Annual Pass questions

[Starbuc71 162]

We are looking in to getting AP this November. I need to know where is the best place to purchase them. Also depending where you get them do you get the new magic band, paper ticket or plastic card? I am also getting different answers on when the passes actually activate. I guess some places like the Disney store will sell you vouchers and the first time you go to a park they will be activated. AAA says they activate when you purchase. I would love to start buying (1) pass each month with a voucher so I am not paying for all 4 at once but want to make sure they don't activate upon purchase or all 4 will becoming due on different months. Help?

[AC in A2......Aaron 693]

I bought mine through DVC Member Services and they are vouchers that activate the day you exchange them for the actual APs at WDW.  Pretty sure the ones purchased direct from WDW work the same.

 

Not sure about AAA.

[DramaMama .......... Janet 75]

We have bought ours only through the WDW website, so I can't tell you about AAA.  They will mail you a paper voucher.  Unless it has changed, you have to go to a park ticket booth  (we always did MK) where they will exchange the voucher for your passes.  At that point they are good for one year regardless of when you purchased them.  The last time we got the vouchers the resorts were not able to exchange them for passes - only the park gates. 

 

Any fiends got more updated info???

[mouseketab.....Carol 1,261]

I think it is still only park gates that can handle APs.

[DaveInTN 3,247]

It's been several years since we had them, but we did buy our AP's through AAA South (same AAA they have in Florida), who at that time had just about the best price for them.  They were basically vouchers, and did NOT activate until we got to the parks our first day.  They were good for 1 year from that day of activation, not from when we purchased them. 

[Memphis 105]

We got 3day passes as Christmas present and they were vouchers that we had to exchange for tickets at guest relations. Just wanted to add we upgraded the 3 day to AP and used the monthly pay plan. For AP you pay 1day park admission and then 12 equal payments with the 1st month due right away. There is no charge you pay the same as if you paid in cash in full. Worked out ok for us to not have to pay out so much at one time.  Here is a link to WDW website https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/florida-residents/

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

It's been several years since we had them, but we did buy our AP's through AAA South (same AAA they have in Florida), who at that time had just about the best price for them.

 

Unfortunately all the AAA are independently owned and operated and don't have the same deals.  Our office doesn't even sell APs although I was told "we can get them" - however no discounts.

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

For what it's worth S71/Dave, I went with the monthly payment plan the last time I renewed the passes.  In the past, I have always bought vouchers from AAA, which were good for one year from when they were first used.  When the passes came up for renewal, they tempted me with the monthly payment plan.  I thought there had to be some kind of catch, but as far as I can tell, as Memphis said, the price is the same.  Interest-free financing.  Smart on Disney's part, and I like paying a little each month rather than laying out all the cash at once.

 

TCD

[GaDawgFan.....Kelly 799]

I wish they offered the monthly payments to GA residents! 

[DramaMama .......... Janet 75]

I wish they offered the monthly payments to GA residents! 

Me, too!

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

I wish they offered the monthly payments to GA residents! 

 

 

Me, too!

 

Wow.  I didn't realize the monthly payment plan is only for Florida residents.

 

Seems dumb on Disney's part.  Y'all's money is green, right?

 

TCD

[DramaMama .......... Janet 75]

  Y'all's money is green, right?

 

TCD

I think so - it flies through here so quickly it is hard to get a good look at it!!! :rofl2:

[DaveInTN 3,247]

Unfortunately all the AAA are independently owned and operated and don't have the same deals.  Our office doesn't even sell APs although I was told "we can get them" - however no discounts.

 

That's weird, because the AAA South marketing materials I receive list all the offices in the AAA South region...which is Florida, Georgia and Middle TN I think, and they seem to have all the same pricing for the whole region.  Are you saying every AAA office within the AAA South division is independently owned?  Or that each AAA division (I know there's a separate one for Western and Central New York because I used to audit it) is independent?  The latter was my understanding. 

 

Speaking of my auditing the AAA W&CNY....remind me to tell you sometime about my story of their annual leadership election, which we had to independently observe.  Kinda like the auditors who verify the Academy Awards, only not glamorous and sometimes quite bizarre.  I'll just say that it's amazing what some people will send in the mail thinking it's funny....

