Subsonic Radio

Is there any advantage to buying an Annual Pass online vs. buying it at the park? Is it cheaper or faster one way or the other?

Nope, no advantage that I know of. It is actually more expensive to buy it online as they charge several dollars for shipping and handling. Ticket price is the same either way. You don't even save time buying it online as they will send you an AP voucher that you have to trade in at the ticket booth for an AP.

I remember when you had to buy an annual pass at Guest Relations and it was this thirty minute ordeal with pictures and all. Oh the good old days when buying an annual pass was something special.

Since I don't live in Florida, an Annual Pass is not the thing for my family. We can spend about the same amount of money ($2254 AP Premium, $2213 10-day, park hopper, no expiration, water park and more) and be able to use the tickets over the course of several years depending on the length of our stay.

Of course, the more times you go using your AP, the lower the cost per day becomes.

I bought it at the Epcot guest relations window on a weekday evening and there was no wait. Fastest $500 I've spent in my life.

horizons1 wrote:I bought it at the Epcot guest relations window on a weekday evening and there was no wait. Fastest $500 I've spent in my life.

Haha - I feel you on that one!

I called them to buy mine. I had to spend like $4 for them to ship me the exchange voucher, but in turn, I was able to book my room using a Passholder discount.

agingerbugg wrote:I remember when you had to buy an annual pass at Guest Relations and it was this thirty minute ordeal with pictures and all. Oh the good old days when buying an annual pass was something special.

I remember those days, I still have one of my photo annual pases that I kept it's with all my other Disney collectables

I know my DW had a mission when we had APs. She figured out how many trips we had to take and how many days we had to go to the parks for the APs to be worth it. Those were the days when we went to WDW four or five times in a year. It helps to have friends and family with homes in Florida.

Jacca5660 wrote: Those were the days when we went to WDW four or five times in a year. It helps to have friends and family with homes in Florida.

Yeah that does help. I know the only reason I'm even thinking of taking a trip in June is the fact that I won't be paying for the Hotel or the rental car.....other than that it has become too expensive to travel to WDW more than once a year(if I am lucky)

ugahutto wrote:Nope, no advantage that I know of. It is actually more expensive to buy it online as they charge several dollars for shipping and handling. Ticket price is the same either way.

As spodie mentioned, the shipping is only $4 and you get the advantage
of booking rooms at the AP discount rate (see below):

Per MouseSavers - as of 2/19/09:

* Value resort, Standard view: $64 plus tax
* Moderate resort, Standard view: $94 plus tax
* Animal Kingdom Lodge, Standard view: $164 plus tax
* Saratoga Springs, Studio: $154 plus tax (Friday and Saturday)
* Saratoga Springs, Studio: $199 plus tax (Sunday-Thursday)
* Other resorts and room types are available at varying rates

ugahutto wrote:You don't even save time buying it online as they will send you an AP voucher that you have to trade in at the ticket booth for an AP.

Its also good to note that Disney does this so the ticker on your AP doesn't start until you activate it at one of the parks vs. the date of purchase. This is different, however, when you go to renew...

The last time we bought our APs, I did everything over the phone. They merely gave me a confirmation number for each pass. Nonetheless, I was still able to book our rooms and receive our AP discount rates despite NOT actually having my APs when we checked in. They only asked for our confirmation numbers at check-in. Then, we received our actual passes at Guest Services at the first park we visited.