Disney Gift Card with new AP purchase.

[Simba's Mom]

If I have a current annual pass expiring next month, can I still buy (but not activate) a new annual pass now, or will the system force me to renew since I'm currently an AP?

That's exactly what I just did. My current AP expires in October. I'd planned on buying a new AP when I go the end of January-NOT renewing this one. I was able to purchase a new AP, but when I go in late September, I think I'll make a stop at GS first to make sure that my park entry won't start my new AP. The CM on the phone told me that I'd been sold a voucher, and that it wouldn't activate until I go to GS to activate it-I just want to make sure. Oh-and I got my $75 gift certificate an hour after our phone call.

 

[Stormalong Smiths]

That's exactly what I just did. My current AP expires in October. I'd planned on buying a new AP when I go the end of January-NOT renewing this one. I was able to purchase a new AP, but when I go in late September, I think I'll make a stop at GS first to make sure that my park entry won't start my new AP. The CM on the phone told me that I'd been sold a voucher, and that it wouldn't activate until I go to GS to activate it-I just want to make sure. Oh-and I got my $75 gift certificate an hour after our phone call.

Thank you! Let me know how it goes!

 

[arich35]

For people who have bought the annual pass recently did you notice the expiration date was a year from the day you bought? I thought previously when I bought it would have a weird expiration because it changes once you activate

 

[Brian Noble]

You have one year to activate a new AP voucher. After that, it reverts to a credit that you can apply to the purchase of another pass. This changed several years ago---it is no longer possible to buy a pass voucher and activate it years later to avoid (higher-than-inflation) price hikes.

Once you activate it, you will have a year's use from that date.

 

[Little E]

Hi Disfriends!
I purchased new Socerer APs for both my boys in August, and I received the two $75 gift cards via email within 15 minutes of hanging up with DVC MS.

I purchased new Socerer APs for DH and I earlier this evening, and I haven't received the two $75 gift cards via email yet. I've checked all the places, including my junk/spam folder. I'm just wondering how long it has been taking others to receive the gift cards? I've seen earlier in this thread that it has taken various lengths of time from earlier in the summer, etc. DH and I don't leave for our trip until November, so I'm not worried now. But, I just thought I would check to see how long I should wait before calling. Also, if I do have to call, do I call DVC MS or do I call a different number? I have the emailed receipt from my purchase, and I had no trouble linking my new APs to our MDE accounts.

Just thought I would check to see what the mid to late September anecdotal reports are on receiving the gift cards. TIA!

Edit: Of course, I just now received my Disney gift cards. Crisis averted!

 

[AnnaS]

I thought I asked this question - perhaps it was on a different/wrong thread....do these gift cards have an expiration date. My DS said, he does not think there is. He purchased 5 APs a few days ago.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I thought I asked this question - perhaps it was on a different/wrong thread....do these gift cards have an expiration date. My DS said, he does not think there is. He purchased 5 APs a few days ago.

No. They are normal Disney Gift Cards which never contain expiration dates.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Thank you! Let me know how it goes!

Well, I did stop at GS yesterday, as I said I would. The CM at the entrance checked and showed me (I can't find it now, but I saw) that it says right in my profile that I have an AP that expires next month, and the new one is NOT usable until I go to the Guest Services window and say the word to activate it. He opened the "gate"(rope) and off I went. never having gotten to the window. But it seems that I am all set.

 

[eandt]

Our AP expires this November … is it possible to purchase a new AP (sorcerers) now to take advantage of the gift card but then not activate it until December 2026? We plan to ‘reset’ our pass from a November start/exp date to December rather than renew for in November

 

[Zubon]

Our AP expires this November … is it possible to purchase a new AP (sorcerers) now to take advantage of the gift card but then not activate it until December 2026? We plan to ‘reset’ our pass from a November start/exp date to December rather than renew for in November

Yes, you can buy a new pass before the old one expires. Call Member Services and they will help you out. You'll need to call anyway if you're getting the Sorcerer's Pass.

 

[DoubleBaconBLT]

Yes, you can buy a new pass before the old one expires. Call Member Services and they will help you out. You'll need to call anyway if you're getting the Sorcerer's Pass.

I don't believe that part about needing to call is accurate anymore. I just closed on a DVC direct this month and I was able to buy Sorcerer's APs completely online.

 

[Zubon]

I don't believe that part about needing to call is accurate anymore. I just closed on a DVC direct this month and I was able to buy Sorcerer's APs completely online.

Looks like you're right. Either something changed or it's renewal that requires the call. Thanks for the note!

 

[DoubleBaconBLT]

Looks like you're right. Either something changed or it's renewal that requires the call. Thanks for the note!

View attachment 1010239

Yep, that's more or less exactly what it looked like for me.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Looks like you're right. Either something changed or it's renewal that requires the call. Thanks for the note!

View attachment 1010239

You do have to call if you want to pay 100% with gift cards inside its over $1,000
Edit just read more of the thread and seen this has already been said.

 

[VGCgroupie]

Well I just got hit with FOMO and thinking I may do this. My pass expires mid April. I didn't plan on renewing since I refuse to visit during the summer ever again. But if I could activate it 09/30/26. Remind me activation is required in person right?

 

[eandt]

Well I just got hit with FOMO and thinking I may do this. My pass expires mid April. I didn't plan on renewing since I refuse to visit during the summer ever again. But if I could activate it 09/30/26. Remind me activation is required in person right?

Our current AP activated the first time we tapped into a park

 

[eandt]

Yes, you can buy a new pass before the old one expires. Call Member Services and they will help you out. You'll need to call anyway if you're getting the Sorcerer's Pass.

We have a trip scheduled for mid November with a still valid sorcerers AP …. How would we avoid having the new sorcerers AP not be activated on Nov 15 when we tap in hopefully under our current AP …again we just want to move our AP year from Nov to Nov to Dec to Dec basically if that makes any sense We understand doing so will mean a new (not renewed) AP purchase but if we can buy it now and get $75 GC’s that would be awesome … thing that confuses is that 1 year to activate clause I think I read We would not want to activate until later in November or early December 2026

 

[Brian Noble]

You don't need to call, but IIRC you do need to activate the AP at Guest Services before you use it to enter, at which point they will verify your eligibility. If you call, you get an AP voucher that is "live" and does not require a stop at Guest Services, but also not reassignable.

I think.

 

[Sandisw]

Our AP expires this November … is it possible to purchase a new AP (sorcerers) now to take advantage of the gift card but then not activate it until December 2026? We plan to ‘reset’ our pass from a November start/exp date to December rather than renew for in November

You have a year to activate the voucher so if you buy now, it needs to be started by end of Sept 2026.

After that, you have the value you paid toward a new one so if there is a price increase between now and then, you’d have to pay it to activate this next December

 

[Simba's Mom]

You have a year to activate the voucher so if you buy now, it needs to be started by end of Sept 2026.

Just to verify that this is similar to what I did a few months ago. I have an AP that expires next month. But I bought a voucher for a new pass, because of the gift card offer. I'm here at WDW, and just to be sure my "new" pass/voucher wouldn't activate, I went to Guest Services outside Animal Kingdom. They assured me that I was OK, that when I'm ready to activate my new voucher (February 2026 for me), I'll need to go to GS to activate it. I got my gift card within an hour of my purchasing the voucher.