Some Q's about buying an AP

[aussiegirls]

Hi all

I was wondering if some of you might be able to help me.

We are going to Disneyland in November/December this year. I have priced everything out and have decided that it would probably be good for one of us (me) to buy an AP for our visit. The cost of the AP is not much different to the 14 day hopper that I would have been getting, so with the discounts (doing 2 tours) etc it will definately be worth my while.

I just have a few questions before I go ahead and buy it.

There is talk of ticket prices going up in August. Now, normally would the AP prices go up at the same time, or do they go up separately at a whole different time?

Secondly, I would be getting the Deluxe AP. I have checked all the blockout dates and none of my dates are blocked out so all is good with that. But is it possible that they change the blockout dates (as in add some that haven't been blocked out yet) or will I be pretty safe going by the dates on the blockout calendar?

Finally, if I buy the AP a long time before I need to use it does it only become active when I actually pick it up or will it become active as soon as I pay for it?

Thanks so much for your help and I am sure I will have some more questions very soon.

xxx

 

[Flitterific]

The prices of the APs do go up when the prices of the tickets go up so you might want to purchase them in advance. Of course, that means that you will be losing a few months of it (but that only matters if you plan on visiting again after August 2011).

As for the blockout dates...I have never heard of Disney changing them mid-year. I am a PAP holder so it doesn't matter but if I had any of the lower APs and found out that my dates were suddenly blocked out when they weren't at the time I purchased my AP, I would be very angry and I doubt Disney wants to anger hundreds of thousands of AP holders.

Hopefully someone else can answer your question about when the AP actually gets activated though...

 

[longtimedisneylurker]

Hopefully someone else can answer your question about when the AP actually gets activated though...

The AP gets activated on the day of first use. You have to get your picture taken and AP processed the first day you enter.

 

[bumbershoot]

They do tend to raise the prices of the AP at the same time as the tickets.

Buying the AP online doesn't activate it. When you enter a park, that will activate it. But the vouchers do expire...just not sure how many months out they expire.

I've never heard of them changing blockout dates, either.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I just have a few questions before I go ahead and buy it.

There is talk of ticket prices going up in August. Now, normally would the AP prices go up at the same time, or do they go up separately at a whole different time?

Secondly, I would be getting the Deluxe AP. I have checked all the blockout dates and none of my dates are blocked out so all is good with that. But is it possible that they change the blockout dates (as in add some that haven't been blocked out yet) or will I be pretty safe going by the dates on the blockout calendar?

Finally, if I buy the AP a long time before I need to use it does it only become active when I actually pick it up or will it become active as soon as I pay for it?

Thanks so much for your help and I am sure I will have some more questions very soon.

xxx

Last year tickets and APs went up last August. When the prices went up last August a DAP was $289 than a few months later, it went up $10 more to $299. DLR could change the price of the AP anytime and unexpectedly. It wouldn't surprise me if DLR raises the price on the APs and tickets next month.

I would assume when DLR sets the dates for the blockout dates for the three lower AP types, it will stay as is and I would say the DLR won't change it. I could be wrong, but I don't know the real answer since I am a premium AP holder. It will be disappointing for the three types to find out that they can't go on that day when it was already set.

The AP will be active when you use it the first day you go to the park. It doesn't become active the day you bought it or pick up.

 

[jtown]

The price might go up. It might not. The only thing that's virtually guaranteed is it won't go down.

They can't add blackout dates. There's a contract. You're paying for something that's clearly defined and they can't change the deal to your detriment after the terms have been accepted by both parties. They could remove blackout dates.

The clock starts when you enter the park.

BTW, have you calculated the cost of parking? You say you're there for quite a few days but not whether you're staying in a hotel within walking distance. If you're driving to the park each day, that's $14/day for parking. You can add parking to the deluxe pass for $79 or get it included with the premium. The premium also gets discounts at more places and a bigger discount on food. Might be worth the extra money. But, obviously, not worth it if you're parking at the hotel.

 

[Funball]

Hi all

I was wondering if some of you might be able to help me.

We are going to Disneyland in November/December this year. I have priced everything out and have decided that it would probably be good for one of us (me) to buy an AP for our visit. The cost of the AP is not much different to the 14 day hopper that I would have been getting, so with the discounts (doing 2 tours) etc it will definately be worth my while.

I just have a few questions before I go ahead and buy it.

There is talk of ticket prices going up in August. Now, normally would the AP prices go up at the same time, or do they go up separately at a whole different time?

Secondly, I would be getting the Deluxe AP. I have checked all the blockout dates and none of my dates are blocked out so all is good with that. But is it possible that they change the blockout dates (as in add some that haven't been blocked out yet) or will I be pretty safe going by the dates on the blockout calendar?

Finally, if I buy the AP a long time before I need to use it does it only become active when I actually pick it up or will it become active as soon as I pay for it?

Thanks so much for your help and I am sure I will have some more questions very soon.

xxx

I have never heard either of AP’s block out dates changing mid year. I think that once they are set at the beginning of the year, which is how they stay till the next year. So even so your buying a deluxe have way through the year, it is really worth it-as you said it is the same price as a 14 day park hopper, but you get discounts, witch will in the end save you a few bucks, and if you use it for how ever long you are on your trip plus the food discounts and discounts on tours (if deluxe gets them) then it’s pretty much paid for it self!

