Best time (least busy) to visit a theme park ticket window to activate a new AP?

[prncssjas]

Hi everyone!

I am a proud owner of a shiny, new Sorcerer's Annual Pass -- we are heading down for a week long stay at BLT the first week of May. I know I need to head to a theme park to "activate" the new passes and bring ID. Assuming this is correct, is there a good or better time to go when lines aren't as long? Are the ticket windows open all day? Should we expect a long wait and long lines? Just trying to plan the arrival day with dining plans. I haven't done this in a very (very) long time so I appreciate any insight from someone who has recent experience. Thank you.

 

[♥ Mandi ♥]

Hi everyone!

I am a proud owner of a shiny, new Sorcerer's Annual Pass -- we are heading down for a week long stay at BLT the first week of May. I know I need to head to a theme park to "activate" the new passes and bring ID. Assuming this is correct, is there a good or better time to go when lines aren't as long? Are the ticket windows open all day? Should we expect a long wait and long lines? Just trying to plan the arrival day with dining plans. I haven't done this in a very (very) long time so I appreciate any insight from someone who has recent experience. Thank you.

We like the Disney Springs location by DLuxe Burger OR the Epcot International Gateway personally!

 

[gatorlisa]

You can activate it at any ticket window. I have activated mine in the past at the EPCOT main entrance twice in the past and never had to wait more than a couple of minutes.

 

[beccasmom]

I don’t know if there is an optimal time, but we actually also activated ours at Disney Springs. It was pretty crowded, but the wait was not bad at all. Good luck!

 

[CarolynFH]

You can activate at any ticket booth or GR location. When we stay at BWV we love the GR at the Epcot IG, but when staying elsewhere we frequently go to GR at DS on arrival day (if not entering a park that day).

 

[scrappinginontario]

Question for those suggesting Disney Springs. If you activate it at DS but then don't go to a park that day, are you not using up one day of your pass? I understand people don't visit the parks every day of their AP but for those who intend to use it at the beginning for one trip and end for a different trip, (e.g. Jul 1 - 10, 2023 then a second trip at the end Jun 20 - 30, 2024) would you not be shortening your pass by a day?

Does the clock start on the day you activate your pass, regardless if you visit a park or not?

Might be something to consider for guests trying to use their passes for trips at the beginning and then end of their pass year.

 

[dizneegirl]

We've activated a pass the day before at Disney Springs... the first day we entered a park was the first day of use. The activation just basically takes the placeholder voucher and gets you a ticket to use at the gate.

Usually we just activate on our way into a park, though... it's quite often in the afternoon, just as we've arrived in the area, and going into Epcot... there's generally no line at all then.

 

[Wood Nymph]

Hi everyone!

I am a proud owner of a shiny, new Sorcerer's Annual Pass -- we are heading down for a week long stay at BLT the first week of May. I know I need to head to a theme park to "activate" the new passes and bring ID. Assuming this is correct, is there a good or better time to go when lines aren't as long? Are the ticket windows open all day? Should we expect a long wait and long lines? Just trying to plan the arrival day with dining plans. I haven't done this in a very (very) long time so I appreciate any insight from someone who has recent experience. Thank you.

Since you are staying at BLT then it makes the most sense to activate the pass at MK. It is most crowded in the morning and I would avoid that time if possible.

Disney Springs is a nightmare and can have very long lines. It doesn't seem worth it to me to go all the way over there when you are a short walk or monorail ride to MK.

 

[lovethattink]

I have always activated our AP at one of the parks ticket windows. I pick the shortest line and head there. Be sure you have ID with you!

 

[emmabelle]

we've activated at TTC before. The lines were awful at the entrance of MK but there was no one waiting at TTC.

 

[beccasmom]

Question for those suggesting Disney Springs. If you activate it at DS but then don't go to a park that day, are you not using up one day of your pass?

Does the clock start on the day you activate your pass, regardless if you visit a park or not?

The pass “clock” begins ticking at first use. My first day using the pass was last September, but a day or two after activation when we actually entered a theme park. It was activated at DS on our arrival day (when we typically don’t visit a park).

 

[RoseGold]

In my experience, it's easy anywhere in the evening. The lines are in the morning with people trying to deal with day ticket issues.

 

[prncssjas]

In my experience, it's easy anywhere in the evening. The lines are in the morning with people trying to deal with day ticket issues.

This makes perfect sense, thank you.

 

[DSLRuser]

stop by a water park ticket window. they are usually pretty empty

 

[RedHead0186]

Hi everyone!

I am a proud owner of a shiny, new Sorcerer's Annual Pass -- we are heading down for a week long stay at BLT the first week of May. I know I need to head to a theme park to "activate" the new passes and bring ID. Assuming this is correct, is there a good or better time to go when lines aren't as long? Are the ticket windows open all day? Should we expect a long wait and long lines? Just trying to plan the arrival day with dining plans. I haven't done this in a very (very) long time so I appreciate any insight from someone who has recent experience. Thank you.

I agree with others suggesting Disney Springs. I purchased (and activated) mine there. It was a little busy, but they had a virtual queue set up so I just gave them my name, told them what I needed to do, and then I could hang out until they texted me. Pretty quick once I actually got there, but didn't have to stand in a long line.

 

[BroganMc]

I also bought Sorcerer passes for my sister and my nephew. And we're checking into Bay Lake on September 24th. I expect my sister and I will be in town by around noon. We probably won't get into our room until closer to 4:00. So I'm just going to take her over to the ticket window at Magic Kingdom to validate her pass. Then we can go resort hopping. She'll activate her pass the next day when we go into a park.

Busiest times for that window in the fall is morning until around noon. And then in the late afternoon around 2:00 or 3:00 until 7:00. That's when you have all the Halloween party crowd. But if it's not a party day, then it shouldn't be busy after 11:00 a.m.

 

[holden]

We've always had good luck with little to no lines at the International Gateway entrance to EP.

 

[Sandisw]

Hi everyone!

I am a proud owner of a shiny, new Sorcerer's Annual Pass -- we are heading down for a week long stay at BLT the first week of May. I know I need to head to a theme park to "activate" the new passes and bring ID. Assuming this is correct, is there a good or better time to go when lines aren't as long? Are the ticket windows open all day? Should we expect a long wait and long lines? Just trying to plan the arrival day with dining plans. I haven't done this in a very (very) long time so I appreciate any insight from someone who has recent experience. Thank you.

I would also have a screenshot of your digital DVC card from the website on your phone because it does have your membership number on it

The Magic Mobile pass doesn’t have that number. It may have changed, but I was asked for that last spring.

 

[Ariel620]

Is there a difference between ticket windows and guest services for AP activation? Can APs be activated at either? Is ticket window usually a better choice than guest service window?

What's the longest wait assuming we have to arrive at MK at a poor time (9-9:30am)?

 

[TropicalDIS]

We like the Disney Springs location by DLuxe Burger OR the Epcot International Gateway personally!

Didn't know there was one at the International Gateway! Where abouts is it there?