When to Buy Annual Passes?

[Splashboat]

I purchased 3 13 month AP's on 3 different days. All 3 (different) CMs said that the passes must be activated within 18 months of purchase. It appears not all CMs are informing people of the 18 month expiration, which can
definitely present a problem especially as once added to MDE, the notation is that they expire 12/31/2030.
side note: the 13 months worked out great for us as we like to go around the same times (early-mid May, early-mid Oct) every year

I linked our tickets to MDE. The expiration date shows 18 months from the date of purchase not 2030. I wrote and received a response that the 13 for 12 expires 18 months from purchase date but the tickets can still be used for 12 months and don't expire until 2030.

 

[LisaS]

I linked our tickets to MDE. The expiration date shows 18 months from the date of purchase not 2030. I wrote and received a response that the 13 for 12 expires 18 months from purchase date but the tickets can still be used for 12 months and don't expire until 2030.

Interesting. I have not linked mine to MDE yet since I currently have an active AP linked and don't want to have multiple tickets in the system.

Here are the Offer Details for the DVC Gold AP from Disney's website, in case anyone else wants a copy:


Important Details

This offer is not valid for water park passes or passes previously purchased and cannot be combined with other discounts or offers. Passes are 13 consecutive months, nontransferable and nonrefundable. Blockout dates apply to certain pass types.

Disney Gold Pass Blockout Dates
The following blockout dates apply: December 19, 2016 - January 2, 2017; April 8, 2017 - April 21, 2017; December 18 - January 02, 2018.

Disney PhotoPass Downloads
The Disney Platinum Plus Pass, Disney Platinum Pass and Disney Gold Pass include a benefit that lets you access and download Disney PhotoPass photos captured in your account from the first valid date of your pass until your pass expires. Plus, access and downloading is available after pass expiration for as long as the photo is stored in the system (365 days from date of capture).To start using this benefit, simply link your pass to the Disney account you will use to retrieve photos. Entitlement includes discounted prices on prints and physical product purchases; entitlement is non-transferable. Access and downloading is not available for photos captured after pass expiration or after a pass is removed from a Disney account.

Pass Pick-Up Information
Once you receive your pass certificate, you must exchange it for a valid pass prior to first use at one of the following locations: any Walt Disney World theme park or water park ticket window, or any Guest Relations location. You will need to show a valid photo ID to pick up your pass.

Price for Disney Vacation Club Members
Item(s) are priced for Disney Vacation Club Members only. For these items, you must show a valid Disney Vacation Club Membership ID at the park entrance to pick up your tickets or passes.

 

[LisaS]

I wrote and received a response that the 13 for 12 expires 18 months from purchase date but the tickets can still be used for 12 months and don't expire until 2030.

Who did you write to? I would like to write as well, highlighting the fact that this information was not disclosed prior to purchase.

 

[Splashboat]

Who did you write to? I would like to write as well, highlighting the fact that this information was not disclosed prior to purchase.

Disney ticketing. This was the response (I don't want to add the person's name because I don't want to have the person singled out if people write/call)

Thank you for contacting Walt Disney World Ticketing.

All Passholder 13 for 12 Exchange Certificates expire 18 months from purchase, regardless if they were purchased online, over the phone, or in person.
If you are unable to activate your Exchange Certificates within 18 months, they will still be valid for a DVC Gold Pass, but only for a 12 month validity instead of 13. Alternatively we may also take the purchase value and apply it towards a new ticket or pass that is equal or greater than in value.

Should you have additional questions, please contact us again by replying to this message or calling 407-566-4985 option 5. Our office hours are 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. EST seven (7) days a week.

 

[DisneyFirstTimer10]

Did you get an email confirmation when purchasing over the phone? I haven't received mine yet. I was however able to link to MDE using the confirmation number I was given.

 

[LSchrow]

Did you get an email confirmation when purchasing over the phone? I haven't received mine yet. I was however able to link to MDE using the confirmation number I was given.

they don't send you any confirmation (email or postal) - I specifically asked as one of the APs I bought was a gift (I just wrapped an old AP). They do retain a record of your confirmation # - I found it easiest (i.e., less stressful than trying to remember months from now where the heck I wrote it down) just to add the tix to MDE as soon as purchased. If your plans change, unused passes can easily be reassigned to someone else in DME.
That is interesting about the 13 months AP turning into a 12 month at 18 months from purchase date. I was only told the passes had to be activated within that timeframe, so the worse case scenario of losing a month is much, MUCH better than possibly losing the entire value of the pass

 

[mrsg00fy]

We activated two of the 13 month passes yesterday. I had two more for other family members that we will not activate until this summer and next. The guest relations CM specifically told me that the remaining vouchers were good until 2030. She did not mention that the passes would only be good for 12 months instead of 13 months if we chose to activate them more than 18 months from now.

 

[LisaS]

Interesting post from kristenrice in post #14 of this thread: http://www.disboards.com/threads/mystery-package-from-disney-what-could-it-be.3569276/#post-56932725 She just received a voucher for a 13-month AP. The letter that came with the pass stated that the pass is good for 13 months from the date of redemption of the voucher. There is no mention of an 18-month deadline to redeem the voucher. The only deadline mentioned in 2030.

 

[Brian Noble]

This seems like one of those situations in which The Powers That Be keep changing their minds on what they plan to do and/or a policy they expect to follow but can't quite implement correctly.

 

[CarolMN]

I purchased 2 of the 13 month GOLD passes online on 12/8/2017.

Below is the info that came with the confirming email & bar code. The email also included the "usual" Terms and Conditions that are sent with all WDW ticket purchases. The important details from the confirming detail are pretty much the same as what LisaS posted from the website.

Note the sentence I bolded in red. - nothing about the needing to activate the pass before a certain date to get the additional month. It wouldn't have been difficult for them to add a qualifier that said the pass had to be activated by xx/xx/xxxx to receive the extra month. Since they didn't do that and since there hasn't been a time limit in the past for exchange certificates/will call purchases to be activated, I'm interpreting the sentence to mean that whenever the pass is activated, I get 13 consecutive months of use before my pass expires.


Important Details

Disney PhotoPass Downloads
The Disney Platinum Plus Pass, Disney Platinum Pass and Disney Gold Pass include a benefit that lets you access and download Disney PhotoPass photos captured in your account from the first valid date of your pass until your pass expires. Plus, access and downloading is available after pass expiration for as long as the photo is stored in the system (365 days from date of capture).To start using this benefit, simply link your pass to the Disney account you will use to retrieve photos. Entitlement includes discounted prices on prints and physical product purchases; entitlement is non-transferable. Access and downloading is not available for photos captured after pass expiration or after a pass is removed from a Disney account.'m

Disney Gold Pass Blockout Dates
The following blockout dates apply: December 19, 2016 - January 2, 2017; April 8, 2017 - April 21, 2017; December 18 - January 02, 2018.

Price for Disney Vacation Club Members
Item(s) are priced for Disney Vacation Club Members only. For these items, you must show a valid Disney Vacation Club Membership ID at the park entrance to pick up your tickets or passes.

Pass Pick-Up Information
Once you receive your pass certificate, you must exchange it for a valid pass prior to first use at one of the following locations: any Walt Disney World theme park or water park ticket window, or any Guest Relations location. You will need to show a valid photo ID to pick up your pass.

This offer is not valid for water park passes or passes previously purchased and cannot be combined with other discounts or offers. Passes are 13 consecutive months, nontransferable and nonrefundable. Blockout dates apply to certain pass types.