Some questions about APs, tickets, DDE, etc etc

[IloveWINNIEthePOOH]

I'm obviously a night owl and think about Disney over half that time because I post tons on here at night! But I have some few questions... I'm sure all of you wonderful DISers will have the answers for me! And I hope they all make sense and aren't confusing! Here goes-

1--If I buy my tickets at a Disney store....,
1a.-Where can I activate them?
1b.- If they DON'T have the no expiration on them, do they expire, I'm guessing, 14 days after activating?
1c.-If I buy the tickets at a Disney Store, what form are they in? Are they the actual ticket, or other?

2--If I order an AP over the phone (w/ Disney CM)....,
2a-Where can I activate that?
2b-Does it also expire 1 yr after expiration?
2c-Where else can I buy and AP, if I don't want to order over the phone?
2d-If I do order the AP over the phone, does the AP come in it's actual form, or in paper/other form?

3--DDE, if/when I order over the phone...
3a. Does it have to be activated somewhere
3b. Does it come in the acual card form (I heard it is first emailed/faxed to you)
3c. When does it expire (1 yr after ordering, or 1 yr after activating?)

Well, I hope that's all, for now, at least! I know it's alot, and I appreciate the help, so much!!!!

 

[Lisa Hale]

1--If I buy my tickets at a Disney store....,
1a.-Where can I activate them? I was told by a clerk at our Disney Store that you couldn't purchase the tickets at the Disney Stores anymore - only through Disney (either website or by phone). Please, someone, let me know if this is wrong.
1b.- If they DON'T have the no expiration on them, do they expire, I'm guessing, 14 days after activating?
1c.-If I buy the tickets at a Disney Store, what form are they in? Are they the actual ticket, or other?

2--If I order an AP over the phone (w/ Disney CM)....,
2a-Where can I activate that? from the receipt attached to our AP vouchers, "To receive your new pass, please present the enclosed Annual/Premium Annual Exchange Certificate and a valid photo ID at any Walt Disney World Theme Park ticket window. Your new pass will be valid for ONE YEAR from the date of issuance."
2b-Does it also expire 1 yr after expiration? Expires one year after activation.
2c-Where else can I buy and AP, if I don't want to order over the phone? Website - www.disney.com
2d-If I do order the AP over the phone, does the AP come in it's actual form, or in paper/other form? Just got ours - it comes on a small plasticized card affixed to a letter/receipt.

3--DDE, if/when I order over the phone...
3a. Does it have to be activated somewhere
3b. Does it come in the acual card form (I heard it is first emailed/faxed to you)
3c. When does it expire (1 yr after ordering, or 1 yr after activating?) We were told by someone at the DDE line not to purchase this until ready to use, as it expires one year from actual date of purchase - that's why they will fax or email you a copy since it takes several weeks to get to you and is then already several weeks old.

Hope this helps, I've always purchased annual passes at our Disney Store, so this is a new way of purchasing them for us. Please correct me if anyone knows of any of this that I have been misinformed about. Thanks!

 

[scoutsmom99]

1--If I buy my tickets at a Disney store....,
1a.-Where can I activate them?

---they are activated the first time you use them at the parks! The Disney Store only sells tickets that have an expiration (if you want to add the no expiration feature you can do that at any of the parks!). Also you will be taxed FL sales tax of 6.5% on them (no state taxes will apply on ticket purchases at the Disney store.

1b.- If they DON'T have the no expiration on them, do they expire, I'm guessing, 14 days after activating?

---Yes they will expire 14 days after activation

1c.-If I buy the tickets at a Disney Store, what form are they in? Are they the actual ticket, or other?

---They are the actual tickets

I think I read somewhere that not all Disney Stores sell the Park Tickets so be sure to check with your local TDS

2--If I order an AP over the phone (w/ Disney CM)....,
2a-Where can I activate that?

---Guest Relations at any theme park or Guest Relations at DTD (Market Place or West Side)

2b-Does it also expire 1 yr after expiration?

---It expires 366 days after expiration (ex: Activated Sept 30 2004 good through Sept 30 2005).

2c-Where else can I buy and AP, if I don't want to order over the phone?

---You can buy an AP ahead of time on-line (www.disney.com)
---For an activated pass upon purchase:
- Any WDW major park ticket window
- Guest Relations at Downtown Disney and West Side
- The Ocala Disney Information Center on I-75 in Ocala, FL
- Disney's EarPort at Orlando International Airport (2 locations)
- Character Warehouse at Belz Mall 2 in Orlando
- Character Premiere at Belz Mall 1 in Orlando
- Character Premiere at Orlando Premium Outlets Mall in Lake Buena Vista

2d-If I do order the AP over the phone, does the AP come in it's actual form, or in paper/other form?

---No it comes in a plastic card form (it is green(or at least it was last year)).

3--DDE, if/when I order over the phone...
3a. Does it have to be activated somewhere

---No it is basically activated when you order it (I ordered mine in January 2005 and it is good until Feb 28, 2006.

3b. Does it come in the acual card form (I heard it is first emailed/faxed to you)

---When I ordered my DDE (it was like a week before my trip) they sent an e-mail confirtmation for me to use, until a card arrived (the card came like 5 weeks later)

3c. When does it expire (1 yr after ordering, or 1 yr after activating?)

----It is good for one year after ordering it.

 

[IloveWINNIEthePOOH]

You guys are AWESOME!!! Thanks so much!!!!

 

[tjkraz]

I just wanted to add that some of the info posted here about DDE is just a little outdated due to recent changes made by the folks that issue the DDE cards. They will no longer email or fax confirmation after purchase of the DDE. Instead they will send a letter in the mail (yes, USPS) which you can use temporarily until the actual card arrives.

If you order on short notice, they will arrange for a temporary ID card to print at the Epcot Guest Services window, which you can claim about 24 hours later.

We ordered the DDE back in April and our temporary letter arrived at home less than a week later. We had no problems using the letter throughout the trip. Our DDE membership is set to run through 5/31/06, which gives us about 13 months' use from it.