Confused re Annual Passes

[vwlfan]

We had APs that were going to expire last summer. The you know what canceled our April 2020 plans and we had no intentions to go before the APs were going to expire.

So I opted for the refund. Now we‘ve booked three separate visits.; One this summer, another in the fall, and one next winter as we have a lot of Dvc points in the coffee can, for which we are very grateful.

I’ve bought tickets for summer and fall, as we are spooked re how the park reservations must be done very quickly. Have not yet bought for the winter trip. The tickets bought so far have cost a lot as everyone who reads these boards can imagine.

Now I am thinking re buying the winter tickets and thinking that all together I’d have benefited from somehow hanging on to my aps.

A friend has told me I might be able to yet buy APs for the combinations of these trips since we did have APs before the pandemic.

Any opinions re my question Would be very appreciated. Should I call DVC Member services or the Ticket Center? TIA.

 

[drusba]

If you had an AP in 2020 during time of covid closures, you were given the option to keep the pass or turn in for refund. Those who turned in for refund can currently purchase a new AP. You need to call the passholder phone number (407) 939-7277. When you finally get to a live person (it can take a long time), you need to explain your situation and that you would like to purchase new APs. I just recently did that to get new DVC gold passes.

What I do not know is whether you can turn in the regular tickets you already purchased for your summer and fall trips and get credit for them toward the AP purchase. A secondary issue to that, even if you can turn in the regular tickets and get APs, is the credit that would be given toward the AP's. If trying to apply the credit of two sets of regular tickets -- the ones for summer and then fall -- the credit allowed may max out at the price of the AP which could be lower than what you paid for the two sets fo regular park tickets, and no refund may be given for the difference.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Yes, you should qualify to get AP's again, The process is to call the AP line (or maybe ticketing works too?). They have to check and note on your file that you are eligible because it is being done under a "guest recovery" situation and not everyone can get them. It's only those who cancelled and took refunds. They might tell you they will check into it and get back to you. Once that Dept confirms then you call MS to purchase the AP and they look up the note in the file that you do qualify to do that.

 

[vwlfan]

Yes, you should qualify to get AP's again, The process is to call the AP line (or maybe ticketing works too?). They have to check and note on your file that you are eligible because it is being done under a "guest recovery" situation and not everyone can get them. It's only those who cancelled and took refunds. They might tell you they will check into it and get back to you. Once that Dept confirms then you call MS to purchase the AP and they look up the note in the file that you do qualify to do that.

thanks so much, after a lengthy wait I got through to Dvc member services. CM told me I’d had no opportunity to get a new ap. But I’m encouraged by your advice and am now calling AP phone number. It’s a rainy Sunday so will just hang on and hope. Grateful for yours and drusba‘s help.

 

[vwlfan]

Yes, you should qualify to get AP's again, The process is to call the AP line (or maybe ticketing works too?). They have to check and note on your file that you are eligible because it is being done under a "guest recovery" situation and not everyone can get them. It's only those who cancelled and took refunds. They might tell you they will check into it and get back to you. Once that Dept confirms then you call MS to purchase the AP and they look up the note in the file that you do qualify to do that.

got through, relatively quickly. I think I used the magic words when I used your phrase, “guest recovery”. They took my information and someone will get back to me. Now we will see. The Dvc cast member basically said the best one could hope for is to buy passes that dated back to the original expiration date. I hope they’re more flexible than that! Very grateful for your advice.

