have it mailed to me, before we leave for WDW on 12/3.? I don't want to have to go to Epcot GS for it, as we will be going to dinner (8 of us), that 1st night at Ragland Road, after we check in to Saratoga Springs, and I def. want to use the card!

Also, do i get a full 12months to use it? Thanks again, Bob

 

[MiaSRN62]

Maria...keep in mind that you can't order the DDE until your AP vouchers arrive. You'll need the numbers off of the vouchers to verify your status as an AP passholder.

Thank you Granny, BCV23, and DebbieB ! You made my day. I paid for "express delivery" on them, so they're supposed to be here around July 21 and we don't leave until Aug 4.

Had I not read this thread, I honestly would have thought it was too late to order the DDE card. So I have to thank the OP as well for starting this thread.

 

[BCV23]

Maria, I'm glad it worked out for you.

I'm also glad to know that you can pay for express delivery of the DDE cards. I learn something every day on these boards.

 

[MiaSRN62]

I'm also glad to know that you can pay for express delivery of the DDE cards

Ooops...I'm sorry ! I paid for express delivery of my AP vouchers. Not sure about the DDE card as I haven't called for that yet.....awaiting the arrival of the vouchers. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

 

[BCV23]

Ooops...I'm sorry ! I paid for express delivery of my AP vouchers. Not sure about the DDE card as I haven't called for that yet.....awaiting the arrival of the vouchers. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

No, it was my bad. Since you had already purchased the APs online, I assumed you meant the DDE card. So they could tell the APs hadn't been mailed?

Didn't know you could pay to get APs express mailed either.

 

[MiaSRN62]

So they could tell the APs hadn't been mailed?

From what Granny said, there are numbers on the back of the voucher that you must provide at time of purchasing the DDE. So I'm just sitting here watching for the mailman
And, yep.....I paid $10 extra for express delivery of the AP's. It was an option online. I put it off for so long because I had initially planned on getting 10 day MYW passes. Then at the last moment, and after adding a couple more trips to WDW in 2006, I decided on the AP's.

 

[LisaS]

Thanks Lisa, I like your idea. Now, If I buy 1 AP on-line and get the voucher, what would be the latest I should I call DDE to order the card and still have it mailed to me, before we leave for WDW on 12/3.? I don't want to have to go to Epcot GS for it, as we will be going to dinner (8 of us), that 1st night at Ragland Road, after we check in to Saratoga Springs, and I def. want to use the card!

Also, do i get a full 12months to use it? Thanks again, Bob

The delivery time for DDE cards seems to be 2-4 weeks, so if you allow a full 4 weeks you should get your card in time.

The card expires 12-13 months from the date that you purchase it (unlike an AP that is valid for a year from activation). If you order it in the first 7 (??) or so days of a month, your DDE membership expires at the end of that month plus one year. If you order after the 7th (??) day of the month, it expires at the end of the following month, the following year. Ex: order the card on Nov 3, 2006, it will expire Nov 30, 2007; order the card on Nov 10, 2006, it will expire Dec 31, 2007. So depending on your future travel plans, that extra month of membership may make a difference to you.