AP Renewal Question

[aubriee]

My AP expires May 7th. I'll be at WDW April 30th-May 8th and plan on going over to Universal at least one day. Today I got an email reminding me my AP could be renewed for just $159.00. If I renew online now, will I get my pass in time to take with me April 30th and if I renewed it online now when would the new pass expire? I go to WDW the first or second week of May every year and would not want my new AP to expire just before my trip next year. Other than being able to pay for it ahead of time (which I'd like to be able to do), is there any benefit or drawbacks to renewing online over doing it in person when I get down there? Thanks!

 

[Metro West]

My AP expires May 7th. I'll be at WDW April 30th-May 8th and plan on going over to Universal at least one day. Today I got an email reminding me my AP could be renewed for just $159.00. If I renew online now, will I get my pass in time to take with me April 30th and if I renewed it online now when would the new pass expire? I go to WDW the first or second week of May every year and would not want my new AP to expire just before my trip next year. Other than being able to pay for it ahead of time (which I'd like to be able to do), is there any benefit or drawbacks to renewing online over doing it in person when I get down there? Thanks!

I always renew my AP via phone...it only takes a few minutes and I'm done. When I renew they let me keep the pass I have but I have one of the old plastic APs with my picture on it. If yours is one of the newer passes, check to see if it has an expiration date on it. If not, you can probably keep using that pass.

 

[n2mm]

I often renew by phone and you just continue to use your old pass. I've had the same pass for 4 years now. Not the nice hard plastic one w/picture because I let that one expire. So just call and pay to renew. You get the renewal price and you don't need anything else. Plus your pass is good so that there is not a problem with the free parking when you arrive.

 

[damo]

I always do it online, lol.

 

[tinydancer09]

I always renew my AP via phone...it only takes a few minutes and I'm done. When I renew they let me keep the pass I have but I have one of the old plastic APs with my picture on it. If yours is one of the newer passes, check to see if it has an expiration date on it. If not, you can probably keep using that pass.

So wait they're not plastic with your picture anymore? So much has changed since my last AP.

 

[damo]

So wait they're not plastic with your picture anymore? So much has changed since my last AP.

No, they've been paper for several years now. And there is no picture.

 

[tinydancer09]

No, they've been paper for several years now. And there is no picture.

That stinks. I use my lanyard everytime anyways so I guess that turns it into a "hard plastic" card. Last time I had an annual pass was when I was 14 or 15

 

[aubriee]

My current AP expires May 7, 2011. So if I renew it online today, the expiration date for the next one will still be May 7, 2012 or will it be one year from today (April 3, 2012)? Again I want to be able to use it for my early May 2012 trip also.

 

[Bluer101]

My current AP expires May 7, 2011. So if I renew it online today, the expiration date for the next one will still be May 7, 2012 or will it be one year from today (April 3, 2012)? Again I want to be able to use it for my early May 2012 trip also.

You are right, it will expire May 7, 2012. Also remember that you have 30 days after it expires to renew. If you miss it by one day you will have to buy a new pass at the new price.

The annual pass is activated the first time you go through the turnstile, so thats your expiration date every year.

 

[Wendynat]

I'm going to sign up for EZPay - with renewals on that, do they just continue to charge the regular EZ pay rate or is it similar to the OP's situation where they send you something and you have to re-up?

 

[damo]

I'm going to sign up for EZPay - with renewals on that, do they just continue to charge the regular EZ pay rate or is it similar to the OP's situation where they send you something and you have to re-up?

If you use EZPay you never get the reduced rate for renewals. They just continue to charge you the same rate. If you want to stop, you need to inform them. If you want the reduced renewal rate, you have to inform them that you want to stop the EXPayments and then just pay the lump sum renewal rate.

 

[Metro West]

So wait they're not plastic with your picture anymore? So much has changed since my last AP.

My pass is from 2005 and I think that was the last year of the plastic passes. My original pass from 2004 (red) broke and they gave me a new one in 2005 (blue). I even have my 2004 HHN Frequent Fear Pass (black) and that was plastic with your picture too.

 

[Wendynat]

If you use EZPay you never get the reduced rate for renewals. They just continue to charge you the same rate. If you want to stop, you need to inform them. If you want the reduced renewal rate, you have to inform them that you want to stop the EXPayments and then just pay the lump sum renewal rate.

Thanks - I think it ends up being the reduced rate, if it just extends the EZPayments, since to get the Preferred Pass I pay a lump sum of 115 then 11-something per month on EZPay. It sounds like the renewal would just be the 11-something per month without the lump sum, which would be fine with me . (Though I suspect it might go up in price)

We're out of state, so it's a little higher than the FL pass rates.

