First Time Annual Passholder Questions.

[theycomefromallover]

We are considering going to Disney World 4 times in 12 months so it looks like the annual pass is the way to go for us. We do not live in Florida. But I have a few questions:

1. When do they officially start "counting down": when you purchase it or the first time you use them.?

2. Can you get MagicBands before your first use of your annual pass. I'm planning on going first time Sept 22.

3.Can I have our magicbands and make our Fastpass+ Reservations before our first trip?

Thanks for the help!

 

[TattooedMermaid]

Ok I'm gonna try to answer this to the best of my knowledge.

The annual passes start "counting down" from the moment you make the first payment.

You should get a magic band and not a card when you get your AP. I had a card AP and am getting my magic band shipped to me right now to replace it, free of charge. They just sent me an email to change it over

Once you get that, I'm sure you can do your FP+ reservations no problem


Hope that helped!

 

[butiflfeet]

The non-Florida resident annual pass is a bit different in that it starts counting down on your first use, not when you purchase it.

As long as you link the annual pass to your MDE account, you should be getting a Magic Band prior to your trip and you would be able to make FP+ reservations ahead of time. They just started sending out Magic Bands for annual passholders this month.

If you are staying on-site, you can make those reservations 60 days in advance. If you only have the annual pass, then it's 30 days in advance. Also, annual passholders can only have 7 FP+ days per month unless they have a resort reservation, then they can book FP+ for all the days of their trip.

 

[purple figment]

We are considering going to Disney World 4 times in 12 months so it looks like the annual pass is the way to go for us. We do not live in Florida. But I have a few questions:

1. When do they officially start "counting down": when you purchase it or the first time you use them.?

The APs for non-Florida residents start "counting down" when you take possession of the AP. In most cases that will be the same day you first use it to enter a park, but some visitors like to get their APs the night before to save time in the morning so the AP starts counting down when you buy the actual AP or exchange a voucher.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

1. When do they officially start "counting down": when you purchase it or the first time you use them.?
It starts to count down from the day you pick up your annual pass. We purchased ours in September 2013 but didn't pick it up until 17th October 2013. We have a year from 17th October to use it, although we didn't actually use the park until 19th October.

2. Can you get MagicBands before your first use of your annual pass. I'm planning on going first time Sept 22.
Yes. Once you have your voucher, link the voucher and you can customise your Magic Bands

3.Can I have our magicbands and make our Fastpass+ Reservations before our first trip?
Yes. You need to link your AP voucher to your MDE account. From there you can customise your Magic Bands and make your FP+ reservations

 

[cruisingkat]

The APs for non-Florida residents start "counting down" when you take possession of the AP. In most cases that will be the same day you first use it to enter a park, but some visitors like to get their APs the night before to save time in the morning so the AP starts counting down when you buy the actual AP or exchange a voucher.

Correct!
If you purchase the AP at DW, you are purchasing the actual AP and the year starts counting down from then. If you buy the AP on line or at a Disney store, you are getting a voucher which must be exchanged for the AP at DW and the AP starts counting down from the date of the exchange.

 

[theycomefromallover]

Thank you everyone!

I think I now get that my AP does not start until I "activate" it on property! But, I don't get how MagicBands fit into that process. They seem to be the "REAL" ticket. Do you have to activate the magic band when you get to WDW? Sorry I may be a little slow, the new system just isn't making since to me yet!

The reason I care is we are planning our last trip with AP Sept 2015 so I want to make sure we get all 4 trips in so we get our money's worth!

 

[DVCismyhappyplace]

If you buy your AP online or over the phone at Disney you will receive a "will call" or confirmation number. You use that # to link your AP to MDE and get your fastpasses in advance. Your AP isn't "active" until you pick it up and use it to enter a park though.

 

[Disney_Princess83]

Thank you everyone!

I think I now get that my AP does not start until I "activate" it on property! But, I don't get how MagicBands fit into that process. They seem to be the "REAL" ticket. Do you have to activate the magic band when you get to WDW? Sorry I may be a little slow, the new system just isn't making since to me yet!

The reason I care is we are planning our last trip with AP Sept 2015 so I want to make sure we get all 4 trips in so we get our money's worth!

No, the Magic Band is active as soon as it is shipped. However your AP shouldn't be active until you use it in the parks. Double check as Guest Relations can fix this up if there is an error.

When you purchase an AP online or over the phone, you receive a confirmation number. That is why you can make FP+ reservations or get a magic band but the actual AP isn't active until you activate it at Guest Relations or a Park.