 

[DL1WDW2]

I thought the expiration date year would be the date for begin of new year . The DVC Gold has blockout dates. Be sure to ask if this allows you to update discount for the Premiere Pass if your travel dates occur during blockout.
For example , my original AP was Covid -extended to 4/27/21, I think , and my renewal now extends to 4/27/22 but the dates depend on your original purchase for them to factor the extension and new purchase... so confusing .
This actually explains why each request has to be individually handled and why you wait. But have all your information ready for your return call to discuss the transfer of current tickets into this equation... My advice would be to go to ticket center at Disney Springs location but you probably don’t live close enough for that problem solver.
Good luck and let us know every detail . It might help another

 

[vwlfan]

I thought the expiration date year would be the date for begin of new year . The DVC Gold has blockout dates. Be sure to ask if this allows you to update discount for the Premiere Pass if your travel dates occur during blockout.
For example , my original AP was Covid -extended to 4/27/21, I think , and my renewal now extends to 4/27/22 but the dates depend on your original purchase for them to factor the extension and new purchase... so confusing .
This actually explains why each request has to be individually handled and why you wait. But have all your information ready for your return call to discuss the transfer of current tickets into this equation... My advice would be to go to ticket center at Disney Springs location but you probably don’t live close enough for that problem solver.
Good luck and let us know every detail . It might help another

DS is tooooo far away until we get there. But maybe I’ll have to do that. I certainly will keep the saga on the Dis to possibly help others the way others have tried to help me! Thanks again.

 

[starry_solo]

Pretty sure you qualify for the guest recovery passes. They might let you use one set of park tickets to apply towards the Gold AP, but not all of them (one ticket per person). Just reassign the ones from the later trips to a new name on your MDE (yourself, under a new name)...

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

got through, relatively quickly. I think I used the magic words when I used your phrase, “guest recovery”. They took my information and someone will get back to me. Now we will see. The Dvc cast member basically said the best one could hope for is to buy passes that dated back to the original expiration date. I hope they’re more flexible than that! Very grateful for your advice.

That was the Passholder line that told you that? What will happen if they ok, which it really sounds like they should, is you can buy the AP and activate it on your next visit. It is a brand new AP and not a renewal.

 

[drusba]

As I mentioned above, I just recently purchased new APs. We had DVC Gold APs in 2020 for which we took the partial refund option. We recently purchased new Gold APs, and like normal new APs' the one year date will not begin until we first use the pass when we next get to WDW. We actually had no contact at all with DVC in the process of getting the new passes, but only went through the phone number for the passholder group that I provided above -- 407-939-7727. They did have to verify by contacting someone first that we in fact were AP holders in 2020 who went the refund route. Note, they also said initially that they would call me back but after waiting three weeks without a call, I called again and everything got done and the confirmation numbers for the passes are now in our MDE, and thus usable for making park reservations even though they will not be activated before we go.

Those who did not take the option for a refund 2020 but instead kept their passes, got extended expiration dates, and could thereafter renew their passes that would start on the extended expiration date of the original pass, rather than buy a new pass.

 

[vwlfan]

Pretty sure you qualify for the guest recovery passes. They might let you use one set of park tickets to apply towards the Gold AP, but not all of them (one ticket per person). Just reassign the ones from the later trips to a new name on your MDE (yourself, under a new name)...

offff thanks

As I mentioned above, I just recently purchased new APs. We had DVC Gold APs in 2020 for which we took the partial refund option. We recently purchased new Gold APs, and like normal new APs' the one year date will not begin until we first use the pass when we next get to WDW. We actually had no contact at all with DVC in the process of getting the new passes, but only went through the phone number for the passholder group that I provided above -- 407-939-7727. They did have to verify by contacting someone first that we in fact were AP holders in 2020 who went the refund route. Note, they also said initially that they would call me back but after waiting three weeks without a call, I called again and everything got done and the confirmation numbers for the passes are now in our MDE, and thus usable for making park reservations even though they will not be activated before we go.

Those who did not take the option for a refund 2020 but instead kept their passes, got extended expiration dates, and could thereafter renew their passes that would start on the extended expiration date of the original pass, rather than buy a new pass.

we need to start a book. It would have to be a novel because nobody would believe it’s true. Then again the last year plus have been surreal.