 

[Dax]

I am on EZPay...and I just renewed this month...I am now on a month to month payment plan, and as long as my coverage does not lapse..I should continue to pay the same amount for now..unless they do a drastic increase..

 

[aubriee]

Great! I just called and renewed it. It was $170.39. He told me to keep using my old pass and that it now expires 5/8/12, instead of 5/7/11. He said it expires on the 8th instead of the 7th because they add one day each year? Whatever, I now have an AP that's good for the next thirteen months and I don't have to worry about paying for it after my May trip. I always like to pay for everything in advance that I can.

Only thing is, my current paper AP is looking pretty ragged and faded so I may have to replace it when I get down there anyway. Anyway that's one less expense I need to be concerned about for my May trip.

 

[damo]

Thanks - I think it ends up being the reduced rate, if it just extends the EZPayments, since to get the Preferred Pass I pay a lump sum of 115 then 11-something per month on EZPay. It sounds like the renewal would just be the 11-something per month without the lump sum, which would be fine with me . (Though I suspect it might go up in price)

We're out of state, so it's a little higher than the FL pass rates.

Your monthly rate changes in your second year because you don't have the downpayment.

As per the website:
What happens at the end of my 12 month term?
Flexible Payment Annual Passes automatically renew at the end of the 12 month billing period. After the initial 12 month term, monthly payments are subject to change because you won’t be charged a down payment when you renew.

 

[Bluer101]

Your monthly rate changes in your second year because you don't have the downpayment.

As per the website:
What happens at the end of my 12 month term?
Flexible Payment Annual Passes automatically renew at the end of the 12 month billing period. After the initial 12 month term, monthly payments are subject to change because you won’t be charged a down payment when you renew.

The renewal rate for the secound year would be the going renewal rate plus tax divided by 12 monthly payments. Right now the renewal is $170 and change divided by 12. I think this is how it is done. I don't think they can charge you full price each renewal. I'm going to call this week to find out since we are thinking of using flexpay this time. If it's wrong I'm going to pay it all up front like I always do. I wish I did not let my AP's expire 4 months ago.

 

[damo]

The renewal rate for the secound year would be the going renewal rate plus tax divided by 12 monthly payments. Right now the renewal is $170 and change divided by 12. I think this is how it is done. I don't think they can charge you full price each renewal. I'm going to call this week to find out since we are thinking of using flexpay this time. If it's wrong I'm going to pay it all up front like I always do. I wish I did not let my AP's expire 4 months ago.

No, you don't get the renewal rate if you use flex pay. You pay the full price/12 each month. The only way you get the renewal discounted rate is if you pay in full all at once.

We've discussed this here in the past to help people to not pay full price in the second year. You have to give you notice 30 days in advance of your first year ending that you will be stopping payments and want to renew using the renewal rate and one lump payment.

 

[Bluer101]

No, you don't get the renewal rate if you use flex pay. You pay the full price/12 each month. The only way you get the renewal discounted rate is if you pay in full all at once.

We've discussed this here in the past to help people to not pay full price in the second year. You have to give you notice 30 days in advance of your first year ending that you will be stopping payments and want to renew using the renewal rate and one lump payment.

Ok, than that sucks. I thought maybe it would be the renewal rate divided by the 12 months because of what the website says:

Universal Orlando does not charge any finance charges, and the price of the Annual Pass is the same if you purchase it outright or participate in Universal's FlexPay program.

I thought that might be for the renewal price also. Well I guess I won't bother calling and just pay for them upfront. I just thought I would use their money with 0% APR.

 

[Bluer101]

damo,

I just called just to see. Yes you are right.

But what is weird I first asked and was told once you put the down payment then you pay the same amount forever, locked into the contract. She then put me on hold and asked a supervisor and the supervisor told me the same thing again. Then I pointed them out to the website FAQ and showed them the statement:

Flexible Payment Annual Passes automatically renew at the end of the 12 month billing period. After the initial 12 month term, monthly payments are subject to change because you won’t be charged a down payment when you renew.

I was put on hold again and then she came back and said, "I'm sorry but what I'm going to tell you is the complete opposite of what we told you before".

I said no problem and thanked her and the supervisor. She said she has never had a guest ask this question before but now they know.

Well there you go, I glad I was persistent and found out the right answer, because if someone just took their first answer they would be mad later on.

Anyways damo, thanks again for the help.