AP discounts before activation

[HungryCat]

Hello all.

I've already bought APs for some planned park visits starting in Sep 2022, so I will activate them when we enter the park at that time.

However I may pass through the resort area in Jan 2022, I'm looking into picking up the physical annual pass card way ahead of the actual park visits, and use it for its dining and merchandise discounts.

Does anyone know if that's allowed? I know I can book resorts on the website with the linked AP certificate, but I can't find any information regarding using the dining/merch discounts without activating the AP. Can I even pick up the physical card without activating it?

Thanks.

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

No you only get the AP card once your AP is activated.

 

[HungryCat]

No you only get the AP card once your AP is activated.

I thought I have to redeem the certificate outside of the park, get the card, then use the card to enter the park. And the AP gets activated at that moment I tap the card on the card reader?

 

[Brett Wyman]

Your mileage may vary but I have been in similar situations before and they have granted me the AP discount(multiple times) by showing them the pass on my phone in MDE. Which you will have after your purchase your AP and BEFORE you pick up the physical card.

 

[HungryCat]

Your mileage may vary but I have been in similar situations before and they have granted me the AP discount(multiple times) by showing them the pass on my phone in MDE. Which you will have after your purchase your AP and BEFORE you pick up the physical card.

I'm very new to the MDE app. Do I have to use the MagicMobile to load the pass first? (And it won't activate my pass right?)

 

[CookieandOatmeal]

I thought I have to redeem the certificate outside of the park, get the card, then use the card to enter the park. And the AP gets activated at that moment I tap the card on the card reader?

When you redeem the certificate at the ticket counter to get the AP card, it was always activated at that moment however I just poked around the ticket thread in the parks forum and found this in the post about APs by Robo. YMMV.

AP Activation:
Guests must first go to any WDW ticket booth or Guest Relations (along with a legal photo ID) to purchase an AP, or get their pre-ordered AP certificate activated before that AP can be used at a park.

However, there is new ACTIVATION PROCEDURE for APs that allows guests to go to a ticket booth or Guest Relations to get the AP certificate activation completed on an earlier day than on the date that they first enter a park.
After the new AP is activated, the AP will NOT actually start its year of counting down UNTIL the guest actually goes through a park gate using that new AP.
The date that the AP holder goes into a park with the AP for the first time will then become the AP's Anniversary Date and the new AP will then be valid until the end of the day on that same date, one year later.

 

[Brett Wyman]

I'm very new to the MDE app. Do I have to use the MagicMobile to load the pass first? (And it won't activate my pass right?)

Once you add your pass(es) to you MDE via the web browser, they will then appear in your mobile MDE as well. Even before activation. Look under "Tickets and Passes" from the hamburger menu.