Help with First time Annual Pass purchase!!

[BrittyRo]

Decided to go to Disney in March for my birthday and we will be going in September for our Annual Trip! We are going for 7 days in March and 10+ days in Sept. I already know that the AP is worth it (cause it allows impromptu short trips without worry about ticket prices), but I do have questions for all you experienced Disers!

1. I have a FD in Sept and I know that we need to keep at least a 2 day ticket, but obviously if we buy the AP in March what can we do with that 2 day ticket? Does it kind of just get wasted? (I heard something about using it towards renewing your AP? Would anyone be able to elaborate and tell me how much it would be to renew I heard it's not as expensive as the first time purchase) Does that 2 day ticket ever expire if we don't end up using it to renew?
2. I also have a question about upgrading from my regular ticket to an AP at the park and the process involved!
3. What kind of discounts does the AP get you (I try to access the site but a blank page just comes up)
4. Are there any "Blackout dates" when the AP cannot be used?

Sorry for all the questions! Thanks for all the info. Coming from NY a commitment like this is a little scary!

 

[Dis703]

I'm not sure I can answer all of this but I can help with some.

My understanding is that you won't use the 2 day ticket during your trip and you hold on to it until it's time to renew and then you use it to upgrade to an AP at renewal time. I haven't done it but this is what I've read.

To upgrade you need to do it before you use your last day of tickets and just pay the difference at one of the ticket windows. My advice though would be to upgrade before using it so you can take advantage of the discounts.

As for discounts there are AP resort discounts that seem to run about 5% more than the public offers. You can purchase a TIW card for 20% off dining (this was well worth it for us), 10% off discount when purchasing merchandise, there is a discount on mini-golf and I believe a few tours although I can't recall which ones. And there was a 10% discount at a few restaurants (TRex and RFC stick out in my head).

You also get free parking.

I'm not sure if that's everything but it's what I recall from having one last year. We planned 2 trips just under a year apart and then because we already had them I took an extra trip with just my 5 year old. It was so much fun and well worth it. Oh, and I'm from NJ so I get the concern.

 

[Grumpy92]

Unless you are purchasing the Fla Res Seasonal Pass there are no blackout periods. APs do not cover special events like the xmas party or the Halloween party though.

You do have to ask for the merchandise discount at the register when you make your purchase.
AP discounts are often available for the resorts and I keep and eye on mousesavers.com for that.

Here is a good site with AP info:
http://allears.net/pl/apass.htm

 

[Networth]

You will also receive 15% off tours and spa visits, 20% of Splitsville if you don't have a reservation. $2 Dollars off movie tickets at DTD's AMC theater, 50% of mini golf, and 30% off certain watercraft rentals. You may also receive $7-$9 off the Halloween party and Christmas Party depending on the day. Please be aware you will need you discount card along with state issued ID.

 

[Robo]

if we buy the AP in March what can we do with that 2 day ticket?

A. Does it kind of just get wasted?

B. (I heard something about using it towards renewing your AP?

C. Would anyone be able to elaborate and tell me how much it would be to renew

D. I heard it's not as expensive as the first time purchase

E. Does that 2 day ticket ever expire if we don't end up using it to renew?

A. Nope.
B. You can do that, if you like. You can also use it (as-is, or upgraded) on a future WDW trip.
C. That would depend on how much the AP cost at the time you decide to renew.
(AP's will very likely have a price increase within the next few months.)
You can look up the current cost of APs and AP renewals via a Google search of WDW ticket prices.
D. Correct. It's about the equivalent of getting "one month free" in relation to buying a new AP.
E. Nope.

 

[BrittyRo]

A. Nope.
B. You can do that, if you like. You can also use it (as-is, or upgraded) on a future WDW trip.
C. That would depend on how much the AP cost at the time you decide to renew.
(AP's will very likely have a price increase within the next few months.)
You can look up the current cost of APs and AP renewals via a Google search of WDW ticket prices.
D. Correct. It's about the equivalent of getting "one month free" in relation to buying a new AP.
E. Nope.

Thanks for the info! There's gonna be a price increase before March? I thought there was just a price increase How much does it usually increase?

