AP Passes are now activated at TDS at time of purchase!!??

[Momto8]

The CM at the Disney Store said they no longer order the vouchers. They have the passes right in the store now and they are activated at time of purchase. She also showed them to me.

We've been PAP holders since 1998. We did not renew ours when they expired last June, so when I went to order them yesterday, she told me they are activated immediately now. I asked her when this started and she said about a year ago. I didn't purchase any because we are not going until June and I didn't want them to start until then.

Has anyone heard of this? I don't want to take a chance and get them now if the clock starts ticking since we aren't going until June.

She also said they were $20 cheaper than buying them at the gate. She quoted me $520, which is the same price as the gate. That's why I'm not so sure she knows what she is talking about.

I would like to buy them now in case they have a price increase, but don't want them activated yet.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Buy the vouchers on line. Activate when you get there. Easy.

 

[Momto8]

That's what I was thinking of doing, but then I was wondering if they would be activated right away also just like at TDS.

 

[itsmetigress]

we bought our Florida res passes last week right before our trip i got mine from tds dh got his from AAA we had to activate them both at disney...his was just a paper ticket mine was a big plastic thing...

 

[Doc and Family]

We bought our new vouchers at TDS in November 2003 and activated upon arrival in Dec.

I think the CM at your Disney Store is misinformed.
And I just found out that the wife of a friend is the manager at TDS where we shop, so I called her--she said they still sell the vouchers.

Good Luck

 

[DebbieB]

I don't think she knows what she is talking about. I think she is thinking of regular park hoppers (4, 5, 6, 7 day) which are regular tickets and are cheaper than gate price.

 

[Skylarr29]

Well I bought my PAP less than a year ago and they were not activated. So I think she may not know what she was talking about. Also last time I was in TDS a few days ago they still had the plastic vouvhers!! I'd ask again. I hope they haven't cause I do this too!

 

[Momto8]

I had a feeling she didn't know what she was talking about. That's why I came here. I figured I'd get the correct from all of you.

Now that I think about it, what she showed me was a plastic card. I just thought they had changed from the paper cards to plastic.

Thanks for all of the responses!

 

[hellokitty]

We were told at our Disney Store they didnt sell AP's
we ordered ours online, but be sure to check them they
sent us renewals twice! instead of the new pass.

good luck

 

[Momto8]

I'll check them to make sure they aren't renewals. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[EpcotBill]

Not to beat a dead horse but, we bought our AP's at TDS in July 2003. They were vouchers that were activated at WDW when we arrived in August.

 

[LoveToDisney]

We bought our PAP's at the Disney Store and they are plastic cards, but are still only vouchers to be turned in at the ticket office at WDW for the actual passes that will be good for a year from the date of activation. The CM at your Disney store was misinformed. The vouchers have no expiration date. If they were dated passes, the expiration date would be printed on the pass itself. Also, there is no advance purchase price discount for PAP, but if you buy them now, you are ahead if Disney decides to raise the price between now and your trip.

 

[jimmybop]

They are just vouchers, not the actual AP, the CM had the confused with the rest of the park passes (which are cheeper and activiated upon buying them). I'm sure it was a honest mistake by the CM, not alot of AP vouchers are bought from the stores (atleast not as much as the hoppers).

 

[Kristi1357]

Again, not to beat a dead horse, but I am a Disney Store CM. The CM at your store was mistaken. You can buy your AP at your Disney Store, but still need guest services to activate them in FL.

I think the confusion lies in the fact that the APs look just like the hopper tickets and are swiped through the register just like the regular hoppers.

If the AP's countdown began from when you purchased them in the store, no one would buy them ahead of time! It really wouldn't make any sense to do so.

Kristi

 

[Momto8]

I called TDS today and spoke to the manager. She verified what everyone here said that they are indeed vouchers and are not activated until I get to WDW. She said she would let the CM know also.

I guess I should have asked for the manager when I was at the store, but didn't think about it then. I trusted the CM knew what she was talking about. She was so insistent that they activate them at the store and that they do this all the time. I should have guessed that she was probably talking about the PHs but she said she knew that APs used to be vouchers, so I had no reason to doubt her.

I'll be going back this weekend to buy my PAPs as I don't want to take a chance on a price increase before our trip.

Thanks to everyone for responding!

 

[LoveToDisney]

Momto8--great news! Enjoy your trip!

 

[Momto8]

Thanks, LoveToDisney!! Now if they'd only release some AP discounts!!

 

[LoveToDisney]

I agree!!!! We bought our PAP's about 2 weeks ago and it would have been nice to get a discount.

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Here is the response from Disney:

Dear Elizabeth,

Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort.

Your annual pass will begin on the date of its first usage, not on the date that
you purchase it (unless you were doing that at one of the parks and going in on
the same day).

Sincerely,

 

[NJmouse]

I have one here in front of me that we purchased at the end of Nov. This is the AP Exchange Certificate. It is purple and plastic. On the back it states: " Your Annual Pass will be valid for one year from your anniversary date. Your anniversary date will be based on the redemption of this Exchange Certificate. Your anniversary date will be printed on the back of your Annual Pass."
Also on the bottom half it states "This Exchange Certificate is not a ticket, is not valid for admission and requires redemption."