Understanding AP renewal using tickets from package

[Anthony Vito]

Now, this is definitely something that, for us, is impacted to at least some degree by the park closures, but before trying to figure out that impact, I'd like to better understand how it works normally in a couple scenarios. Then I can better figure out what to ask WDW, if need be.

So, we had a trip last August with the Free Dining promo, but we signed our paperwork to become DVC members when we arrived. Thus, we were eligible for the Gold pass, so we upgraded our tickets to the Gold AP. That was a very simple process. We booked a bounceback Free Dining package for this August (arriving 8/22). Our passes expire 8/11, but we arrive just 11 days later, so my understanding is it's no issue to renew our passes using the credit from the tickets in the package. I would assume it would be fairly simple since we'll be within our renewal window. We're also staying at Beach Club, so I figured to play it safe, I'd just go over to the ticket booths at International Gateway as soon as we arrived. First, do I understand this correctly or am I missing anything of note?

How would it have worked, however, if we weren't traveling within our renewal window? So two possibilities there: if we were traveling more than 30 days after our passes expired, would we have been able to renew over the phone using the value of the tickets?

What about traveling before our renewal window? So I'm assuming we would not be able to use the tickets to renew at that point, so would we be able to save the tickets somehow and just use our passes, then use the tickets to renew within the renewal window? Also, how do the logistics work on that to ensure we're using the APs and not using the tickets to enter the parks? Bearing in mind on both of these scenarios, since we got the tickets as part of the package, they're date-based tickets with a starting day based on our arrival.

I'd like to understand these scenarios under normal circumstances, since the park closures now affect all of this, and if I understand what would normally happen, I can better figure out what to do and what questions to ask. Right now, there's a good chance, depending on how long the AP extension is for (and whether they count blockout dates in that extension) that our pass will expire more than 2 months after our August trip. It will most likely not extend to our end of November/beginning of December trip, however. So now I need to figure out what to do about having the tickets through the package and how to handle that with our expiration date now changing. I'd prefer that I be able to just use the tickets towards renewal, whenever that may be, but I don't know if that would be possible given the circumstance. Obviously there are a lot of unknowns on how they are handling these things now (and they probably don't know yet), but I can't imagine they will be more restrictive, so at least if I can figure out what's possible normally, then I can apply that loosely to the current circumstances.

 

[lanejudy]

Under normal circumstances (not this COVID-19 closures):
If you wanted to use your AP to book FP+ before arrival, you would need to renew in advance. I believe there's a 60-day window before expiration and a 30-day window post-expiration when you can renew. If you wait to renew on arrival, you won't have any FP+ booked until you do that renewal. I don't know that you can use package tickets to renew in advance of the package arrival date. So you may need to decide what's more important - having FP+ booked in advance of arrival, or using the package tickets towards this renewal. The package tickets can always be held for your next renewal.

if we were traveling more than 30 days after our passes expired

You'd have to do the math and decide if an AP "renewal" with discount makes sense for your plans over the course of the next 12 months. If not, you can allow the AP to lapse and buy new APs to get a full 12 months of use from them.

What about traveling before our renewal window?

Since you wouldn't need to renew yet, stop by Guest Relations or ticket window and have your APs prioritized to be used on this visit. The package tickets will sit in your account; they may disappear from your view so take a screenshot, but they should be available from WDW's computer system. When it's time to renew, use those tickets towards the renewal (or new APs).

With the current closure situation, your current APs will be extended to cover your August trip. You can then hold those package tickets to apply towards a renewal for your Nov/Dec trip.

Enjoy your vacations!

 

[Anthony Vito]

Under normal circumstances (not this COVID-19 closures):
If you wanted to use your AP to book FP+ before arrival, you would need to renew in advance. I believe there's a 60-day window before expiration and a 30-day window post-expiration when you can renew. If you wait to renew on arrival, you won't have any FP+ booked until you do that renewal. I don't know that you can use package tickets to renew in advance of the package arrival date. So you may need to decide what's more important - having FP+ booked in advance of arrival, or using the package tickets towards this renewal. The package tickets can always be held for your next renewal.

In that scenario, wouldn't we be able to use the package tickets to book FP+? Or would that make it so we can't save the tickets for future renewal?

With the current closure situation, your current APs will be extended to cover your August trip. You can then hold those package tickets to apply towards a renewal for your Nov/Dec trip.

That's what I was thinking and would have to see about, essentially. My worry there is that the extension will go beyond August, but not close enough to our Nov/Dec trip (11/29) so we'd be outside of the 30-day renewal. If the parks reopen 6/1, then the extension would either be for 77 days or 63 days (depending on whether the reduce the # because of the April blockout dates on the Gold Pass). Either way, we'd be short. 77 days would make my new pass expiration 10/27, which would mean I'd need to renew by 11/26, which is actually Thanksgiving day. Even if we came in a day or two earlier than planned, we'd not get there in time to renew using the tickets. By the same token, depending on what they do and allow, it might be too early to be able to renew while we're there in August.

Well, thanks, that's helpful. As you can see, that's already helping me form the scenarios and determine what I need to figure out both on my end and to ask Disney.

 

[lanejudy]

In that scenario, wouldn't we be able to use the package tickets to book FP+? Or would that make it so we can't save the tickets for future renewal?

Yep, the package tickets would allow you to make FP+.

You should be able to renew by phone if you aren't there in-person at renewal time.