Pondering DVC Gold AP

[MamaBelle4]

Okay, I just want to make sure I understand this right.

If we were to buy a gold AP (if we qualify, which we currently do not, and they are on sale), they are not active until we activate them at guest services, right? So if I buy one in April for a trip in December 2022, it is not active until I activate it, right? And then when I renew it, is it active from the renewal date, or the next date in which I activate it?

Or am I wrong with everything here? I know the AP discount can be taken away from blue card holders, but I'm just thinking about the amount of money it could save us. We are a family of 7. One of my children is a Disney adult and a second one will be in March. As long as they live in my household, I can buy them annual passes with my DVC discount, right?

And I know the price difference is pretty astronomical, but it isn't really right now. SSR is pretty high in the resale market (considering I bought it 4 years ago for $90/point) and we are considering either VGF resale or SSR direct. DH doesn't like the idea of not being able to use our points at any DVC resort, so he seems to be a little soured on resale.

I'm just trying to figure everything out as best I can to weigh it appropriately for our family.

Thank you all, as always.

 

[BillPA]

If/when AP go on sale again, you can buy them and activate them when you go, 1 day or 2 years in the future. Renewal date is fixed to the same date you originally activated the AP. i.e. July 1st 2022, renew date starts July 1st 2023.
Currently you must have a blue card to qualify for a DVC discounted AP.
Any family member that has proof that they live at your address qualifies for a DVC AP. Proof would be a drivers license or other official photo ID.

 

[MamaBelle4]

If/when AP go on sale again, you can buy them and activate them when you go, 1 day or 2 years in the future. Renewal date is fixed to the same date you originally activated the AP. i.e. July 1st 2022, renew date starts July 1st 2023.
Currently you must have a blue card to qualify for a DVC discounted AP.
Any family member that has proof that they live at your address qualifies for a DVC AP. Proof would be a drivers license or other official photo ID.

Okay, so if we're taking a year off, we can skip the renewal and re-purchase when we need them again, should we choose to do so?

And what proof do you need for a "Disney adult" i.e. my 12 year old? If she's under 18, do I need proof for her as well?

Thank you so much for answering these questions for me!

 

[BillPA]

No ID required for under 18. Not sure why you care about 'adult', the price is the same for all ages. You never have to buy a renewal, but if you don't you don't a the renewal rate on the next one. You can renew 60 days before or 30 days after the AP expires to get the renewal rate.
Proof would be a driver's license, passport or other official photo ID that show the address is the same as the DVC members home, your address.

 

[MamaBelle4]

Oh, I know the price is the same. I haven't travelled down the rabbit hole enough to determine if buying child priced tickets for my kids that are 9 & under would work out to be cheaper for the trips that I can do that.

Thank you!

 

[Sandisw]

Oh, I know the price is the same. I haven't travelled down the rabbit hole enough to determine if buying child priced tickets for my kids that are 9 & under would work out to be cheaper for the trips that I can do that.

Thank you!

One thing to consider that can make things work is to stagger your yearly trips a little to get two out of one AP and then buy every other year.

We did that for years before DVC because traveled in summer as I was a teacher. We would do second week in August year 1 and then first week of August year 2.

It was a great savings for our 5 to 6 night trip each time for my family of 5!

 

[MamaBelle4]

One thing to consider that can make things work is to stagger your yearly trips a little to get two out of one AP and then buy every other year.

We did that for years before DVC because traveled in summer as I was a teacher. We would do second week in August year 1 and then first week of August year 2.

It was a great savings for our 5 to 6 night trip each time for my family of 5!

That is precisely what we would be doing (only 2nd week in Dec/1st week in Dec or 4th week in January/3rd week in January)! Thank you!

 

[DisneyStarWisher]

If/when AP go on sale again, you can buy them and activate them when you go, 1 day or 2 years in the future. Renewal date is fixed to the same date you originally activated the AP. i.e. July 1st 2022, renew date starts July 1st 2023.
Currently you must have a blue card to qualify for a DVC discounted AP.
Any family member that has proof that they live at your address qualifies for a DVC AP. Proof would be a drivers license or other official photo ID.

2 years in the future? Was this just an example? Our Gold APs state that they don't expire until 2030.

 

[mistysue]

The only downside to the "every other year" plan is what is happening right now.
this is our year to go three times. The tickets for 3 trips will cost us far far more than renewing that pass we didn't use. While we like to think COVID is a once in a lifetime, science suggests it won't be. Not trying to be creepy, but it's a thought. If the plan is truly once/year, do the math on one person getting the AP for discounts and photopass.

