AP renewal vs new AP for Oct trip

[frannn]

We have a trip planned for late Oct thru early Nov of this year. DH's AP expires 10/24. Am I correct that it won't make a difference in the time frame whether we renew his current AP or buy a brand new on upon arrival in Oct? Just making sure we should save the $ by renewing and second guessing myself, lol.Would love to gain extra months if buying a new pass would help.

 

[DWillowBay]

I don't see how you would gain extra months by purchasing at the park. If his AP runs out Oct 24th, then a renewal would just continue on at that point. If you would decide to purchase a new AP, then it would begin on whatever date you bought it. Perhaps I'm not following. My short answer though is: renew and save the money. Hope you have a great trip, no matter what you decide.

 

[Dave006]

Just making sure we should save the $ by renewing and second guessing myself, lol.

If you renew you get a 15% discount vs a new AP. While your Annual Pass is valid for a full year, you can renew it up to 60 days before or 30 days after the expiration date if you wish.

Dave

 

[CarolynFH]

It sounds like there would only be a few days or a week between one AP expiring on 10/24 and a new one being activated later in October. So no, you won’t lose anything by renewing the AP. I usually renew if there will be less than 3 months from expiration to need for new AP.

 

[gharter]

When you renew, you have a discounted price, but it also activates as soon as the old one ends. If you purchase a new one, it will be more expensive, but does not activate until you activate it.

 

[elvispursley]

I’ll like.y let my AP expire (it expires the last day of our trip in Sep). Despite saving 15%, I’d like to be able to use it around the holidays next year.

 

[Miffy]

Not that this has happened recently, but there have been times in the not-distant past* when WDW has stopped selling APs, however, they have always renewed them. So there is a risk, even if slight, that not renewing your AP could mean not having access to purchase a new one. Just something else to consier.

*ETA: No new WDW APs were sold between November 2021 through April 2023

 

[kylenne]

I’ll like.y let my AP expire (it expires the last day of our trip in Sep). Despite saving 15%, I’d like to be able to use it around the holidays next year.

That's what I ended up doing. Mine expired on Memorial Day but our dates next year didn't work for that. I am price bridging when we get there in September instead.

 

[elvispursley]

That's what I ended up doing. Mine expired on Memorial Day but our dates next year didn't work for that. I am price bridging when we get there in September instead

I’m a dunce…what’s price bridging?

 

[kylenne]

I’m a dunce…what’s price bridging?

When you buy a discounted date based ticket from an authorized third party seller (eg Undercover Tourist), and upgrade it into an AP, in theory Disney will give you full face value for the ticket, whatever Disney was charging for it when you bought it, so you pay the difference between that and the AP. So you save a bit of money.

In practice it’s very hit or miss over the phone, a lot of phone CMs don’t know the term or will tell you they can’t do it. It’s best done in person at Guest Services. I did it for my first AP and this one I just let lapse.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

In practice it’s very hit or miss over the phone, a lot of phone CMs don’t know the term or will tell you they can’t do it. It’s best done in person at Guest Services.

There should be no reason to use any term - you are just upgrading your tickets to an AP. The CM can see you bought from a 3rd party, they can see your ticket type, and they can see the cost to upgrade your ticket to the AP. The fact that they cost less than buying from Disney direct is irrelevant and doesn't need to come up in the conversation.

Certain ticket types may need to be used first and/or upgraded in person at guest services.

 

[kylenne]

There should be no reason to use any term - you are just upgrading your tickets to an AP. The CM can see you bought from a 3rd party, they can see your ticket type, and they can see the cost to upgrade your ticket to the AP. The fact that they cost less than buying from Disney direct is irrelevant and doesn't need to come up in the conversation.

Certain ticket types may need to be used first and/or upgraded in person at guest services.

Fam I’ve been doing this for years, I do not need instruction on how to deal with phone CMs lmao. I never bring up the term nor the fact that I paid less and I have had phone CMs tell me I can’t upgrade a third party ticket. Repeatedly. Even though I’ve done it numerous times. If I don’t feel like HUCB, I just go in person when I get down. Because we all know calling Disney for anything is basically playing roulette and praying you get someone competent.

The *concept* of price bridging is one that many are unfamiliar with, was my entire point. Anyway.