Is the best way to purchase an Annual Pass directly through Disney? Or are there other sites that sell as well (such as undercover tourist for daily tickets)?
You have to purchase APs directly from Disney. There are a couple of ways to save money on the AP.Is the best way to purchase an Annual Pass directly through Disney? Or are there other sites that sell as well (such as undercover tourist for daily tickets)?
You have to purchase APs directly from Disney. There are a couple of ways to save money on the AP.
- Purchase regular tickets from a discounter (like UCT) at a price that is much lower than the gate price. Then upgrade that ticket to an AP at Disney. The gate price (not what you paid) will be applied to the upgrade and you will then pay the difference.
- Buy Disney gift cards at a discount off of the face value (check the Disney GC deals thread) and pay for your AP with them.
- Combine both #1 and #2 to maximize your savings.
Which discounters will take Disney GCs? When I asked on the TPAS thread about tickets, I was told none of them will.
I didn't find any discounters with tickets "much" lower than Disney's website price (which is also lower than the gate price). Since I generally purchase Disney GCs at a rate that is lower than the discount offered by UT and the like, buying directly from Disney seems to be less expensive. If I could use Disney GCs to buy from a discounter, that would be a game changer.
You have to purchase APs directly from Disney. There are a couple of ways to save money on the AP.
- Purchase regular tickets from a discounter (like UCT) at a price that is much lower than the gate price. Then upgrade that ticket to an AP at Disney. The gate price (not what you paid) will be applied to the upgrade and you will then pay the difference.
- Buy Disney gift cards at a discount off of the face value (check the Disney GC deals thread) and pay for your AP with them.
- Combine both #1 and #2 to maximize your savings.
You can book a room with an AP discount without having an AP at the time of booking. You just need to have an AP at the start of your stay.That’s a good idea. My only thought on it would be though: if during the course of my planning Disney offered a room-only discount to AP holders (seeing as how periodically they can be significant), I’d imagine I’d be counting myself out of those promotions?
I do also have a chase visa, but I feel as if the AP discounts are more often and better deals (could be wrong)
You can book a room with an AP discount without having an AP at the time of booking. You just need to have an AP at the start of your stay.
You can book a room with an AP discount without having an AP at the time of booking. You just need to have an AP at the start of your stay.
You can purchase an AP voucher ahead of time and it satisfies the "valid admission media" requirement for FP reservations. You don't need an active AP at the time that you reserve because Disney knows you're not going to enter the parks and use those FPs until you have activated your AP.One other thing not mentioned here. If you're staying onsite and want to make your FP+ reservations 60 days in advance, you'll have to have an admission ticket linked to your MDX account by the 60-day mark or you won't be able to make your FP+ reservations. So if you don't buy the AP until you get to WDW, you won't have it on your MDX account 60 days before arrival, and you won't be able to make FP+ reservations until the 30-day mark.
If, however, you buy your ticket from a third-party seller (like UT) and link that ticket to your account, planning to upgrade to AP when you get to WDW, then you can make the FP+ reservations at the 60-day mark.
This is relevant only if you're staying onsite or at one of the nearby hotels that has a 60-day booking window. If you're staying off-site, then the point is moot, since your booking window would be 30 days anyway.
You call CRO and ask for an AP rate.How do you book the A/P rate without the pass? I plan on buying the pass prior to departure.
It's not a "work around". You have to have an activated AP when you check in. That would entail either exchanging your AP voucher for an actual AP hard ticket or upgrading your multiday ticket to an active AP prior to checking in. Disney computers can tell if you're trying to game the system. If a valid AP is not in your MDE account on check in day, you will be expected to stop at the front desk to check in, with proof of an AP, before you will be given your room assignment.And possible secondary question, how to people work around AP discounts and activating a new AP. I don’t want to activate the pass too early so I can maximize my usage time.
You have to have an activated AP when you check in. That would entail either exchanging your AP voucher for an actual AP hard ticket or upgrading your multiday ticket to an active AP prior to checking in.
And possible secondary question, how to people work around AP discounts and activating a new AP. I don’t want to activate the pass too early so I can maximize my usage time.
Yes. I didn't mean to imply that the ticket had to be activated, but it does have to be purchased.You can purchase an AP voucher ahead of time and it satisfies the "valid admission media" requirement for FP reservations. You don't need an active AP at the time that you reserve because Disney knows you're not going to enter the parks and use those FPs until you have activated your AP.
Yes. I didn't mean to imply that the ticket had to be activated, but it does have to be purchased.
I purchased my AP through AAA last year. I used a Dreams Agent to book my room with the AP rate. I checked into the Boardwalk in the evening and activated my AP the next day at the IG entrance to EPCOT.