ANNUAL PASSES ARE BACK!!!

[varns529]

I get the joy of AP’s, but let me ask this question, for bigger families is the AP worth it? Just run quick numbers and if our family did like 7 park days a year , it would take 10-11 years to make up the difference in price from buying direct vs resale. Am I missing something or do AP holders do way more park days a year?

Thanks

 

[Brian Noble]

I see that All Is Forgiven.

So maths wise you'd need to do two or more shorter trips to make it be cheaper, if you do one long trip actually cheaper just to buy tickets.

This has pretty much always been the breakpoint for any AP except the lowest-level FL resident one(s)---an AP has always paid off somewhere around two trips, give or take.

That's also remarkably consistent with how "regular" amusement parks price their season passes: right around two separate days' admission at gate price.

Probably not an accident, that.

 

[Brian Noble]

Still want to know if I buy a voucher, how long do I have to activate it?

According to the current T&Cs, one year.

A Pass will expire if it is not activated within one (1) year from the date of purchase, and upon expiration, such expired Pass may no longer be activated or have park reservations scheduled for it, and any existing park reservations for such Pass will be cancelled. No refunds will be given. The original Pass may not be transferred, and the amount paid for the original Pass may not be redeemed for cash or be used for any other purpose other than the purchase of another Pass or ticket. However, the amount paid for an unactivated, expired Pass may be applied towards the purchase of a new Pass or ticket (subject to availability) at the then current price so long as the new Pass or ticket purchase price is equal to or greater than the amount paid for the original Pass.

 

[RoseGold]

One was Resale (early 2014) and one was Direct (slightly later in 2014.

You're grandfathered Blue Card, this is just bad Disney IT. This was just someone on the phone who couldn't figure it out. You could get this fixed with the grandfathered one as well.

 

[BamaGuy44]

I get the joy of AP’s, but let me ask this question, for bigger families is the AP worth it? Just run quick numbers and if our family did like 7 park days a year , it would take 10-11 years to make up the difference in price from buying direct vs resale. Am I missing something or do AP holders do way more park days a year?

Thanks

Doing 7 park days a year, an AP won't benefit your family, unless you were able to stagger your dates and get 2 trips out of it. Even then it wouldn't save you much. We do 7-10 park days per year for 20+ years and never bought APs. And as we've all learned, you can't even count on the APs being available to factor into your math of resale vs direct.

 

[RuntheMouse]

Yeah!!! I soo could have used them last year. Now hopefully they do not play the game of only for a limited time and then close it again. Cause this year I am not going to WDW so cannot justify paying for AP since I am doing Aulani and then just a couple Disneyland so no reason to by an AP. But then the next year I have two trips planned for WDW.

I’d consider buying them now and letting them sit inactive. Who knows if they’ll be available when you need to purchase next year. You’ll lock in prices too.

 

[karrit2000]

I'm wondering what time the passes will become available online on the 13th to purchase. This works out great for my May trip but I won't activate until I use my leftover day from my ticket from last September. Was considering doing the after hours event on 5/17 at DHS also.

 

[varns529]

Doing 7 park days a year, an AP won't benefit your family, unless you were able to stagger your dates and get 2 trips out of it. Even then it wouldn't save you much. We do 7-10 park days per year for 20+ years and never bought APs. And as we've all learned, you can't even count on the APs being available to factor into your math of resale vs direct.

What I’m thinking, either people do a heck a lot more park days then us or I’m missing something. On numerous boards people are going crazy that AP are back, again just wanted to know if I’m the idiot in the room.

 

[BroganMc]

I would love to buy the annual passes, but alas I don't just have $2000 sitting around to buy 2 passes. We are ones who would make the drive and do several shorter trips throughout they year if we could find a pass manageable. We now can only manage to swing a 5 day trip once a year, and don't have the ability to do this year after we did 2022 and 2021. Too bad they still never offered DVC members the payment plan like they do Florida residents. Guess they aren't really wanting some DVC members to come but once a year?

You know when I have situations like this, I put money in a bank account every month to save up. Then it's not so painful when I write the check or pay the credit card.

However you were right. Disney is extremely expensive these days. Park tickets are outrageously expensive. That's why my family has been so eager to get annual passes. We take several trips in a year and some members have only been able to visit the parks a few days because the tickets were just too darn expensive.

 

[mz-s]

RIP the mods who have to merge all these threads.

 

[RoseGold]

I get the joy of AP’s, but let me ask this question, for bigger families is the AP worth it? Just run quick numbers and if our family did like 7 park days a year , it would take 10-11 years to make up the difference in price from buying direct vs resale. Am I missing something or do AP holders do way more park days a year?

