When to pay for meal plan and annual pass?

[rutgers1]

We are headed to Disney on our first trip as members in August. We put in for the meal plan, but were told that we should pay for it upon arrival since Member Services cannot handle payments over the phone. Are we able to pay prior to arrival? Also, are we able to purchase our annual passes (this is our first time buying) prior to arrival?..........Is there any advantage to paying beforehand?

 

[IggyLans]

You may purchase AP's before your trip. You'll get vouchers that you exchange for the actual AP at Guest Services. The advantage of doing that is you can purchase one at the time. You have to pay for DDP at the time of check in.

 

[erionm]

The biggest reason to purchase an AP exchange voucher is to beat any price increase. The last two AP increases have been in early August.

 

[rutgers1]

Can you beat an age increase by purchasing beforehand, too? In other words, if your child is a "child" now but not when you will arrive, will you get the child's rate if you purchase now? I hate to be looking for ways to beat the system, but considering Disney has raised park tickets something like 8 times the rate of inflation in recent years, I'll save a few bucks any way I can.

 

[DebbieB]

Can you beat an age increase by purchasing beforehand, too? In other words, if your child is a "child" now but not when you will arrive, will you get the child's rate if you purchase now?

It goes by the age when the voucher is exchanged for the actual pass, which is when the year starts.

 

[YourEveryDayAdam]

It goes by the age when the voucher is exchanged for the actual pass, which is when the year starts.

I have read that they will let it slide, if it looks "kosher". They know when the voucher was sold, and you have to prove the age of your child. So, if you can prove that you bought the voucher when your child was of the correct age, then they will likely let it slide, so long as you aren't off by much.