AP benefits questions...

[MIChessGuy]

Unless something changed between 2018 and now, you were told incorrectly. I had a seasonal AP for 2017 and I upgraded over the phone to Premier when I renewed. I was told parking would work right away when scanned at the booth and it did. The person at the booth tried to tell me that it wouldn’t, but I insisted that they scan the pass. It worked and I got the preferred parking. I was told that I had to get a new pass once I entered the park to be able to access my after 4 express. I did and it was all good. I got my information from the AP line from the TM who processed my renewal/upgrade.

I am considering doing something like this when my 2-park Seasonal AP expires in May. My plan is to renew and upgrade to a 2-park Preferred AP. With my non-resident current pass expiring on May 15, there are some things I'm not clear on that I hope the AP experts can clarify:
(1) If I renew over the phone, the renewed and upgraded AP will be valid through May 2024 no matter when I use it next? I would assume so, since it is still a renewal.
(2) Am I still subject to the no-first-visit on the free parking perk? It sounds like no, based on the quoted post just above, and that my current AP would "absorb" (so to speak) the parking benefit effective on the first day that the upgrade happens. I would get the new Preferred AP at guest services or someplace, but the parking benefit would work before I did that.
(3) If I want Flexpay, which I do, can I get it while doing this renew-and-upgrade thing? If I can't, it sounds like I can just dump my current Seasonal and buy a completely new Preferred at some future time. If I do that, would I lose a renewal discount, or does that not apply in a renew-and-upgrade scenario?

Sorry for the ignorance, but this is the first AP I have had in a while. (I can remember years ago when a Preferred cost $159 [!?], hah.)

 

[Lashed34]

We ( 2 of us )are planning a 4 week trip for December 2024, staying at either Sapphire Falls or Cabana Bay. Would it be best to get 2 premier passes to cover park entry, express after 4? I understand the hotel discount can only be booked 16 weeks or so in advance, which is too risky for us, but with staying so long we felt the premier pass would do for us. Obviously extra discount for eating/drinking/merch will also be very handy.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

If you want the EP after 4pm, yes. You wouldn't find a month of AP rate regardless. You may consider doing a split stay since you have since a long time - enjoy 2 hotels.