Total confusion with AP renewal

[jjskribs]

Renewed our AP's which expire on Jan 1st. We received our pass holder magic bands but no discount card which I understand have been discontinued. Since we are at SOG our first three days we had a question as to how to get free parking our first time in the parks since the cards we have will now be expired. CM we called told us we should bring a 20 dollar bill to pay for parking and then go to guest services to be reimbursed and pick up "our cards". (Seriously!!!)

Called the AP phone line to verify that info and was told that everything was now loaded onto our magic bands and we would use them for everything including discounts. There would be NO cards and we could not get a card. My husband hates wearing the band and would much rather use a card. My questions to any AP holders with recent experiences are...

1) Will we indeed need to pay for parking our first time in?
2) Can/must we get a pass holder card and will that be used for discounts?
3) Does the right hand know what the left hand is doing?

I'm sure if I called again I would get yet another different answer!!! Thanks in advance to anyone who has had a recent experience since the "changes".

 

[brinkley07]

I got the new AP the first day the program started, and they did give me a card. During that trip in Oct and my recent trip in Dec I was asked to present my card for all discounts (as well as my ID). My bands do read that I am an AP holder, but it still seems a little confusing for all. Good luck!

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

Whether or not you get charged for parking the first day will depend on the parking CM you encounter. If you do pay, the ticket windows or Guest Relations can give you back that $20 after issuing you the yellow Mickey passholder card. Bring the parking receipt and your ID.

Calling anyone at Disney is a waste of your time.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Magic bands are not acceptable for discounts, etc. You must have the physical pass or the yellow card, plus a photo ID.

 

[Lady Marie]

2) Can/must we get a pass holder card and will that be used for discounts?

I renewed on the old system and they told me I would not get a card.... Tried to use my passholder discount that was "on my magic band" and was looked at like I had ten heads when I told the CM at the restaurant that they wouldn't give me a card. She took it to the back and tried to read the credentials, but apparently (and generally according to another CM) the wifi is too slow for them to load all that info on restaurant and store systems. They are mainly using a pay portal that doesn't need to access your MDE profile information or whatever.

I gave up with that mess and paid the difference to get the darn card on the new system. So I would say, yes, you can and yes, you must get a new discount card.

3) Does the right hand know what the left hand is doing?

That would be a hard no.

 

[GaSleepingBeautyFan]

My experience in early December 2015 with a newly renewed AP:

I took the bus the first time to a park so I don't know if I would have had to pay to park.
When I went to the Guest Relations outside of the park, they activated my AP, gave me a discount card.
Every time I wanted to buy something, I had to show the discount card and my ID to get the AP Discount.

And now that I'm home and fully unpacked I realized I have lost my discount card so I'll have to get another. Sigh. I knew I should have been more careful packing up to come home. And my Disney Visa Rewards card is missing which was luckily empty. And my Hard Rock Access card is missing too. They must all be together someplace. Rats.

I don't think the right hand knows what the left is doing at Disney. They can barely get their website to work. I told my son when he finishes his Software Engineering degree that he should apply at Disney. He said no way does he want to be involved with their website mess.

 

[scrapquitler]

Renewed our AP's which expire on Jan 1st. We received our pass holder magic bands but no discount card which I understand have been discontinued. Since we are at SOG our first three days we had a question as to how to get free parking our first time in the parks since the cards we have will now be expired. CM we called told us we should bring a 20 dollar bill to pay for parking and then go to guest services to be reimbursed and pick up "our cards". (Seriously!!!)

Called the AP phone line to verify that info and was told that everything was now loaded onto our magic bands and we would use them for everything including discounts. There would be NO cards and we could not get a card. My husband hates wearing the band and would much rather use a card. My questions to any AP holders with recent experiences are...

1) Will we indeed need to pay for parking our first time in?
2) Can/must we get a pass holder card and will that be used for discounts?
3) Does the right hand know what the left hand is doing?

I'm sure if I called again I would get yet another different answer!!! Thanks in advance to anyone who has had a recent experience since the "changes".

When we stayed off site, I parked several days. One day they scanned my band, one day they just waved me thru, one day they scanned my AP card (not the disount card, the pass itself).

 

[Accident]

There is a new card that is both the hard ticket and the discount card in 1. Disney always has the option to get a hard pass and not use a magic band. Just use your band to park the first time and then ask any ticket window for a replacement annual pass card.. You'll need your ID.

This isn't the first thread where people are being told use your band and a mix of experiences on if a CM could even look up if you were an AP (or confused because they want the card).. When it comes down to it, the magic band is optional and you can opt to have a hard card and they will provide you one.

 

[sls404]

My sister upgraded her ticket to an AP in September at EPCOT. The CM scanned her magic band and basically said here ya go! Did not give her a hard ticket or the AP booklet that lists all of the discounts. Luckily I was standing with her and told her she needed to get a card for her discounts.

I have never been asked to scan my band to get my merchandise discount, they have always asked for my card and ID.

 

[freediverdude]

I renewed my AP a couple days ago, and now there is one card that is both the ticket and the discount card for this year. If you renewed online, you should be able to use a magicband for parking the first time since it will show on your account, and technically you could use it for park admission also, but you'll still want to stop by a ticket window to pick up your physical card for discounts. If you want to be extra safe worrying about a CM will give you a hard time about the parking, you can bring along $20 to get reimbursed just in case, but it really shouldn't be necessary.

 

[DOOM1001]

I renewed my seasonal pass which expires on Jan. 3 to the equivalent silver last night,I did it online and from what I gathered I don't have to even go to a ticket window on my next visit January 9th for marathon weekend,I can just enter using one of my many magic bands(I think I'm up to like 8-9).I guess eventually I do have to go to a window and pick up a physical AP card for discounts and parking.Is everything I mentioned correct,I technically can just continue entering with my band without going to a window to get a card and are there no more discount cards?From what I'm hearing the AP physical card is what works for discounts and parking and is this card something I have to pick up at a window or will it come with my AP magic bands package?

 

[JLTraveling]

We just renewed in mid-December. Renewed online, then on our first day, walked from Boardwalk to Epcot International Gateway. Stopped at Guest Relations before entering and picked up our cards. As others mentioned, it's a yellow Mickey card that says Passholder and is good for admission (if you don't want to use a Magic Band), parking, and discounts. I have no clue if we would have had to pay to park, but I'm betting that's CM by CM, and whether or not you get reimbursed would also depend on the CM you got. We did a fair amount of shopping and were asked for the card for discounts every time. From what I understand, the only way to get a card is at Guest Relations, but if you have an existing linked Magic Band, it is activated to your new pass right away.

No, the right hand definitely does not know what the left hand is doing

 

[herewegoga]

We just got annual passes last week and we were given the discount cards.