If you buy the AP *at* the ticket booths you will have to go into Disneyland park to the AP processing center, get your photo taken and then in 5 min, you get your new AP! And it will become active as soon as they hand it to you!!. and just like jtown said, with the premium AP you get a little more, more places with discounts, and the free parking…and because you didn’t specify what hotel or even if you are staying at a hotel that just like jtown I will also suggest just to add the parking to the deluxe pass, the premium is nice—but if the deluxe fits your style then you should go with that, but really the free parking does make a difference_and right there we are saving you $14.00 a day!!

 

[Funball]

The AP will be active when you use it the first day you go to the park. It doesn't become active the day you bought it or pick up.

not really..it becomes active as soon as they hand it to you.. even if you bought it online and then got the ticket version of it to get the actual AP, it still is active.... you just have to then exhange the ticket version for your REAL plasic version

 

[sonnyjane]

not really..it becomes active as soon as they hand it to you.. even if you bought it online and then got the ticket version of it to get the actual AP, it still is active.... you just have to then exhange the ticket version for your REAL plasic version

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying, but I just want to clarify for others reading (since it was confusing to me), your annual pass is NOT active if you buy it online until you go to the parks that first day. In other words, as the others have said, your year begins the first day you go to the parks, NOT the day you buy your pass online. I chose to buy my AP online last year and you print it out, take it to the turnstile, and then they give you a proper park-hopper pass that has to be turned into an official AP card by the end of the day.

 

[mvf-m11c]

I'm not sure I understand what you're saying, but I just want to clarify for others reading (since it was confusing to me), your annual pass is NOT active if you buy it online until you go to the parks that first day. In other words, as the others have said, your year begins the first day you go to the parks, NOT the day you buy your pass online. I chose to buy my AP online last year and you print it out, take it to the turnstile, and then they give you a proper park-hopper pass that has to be turned into an official AP card by the end of the day.

Just like what the pp said that the AP is active when you go to the parks the first day. When I bought my AP in April 2009 it said to bring it to the park on the day I arrived. Than when I got to DL in June and activated my AP, my date started on the day that I went into the parks.

I have read from other threads and been corrected by other DISers about this. It would be stupid if you buy the AP ticket and it becomes active when you bought it that day, if you buy it days in advance.

 

[aussiegirls]

Thanks for your help everyone.

So does anybody know if there will be an issue if I buy my AP quite a long way ahead (like 4 months)? I would rather buy it sooner if it will save me from a price rise - even if it's only $10, I would rather have the extra $10 to spend

We will be staying at the Hojo so I won't need parking, won't even have a car anyway. So I think the Deluxe suits me the best. I can still get the same discount on tours and I still get a discount on food. I don't need the parking and whilst it would be nice to have a discount in the shops I don't think that is enough to necessitate getting the Premium. Are there any other advantages the Premium would give me that I am missing?

Thanks so much guys - I am sooooooo excited

xxx

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Are there any other advantages the Premium would give me that I am missing?

Right now (besides parking) the food discount with a PAP is 15% while a DAP is 10%. Also usually only PAPs get discounts on merchandise. Right now everyone with an AP gets 10% (15% for PAPs?) until the end of September. Not sure if they'll extend it again (its been extended at least twice since it started last holiday season).

 

[blackjackdelta]

Right now (besides parking) the food discount with a PAP is 15% while a DAP is 10%. Also usually only PAPs get discounts on merchandise. Right now everyone with an AP gets 10% (15% for PAPs?) until the end of September. Not sure if they'll extend it again (its been extended at least twice since it started last holiday season).

Some of the reasons that my DGF bought her DAP a month ago. She thinks she can offset the PH price difference.

Jack

 

[prncssmel]

Right now (besides parking) the food discount with a PAP is 15% while a DAP is 10%. Also usually only PAPs get discounts on merchandise. Right now everyone with an AP gets 10% (15% for PAPs?) until the end of September. Not sure if they'll extend it again (its been extended at least twice since it started last holiday season).

Thanks for answering my question about whether Deluxe merchandise discounts were still going on before I even asked it!

 

[disneychrista]

If you have a AP voucher and it expires when you go to it they will have you pay the difference between what you paid and the current price. So you are really not out anything extra by buying now, even if the prices increase between now and when you use it.

 

[bulldoggrl]

Right now (besides parking) the food discount with a PAP is 15% while a DAP is 10%. Also usually only PAPs get discounts on merchandise. Right now everyone with an AP gets 10% (15% for PAPs?) until the end of September. Not sure if they'll extend it again (its been extended at least twice since it started last holiday season).

PAP is 20% through Sept 30.

 

[Brady's Mom]

We bought our AP's in Feb. 2009 and didn't activate them until the end of May 2009. It said on the voucher that we received that they had to be activated by May 31, 2009. Read the fine print when you are buying the AP and it should say when it needs to be activated by.

Good luck and have a great trip.

 

[1rocky]

thanks for the great advice everyone.
I will be buying an AP premium but will wait closer to the time as to avoid the voucher expiring before i get there. So for a trip Jan when would People buy online thanks

 

[jtown]

I'm looking at an eTicket for an annual pass from early April that had a "redeem by" date of 1/3/2011. Unless they shortened the shelf life, a purchase made last week probably would have been fine through your time frame. But that's really the kind of thing you should ask Disney directly. I don't see it listed specifically on their website so your best bet is to call them and ask how long you'll have to redeem the voucher.

 

[1rocky]

Thanks for your help
Have you bought yours now
I have tried phoning Disneyland cannot get through tried several times and even sending a couple of emails