Do You Get Immediate Access To the AP Site If You Purchase It Online...

[Hester]

I had posed this question in another non-related thread, and I was hoping someone could provide clarification...

If I purchase an Annual Pass now on the Disneyland.com website, will I get immediate access to the AP section of the site where special rates are posted (AP7, etc.)?

Secondly, I would not be using the AP for the first time until Feb. I have gotten some conflicting info regarding this... I heard that I would need to use the AP for the first time, within a certain amount of time after online purchase... is this true?

I have tried to find clarification on Disneyland.com, but cannot find anything that addresses my questions.

 

[lisah0711]

If this is true I would like to know as I purchased online APs for our trip this week.

I was able to look at the discounts. Between my DVC, AP and Disney Visa discounts I am going to need a chart to manage all the discounts so I don't miss some important savings. If you can't get on before I guess I can wait until Wednesday . . .

 

[Hester]

If this is true I would like to know as I purchased online APs for our trip this week.

I was able to look at the discounts. Between my DVC, AP and Disney Visa discounts I am going to need a chart to manage all the discounts so I don't miss some important savings. If you can't get on before I guess I can wait until Wednesday . . .

Hi lisah0711,

I think you may have answered at least one of my questions...

So you WERE able to login to the AP section of the website after you made your online AP purchase? Even though you had not actually used the AP?

Were you given any time frame in which you had to use the AP for the first time?

 

[lisah0711]

Hello Hester!
I don't know if I actually made it to the AP part of the site or not. When I tried register it took my regular Disney site sign in info. I didn't see anything that made me say "Wow! I made it into the AP site!" but I was able to print out info on discounts. Mostly 10% because we got a Deluxe AP. I say log in and see what you find. I will be picking up my AP on Wednesday so if there is some info I can try and get for you, just let me know. I am sure we will enjoy our APs no matter what we get for discounts!

 

[lisah0711]

P.S. I bought our APs on 8/2 right before the price increase. They say I have to redeem by 1/5/2009. Hope that helps!

 

[Sherry E]

And Hester, according to what I have read on this board, I am pretty sure that you can purchase your AP online or in advance and that does not count towards your AP year. The clock starts ticking on the first day you actually USE the AP, so when you take your voucher to the gates and then go into the park to get your photo taken and get your real pass, that is what counts as your first day of use, not the day you purchase it, unless you purchase it on the same day that you use it for the first time.

I suspect - and it is just a hunch - that you will not be able to get the AP7 or AP8 discount rates until you actually get the real pass and your photo taken and all that, but the hotels will book you a room with the 10% discount before you have your pass finalized.

 

[Sherry E]

P.S. I bought our APs on 8/2 right before the price increase. They say I have to redeem by 1/5/2009. Hope that helps!

And so if you used your AP for the first time on 8/3, for example, then your expiration date would be 8/3/09, right? If you didn't use it for the first time until January 5, 2009, then your exp. date would be 1/5/10, I think.

 

[lisah0711]

And so if you used your AP for the first time on 8/3, for example, then your expiration date would be 8/3/09, right? If you didn't use it for the first time until January 5, 2009, then your exp. date would be 1/5/10, I think.

That's what I think, too. So our first day is August 20, 2008 and it will expire August 19, 2009. I have a December trip in the works. Don't know if I will be able to squeeze another trip in or not but it still paid for itself with two trips.

Isn't it fun figuring all this stuff out? It beats doing the dishes!

 

[pumpkin5156]

The AP's do not "start" until you visit the parks and activate it at Main Street Bank. They expire one year from that date. You can actually buy your AP online, go to DL on a blackout date to activate it, and can stay in the parks that day. It's the only way around a blackout date (unless paying $40).

I ordered mine online, and couldn't access the special website until I had my AP number, which I got at Main Street Bank. The printed eTicket does not have your AP # on it; only a bar code to scan which gets you into the park in the first place.

You are eligible for the AP discounts on the hotels I believe. You just show your activated AP to them at any point during your stay and they will modify your rates.

Hope that helps!

 

[pumpkin5156]

That's what I think, too. So our first day is August 20, 2008 and it will expire August 19, 2009. I have a December trip in the works. Don't know if I will be able to squeeze another trip in or not but it still paid for itself with two trips.

Isn't it fun figuring all this stuff out? It beats doing the dishes!

It would actually expire August 20, 2009. You can go to the park August 20 of 2009. August 21 2009 would require a renewal.

 

[Sherry E]

That's what I think, too. So our first day is August 20, 2008 and it will expire August 19, 2009. I have a December trip in the works. Don't know if I will be able to squeeze another trip in or not but it still paid for itself with two trips.

Isn't it fun figuring all this stuff out? It beats doing the dishes!

Figuring and planning are half the fun! It beats vacuuming, too! I myself am considering getting a Premium pass when I go in October, and as you said, it will pretty much pay for itself after two trips, plus all the discounts on stuff. It is a worthwile investment even if you don't go to the parks 50 times a year and only go two or three times!

 

[Hester]

Thanks Sherry...

Yeah, I suspect that I would not be able to book AP7 or potential AP8 rates until I get my actual AP pass card in the park, etc. But I still am trying to figure out if it's possible by purchasing an AP now online... getting some sort of AP# and access to the AP site were I can keep an eye out for AP8 rates for late Feb.