If I wanna buy the AP now does it go into effect at the date of purchase or the first time I use it??

 

[DebbieB]

Thanks for the info! There's gonna be a price increase before March? I thought there was just a price increase How much does it usually increase?

If I wanna buy the AP now does it go into effect at the date of purchase or the first time I use it??

The last increase was February 23, 2014. AP's typically go up about $20.

 

[jrdgtr]

I live in NY and have an AP. if you are going to spend at least 10 days in the parks, which you are, it's worth it to get. No big commitment for you because you already have over 10 days planned. And next year if you decide different you don't need to renew.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If you buy an AP now you'll be issued a "voucher" (if you do it by phone you'll get a number) that you can link to MDX and use to make reservations, etc. When you get to WDW you will present that number to have it activated. It will start the date you activate it and end on the same date in the next year. A renewal always starts on the same date that your last pass ended.

I have a pass that was purchased at WDW December 8 2013 so it expires December 8 2014. I just called to get it renewed by phone. I got a "voucher" number so I could make fastpasses for a trip starting December 11. Although I will activate it on December 11, it's a renewal so it will carry the date December 8 2014, and will expire on December 8 2015.

they will issue you a yellow card when you activate your AP. You must present this card when you are redeeming an AP discount. They can't just run your magic band and give you the discount from that.

 

[Fire14]

they will issue you a yellow card when you activate your AP. You must present this card when you are redeeming an AP discount. They can't just run your magic band and give you the discount from that.

I did not get Discount card ( yellow card) until I received my AP MB in mail after my trip. I just showed my AP card to get discount during trip.

 

[Robo]

I did not get Discount card ( yellow card) until I received my AP MB in mail after my trip. I just showed my AP card to get discount during trip.

Yes, that is correct procedure at this time.

 

[BrittyRo]

So this is a follow up question. There are 4 of us booked in a room. We have a package booked now so each person has 7 day park ticket. My question is if I buy my AP Before this trip can I keep the tickets for the other people but remove my tickets from the package?
Also On the Disney Visa i get free financing on vacation packages. Does it also include free financing for APs?
Thanks for all the info guys. It's a great help!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If you booked a package everybody in the room has to have the same tickets. Including you.

You'd have a few options.
1) Cancel the package, book room only. that may not be an option depending on whether you want the dining plan or other stuff
2) Call WDW and ask about a ticketless package if you want dining, rebook to that, then buy the other guests's tickets separately from the package.
3) Reduce everyone's package tickets to the minimum, then upgrade theirs and save yours after arrival.

 

[BrittyRo]

If you booked a package everybody in the room has to have the same tickets. Including you.

You'd have a few options.
1) Cancel the package, book room only. that may not be an option depending on whether you want the dining plan or other stuff
2) Call WDW and ask about a ticketless package if you want dining, rebook to that, then buy the other guests's tickets separately from the package.
3) Reduce everyone's package tickets to the minimum, then upgrade theirs and save yours after arrival.

Oh boy and then I would lose my financing for the package. Room only doesn't get DV financing... I guess I'll just have to suck it up and pay the price increase

 

[Robo]

So this is a follow up question. There are 4 of us booked in a room. We have a package booked now so each person has 7 day park ticket.


1. My question is if I buy my AP Before this trip can I keep the tickets for the other people but remove my tickets from the package?
Also On the Disney Visa i get free financing on vacation packages. Does it also include free financing for APs?
Thanks for all the info guys. It's a great help!

Don't buy the AP before this trip.

Wait until you check in, USE the package tickets at least one time to enter a theme park...
THEN, upgrade the package ticket (any one of them, or all of them) to AP.

Subtract the current Disney price of the ticket that you HAVE from the current Disney price of the ticket that you WANT (AP.)
The cost to do the upgrade will be the difference price of the above (plus the tax on the difference price.)

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If you must buy the AP before arrival on the package then call them and ask if you can change it to a ticketless package. But if the 7 day package is your first trip on the AP and you must keep the package the way it is, the way to go is to upgrade your 7 day ticket to an AP while you are there. As Robo noted, use the ticket to enter a park and THEN upgrade it.