AP Renewal Certificate - Huh???

[supersnoop]

Okay, folks, I have a ticket question. Seems like I’m usually answering ticket questions, but this is one I haven’t encountered before.

On the day my AP expired, we were at Epcot and decided to enjoy the DVC lounge and talk about our plans for our next trip. Which led to the realization that we needed to renew our passes. Last week, the 13-month renewal promotion was still in effect and DVC is offering Platinum Plus for the price of Gold passes. So I walked over to the desk and had the Member Services representative sell me the renewal.

Here’s what I don’t understand: I expected our passes to simply renew; for the expiration date to move 13 months into the future. Instead, I received a will-call number and had to link it to MDE. After entering the code, I now have “DVC Member Platinum Plus 13 for 12 - Renewal Certificates” with December 31, 2030 expiration dates.

So, here are my questions. What are theses? How do they work? Could I hold on to the law renewal certificates for a few years? Could I buy and activate another AP in the mean time, save a few months, and use these certificates at a later date? Or are these already linked to my AP that expired last week?

 

[randumb0]

Hmm I've never heard of a renewal certificate

 

[JETSDAD]

The DVC AP promotion states that they need to be activated prior to the end of 2018. I would guess that failing to do so could cause you to have to make up the $$ difference to whatever the current pricing is when you go to activate it if beyond that date.

 

[AngiTN]

Hmm I've never heard of a renewal certificate

They are very common but usually bought before an AP expires, not at the time of expiration. I hope one of our Ticketing experts comes along and can shed some light on what is going on.
I've never gotten a certificate when my AP was expiring but I've never gone anywhere but a ticket office or GS counter to do my renewal. Maybe it's because of where you went? Does MS usually sell AP? I'd think they do

 

[Robo]

Okay, folks, I have a ticket question. Seems like I’m usually answering ticket questions, but this is one I haven’t encountered before.

On the day my AP expired, we were at Epcot and decided to enjoy the DVC lounge and talk about our plans for our next trip. Which led to the realization that we needed to renew our passes. Last week, the 13-month renewal promotion was still in effect and DVC is offering Platinum Plus for the price of Gold passes. So I walked over to the desk and had the Member Services representative sell me the renewal.

Here’s what I don’t understand: I expected our passes to simply renew; for the expiration date to move 13 months into the future. Instead, I received a will-call number and had to link it to MDE. After entering the code, I now have “DVC Member Platinum Plus 13 for 12 - Renewal Certificates” with December 31, 2030 expiration dates.

So, here are my questions. What are theses? How do they work? Could I hold on to the law renewal certificates for a few years? Could I buy and activate another AP in the mean time, save a few months, and use these certificates at a later date? Or are these already linked to my AP that expired last week?

What MIGHT have happened is that the CM keyed-in in some kind of entry that created a "new AP certificate"
with the assets (13 month life) of the (asked for) "AP renewal."

If you DO simply want the renewal to begin on the (customary) current anniversary date of your previous AP,
then you can call and discuss this with WDW Ticketing at
(407) 566-4985 (option 5)
Hours: 8:30am-4:30pm ET Mon-Sat.

 

[Wish Upon A Starbucks]

OP, maybe you could check to see if you were charged the renewal price or the new AP price.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

I have absolutely no idea what the DVC rep was thinking or doing. I would think their system would allow them to just do a straight renewal of your pass, but maybe they don't have access to the same software I do (although that seems weird).

A renewal certificate is just a pre-paid renewal that hasn't been applied to an existing pass yet. Regardless of when you redeem it, it's still a renewal of your original pass and will go one year (or 13 months in this case) from your current anniversary date. Any ticket window or guest relations can handle applying a renewal certificate to your pass. The ticket window at Epcot's International Gateway is particularly experienced with DVC renewal certs.

The DVC promotional AP certificates, renewal or otherwise, do expire at the end of 2018, and if they aren't activated by that time, they're worth simply what you paid for them. Saving it wouldn't really benefit you in the long run in this case.