AP Renewal--12/15month--GAD--10th Post Updated 8/23 with results

[BridgetBordeaux]

I believe I have seen some conflicting answers on the DIS about my situation. Part of my perceived conflict may have been that some early 2010 answers contain some differences when compared to the more recent statements. I have compared the ticket sticky to other answers.

Here is my scenario..............
-I have an AP that expires 9/20/10
-I have a GAD voucher
-I understand that WDW is offering 15 month renewals until Aug 31st
-I can not go back to Florida until Sept 3rd.

I need this issue answered----
Am I going to be able to renew my AP online on about Aug 25th (for the sake of discussion) and receive the 15 month offer?
I have concerns about statements specifying that I had to show up in person at a Guest Relations window in order to get the 15 month deal.

If I can get the 15 month deal, then I will just use my GAD for the fastpass offer.

If I am not going to be able to get the 15 month deal (due to lack of physical ability to show up at a Guest Relations window by the deadline) then I will just show up in early September and get about 80 dollars knocked off the price of a 12 month AP renewal.

I prefer the 15 month deal, but would also be content with the extra discount off a 12 month AP renewal.

My worst fear would be renewing online THINKING I was going to get the 15 month deal only to discover that I was only getting 12 AND didn't use my GAD voucher to get the 80 bucks off.

Thanks in advance for reviewing my situation.

 

[doconeill]

Cheshire Figment recently clarified that officially, you don't actually get a renewal until you receive the renewed AP at the parks. So although you can "renew" on the phone, it isn't effective until you get there and the CM prints your pass, and therefore you wouldn't receive the 15 month offer unless you could get to WDW by 8/31. By renewing online you are getting a virtual "voucher" of sorts for renewal, which you "redeem" when you pick up the new pass.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have talked directly to ticketing support and have been told that in the wee small hours of the morning of September 1 the ticketing system will remove the 15 month option. Any actual renewal on or after September 1 will be for 12 months only.

If you "renew" online (or by phone or mail) in advance all that you will receive is a voucher/exchange certificate. You do not get the actual AP until you phyically renew at a ticket or Guest Relations window.

So if you cannot get there physically before September 1 the renewal will only be for 12 months.

And when you use the GAD voucher for the renewal on site you will get the $79 off the renewal price.

Two side notes - (1) if you will not be at WDW until more than a month after an AP expiration date it will normally make sense to just get a new AP and not a renewal, and (2) Who knows (in advance) what Marketing will do?

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Thanks for confirming the present "rules of engagement".

Now that we know I am dealing with a 12 month duration, I will have to figure out if Cheshire Figment's suggestion would work for me.

I plan on returning to WDW for Thanksgiving this year, so I could simply get a new AP on the day I arrive in November.

The beauty of the 15 month deal was that I could have visited in December 2011 just before Christmas.

Hmmm.............I have to figure out if it is worth 16 hours on the road and 120 bucks in gas and burgers to get the extra 90 days.

Thanks to the both of you for answering my question.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

ok.................

With my expiration date of 9/20/2010, what is the earliest day I can show up at a Guest relations window to renew my AP?

It looks to me to the Saturday the 21st of August. Do you guys agree?

 

[CarrieR]

If you price an AP at appx $500, then an extra three months' cost is appx $125. So you'd be spending $120 in gas/burgers, plus sixteen hours of your time, to get a $125 perk.

Whether or not that's worth it is totally up to you, just thought I'd lay it out mathematically.

(I'd probably go with Nov-Nov, and then you could see both years' Christmas decorations, but what makes sense for me wouldn't necessary make sense for you!)

 

[Marc A.]

Kind of off the exact topic but.....
The GAD cert HAS to be redeemed in person correct??
You cant use it online to purchase the AP voucher???

Just checking to see if I could avoid the price increase...

Thank you

 

[doconeill]

Kind of off the exact topic but.....
The GAD cert HAS to be redeemed in person correct??
You cant use it online to purchase the AP voucher???

Just checking to see if I could avoid the price increase...

Thank you

It HAS to be done in person, at one of the 4 parks or TTC.

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Unfortunately there is a schedule issue that mingles with the money issue that influences our decision.

We know that our work schedules are going to change in 2011, so 2012 will not be a good year for us to visit mutiple times. We are also dealing with a high school schedule which means our DD can't cut class like we did in the past.

By spending the additional 125+/- we get a trip for Thanksgiving and a trip in mid December. Those 2 "bonus" trips may be our last for a while. We had not counted on getting any more after we renew this one for the "final" time.

Yes, it will be a lot of work to secure the 15 month AP, but we feel the extra 2 trips will be enjoyable. We really cringe at the thought of trips in the summer. It is hot down there!

 

[BridgetBordeaux]

Mission Accomplished.........

Expenses came to $160.

The ticket window CM carefully processed my transaction and I now have the 15 month renewal.

I am very happy with this and want to thank all of you for providing the facts I needed to make a decision.

I even got a little 4 hour tour of MK and did rope drop at TL before hitting the road to come back home! Both were nice bonuses to a 32 hour, 900 mile trip (left on Saturday am and came back Sunday pm)