Buying Annual Passes

[JimS4210]

This may be a stupid question, but here goes...Can Annual Passes be bought at the resorts or only at the Parks? Just trying to avoid another line. if possible

Thanks,
Jim

 

[drusba]

At Guest Relations at the parks or Downtown Disney, not at the resorts. As to line it depends on time of day. If you go after the morning rush, there is usually few or none in line.

 

[snyderla]

We made our first stop DTD before checking in at SSR and picked up our AP's. It was very quick. Just stopped at Guest Relations. And since you are staying at SSR, it is very convenient, too! We arrived early in the afternoon and there was no waiting in line.

 

[JimS4210]

Thanks for the quick replies...I guess our first stop will be DTD!

Jim

 

[lazydazy8]

Isn't there a way to order them ahead of time and pay for them? Then when you get there, you simply give your voucher?

I'd love to pay for mine in advance and get it over with!

 

[DebbieB]

Isn't there a way to order them ahead of time and pay for them? Then when you get there, you simply give your voucher?

I'd love to pay for mine in advance and get it over with!

Yes, you can order them online from the DVC website or over the phone with member services.

 

[Disneynut71]

you can buy them through the DVC website and pick them up at will call.

 

[tjkraz]

Isn't there a way to order them ahead of time and pay for them? Then when you get there, you simply give your voucher?

I'd love to pay for mine in advance and get it over with!

As the others said, you can buy the voucher in advance. However, note that buying the voucher really doesn't save you any time. If you have a voucher, you go to Guest Relations to redeem it. If you don't have a voucher, you go to Guest Relations to give them your cash. In both cases the process is the same.

I can only see two reasons to buy a voucher in advance:

1. If you're convinced prices will go up before your trip. The voucher nets you a valid AP regardless of how far down the road it is redeemed. Sometimes you'll hear about price increases a couple days ahead on sites like this. If you can buy the voucher at the lower price and redeem it a few weeks or months later, it will probably save you $20-30 depending upon the amount of the increase.

2. If you need to order the Disney Dining Experience card. You need a valid AP OR a voucher to buy the DDE.

If neither of those apply, save your money. The voucher is just one more thing you need to remember to bring on your trip. You'll need your blue DVC member ID to get the discount, but the price paid at Guest Relations is the same price you will pay for the voucher.

 

[BCV23]

We made our first stop DTD before checking in at SSR and picked up our AP's. It was very quick. Just stopped at Guest Relations. And since you are staying at SSR, it is very convenient, too! We arrived early in the afternoon and there was no waiting in line.

But remember the clock starts ticking on your AP at that point. To me it always makes more sense to purchase APs or redeem vouchers on the first park day. I've never encountered long lines going first thing in the am (although we are not EMH people).

 

[jennypenny]

Can it be purchased at the waterparks? We usually do MK first on every trip, but we're going in July this time (ack!) and the plan is to do TL the first day.

Jenny

 

[wildernessDad]

Purchase through DVD MS and pick up at the parks.

Do they get the DVC discount if they purchase at WDW?

 

[tjkraz]

Do they get the DVC discount if they purchase at WDW?

The price of a DVC-discounted AP is the same whether you buy the voucher in advance or pay at the parks. Just make note of the eligibility guidelines on the member website. Whether you buy a voucher or pay for it at Guest Relations, the member must be present with his/her blue DVC member ID. All other adults buying or redeeming a voucher must have a photo ID which displays the same address as the member (to prove they meet the residency requirement.)

 

[lazydazy8]

I checked out the link for Annual Passes on the DVC website, and they list two prices. One for "avanced purchase" and one for "front gate price". That leads me to believe, it's less expensive to do the "advance purchase". No?

It doesn't matter how early I purchase them online, though, right? I'll just receive a voucher? My 365 days won't start until I pick up the real passes?

Now, in order to get the dining discount card, I have to have the annual passes, right? So, I'd have to hand in my vouchers and get the passes b/f I can get the dining card (which will be a temporary card)... right? Would I make this transaction all at the same time at Guest Relations?

Sorry to run on with all the questions...

