Questions about new APs

[lemon meringue]

We just purchased annual passes for the first time. I've received the Exchange Certificates and have two questions:

- Can these be exchanged at Epcot's International Gateway entrance, or does it need to be done at the main entrance?

-I was able to book at Yacht Club using an AP discount as soon as I purchased the APs. My confirmation states that I need to show my valid AP at check in. Will the Exchange Certificate suffice? We will check in straight from the airport and won't yet have been to a location where the exchange is complete.

 

[sxeensweet]

You technically could have booked the AP discounted room before you even bought your AP's as we have done that many times by calling and they just said to make sure we purchase and had one valid AP at check in. They never even checked for ours but I did go activate it at Disney Springs at Guest relations before we headed over to check in.
I would go do that if you can before you go check in. You can activate them at any guest relations location at all parks (including at the gateway at Epcot) or Disney Springs.

 

[Rob562]

I had an AP for many years in the early 2000's. Of all the times I booked an AP rate, I was only asked to show the AP 50% of the time. And even then, either the activated AP or the exchange certificate were sufficient.

-Rob

 

[lemon meringue]

Thank you @sxeensweet and @Rob562 !
I wasn't able to even see the Passholder discount availability and rates until I made the AP purchase. (online I mean. I avoid calling. I must have bad timing because I always seem to end up with a very long wait time). Otherwise I probably wouldn't have put out that amount of money in advance for 4 of us since we won't be going again until July. I actually would hope that they check to make sure that the discount is only being used legitimately. I just didn't want to have to go to a park prior to check in because we use Magical Express from the airport to the resort and like to refresh in the club lounge or if it's available, the room, before heading out to our first park. I have probably passed in and out of International Gateway at least 100 times but I never noticed if Guest Services are offered there since we always have active admission on our bands and we just head straight for bag check and the turnstiles. We like to have an ADR in World Showcase on our arrival night but I didn't know if we'd be able to get in from the back on this trip so I was considering changing dinner to HBD or Bluezoo if we had to go to Hollywood Studios instead. On travel days, after car, plane, and bus, it's feet only for the rest of day one.

 

[sxeensweet]

Thank you @sxeensweet and @Rob562 !
I wasn't able to even see the Passholder discount availability and rates until I made the AP purchase. (online I mean. I avoid calling. I must have bad timing because I always seem to end up with a very long wait time). Otherwise I probably wouldn't have put out that amount of money in advance for 4 of us since we won't be going again until July. I actually would hope that they check to make sure that the discount is only being used legitimately. I just didn't want to have to go to a park prior to check in because we use Magical Express from the airport to the resort and like to refresh in the club lounge or if it's available, the room, before heading out to our first park. I have probably passed in and out of International Gateway at least 100 times but I never noticed if Guest Services are offered there since we always have active admission on our bands and we just head straight for bag check and the turnstiles. We like to have an ADR in World Showcase on our arrival night but I didn't know if we'd be able to get in from the back on this trip so I was considering changing dinner to HBD or Bluezoo if we had to go to Hollywood Studios instead. On travel days, after car, plane, and bus, it's feet only for the rest of day one.

You're very welcome! Yes you can't see the rates online unless you already purchased an AP. You can only do so by calling if it's prior to you purchasing one.
Also you could have just bought one to be able to book the discounted rate online. Only one valid Passholder is needed to book a Passholder discounted room. So you could have waited to buy the others but you would of needed them to do FP's 60 days out anyway so it was best to buy all 4 now.
You can just use one voucher to show when you check in as @Rob562 noted. No need to make an extra trip somewhere to activate them being your using Magical Express.
Hope you have a wonderful trip!!

 

[lemon meringue]

You're very welcome! Yes you can't see the rates online unless you already purchased an AP. You can only do so by calling if it's prior to you purchasing one.
Also you could have just bought one to be able to book the discounted rate online. Only one valid Passholder is needed to book a Passholder discounted room. So you could have waited to buy the others but you would of needed them to do FP's 60 days out anyway so it was best to buy all 4 now.
You can just use one voucher to show when you check in as @Rob562 noted. No need to make an extra trip somewhere to activate them being your using Magical Express.
Hope you have a wonderful trip!!

Our Fastpass day is actually tomorrow so now I feel better knowing that I did need all four after all. Thank you so much!

 

[sxeensweet]

Our Fastpass day is actually tomorrow so now I feel better knowing that I did need all four after all. Thank you so much!

Yes because you need all of them in your MDE to make them for the whole family so yes you did the right thing. Lol. Yay! So exciting your trip is getting so close! And you're very welcome glad I could help!