 

[kboo]

As I mentioned above, I just recently purchased new APs. We had DVC Gold APs in 2020 for which we took the partial refund option. We recently purchased new Gold APs, and like normal new APs' the one year date will not begin until we first use the pass when we next get to WDW. We actually had no contact at all with DVC in the process of getting the new passes, but only went through the phone number for the passholder group that I provided above -- 407-939-7727. They did have to verify by contacting someone first that we in fact were AP holders in 2020 who went the refund route. Note, they also said initially that they would call me back but after waiting three weeks without a call, I called again and everything got done and the confirmation numbers for the passes are now in our MDE, and thus usable for making park reservations even though they will not be activated before we go.

Those who did not take the option for a refund 2020 but instead kept their passes, got extended expiration dates, and could thereafter renew their passes that would start on the extended expiration date of the original pass, rather than buy a new pass.

This was our experience as well, and also dealt exclusively with the AP line. We had an added wrinkle where even though we asked for refunds for everyone, we had one AP that didn't get caught up in that one (it was the kid's first AP since she had just turned 3 ...) and they made it right, after all several hours on hold. (I am on hold again now)

(I got a person in 20 minutes...)

 

[vwlfan]

This was our experience as well, and also dealt exclusively with the AP line. We had an added wrinkle where even though we asked for refunds for everyone, we had one AP that didn't get caught up in that one (it was the kid's first AP since she had just turned 3 ...) and they made it right, after all several hours on hold. (I am on hold again now)

(I got a person in 20 minutes...)

 

[vwlfan]

Interesting wrinkle developed the other day as an update to this thread. Recall I’d been told that I’d get a call re my request within 30 days but likely would hear sooner than that. That was re 2 weeks ago. Hadn’t gotten that call yet.

About two days ago I received an email that was a kind of Dear John letter telling me that my request wasn’t going to happen. At first I was disappointed. Then I started to wonder why an email instead of a phone call?

So I called the number that I’d called 2 weeks ago. Got a very helpful CM who checked my convoluted question carefully.

Seems I’d gotten this email from DVC, not from Ticket Services and I remembered that early on, I had emailed DVC for assistance re this.

So essentially, DVC doesn’t talk to TS and vice versa.

The CM called “upstairs” and she informed me I had indeed been approved to purchase new APs and I was in the “queue” to be called when my turn came.

Needless to say we are pleased by this news and looking forward to that call!

The DVC sorry-about-that-no-tickets-for-you email was understandable from DVC’s point of view, but Ticket Services is the real authority in this case.

that they don’t communicate with each other is an interesting cross-system deficit, is also understandable I guess.

so, so far so good!

 

[Sandisw]

Interesting wrinkle developed the other day as an update to this thread. Recall I’d been told that I’d get a call re my request within 30 days but likely would hear sooner than that. That was re 2 weeks ago. Hadn’t gotten that call yet.

About two days ago I received an email that was a kind of Dear John letter telling me that my request wasn’t going to happen. At first I was disappointed. Then I started to wonder why an email instead of a phone call?

So I called the number that I’d called 2 weeks ago. Got a very helpful CM who checked my convoluted question carefully.

Seems I’d gotten this email from DVC, not from Ticket Services and I remembered that early on, I had emailed DVC for assistance re this.

So essentially, DVC doesn’t talk to TS and vice versa.

The CM called “upstairs” and she informed me I had indeed been approved to purchase new APs and I was in the “queue” to be called when my turn came.

Needless to say we are pleased by this news and looking forward to that call!

The DVC sorry-about-that-no-tickets-for-you email was understandable from DVC’s point of view, but Ticket Services is the real authority in this case.

that they don’t communicate with each other is an interesting cross-system deficit, is also understandable I guess.

so, so far so good!

They really do run independent of each other. It is one of the reasons that it’s important to know who to reach out to.

I have to try to remember it because Ms and DVC are really only able to help with the memberShip issues.

So happy things worked out!!!!

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Interesting wrinkle developed the other day as an update to this thread. Recall I’d been told that I’d get a call re my request within 30 days but likely would hear sooner than that. That was re 2 weeks ago. Hadn’t gotten that call yet.

