AP Pass - Need A Straight Answer

[We Love Tinkerbell]

I am trying to determine when to buy our annual passes. I called DVC but the CM could not give me a good answer. Does the one year start running when you purchase the AP or when you activate it at the parks. I want to purchase our APs now in the event of a price increase but we won't be using them until later this year.

Also, is this the same for a park hopper ticket. Does it start when you activate it at the parks?

My understanding is that it starts when activated at the parks but the CM I spoke with didn't seem so sure.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Chuck S]

If you buy now, you will recieve a voucher. The AP use year starts when you trade in the voucher for the actual pass when you get to the parks, unless it is "renewal". With a renewal, they back date the pass to the expiration of your original pass.

 

[paults]

AP's and My way tickets start the day you activate them.

If you order your AP from Disney now you will get a green voucher card. When you go to WDW just activate it at any park or DTD.

 

[rocketriter]

This is exactly how it worked for us 2 weeks ago. (However, the Disney Dining Experience--available after you've registered for an annual pass--does start the moment you buy it.)

 

[JimMIA]

This is exactly how it worked for us 2 weeks ago. (However, the Disney Dining Experience--available after you've registered for an annual pass--does start the moment you buy it.)

But the DDE card is good for 13 months. The CM can, and will, tell you which date to purchase after to be sure you get the full 13 months. It's usually around the 7th-8th of the month.

 

[Granny]

But the DDE card is good for 13 months. The CM can, and will, tell you which date to purchase after to be sure you get the full 13 months. It's usually around the 7th-8th of the month.

I can second this as I did just this earlier this month. The CM told me to call back on a specific date to get the extra month of usage.

I will add that the CM did not offer this....I had to ask. She was plenty willing to sell me a DDE card when I called the first time, but was very pleasant when informing me when to call back for the extended expiration time. A classic case of not offering advice, but being very nice when information is requested. Fortunately for me, I knew from these boards that I needed to ask the question.

 

[dis-happy]

Just to clarify one thing--
say you go to DTD on Sunday and purchase (or turn your voucher in) an AP. Then you go to the parks for the first time the next day, Monday. Your pass will be dated for a year from Sunday's date, not the first day you used it for park admission.

 

[tweck]

On the Sunday you turned in the voucher and received your AP I believe, not the first day you use the actual AP.