I won't be using the pass until Feb. '09, that's why I'm wondering if there is a particular amount of time that you have to use the AP if purchased online (a full 6 months ahead of time in my case.)

I've already booked my room at the 10% discount, but am really hoping to cancel my reservation and get a better rate before the trip... the rate I got is pretty high for off-season weekdays ($333 per night.)

 

[Sherry E]

The AP's do not "start" until you visit the parks and activate it at Main Street Bank. They expire one year from that date. You can actually buy your AP online, go to DL on a blackout date to activate it, and can stay in the parks that day. It's the only way around a blackout date (unless paying $40).

I ordered mine online, and couldn't access the special website until I had my AP number, which I got at Main Street Bank. The printed eTicket does not have your AP # on it; only a bar code to scan which gets you into the park in the first place.

You are eligible for the AP discounts on the hotels I believe. You just show your activated AP to them at any point during your stay and they will modify your rates.

Hope that helps!

You pretty much confirmed everything that I thought! Except the only difference is that you CAN get in on the blackout dates if you purchase a Premium AP, which allows access 365 days a year - no blackout days. And the 10% hotel discount can be used year-round, any day, whereas the AP7 (or soon to be AP8) rates are only good for certain periods and they do have blackout days, from what I have been told.

 

[Hester]

The AP's do not "start" until you visit the parks and activate it at Main Street Bank. They expire one year from that date. You can actually buy your AP online, go to DL on a blackout date to activate it, and can stay in the parks that day. It's the only way around a blackout date (unless paying $40).

I ordered mine online, and couldn't access the special website until I had my AP number, which I got at Main Street Bank. The printed eTicket does not have your AP # on it; only a bar code to scan which gets you into the park in the first place.

You are eligible for the AP discounts on the hotels I believe. You just show your activated AP to them at any point during your stay and they will modify your rates.

Hope that helps!

Pumpkin...

Thanks, this specific info helps a lot.

Hmmm... I may just not be able to get a potential AP8 rate this time around due to the logistics.

Bottom line, we won't have an "actual" AP until our first day at the resort... too late to take advantage of any "special" AP rates beyond the 10%.

 

[Sherry E]

Thanks Sherry...

Yeah, I suspect that I would not be able to book AP7 or potential AP8 rates until I get my actual AP pass card in the park, etc. But I still am trying to figure out if it's possible by purchasing an AP now online... getting some sort of AP# and access to the AP site were I can keep an eye out for AP8 rates for late Feb.

I won't be using the pass until Feb. '09, that's why I'm wondering if there is a particular amount of time that you have to use the AP if purchased online (a full 6 months ahead of time in my case.)

I've already booked my room at the 10% discount, but am really hoping to cancel my reservation and get a better rate before the trip... the rate I got is pretty high for off-season weekdays ($333 per night.)

According to Pumpkin, you have to go to the Main Street Bank, get your real pass with your AP# on it before you can access the site or get Ap7 rates. But Lisa just said that she was given a 'must use by' date, meaning they give you a window of time after you order online to actually get to the park and have your photo taken and get the real AP. So ordering online should automatically provide you with the date by which you ahve to ude the AP for the first time, and then it will expire one year from that first day of use. It makes sense to me. Is it all pretty clear now?

 

[lisah0711]

Figuring and planning are half the fun! It beats vacuuming, too! I myself am considering getting a Premium pass when I go in October, and as you said, it will pretty much pay for itself after two trips, plus all the discounts on stuff. It is a worthwile investment even if you don't go to the parks 50 times a year and only go two or three times!

Since you live so close, I would definately get a premium pass. No worries about blackout days and I imagine the parking would be a big plus, too.

When I lived in Anaheim and worked at DL many, many years ago, my Mom and I would go for lunch, ride a couple of rides and be home when my Dad got home from work. It would be nice to go whenever you wanted with your AP.

 

[Sherry E]

Since you live so close, I would definately get a premium pass. No worries about blackout days and I imagine the parking would be a big plus, too.

When I lived in Anaheim and worked at DL many, many years ago, my Mom and I would go for lunch, ride a couple of rides and be home when my Dad got home from work. It would be nice to go whenever you wanted with your AP.

I know some friends who have APs, and they do what you described - they go for lunch, ride a couple of rides, and then leave. But they go back often. It wouldn't necessarily be easy for me to get down to DLR too often, even living in L.A., but when we go, it tends to be on weekends, or around holidays, or both - and those are the days that are blacked out with all the other Passes, so Premium would be the only option for me. And all the benefits and discounts associated with it would be helpful, I think. I am also trying to get a December trip in the works (after I finish the October trip!), so I kind of thought the 10% discount would be better than NO discount at the hotels!

 

[lisah0711]

I think that you've made a good decision. And I am all for having at least two Disney trips in the works at all times, even if they don't work out.

 

[DizMe]

You can still get the AP7 (or whatever) rates without having the pass yet. That's what I did. Just call and ask for the AP7 rate. All you will need when you check in is your voucher. In my case, I asked them to add an AP to my hotel reservation.

 

[Sherry E]

You can still get the AP7 (or whatever) rates without having the pass yet. That's what I did. Just call and ask for the AP7 rate. All you will need when you check in is your voucher. In my case, I asked them to add an AP to my hotel reservation.

Hester is not going to DLR until February, I think, and there are no AP7 rates for that time, or AP8 rates yet or anything. So only the 10% discount applies to that time for now.