Parking Charges with AP first use

[A Mickeyfan]

I have been an AP holder consecutively for over 25 years. I canceled it due to Covid19. I recently was able to repurchase my pass. Now I am wondering about the parking fee for the first day I use my pass. I understand it's a voucher until it's converted to an actual pass and not activated till I go through the gates. If I go to Disney Springs Guest Services, will I get an activated AP and save my ridiculous parking fee? I am not sure how this works as things have changed dramatically since I got my first AP.

 

[brightlined]

In the past, you could show the voucher to the attendant, tell them you were activating it, and they'd let you through. I've heard that it it's hit-and-miss, though - sometimes, they'll ask you to pay, but you can get reimbursed at Guest Relations (with the receipt) when you activate the pass.

If you want piece of mind - you can definitely get it activated at Guest Services at Disney Springs. I'm about to do that myself - figured I'd run over to DS, grab lunch, get the pass activated, then head to a park.

 

[tobikaye]

The last time I activated mine without having one prior, I was asked if I had paid to park that day. They would have reimbursed me. I was with someone with an AP so I hadn’t had to pay.

 

[holyrita]

I was a tagalong with my friends on their first trip as annual passholders. We drove to Hollywood Studios and they paid for parking. We went up to the guest relations window where they got their AP cards and the cast member asked if they paid for parking. My friend showed them their receipt and they got a Disney gift card for the amount!

 

[CarolynFH]

We renewed our APs at the Disney Ticket Center diagonally across from the DS Guest Relations. We were the only ones there on a Monday around noon, so it was very quick and easy!

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Thank you for the responses. I didn't think they still reimbursed you for the first day of parking. I thought I had remembered reading that they discontinued it, them and Universal. I thought Sea World was the only one that did free first day. I guess Disney changed again.