 

[DebbieB]

I checked out the link for Annual Passes on the DVC website, and they list two prices. One for "avanced purchase" and one for "front gate price". That leads me to believe, it's less expensive to do the "advance purchase". No?

It doesn't matter how early I purchase them online, though, right? I'll just receive a voucher? My 365 days won't start until I pick up the real passes?

Now, in order to get the dining discount card, I have to have the annual passes, right? So, I'd have to hand in my vouchers and get the passes b/f I can get the dining card (which will be a temporary card)... right? Would I make this transaction all at the same time at Guest Relations?

Sorry to run on with all the questions...

Where did you see that? The chart I just looked at on the member page showed adult and child prices for annual passes. I don't think there is an advance discount.

Halloween and Christmas party tickets have an advance purchase discount.

 

[BCV23]

lazydazy8, the AP clock starts ticking when you redeem your voucher. However, you can order a DDE card as soon as you get a voucher. It's effective immediately but you get 12 plus months before expiration. If you order somewhere after the first week or so of Mat, it will expire June 30.

 

[Dusted]

Good question I'm interested too. Planning on buying AP and DDE at the same time at DTD I suppose. We are staying at OKW so we will just Ferry over there after check in and take care of business. Is there any disadvantage to this plan? Will they both AP and DDE be temps, and if so does it really matter?

I only have 10 days to go, so I suppose I don't have much of a window to order anything at this point, even if I wanted to.

Would love to see more posts on the subject.

TIA.

 

[tjkraz]

Planning on buying AP and DDE at the same time at DTD I suppose. We are staying at OKW so we will just Ferry over there after check in and take care of business. Is there any disadvantage to this plan? Will they both AP and DDE be temps, and if so does it really matter?

You may have a little bit of a problem.

You cannot order the DDE card unless you have an Annual Pass or an AP voucher in-hand. Obviously you don't have the AP now and with a trip in justa a few days, it's too late to order to voucher.

The DDE cards are issued from an office located backstage at Epcot. The office is only open Monday to Friday during typical business hours (about 8am-5pm). And the temporary cards they issue can ONLY be claimed at the Epcot Guest Relations window.

Your exact timeline will depend on what day you are arriving and buying your pass. DTD Guest Relations will sell you the discounted AP. It will be your permanent card, not a temp. Once you have that on hand you'll have to use a cell phone to call the DDE office on the next business day (i.e., if you arrive Sunday you won't be able to call DDE until Monday morning.) The DDE staff will take your info and issue you a temp card to claim at Epcot's front gate. It should be there waiting for you by the afternoon of the day you call.

If you're arriving mid-week during the morning, you probably won't lose much access to the DDE discount. But if you are arriving anytime from Friday evening thru Sunday the earliest you'll be able to get your hands on that DDE card is Monday afternoon.

 

[ammo]

Whether you buy a voucher or pay for it at Guest Relations, the member must be present with his/her blue DVC member ID. All other adults buying or redeeming a voucher must have a photo ID which displays the same address as the member (to prove they meet the residency requirement.)

At what age does the photo ID requirement kick in? In the next few years, my oldest child will turn 10 and (I believe) be required to buy adult passes. I do not foresee my children having any photo IDs until they get their first drivers licenses, so does Disney just eyeball the "adults" in a group and then decide who will be carded?

 

[bobbiwoz]

As the others said, you can buy the voucher in advance. However, note that buying the voucher really doesn't save you any time. If you have a voucher, you go to Guest Relations to redeem it. If you don't have a voucher, you go to Guest Relations to give them your cash. In both cases the process is the same.

I can only see two reasons to buy a voucher in advance:

1. If you're convinced prices will go up before your trip. The voucher nets you a valid AP regardless of how far down the road it is redeemed. Sometimes you'll hear about price increases a couple days ahead on sites like this. If you can buy the voucher at the lower price and redeem it a few weeks or months later, it will probably save you $20-30 depending upon the amount of the increase.

....

This was the case last summer on the Disboards! A very good reason to check out the Dis!
Bobbi

 

[missymagic]

I go in beginning of December and haven't had a problem with the lines. Don't forget you voucher..driver's license and DVC Card all were needed.