Purchasing AP online or at park? Pros/cons?

[JessLCH]

We are new DVC members. I am looking to purchase APs for our family of 4 in January. We have a trip booked for mid-January 2014 and then plan to book another trip for Thanksgiving 2014. What are the pros and cons to purchasing onsite or online for our mid-January trip? Trying to avoid a long wait/ticket line on our first morning in the parks in January. (We fly in too late the night before to do it then.) Thanks.

 

[nalajms]

We bought online this summer before the price increase. Otherwise, I'd buy them onsite.

I would schedule the first day somewhere NOT MK! The lines are always super long. So if you buy online and print out the email confirmation, you're still waiting in the same line as people buying onsite.

We prefer the back entrance to Epcot. There's rarely a line.

 

[JessLCH]

We bought online this summer before the price increase. Otherwise, I'd buy them onsite.

I would schedule the first day somewhere NOT MK! The lines are always super long. So if you buy online and print out the email confirmation, you're still waiting in the same line as people buying onsite.

We prefer the back entrance to Epcot. There's rarely a line.

If I purchase online when is the effective first day of the ticket: Does it expire one year from day of online purchase or day of first use at a park? How does this work with renewals? Thanks.

 

[CarolMN]

If I purchase online when is the effective first day of the ticket: Does it expire one year from day of online purchase or day of first use at a park? How does this work with renewals? Thanks.

If you purchase online, you will have a choice between getting a paper voucher mailed to you (extra charge for this) or a "Will-Call" number. In either case, you must go to a Guest Relations booth / window to pick up the actual pass. I do not think having purchased online gives you any advantage as far as the lines go. Your year of admission will start on the day you visit Guest Relations to pick up your actual pass. (For many people, that is the same day they first use it to enter a park, but the year starts at pick up even if you do not go to a park that day).

Renewals always begin on the day the original pass expires. Doesn't matter how or when you renew. Renewals must be done within 30 days (before or after) the expiration of the pass begin renewed.

I think there are three advantages to buy in advance.
** One, if you have several to buy, you can spread out the cost over several months. No need to buy all passes on the same day.

** Two, to lock in the price if you think ticket prices will increase before you arrive for your vacation.

** Three, to take advantage of FP+ advance selections. It appears you must have tickets linked to your MDE account to choose FP+ options.

 

[JessLCH]

If you purchase online, you will have a choice between getting a paper voucher mailed to you (extra charge for this) or a "Will-Call" number. In either case, you must go to a Guest Relations booth / window to pick up the actual pass. I do not think having purchased online gives you any advantage as far as the lines go. Your year of admission will start on the day you visit Guest Relations to pick up your actual pass. (For many people, that is the same day they first use it to enter a park, but the year starts at pick up even if you do not go to a park that day).

Renewals always begin on the day the original pass expires. Doesn't matter how or when you renew. Renewals must be done within 30 days (before or after) the expiration of the pass begin renewed.

I think there are three advantages to buy in advance.
** One, if you have several to buy, you can spread out the cost over several months. No need to buy all passes on the same day.

** Two, to lock in the price if you think ticket prices will increase before you arrive for your vacation.

** Three, to take advantage of FP+ advance selections. It appears you must have tickets linked to your MDE account to choose FP+ options.

Thanks, this was very helpful. But I am confused about the third advantage. If I purchase online, I will not actually have a ticket until I get to WDW so how can I link a voucher to MDE to reserve FP+? And will linking a voucher before my arrival to reserve FP+ in any way impact the "first day of use?"

 

[CarolMN]

Thanks, this was very helpful. But I am confused about the third advantage. If I purchase online, I will not actually have a ticket until I get to WDW so how can I link a voucher to MDE to reserve FP+? And will linking a voucher before my arrival to reserve FP+ in any way impact the "first day of use?"

I was able to link my "will-call" DVC PAP to MDE and others have reported that they were able to link their vouchers.

Linking has no impact on your year of admission. That will not start until you exchange the voucher/will-call number for the actual pass at Guest Relations.

 

[JessLCH]

I was able to link my "will-call" DVC PAP to MDE and others have reported that they were able to link their vouchers.

Linking has no impact on your year of admission. That will not start until you exchange the voucher/will-call number for the actual pass at Guest Relations.

Great, thanks so much! So in summary, if I understand this correctly, It seems I can purchase my AP with DVC discount anytime online so I can book FP+ ahead of time for my mid-Jan 2014 trip. But the AP won't expire until mid-Jan 2015.