Question for annual passholders

[disneybeachbum]

How do the annual passes at DL work? I was told by DL that I can not buy them ahead of time I need to buy them at the gate. This is different from what I am used to at WDW. There you can buy your annual pass anytime and it does not activate until the first day that you use it. If you buy your WDW annual pass at the Disney Store you recieve a voucher that you turn in at the gate when you arrive. Also at WDW you put your annual pass through the ticket reader and then put your fingers in the biometric reader and then the turnstile lets you through. Is this the same at DL. Any information will be appreciated.

 

[barbarabee]

I bought my annual pass for DL this year at the Disney Store, just a couple of months ago. You take the voucher to Guest Services, right next to the main gate where you will exchange it for your annual pass.

DL does not have biometric readers, what they will make you do is get your picture taken inside the park at the Annual Pass processing area, this is what they use for identification instead of the biometrics. Sometimes there can be quite a line for the photo, so do that first thing in the morning. I think they have a processing center at DCA, which would probably have a shorter line.

 

[dletz]

I know our local disney stores sell APs (I was just there yesterday and was reading the display), though I think they only sold the Premium and Deluxe I wasn't paying much attention. I don't think that most Disney stores sell them, maybe AZ and CA even NV, but probably only close states.

Mail order (You should be able to buy them here)
Send a description and number of passports, check or money order made payable to Disneyland Resort for the entire amount of the order plush shipping and handling
Name, street address, city state zipcode and phone number.
or you can charge to a credit card over the phone.
APs add $10.00 shipping and handling (I think this is for the entire order)
Overnight Fed Ex add $20.00

Phone number is 714-781-4043
Address is
P.O. Box 61061
1212 Harbor Blvd
Anaheim CA 92803-6161

Also I know you can purchase APs at guest services (probably main gate too but I haven't tried it) that do not have to be activated that day (though you sometimes have to tell them they are for a gift).

Donna

 

[dletz]

DL does not have biometric readers, what they will make you do is get your picture taken inside the park at the Annual Pass processing area, this is what they use for identification instead of the biometrics. Sometimes there can be quite a line for the photo, so do that first thing in the morning. I think they have a processing center at DCA, which would probably have a shorter line.

The processing center at DCA was for renewals I think. But they have closed the one at DCA anyway, the only one currently open is the one at space mountain exit (though they will move it again when Space mountain reopens (probably before then)

Donna

 

[got2travel]

Unlike WDW, if you buy a voucher for an AP at the Disney Store or some other place, it must be activated within 3 months. I know with WDW you can activate whenever. You pass will be good for 1 year from your first day of use.

 

[disneybeachbum]

Thanks, this is the kind of information I need. I remember years ago when WDW annual passes had pictures and sometimes it took forever. We are staying at the beach for a couple of days before checking into GC. We are planning on doing a tour in the afternoon when we arrive at DL. Since we will have to meet our tour at a certain time I am trying to figure out how much time to allow to check-in to GC, buy our annual passes, get into the park and check-in for our tour. We are from the East Coast and I know our DS does not carry DL tickets.

 

[Blackunicorn]

I don't think that most Disney stores sell them, maybe AZ and CA even NV, but probably only close states.

The Disney Stores do sell them, however, because this isn't a very popular item, they don't usually have them in stock. When I purchased my passes last year, my store had to order them for me, and it took two weeks to get them in.

 

[disneychrista]

You might also look into purchasing a hopper plus pass and then upgrading. With eth Hopper Plus you get one EE day and a $10 ESPN Zone game credit. The Hopper Plus is the only way to get EE. Then after you use the EE day and get the $10 ESPN Zone credit go to the AP processing center to upgrade to the AP.

 

[CalGal]

Disneychrista;
That sounds like a great idea. Have you done that? How long do you have to upgrade (Any time during the duration of the park hopper?)

Does anyone have a current list of the benefits that come with the APs as far as discounts, etc.

Thanks,

 

[disneychrista]

Disneychrista;
That sounds like a great idea. Have you done that? How long do you have to upgrade (Any time during the duration of the park hopper?)

Does anyone have a current list of the benefits that come with the APs as far as discounts, etc.

Yes you can upgrade at anytime while the hopper pass is valid, we usually wait until the last day. Visit mousesavers or disneyland.com for a list of discounts.

 

[dletz]

You can upgrade your hopper pass up to and including the last day used on your pass, as long as it hasn't expired. Meaning if you have a 3 day hopper, you can upgrade on the 3rd day of the pass. However if you use 2 days and then they expire you can't go back and try to upgrade. One reason to do this is that you can go on blockout dates. However you pass will expire 1 year from the date the hopper was first used not the date it was upgraded.