As the pp said, you should be fine as long as you renew at the Deluxe AP level. You should receive a blockout ticket/pass since you'll be renewing on a day your pass is blocked out. It's the Flex Pass that doesn't receive blockout tickets, which is why another poster asked about that. Just as further confirmation, you can call the AP Hotline (number on the back of your pass) to ask about this.
I think the pp was referring to letting your AP expire, then buying a one day ticket and applying that toward the purchase of a new AP. (The pp was not aware that you will be visiting before your pass expires.) As far as I know (and other posters have confirmed this), Disney no longer "officially" allows passholders to apply unused tickets toward AP renewals. YMMV depending on which CM you get at the ticket booth. But, if you are going to pay full price for a one day ticket (and discounts are rare on those) to apply toward a renewal, why not just pay that amount toward your AP renewal in the first place and get the blockout ticket like you were already planning to do? You won't be saving any money by buying a one day ticket to use toward a renewal. And being a few days early to renew doesn't matter here -- you are within your 40 day renewal window anyway. You can renew any time starting 40 days before your expiration date. So go ahead with your original plan to renew on 12/7 and receive a free blockout pass. That, at least, will save you the cost of an additional park ticket.
Just spoke with the person I know in ticketing. Here’s what she said. “If you put down your deposit of $154, they’ll give you a one-day exception for that day only. Must be within your 40-day expirations window.”