About two days ago I received an email that was a kind of Dear John letter telling me that my request wasn’t going to happen. At first I was disappointed. Then I started to wonder why an email instead of a phone call?

So I called the number that I’d called 2 weeks ago. Got a very helpful CM who checked my convoluted question carefully.

Seems I’d gotten this email from DVC, not from Ticket Services and I remembered that early on, I had emailed DVC for assistance re this.

So essentially, DVC doesn’t talk to TS and vice versa.

The CM called “upstairs” and she informed me I had indeed been approved to purchase new APs and I was in the “queue” to be called when my turn came.

Needless to say we are pleased by this news and looking forward to that call!

The DVC sorry-about-that-no-tickets-for-you email was understandable from DVC’s point of view, but Ticket Services is the real authority in this case.

that they don’t communicate with each other is an interesting cross-system deficit, is also understandable I guess.

so, so far so good!

I never use DVC for tickets unless that's the only way because it really isn't their thing. I'm still a bit surprised that they don't know what Disney is doing for AP's because it wasn't that difficult to find out and to send out a completely incorrect response is inappropriate IMO. I'm happy you got thru where you needed to and got the correct info to get your AP.

 

[kboo]

Interesting wrinkle developed the other day as an update to this thread. Recall I’d been told that I’d get a call re my request within 30 days but likely would hear sooner than that. That was re 2 weeks ago. Hadn’t gotten that call yet.

About two days ago I received an email that was a kind of Dear John letter telling me that my request wasn’t going to happen. At first I was disappointed. Then I started to wonder why an email instead of a phone call?

So I called the number that I’d called 2 weeks ago. Got a very helpful CM who checked my convoluted question carefully.

Seems I’d gotten this email from DVC, not from Ticket Services and I remembered that early on, I had emailed DVC for assistance re this.

So essentially, DVC doesn’t talk to TS and vice versa.

The CM called “upstairs” and she informed me I had indeed been approved to purchase new APs and I was in the “queue” to be called when my turn came.

Needless to say we are pleased by this news and looking forward to that call!

The DVC sorry-about-that-no-tickets-for-you email was understandable from DVC’s point of view, but Ticket Services is the real authority in this case.

that they don’t communicate with each other is an interesting cross-system deficit, is also understandable I guess.

so, so far so good!

I never use DVC for tickets unless that's the only way because it really isn't their thing. I'm still a bit surprised that they don't know what Disney is doing for AP's because it wasn't that difficult to find out and to send out a completely incorrect response is inappropriate IMO. I'm happy you got thru where you needed to and got the correct info to get your AP.

I also learned again, recently, that AP line and DVC don't talk to each other - our current APs (the ones I got after the saga posted earlier!) expire 1 day before our planned Christmas 2021 trip. So I started getting nervous about park passes, for which I needed a live ticket. Called the AP line to ask if I could renew 6 months early, was told no, but I could buy a ticket and then bridge it when I renewed in October. Then called the DVC line, who renewed my APs early *and* fixed some stuff on my DVC reservations. Yay! (And I was only on hold for about 20 minutes!!!)

 

[ParkHoppers]

Any guesses on when everyone will be able to buy AP’s again. Pre pandemic style?

 

[Sandisw]

Any guesses on when everyone will be able to buy AP’s again. Pre pandemic style?

My guess is when they can raise capacity to accommodate more park hopping as well as give AP holders the ability to book more than 3 days at a time,

I think that will be fall at the earliest but more likely January 2022...and purely a guess!

 

[Disneybuckeye]

We did this recently. Our APs expired in early November 2020 and we received a refund for the closed months. I called on 3/26/21 and asked about recovery APs and was put on the list. I received the call on 4/27 and when I told them what I wanted they sold me 5 Gold Aps for $749 each. They are in my MDE account for each person but will not activate until we go to a ticket booth. Some of had 2 day park hoppers on our accounts and they asked if I wanted to apply to the cost. I said no as we are using those for our next trip and doing some days at Universal. I will not be activating our passes until our 11/22 trip.