When do I have to pay buy for DDP & AP?

[Bruce]

I am looking to visit the mouse in late May 2007 for a week, and return again in April 2008 for two weeks. Because of this I will purchase the AP's through MS, and also book the DDP for the May 07 visit. Providing I can organise the flights, I will be looking to do this within the next few days.

My question is this, when will I have to pay for these; on making the booking , on arrival, or on departure?

Thanks,

[Stimpy]

With the AP you can order it now through the MS link for the discounted DVC price. They will send you a voucher that you activate when you get to Disney. You can also order it over the phone.

DDP, you have to let MS know before your arrival that you want to add it to your reservation. (Supposedly, you are not able to add on DDP once you get to the desk to check in.) BUT you do not actually pay for it until you check in.

[tjkraz]

You can also just wait to buy the APs when you arrive at WDW. Pricing is the same and you really don't save any time ordering in advance since you still have to redeem that voucher they send you. The redemption location for the voucher is the exact same location as to buy the pass--Guest Relations at one of the theme parks or DTD.

IMO, the only reasons to buy in advance are:

1. Want to order the Disney Dining Experience card. Must have an AP or voucher to do this.

2. Trying to avoid price increases. Given that prices just went up a couple months ago, I doubt there will be another rise before May--but that's just my opinion.

3. Convinced the AP discount will go away sometime between now and your trip. All discount programs fall under the heading of "subject to change without notice." Personally I think the AP discount is here to say. It's a great marketing tool for DVC and an incentive to get people into the parks over and over again (which makes people want to buy more points...which makes it a great marketing tool for DVC... :tongue: )

If none of those apply, don't bother sinking your cash into something that won't be of value for another 8 months.

[SueOKW]

I let our APs expire last year, so now I need to buy new and get the DDE card. I imagine I will need to order about 45 days in advance?? Does that give the DDE people enough time, I wonder?
Sue

[Stimpy]

You can also just wait to buy the APs when you arrive at WDW. Pricing is the same and you really don't save any time ordering in advance since you still have to redeem that voucher they send you. The redemption location for the voucher is the exact same location as to buy the pass--Guest Relations at one of the theme parks or DTD.

IMO, the only reasons to buy in advance are:

1. Want to order the Disney Dining Experience card. Must have an AP or voucher to do this.

2. Trying to avoid price increases. Given that prices just went up a couple months ago, I doubt there will be another rise before May--but that's just my opinion.

3. Convinced the AP discount will go away sometime between now and your trip. All discount programs fall under the heading of "subject to change without notice." Personally I think the AP discount is here to say. It's a great marketing tool for DVC and an incentive to get people into the parks over and over again (which makes people want to buy more points...which makes it a great marketing tool for DVC... :tongue: )

If none of those apply, don't bother sinking your cash into something that won't be of value for another 8 months.

I can add another reason to buy in advance...lessens the $ impact when you get there LOL. I bought ours a few months ahead so they were paid off already by the time we check in. This way it's one less big expense on our vacation.

For example, when we go in November, we'll be paying $1600 (6 adults, 1 child) right up front for DDP....adding the additional $900+ for our 3 AP's would be frightening to me :) (Although we already had our AP's since May, it wouldn't be an issue this trip but it's an example) I already purchased my DSis & DBil MYW tickets in advance for the same reason. They are all paid for already.

[ghost1000]

One more reason to order your AP voucher in advance--you can get into the passholder section of the Disneyworld website using the numbers on your voucher.

[tjkraz]

I can add another reason to buy in advance...lessens the $ impact when you get there LOL.

That's what savings accounts are for.

...adding the additional $900+ for our 3 AP's would be frightening to me :)

And if you'd put that $900+ in a 6-month CD you'd have another $20-30 to show for it by the time the trip arrives.

Sorry, I just don't believe in giving people money months before it is necessary.

One more reason to order your AP voucher in advance--you can get into the passholder section of the Disneyworld website using the numbers on your voucher.

Is there anything on the passholder site you can't get from Allearsnet or MouseSavers?

[ghost1000]

The Mickey Monitor, the application for DDE.

There may be more, but the passholder site isn't letting me in right now. :crymeariv

[Stimpy]

That's what savings accounts are for.

And if you'd put that $900+ in a 6-month CD you'd have another $20-30 to show for it by the time the trip arrives.

Sorry, I just don't believe in giving people money months before it is necessary.

Is there anything on the passholder site you can't get from Allearsnet or MouseSavers?

