Purchase AP ahead of time or at WDW

[Princess SarahK]

Any reasons for or against purchasing an AP ahead of your trip versus once you arrive?

As it stands now, we're 46 days out with a room/ticket package booked so I've made FP's already. Are there benefits to me purchasing an AP now or will it be the same if I just upgrade once we're there?

 

[Klayfish]

It's the same.

We do it onsite for no other reason than the kids think it's exciting to walk in the front door of MK on our first day of vacation and walk straight to City Hall and buy annual passes. Not gonna lie, I do too...one of those little moments that make it more fun for us.

 

[Princess_Lisa]

One advantage of buying it ahead of time, though it doesn't apply in your case, is you can make FastPasses. Since you already have tickets, there really isn't any difference unless you are bridging the tickets towards the AP, which I think has to be done at Guest Services. When you buy an AP online, you get a voucher which you have to take to a park and trade for a card. Since none of the ticket windows were open when I arrived with my voucher, I had to go to Guest Services to get my card.

 

[srwarden1928]

One advantage of buying it ahead of time is that you can make more fastpasses on more days, as long as you are on property. I have an as yet inactivated AP, and I have FIFTEEN days of fastpasses scheduled over two trips.
A second advantage is that you can save some money. I bought the AP through AAA and it was less expensive than through Disney.

 

[Princess SarahK]

What was your savings thru AAA versus WDW? I plan to use my Target Debit card to buy a gift card and save 5% off of the price by paying that way. Interested if this is a larger savings!

One advantage of buying it ahead of time is that you can make more fastpasses on more days, as long as you are on property. I have an as yet inactivated AP, and I have FIFTEEN days of fastpasses scheduled over two trips.
A second advantage is that you can save some money. I bought the AP through AAA and it was less expensive than through Disney.

 

[purple figment]

Since you already have a package with tickets, if you wait and upgrade at the park you can use the value of the tickets towards the cost of the APs.

If you buy AP vouchers now you would be buying a second set of tickets, although you can save the package tickets for a future trip when you don't have APs or use them towards the renewal cost of the APs next year. Or you could modify your package to a ticketless package unless you are booked with a promo that requires the inclusion of tickets and then buy your APs through an authorized third party site.

 

[srwarden1928]

What was your savings thru AAA versus WDW?

As I recall without looking it up, I paid around 785 including tax.