Thanks

If you could get two trips out of an Incredipass, that would handle at least two years of this "discount" from buying direct.

Then you could decide what ticket options are best in three years.

 

[dcibrando]

If we purchase a voucher for an annual pass, my understanding is now we only have 1 year to “activate” it is that correct?

What happens if we don’t activate it within a year of purchase, do we just pay any difference in cost at that time?

 

[BroganMc]

We’ve bought for household members several times over the years. In the past you had to activate your voucher at guest relations at a park before entering for the first use. At that time household members had to show ID with your current address listed.

I’m not sure if that will be the same process moving forward.

That's how it always worked for me. But I would call member services to purchase the voucher. Now that I think about it, I just validated my eligibility. They never questioned my household members. That came later when we went to activate the annual pass. Then my family had to show their photo ID and that we shared the same address.

Our contracts are a little different. When my dad and I bought them, we added my three siblings to the contracts. Made them full members. Which then granted privileges to all of their families. Something they didn't fully appreciate until the last few years. Of course now we have a complication. Several of those children have grown up and moved out.

 

[Sandisw]

Is there typical a children's rate? or is it just 1 ticket for any age?
When we buy it, how long can we wait to really activate it. It will be fall possibly August before we can go. So does annual time period start at purchase or first day of use?
Thanks for your thoughts and experience!

The pass certificate must be activated within one year of purchase for the AP…if not, then you only have its value toward a new pass…if tickets are suspended by then, you won’t be able to get one.

This all assumes the rules are not different then what they were before suspension

 

[Sandisw]

One price only. You should be able to hold it for years. It should be first day activated and used.

Anyone surprised this is going on now, since the 50th anniversary ended. I’m not. I guessed this would happen. It’s about time. Lots of semi happy people now. Happy to get the pass, not happy at the price.

Vouchers are no longer valid for years…it’s one year from date of purchase to be activated. So guests can no longer purchase and hold for a long time.

 

[karen4546]

Is this timing designed to be just after spring break weeks end so folks can't apply those visits' tickets' value towards the AP purchase? (Is/was that still a thing?)

They could NOT be bringing them back at all. I doubt they are designing the return of APs “so folks can’t apply those visits’ tickets’”.

 

[The Jackal]

Have the same question....have tickets bought for a trip in July ($3,500 I spent on these things) - hope they let me apply via the phone....

Yes you should if you have Blue card benefits.

 

[karen4546]

I get the joy of AP’s, but let me ask this question, for bigger families is the AP worth it? Just run quick numbers and if our family did like 7 park days a year , it would take 10-11 years to make up the difference in price from buying direct vs resale. Am I missing something or do AP holders do way more park days a year?

Thanks

You could save on rooms by buying just two passes or maybe even one pass if you are booking just two rooms with AP discount.

 

[mom2tcdx2]

You know when I have situations like this, I put money in a bank account every month to save up. Then it's not so painful when I write the check or pay the credit card.

However you were right. Disney is extremely expensive these days. Park tickets are outrageously expensive. That's why my family has been so eager to get annual passes. We take several trips in a year and some members have only been able to visit the parks a few days because the tickets were just too darn expensive.

Gets even worse if I wanted my kids or grandson to be able to go as well. I would love to be able to manage to go to Disney 2 or 3 times a year, we live in Virginia so not super convenient just to do short trips though. While having the points for the hotels is nice I haven't added on more points like I would like to do because I know I just can't afford the lump sum of the passes. Of course I am sure they will stop selling them again before I could mange to save up almost $2000.

 

[karen4546]

I have 2 memberships: One was Resale (early 2014) and one was Direct (slightly later in 2014. Have always had AP's.
This week I called to renew and for the first time, it was a very odd phone call. Put Main Membership # into the computer (as always it's the slightly earlier BCV Resale one..my first DVC purchase....the one ALWAYS used by DVC for any phone call/computer).

This time I was put on hold a long time and the CM comes back on and says "Do you have any other membership"? Yes, I have a Poly Direct one. He asks for THAT #". Hold again. He comes back on and says "that's the one I needed" and tells me he must connect me to another dept to renew the AP. Then he says "Make sure you give THAT # to them, not the other". WHAT??? First time this ever happened. All worked out fine and I renewed the Sorcerer AP but it is obvious something is taking place. I presume this means only Direct will be able to buy/renew a Sorcerer Pass, either now of very soon. Just my opinion.

Wasn’t there a restriction that direct or grandfathered in could benefit from membership extras?