When do AP's start?

[nkjzmom]

At one point I thought they weren't activated until you first used them....then it seems as if I read they started from the date you purchased them....which is it?

 

[pointandshoot]

First day used on a new AP pass. Renewals post date back to one year from activation day and month.

-Chuck

 

[DebbieB]

If you buy a new voucher, it's the date it's traded in for the actual pass. When you buy at the Disney Store or over the phone, you get a voucher rather than the actual pass.

 

[Lesley]

Okay, to summarize....

If you purchase an actual AP (at the parks, or any one of certain locations in the WDW area) it starts at the time of purchase.

If you renew an annual pass, you get a year from the date of expiration of the previous pass.

If you purchase an AP voucher through the Disney Store (or over the phone or online) you must turn it in for an activated AP at the parks...at which time your year begins.

Whenever in doubt make sure you know what you are purchasing and when your clock starts ticking before you hand over the cash or sign the credit card slip!

 

[rangebob]

It starts the first time that you walk through the gate into the park.

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by Robert Walker
It starts the first time that you walk through the gate into the park.

Since they print "valid through xx/xx/xxxx" on the back when you activate it, would it be a different date if you didn't go through the gate that day? Alot of people who arrive late like to get their passes activated the night before and don't actually enter the parks until the next day. I thought they changed this when they changed the renewal rules, that the date printed on the back is the actual date.

 

[seashoreCM]

>>> ... you know what you are purchasing and when your clock starts ticking before you hand over the cash ...

Yes indeed! Inspect the pass to be sure the expiration date is correct, one year from "today". Once in awhile the ticket agent makes a mistake. Also inspect a replacement AP gotten because the original's paper material disintegrated at a water park.

(For AP's renewed at a discount, membership is continuous. Expect the expiration date to be one year from the previous AP's expiration.)

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Next trip planned: Nov '03, All Star Music, with premium AP

 

[GoldenOldie]

Originally posted by DebbieB
Since they print "valid through xx/xx/xxxx" on the back when you activate it, would it be a different date if you didn't go through the gate that day? Alot of people who arrive late like to get their passes activated the night before and don't actually enter the parks until the next day. I thought they changed this when they changed the renewal rules, that the date printed on the back is the actual date.

They did change this in 2000. An AP no longer has to be first used for it to be activated. It is either purchased already activated in Florida (no voucher involved) or it becomes activated when you exchange the voucher for the AP. In either case, using it to actually enter a park is not required for the clock to begin ticking.

 

[nkjzmom]

Let me just make sure I've got it.

My plan is to purchase our 6 AP's from our local Disney store (they will really be vouchers, right?) by this Dec. to use my DC discount. I can hold onto those until we get to Disney then trade them in for the real passes and that's when the one year starts correct? (We are not planning a trip until Oct of 2004, but MAY go before that, depending on how everything goes after the baby is born in Feb/Mar.)

 

[GoldenOldie]

Originally posted by nkjzmom
Let me just make sure I've got it.

My plan is to purchase our 6 AP's from our local Disney store (they will really be vouchers, right?) by this Dec. to use my DC discount. I can hold onto those until we get to Disney then trade them in for the real passes and that's when the one year starts correct? (We are not planning a trip until Oct of 2004, but MAY go before that, depending on how everything goes after the baby is born in Feb/Mar.)

You got it.

 

[tinkerb]

I sent my renewal in for my AP passes, and they are going to send me a voucher, right? so can anyone tell me what I do with the voucher once i get it? do i take it to any of the parks and go to the ticket counter or to customer service? do we have to get new biometric readings? ;o) I am getting excited........

 

[GoldenOldie]

Your renewal voucher is handled exactly the same as the regular AP voucher. Bring it along with your old pass and photo ID (no tragedy if you don't have the old pass) to any Guest Relations or major park ticket booth. They will exchange it for your renewed AP. Remember that the renewal will be backdated to the expiration date of the old AP. Your biometric readings are set the first time you use the pass at a park turnstile.

 

[Lesley]

Just make sure what you get from the Disney store is a voucher....though it definitely should be a voucher unless they change things before then! Vouchers are hard plastic cards (last time I had one anyway)....the actual AP's are paper and very flimsy.

Drives me nuts that the AP's are just paper!

 

[webmomom]

I renewed our AP this year. The expiration date was the middle of June. I also thought my new expiration date would be the same as last years, but to my surprised the expiration date is the date we handed the voucher in. So now my AP's will run out July 27 ,2004.

If you are handing in the voucher from a renewal at the parks, here is a tip to help get through it faster. Bring your old AP's with you. They can just swipe them and get the info from them. I did not know this a left the old ones at home and it took forever to get the new AP's. Besides the fact she had to put all the info back into the computer, she was new and had to ask a lot of questions on the different areas she was not sure of.

 

[GoldenOldie]

Originally posted by webmomom
I renewed our AP this year. The expiration date was the middle of June. I also thought my new expiration date would be the same as last years, but to my surprised the expiration date is the date we handed the voucher in. So now my AP's will run out July 27 ,2004.
Yes, this does happen on occasion. The CM's are so used to doing the new AP vouchers that they change the default date to the current day. Your CM probably forgot she was doing a renewal. It's wonderful when it happens but shouldn't be counted on.


If you are handing in the voucher from a renewal at the parks, here is a tip to help get through it faster. Bring your old AP's with you. They can just swipe them and get the info from them. I did not know this a left the old ones at home and it took forever to get the new AP's. Besides the fact she had to put all the info back into the computer, she was new and had to ask a lot of questions on the different areas she was not sure of.
You're right, it does make it go faster but as I mentioned above it isn't absolutely necessary to do the renewal. But it does make it go faster.