PAPs..why should I buy them before getting to WDW?

[welovedis]

I am wondering if I need to buy our PAPs before we get to WDW or just buy them when we get there? We no longer have DC (expired spring of 2002) so I know there is no other discount we can get on the tixs. Our room is not part of an AP rate so we don't need it at check-in. Is there some good reason to go ahead and buy them before the trip or just get them when we get there?

Also--where do you go to buy them at WDW? I am thinking our first park will be Epcot so do we just go to Guest Services? And do they get activated right there or is that done somewhere else?

Sorry for all the questions, but TIA for all the answers!

 

[frannn]

so I wouldn't think you would benefit by getting them early, except by not having to wait in line to buy then once you get to WDW. If you knew someone that had a DC card that could buy them for you, or if you could save a few bucks by buying from WDW in advance and having them shipped to you, it might have saved you a enough for a few bottles of water at the parks. I wouldn't sweat it. I'm not sure if the PAPs are available at the regular ticket counters at the parks, though.

I am so jealous of your 3 trip lineup!
Have fun!

 

[BrianD]

You can buy AP/PAPs at any ticket window at the 4 theme parks. I would definitely just wait. There's no benefit to buying them early. Even if you buy them early, you still have to go to the window to activate them.

 

[megnsamsgrace]

How much is the discount for DC?? Steph

 

[welovedis]

frannn-thanks for the info, I asked at my local TDS & they said they sell all APs at the parks. I really got my DH "hooked" on WDW for the next year or so but then I'll have to wait a few years to go back!

BrianD-Thanks for the info, that is what I thought ( that we would have to go the window to activate them anyway) so we'll just wait until we get there. Do you know if we go to Guest Services or where to go exactly when we get to Epcot? We'll be getting there from the monorail and want to have it all figured out beforehand-thanks!

megnsamsgrace-I believe the DC discount is about $15 on a regular AP & $20 on a PAP, not sure what the discounts are for the child's APs though.

 

[CarolMN]

IMHO, there are only two possible advantages to buying APs/PAPs ahead of time.

1). If you are buying more than one and want to spread the cost over several months.

2). To avoid a potential price increase. (But there's no way to know if there will be one, since Disney doesn't announce them in advance).

It's true that if you buy in advnace, you get a voucher and have to stand in line anyway to get the actual AP/PAP pass.

Also, for those who still have valid Disney Club memberships, you can get the DC discount at the park gates. AP/PAP are the only passes that qualify for a DC discount without an advance purchase requirement.

 

[BrianD]

Originally posted by welovedis
... Do you know if we go to Guest Services or where to go exactly when we get to Epcot? We'll be getting there from the monorail and want to have it all figured out beforehand-thanks!

Just go up to any of the ticket windows in front of the Epcot entrance. Be sure to have a driver's lisence (or photo ID) for each adult in your party.

 

[dahess]

We saved about $50.00 by buying before our next trip.

 

[welovedis]

CarolMN-Thanks so much, I *thought* those were the reasons why most people buy them ahead of time but I wanted to be sure.

Does anyone know when the last price increase took place? We are going (just DH & I) for the May trip and weren't planning on buying the PAP for DS until we got there in July, but we'll buy his now if the prices are ready to increase.

BrianD-thanks again, I almost forgot about the photo ID part, I'll be sure we both have it!


dahess-did you use the DC discount to get the $50 off or was it before a price increase?

 

[beattyfamily]

Just so you know, you can also buy your APs WITH Disney Club discount at the MCO Disney Store AND the APs will be activated so they'll be no other step at the parks!

 

[bunnyfoo]

We initially planned to buy ours before we left but there was a little mix up at TDS and it looks like we'll be buying them once we get to the airport.

 

[welovedis]

beattyfamily-thanks for the heads up, unfortunately my DC expired too long ago and I don't think they will let me renew (although I might call to see if that is possible...) I didn't know that the passes you buy at the MCO Disney Store are activated there too, I though you had to stop at the park entrance window too. Have you done this recently?

Just thinking that might save some time if TDS @ MCO is not too busy.

 

[beattyfamily]

No I haven't but I've read many recent threads on this (I even did a search) and many people have varified it to be true.

So then I searched the web and got the Disney store at the airport's phone number and called them myself and they varified this for me over the phone.

 

[welovedis]

thanks for letting me know about that, we may go ahead and stop at the MCO TDS then.

Thanks everyone for making me feel more comfortable about getting them in Orlando, I kept thinking I was forgetting or missing something!