Question about timeframe for renewing APs

[pangyal]

Forgive me if this is obvious and I didn't search properly, but we are in our first year of being pass holders and I'm confused about renewal. The website states that you can only buy the renewals sixty days out; however, I see people posting on the boards about purchasing annual pass vouchers throughout the year, before that sixty day window, to hedge against possible increases. How are they doing that? Is it that they are not renewing and buying brand new passes, or am I not seeing something? With all of the increases, we would definitely like to get our renewals at the current rate. We purchased the passes the day before the last restructuring in the fall and activated them in December, so if the pattern holds, we will be out of luck if they increase around the same time again as that will be more than sixty days out. I am motivated to find a way to lock in those prices if possible !

 

[disneynutz]

Renewing is a continuation of your existing AP. If you skip some time then you are buying new and you can buy vouchers or certificates to be used later.

Bill

 

[pangyal]

I see...so anyone buying vouchers for use more than sixty days out has already let their pass expire, if I'm understanding correctly.

Thank you for clearing that up

 

[Dean]

I see...so anyone buying vouchers for use more than sixty days out has already let their pass expire, if I'm understanding correctly.

Thank you for clearing that up

It is also possible to buy a pass renewal voucher and then actually renew in the window applicable. I know you can do this through AAA South if a member. I'm not sure how this works for other AAA locations outside FL/GA as the clubs are all independent. I know that I've seen some clubs order them if they didn't carry them directly and I've seen some clubs be willing to sell them by mail to members from other locations.

 

[drusba]

You can renew an annual pass only between 60 days before and 30 days after expiration of the existing pass. You can buy a new pass at any time, get a receipt/voucher number, and hold it for as long as you want, and the pass will not be activated until you show up at WDW and get the actual new pass. You can purchase and continue to hold the voucher for that pass for years if you want before first use. There are many passholders that do not follow a course of continuously renewing passes, and it is those passholders that you are likely hearing about who are buying passes before the allowed renewal time. For example, there are passholders who actually go only once year but get two uses out of the annual pass. They may buy a pass for use during a 10 day trip the last half of October. Then, the next year they will plan a like earlier trip in October for which the departure date is the expiration date of the existing pass. Then the next year, they start the process again, buying a new pass for a late Oct trip that they will also use for the following year's early Oct trip. If they have the resources now to do so, they might buy two or more APs so they can avoid the future price increases.

 

[pangyal]

It is also possible to buy a pass renewal voucher and then actually renew in the window applicable. I know you can do this through AAA South if a member. I'm not sure how this works for other AAA locations outside FL/GA as the clubs are all independent. I know that I've seen some clubs order them if they didn't carry them directly and I've seen some clubs be willing to sell them by mail to members from other locations.

This is a great tip, I wonder if CAA in Canada here does something similar! Thank you for the clear and detailed responses, as always !