Question for AP holders

[magnoliabelle]

We have trips planned Nov. 17-26, March 13-18, and if the rates are right perhaps another few days in the summer. I think it will be more economical to purchase AP's (2 adult, 2 child). Are they activated from the time you purchase them or at first use? I would like to go ahead and buy them before my Disney Visa double rewards expire, but not if the clock starts ticking immediately.

Thanks

 

[Ilovestitch]

I think if you are planning to go to the parks more than 8 days in a year, the AP's are a good deal. You can buy a voucher for the AP's at the Disney Store in advance- the voucher does not expire and is good for a year from the day you actually activate it at WDW (not from the day you purchase it). I believe you can also buy the vouchers on disney.com.

If you buy your AP at the EarPort at MCO, or at WDW then it is activated right away. I bought the voucher at the Disney Store b/c I just wanted to have it paid for in advance, otherwise theres no real advantage of buying the voucher in advance. The process of activating your AP at WDW is quick and easy, I did it at Guest Relations at Downtown Disney. Hope that helps. -Stephanie

 

[Geoff_M]

...otherwise theres no real advantage of buying the voucher in advance.

Another advantage is that doing so is a hedge against price increases.

 

[wanna-b-Tink]

Renewals however, renew from the day your old AP expires, not the first day of visit after you renew. For us, it is still the most economical way to go, but we do lose a few months use in the renewal process. We always go sometime around the end of November - early December, and then in early spring. Of course this year, we are making an exception by going in October...

 

[TINKTWINS]

Its well worth it in the long run if you are even thinking of multiple trips. The AP rates you can get on rooms is a huge bonus! You may see a great rate pop up at a later time in the year for a resort you may have never thought you would consider staying at. The first time we bought them we were staying for 10 days that trip, we werent even planning a second trip, it was just more ecconomical to get the APs, we ended up taking 2 more trips because of the rates we got, and have renewed them twice.

 

[TINKTWINS]

You can buy them when you get there or do the voucher thing. I havent ever done the voucher. I originally bought them when I arrived and renewed them through the mail once and in person the second time. You actually get a grace period of I believe 30 days, like for us my exp date is April 11, but my last trip was after the 11th but I had the grace period to wait til I got there to renew. So thats pretty cool too