Should I buy an annual pass now?

[JandD Mom]

Hi All,

We are not going to make our trips to WDW until April, but we plan on getting APs this year and using them 2-3 times in 2011. I know they don't become active until their first use in April, so that's not my concern.

My question is, should I buy the AP now in case the DVC discount or price changes? Optimally, I would like to wait until January to buy them, after the holidays, when there is typically a little more money in the budget for these things. But I am not sure whether DVC changes the package/program every calendar year.

So if anyone has any advice/knowledge that will help me figure out the timing of our AP purchase, I would appreciate it.

 

[robinb]

Have there been rumors of a discontinuation of the DVC discount for APs? I don't follow the DVC boards that carefully.

Historically, prices go up for ticket Media in August so I don't see an advantage of buying them now.

 

[erionm]

I don't see them getting ride of the savings on APs anytime soon. If you did pre-purchase from MS or the member website, you don't get the actual APs. You would get either a confirmation number or an exchange voucher (requires processing fee) which you take to Guest Relations or a Theme Park ticket window at WDW to get your actual APs.

If you do start to purchase exchange vouchers now, you could spread out the purchase over many months by buying them one at a time.

 

[robert@dvcstore]

As the previous poster said, ticket prices and annual prices historically change in August. You should be fine waiting until January.

Robert

 

[JandD Mom]

Thank everyone for the input. No there are no rumors that I've heard. I just want to make sure that the AP discount isn't something that DVC announces in January. I know ticket prices are usually set in August, but I wasn't sure if DVC worked on that same timetable.

 

[JWG]

You could ask someone to explain the complicated methodology for getting an additional discount on AP's by purchasing discounted ticket media from Undercover Tourist and then upgrading to AP's once you arrive. It can possibly save you about an additional $16-$25 per AP.

 

[JandD Mom]

You could ask someone to explain the complicated methodology for getting an additional discount on AP's by purchasing discounted ticket media from Undercover Tourist and then upgrading to AP's once you arrive. It can possibly save you about an additional $16-$25 per AP.

And who would I ask about this? Do you have the information? I was under the impression that when you bought tickets from Undercover Tourist, you only got credit for what you paid. Is that not true?

 

[erionm]

And who would I ask about this? Do you have the information? I was under the impression that when you bought tickets from Undercover Tourist, you only got credit for what you paid. Is that not true?

See this thread by a Disney CM about Disney tickets. Posts #6 & #7 deal with upgrades.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1452684

 

[rcchello]

Discounted media to AP works like this

Buy Discounted media - Use it for a day - Upgrade to Annual Pass.

If you do not use it for a day - Disney will only credit you for the price you paid. If you use it for a day it magically becomes worth more in an exchange.

In the Theme Park Forum there is a FAQ that explains this and everything you ever wanted to know about Disney Tickets
Everything About WDW Tickets
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1452684

 

[JandD Mom]

Discounted media to AP works like this

Buy Discounted media - Use it for a day - Upgrade to Annual Pass.

If you do not use it for a day - Disney will only credit you for the price you paid. If you use it for a day it magically becomes worth more in an exchange.

In the Theme Park Forum there is a FAQ that explains this and everything you ever wanted to know about Disney Tickets
Everything About WDW Tickets
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1452684

OK, thanks for the explanation, I get it. But after I use 1 day and go for the upgrade, will I get the DVC member price on the AP or will I pay the same price as the general public on an AP?

 

[erionm]

OK, thanks for the explanation, I get it. But after I use 1 day and go for the upgrade, will I get the DVC member price on the AP or will I pay the same price as the general public on an AP?

You will get the member price on the upgrade as long as you have your membership card with you. You also need government issued photo ids for all adults showing the same mailing address as the member.