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

 

Speaking of my auditing the AAA W&CNY....remind me to tell you sometime about my story of their annual leadership election, which we had to independently observe.  Kinda like the auditors who verify the Academy Awards, only not glamorous and sometimes quite bizarre.  I'll just say that it's amazing what some people will send in the mail thinking it's funny....

spill

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

Having worked for aaa In the past I will say that each club is independently owned. We have at least 2 in the northeast unless things have changed.

[Starbuc71 162]

For what it's worth S71/Dave, I went with the monthly payment plan the last time I renewed the passes.  In the past, I have always bought vouchers from AAA, which were good for one year from when they were first used.  When the passes came up for renewal, they tempted me with the monthly payment plan.  I thought there had to be some kind of catch, but as far as I can tell, as Memphis said, the price is the same.  Interest-free financing.  Smart on Disney's part, and I like paying a little each month rather than laying out all the cash at once.

 

TCD

My plan is that I think I can swing (1) AP a month for the next 4 months then activate them all at once. That's if the voucher thing still exist. Any follow up to my other question regarding magic bands/ paper tickets/ plastic cards?

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

Unless AAA has changed, your voucher is a plastic card.  You bring that with you to WDW and exchange that at a guest services ticket window for your pass.  I believe that all passes are now on a plastic card with an embedded RFID chip.  We traded our paper passes in for the plastic ones a few months ago.  You want the plastic card one- park entry is way faster with those.  No MagicBands for passholders yet.  But, that could change in the next four months.

 

TCD

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

No MagicBands for passholders yet.  But, that could change in the next four months.

 

TCD

I was told by a CM on the phone (take it for what it's worth) to look for an email sometime soon on about linking for FP+.  She wouldn't say when but to look for it.

[dblr....Rennie 224]

We have paper vouchers we got ours when they offered the DVC discount, so when we get there in Dec. all we have to do is go to a ticket center to exchange them like at the transportation center? Thanks

[dblr....Rennie 224]

We have paper vouchers we got ours when they offered the DVC discount, so when we get there in Dec. all we have to do is go to a ticket center to exchange them like at the transportation center? Thanks

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

Darn double post the ghost got me!!!!!!!!!!!

That would be the Ghost of KFK...

[Tri-Circle-D 2,059]

I was told by a CM on the phone (take it for what it's worth) to look for an email sometime soon on about linking for FP+.  She wouldn't say when but to look for it.

 

I had a conversation about MagicBands for passholders with a very friendly CM in a plaid vest at the Epcot tip board on my last visit.  They have a display there where people with MagicBands can make changes, and such.  I asked her when I was going to get my MagicBand.  The official response apparently is "soon"  and to "check the passholder site."   Gee thanks.

 

We have paper vouchers we got ours when they offered the DVC discount, so when we get there in Dec. all we have to do is go to a ticket center to exchange them like at the transportation center? Thanks

 

Yes, the TTC or any of the ticket windows outside the parks.  I believe you can also take care of it at Downtown Disney.

 

TCD

[Nicki aka Rebelstand 272]

I had a conversation about MagicBands for passholders with a very friendly CM in a plaid vest at the Epcot tip board on my last visit.  They have a display there where people with MagicBands can make changes, and such.  I asked her when I was going to get my MagicBand.  The official response apparently is "soon"  and to "check the passholder site."   Gee thanks.

 

TCD

sounds about the same as I heard.  Gee am I gonna show up and then they say "were are your bands"?

[BradyBzLyn...Mo 2,023]

That's weird, because the AAA South marketing materials I receive list all the offices in the AAA South region...which is Florida, Georgia and Middle TN I think, and they seem to have all the same pricing for the whole region.  Are you saying every AAA office within the AAA South division is independently owned?

 

Offices are supposedly independently owned, but I'm not sure if there are some sort of affiliations among regional offices.

 

Up this way the regional office tends to be the only office. 

[Katman1356...Jason 1,140]

Offices are supposedly independently owned, but I'm not sure if there are some sort of affiliations among regional offices.

 

Up this way the regional office tends to be the only office. 

 

All local and regional offices are run by the Clubs. I know in New England we have at least AAA Connecticut and AAA Southern NE. Club codes are 429 for CT and 240 for Southern NE. I used to mow the president of 240's lawn. Thats how I first started working for them.