 

[puffkin]

We purchased the DVC PAP special. I have the PAP linked to our magic bands using the will call number (June trip). Because we are staying at a resort, we can do our FP+ at 60 days. If we were not staying onsite, we could do them at 30 days.

From everything I have read, even though we will have everything linked to our magic bands and everything set up with FP+, we still we need to go to Guest Relations our first day and activate our AP's. At that point our 1 year window will start. They also will give us our actual cards then, which we will need to show for any AP discounts.

 

[winthropf]

In addition to guest services, APs can be activated at any park ticket window. Resort concierge desk cannot activate APs.

You will receive an actual AP ticket card in addition to the magic band. The card is needed for merchandise and dining discounts and free parking.

 

[theycomefromallover]

Thank you everyone! Excited to get this worked out! We are very excited to be AP holders! We may have to sneak in an extra trip!

 

[jrjankowski8]

Thank you everyone! Excited to get this worked out! We are very excited to be AP holders! We may have to sneak in an extra trip!

I'm doing the same thing. Planning a surprise trip for my wife for her birthday and our first anniversary at the end of May, and we were already looking into an early December trip. Both will be at least 5 days. The cost right there makes up the difference. (5 day hopper costs $350pp per trip) so for $675 plus free parking since we stay off site both times, we're already ahead Plus this clearly warrants another trip in that window

And it's nice to know that if you want to go for a few hours one night or when you first check into the hotel, you can without wasting a day on your pass or paying anything extra. Can't beat that!

 

[stasijane]

It looks like you got your questions answered so CONGRATULATIONS!! Being an AP holder is exciting!

 

[Wendybird55]

Wait! Just one more question please!!

I just purchased APs over phone (added 2nd trip for this year). Last time I purchased APs directly at ticket window At Disney and first visit with AP Magic band testing wasn't in effect - 2nd visit magic band testing was in effect we weren't at testing resort just needed to get paper tickets converted to cards - last visit with same AP we got Magic Bands and AP put on bands.

So this year...I will get voucher's in mail. I know I van get a # to link to MDE to make FP+. When I get to Disney in August I will check in at AKV - get all my stuff then go to AK and hand in vouchers to get APs - right? Can't get APs a resorts - right?

So, my big question...do they then add AP to Magic Band at ticket booth in AK so I can get park entrance and FP+ with bands? And if they do so at ticket booth, do I still get actual plastic AP for future trips or does my Magic band now become my AP ticket to have and to hold? Can the AP on Magic Band be used for discounts by tapping or you always need actual card for that?

Oh, and if they can't or don't add AP to magic bands at ticket booth I guess I'll have to wait until I get back to my resort to do so?

Thanks!

 

[puffkin]

Wait! Just one more question please!!

I just purchased APs over phone (added 2nd trip for this year). Last time I purchased APs directly at ticket window At Disney and first visit with AP Magic band testing wasn't in effect - 2nd visit magic band testing was in effect we weren't at testing resort just needed to get paper tickets converted to cards - last visit with same AP we got Magic Bands and AP put on bands.

So this year...I will get voucher's in mail. I know I van get a # to link to MDE to make FP+. When I get to Disney in August I will check in at AKV - get all my stuff then go to AK and hand in vouchers to get APs - right? Can't get APs a resorts - right?

So, my big question...do they then add AP to Magic Band at ticket booth in AK so I can get park entrance and FP+ with bands? And if they do so at ticket booth, do I still get actual plastic AP for future trips or does my Magic band now become my AP ticket to have and to hold? Can the AP on Magic Band be used for discounts by tapping or you always need actual card for that?

Oh, and if they can't or don't add AP to magic bands at ticket booth I guess I'll have to wait until I get back to my resort to do so?

Thanks!

You can link your AP to your Magic Bands and do all your FP+ selections ahead of time (30 days if staying offsite, 60 if staying onsite). You will still need to go to a guest relations or park ticket window (cannot be done at a resort) your first day to activate your AP. Even though it is linked, you still need to "turn it on" so to speak and get your 1 year clock ticking. You also need to get your AP cards because you will need those to show for the AP discount since that won't be linked to the Magic Band. I hope this helps!

 

[Wendybird55]

Thanks puffkin...pretty much what I thought...we're not leaving 'til August 21 and I should get my vouchers in a week so I'll have plenty of time for linking and FP+.