Buying Annual Passes Thru DVC

[Tuffee66]

Hi all. My family and I are making our first DVC trip in August(BWV). We would like to get annual passes, but I do not want to drop that kind of money all at once. I would like to know if anybody knows if we can buy them say one at a time(like one a month) leading up to our trip thru DVC? Thanks.

 

[Granny]

Sure, you can order APs one at a time instead of all at once.

If you purchase before you go on a trip, you will be receiving a voucher that you then activate on your first trip. So the starting date of the annual pass is from activation, not purchase. So even if you buy AP's over several months, they will all have the same usage dates as long as you activate them all at once.

So you can purchase one per month if you'd like and pay for them as you go. Just make sure you order the last one in enough time to get the voucher in the mail (though they will make arrangements for you if you don't).

 

[LisaS]

Yes you can buy them one at a time if you prefer. The shipping charge is small ($3, I think) but if you want to avoid paying that for each order, you can specify "will call" on your order and pick them up when you get to WDW.

 

[MIDisFan]

If I may ask a question along these same lines.....

What about the renewal for the passes? If my passes were good thru say Jan 2008. Could I start purchasing the renewal passes in Sept. for example?

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Hi all. My family and I are making our first DVC trip in August(BWV). We would like to get annual passes, but I do not want to drop that kind of money all at once. I would like to know if anybody knows if we can buy them say one at a time(like one a month) leading up to our trip thru DVC? Thanks.

Unless you can't save for some reason, you would be better off to put the money aside once a month as if you were buying the passes (but not really) and then purchase them all at once at the last possible moment with the savings. Better that you hold onto your money and earn a dollar or two interest than turning it over to Disney months before they need it.

We usually purchase 6 AP's at a time, so I feel your pain.

HBC

 

[tjkraz]

Another thing to consider is whether you really NEED to renew your passes in Jan '08 or if you might be better off waiting until your next trip.

We try to schedule our trips so that our last trip on an AP falls just before it expires. That way we can wait several months before buying a new AP, which will give us the full 366 days from the new purchase date.

If you renew, the renewed pass picks up right as the original expires and runs for the 366 days.

Example:

If you renew...
Pass #1: 1/15/07 to 1/15/08
Pass #2: 1/15/08 to 1/15/09

Non-renewal...
Pass #1: 1/15/07 to 1/15/08
Pass #2: 6/1/08 to 6/1/09 (or whenever your next trip is scheduled)

Yes, you will lose that small renewal discount. But you can gain months on the back end of the subsequent pass. In the non-renewal scenario above, I've gained about 5 months extra time in 2009 to use the pass for another trip.

The best approach just depends a lot on your frequency of visits and manner in which you schedule them.

If you decide not to renew you CAN buy brand new vouchers ahead of time and stick them in a drawer. However, as Chuck pointed out, in many cases you're better off opening a money market account or other vehicle to set-aside the funds, and earn a few dollars of interest in the process.

 

[MommaX03]

Better that you hold onto your money and earn a dollar or two interest than turning it over to Disney months before they need it.

We usually purchase 6 AP's at a time, so I feel your pain.

HBC

Although, how often does Disney increase the AP price and by how much?

 

[gamomof2]

we printed our vouchers from the confirmation email sent. No charge. Instant paperwork.

 

[belle1627]

we printed our vouchers from the confirmation email sent. No charge. Instant paperwork.

Is this a new way of receiving your vouchers? I have never heard of anyone being able to get them this way.

Thanks