 

[MamaBelle4]

science suggests it won't be

I am not trying to minimize the impact and the very real effects of covid.

History suggests it will be the last one of this scale within our lifetimes. A global (or widespread) pandemic historically happens once every hundred or so years.

I am NOT saying we are out of the woods yet. It is mutating and that is scary. But once we have this disease understood and eradicated, historically speaking, there isn't likely to be another pandemic of this magnitude in our lifetimes.

 

[mistysue]

I am not trying to minimize the impact and the very real effects of covid.

History suggests it will be the last one of this scale within our lifetimes. A global (or widespread) pandemic historically happens once every hundred or so years.

I am NOT saying we are out of the woods yet. It is mutating and that is scary. But once we have this disease understood and eradicated, historically speaking, there isn't likely to be another pandemic of this magnitude in our lifetimes.

There are valid arguments on both sides of this aspect, but the population density, travel frequency, and amount we are encroaching on animal habitats are all reasons to expect the "every hundred years" rule might not be safe anymore.

 

[MamaBelle4]

There are valid arguments on both sides of this aspect, but the population density, travel frequency, and amount we are encroaching on animal habitats are all reasons to expect the "every hundred years" rule might not be safe anymore.

I can't argue with that. Wish I could.

 

[TinkB278]

I can't argue with that. Wish I could.

I wish you could too. Covid has demolished any sense of stability and security I had previously felt about life.

 

[mistysue]

I can't argue with that. Wish I could.

I wish you could too. Covid has demolished any sense of stability and security I had previously felt about life.

I'm sort of sorry to bring it up, because it's a total bummer of a topic, but every time my brain goes "never have to worry about THAT again" - a little voice goes "never say never"
Plus I'm kicking myself over how much no new AP sales is costing each day I get nearer to my trip that starts this weekend. Last night was my realization that we have to pay to get our photos. (we aren't picture takers, there are multiple years where our Disney pics are our only family photos)

 

[TinkB278]

I'm sort of sorry to bring it up, because it's a total bummer of a topic, but every time my brain goes "never have to worry about THAT again" - a little voice goes "never say never"
Plus I'm kicking myself over how much no new AP sales is costing each day I get nearer to my trip that starts this weekend. Last night was my realization that we have to pay to get our photos. (we aren't picture takers, there are multiple years where our Disney pics are our only family photos)

I’m with you on thinking about how much multiple rounds of tickets will cost. We were planning on going three times over the next year but I really don’t want to buy tickets more than once so if the AP doesn’t come back I think we’ll consider Aulani or just bank as many points as we can.

The whole COVID thing makes me second guess whether I should have bought DVC because like you mentioned, now that it’s happened once I feel like who’s to say it won’t happen again. Ugh it’s just so sad and depressing. I miss 2019 world. If I could have it back I’d never complain about having to go into the office again!

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

If/when AP go on sale again, you can buy them and activate them when you go, 1 day or 2 years in the future. Renewal date is fixed to the same date you originally activated the AP. i.e. July 1st 2022, renew date starts July 1st 2023.
Currently you must have a blue card to qualify for a DVC discounted AP.
Any family member that has proof that they live at your address qualifies for a DVC AP. Proof would be a drivers license or other official photo ID.

I assume this would apply to my adult daughter who is active military but whose driver's license is still at my home?

 

[Evita_W]

I wish you could too. Covid has demolished any sense of stability and security I had previously felt about life.

I think everywhere is going to be making changes to better pandemic proof their businesses if you will. So I think there will be some long term changes everywhere, but time will tell. I think the days of the parks being packed shoulder to shoulder are over, so I think the AP program is probably being reevaluated to determine the best setup going forward, I am sure reservations will always be required from now on.

 

[Bruggok]

I assume this would apply to my adult daughter who is active military but whose driver's license is still at my home?

Don't forget active duty and retired military can buy up to six discounted 4-5 day hopper military salute tickets usable through Dec 17 2021. Unless if your daughter plan to visit frequently or during Christmas, this may be better deal than AP.

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Don't forget active duty and retired military can buy up to six discounted 4-5 day hopper military salute tickets usable through Dec 17 2021. Unless if your daughter plan to visit frequently or during Christmas, this may be better deal than AP.

Unfortunately the window for purchasing those tickets closed yesterday, February 14.