Ok, I guess we have to disagree then. I personally would rather have them all paid off and in hand instead of getting hit with the "sticker shock" at check-in. I'm not buying them 6 months in advance. Usually I buy them the month before, not "months". (I purchased the vouchers in April for our May SWW trip) Since I don't carry any credit card balances, they are paid off immediately. (Which I am using money from our checking & sometimes savings accounts to pay :) )

Quite honestly, for me personally, I do not really have the time to go out of my way to get a CD and it wouldn't be worth it to me for a $20 payoff. I'll consider the $20 a "convenience charge" since I won't have to take the time to get one and then again go to cash it in. Again, that is me personally, I do not think it is a "bad" idea for other people. And for the record, I have money in savings in accounts, CD's, funds, stocks etc. A short term investment is not important to me.

Passholder site, you're right that there is not too much different. I do like being able to check on line for AP rates availabiltity before I call CRO. Plus they have some cute wallpapers, updates etc sometimes, but obviously not worth $900 (in my family's case). But it is kind of fun to check once in a while.

[Rozzie]

Quite honestly, for me personally, I do not really have the time to go out of my way to get a CD and it wouldn't be worth it to me for a $20 payoff. I'll consider the $20 a "convenience charge" since I won't have to take the time to get one and then again go to cash it in. .

So agree with you SISTER!!!!!! :) For $20, I just won't order Chinese Food one night before the trip. I don't do short term investing either. Knowing me, I'd buy the wrong one that had a 50% penaltly for breaking it early. :bagovermy

I loooooove having everything paid for when I get there. One of the main reasons I bought into DVC. On our August trip, I kinda fell in love the package thing (POP free food trip), all being paid in advance, to where all I needed was *clears throat* beverage and Basin money. I really hope that they figure out a way for DVCers to pay in advance for the dining plan, that would be heaven. :)

AP's always are our stocking stuffer. Yep, kinda sad, how they sag so empty with just a little envelope worth so much! Maybe I should start wrapping them in 10 foot boxes!! :hahahaha:

[Stimpy]

snip.... On our August trip, I kinda fell in love the package thing (POP free food trip), all being paid in advance, to where all I needed was *clears throat* beverage and Basin money.

Talk about sticker shock!! :ROTFL:

[tjkraz]

That's all well and good, but for Bruce's sake, I think we do need to separate emotional justification from financial or operational justificiation.

In lieu of a pending price increase, there is no financial incentive to purchase the AP voucher. It will cost the exact same amount whether purchased from the web site or Guest Relations.

Buying the voucher will not save any time. You have to wait in the same line to redeem the voucher as you would to just buy the pass outright.

The voucher does give you the ability to buy the DDE card and get on the Passholder website (although MouseSavers is a better way of following Passholder codes, IMO.)

Other than that, we're venturing into the emotional realm. If it will make you feel better to buy 2 or 10 or 20 AP vouchers months / years in advance and stick them in a drawer...go for it.

[nono]

Other than that, we're venturing into the emotional realm. If it will make you feel better to buy 2 or 10 or 20 AP vouchers months / years in advance and stick them in a drawer...go for it.

:huh:

What's emotional about being fiscally responsible and not having post-vacation debt? To buy something with cash on hand that will retain value is a reasonable way of planning.

Just like buying a house outright with cash on hand v. incurring a mortgage is. Not many people do it, but it doesn't make it an "emotional" way of managing money.

[tjkraz]

What's emotional about being fiscally responsible and not having post-vacation debt?

Stands to reason that if you have the money available 2 or 6 or 12 months before the vacation, it will still be there after the vacation (or for withdrawl immediately before) if tucked away in a savings account, money market or CD.

[nono]

It's just another way of allocating assets in a time of quite low (still) interest rates. $20? For some, it's a rounding error. ;)

[tjkraz]

$20? For some, it's a rounding error. ;)

I agree. But it leaves me wondering why someone who doesn't mind losing a 20 here and there would care about whether their credit card statement was $1000 lower one month and $1000 higher two months later. :confused:

Anyway, I've said my peace. Hopefully Bruce has actually been able to get what he needed from this thread. You don't save any money by purchasing early. Give Disney your bucks whenever you please.

[Ginger]

I'll give my .02. We buy our AP voucher ahead of time and pay for it with our Disney Visa. That way we get points and can cash in our points to use during our trip.

[Bruce]

Thanks for the replies and sorry to stir up a hornets nest!:innocent:

However, I have something else to add to the equation......Exchange rates!

As soon as I see that I can get over $1.85 to my English £1, I am always tempted to purchase something in $'s even if its only to top up my AmEX Travellers Cheque Card.

Once again, thanks for the replies.