DVC Gold Annual Pass question

[Anthony Vito]

Our (DVC Gold) passes "expire" in a few days, but we already purchased our renewal through Member Services. It's on our MDE account and we (no longer) have any issues with reserving Park Pass reservations for our stays later this year. My question has to do with the dates of the renewal and how it actually works. Right now, it's still showing that our APs expire 1/5/21, but then separately, our accounts show a DVC Gold Pass Renewal Certificate that expires 12/31/30. So when we go next (currently will be May), do we have to "activate" our passes as though they were new ones? Also, what does that mean for when our next expiration date will be? Is it still a year from our current one since we're renewing, or since it's a "renewal certificate," does that mean we activate it later then get a year from when we first use it again (likely May)? I assume this is less of an issue for locals w/ APs, but DVC members tend to have more gaps between trips.

 

[ValW]

Your renewal pass will be good from 1/6/21 to 1/5/22 regardless of when you activate it. Also, I was informed by Member Services that I would have to go to Guest Services to activate and show my membership card.

 

[Anthony Vito]

Your renewal pass will be good from 1/6/21 to 1/5/22 regardless of when you activate it.

Ok - thanks. Kind of seems pointless to require "activation" for the renewal then and in having a renewal certificate that's "good" for another 10 years.

 

[Sandisw]

I think the renewal certificates can be bought and if for some reason, not used initially, can be used to renew a pass down the road.

I also think it may just be a standard expiration way out in the future so whether it’s a new or renewal certificate, it’s all the same.

 

[skeeter31]

Yeah unfortunately it’s a renewal and will start the day after your old pass expires. We did this in October. You do also have to stop at a ticket window to activate it.

 

[Spartan86]

Yeah unfortunately it’s a renewal and will start the day after your old pass expires. We did this in October. You do also have to stop at a ticket window to activate it.

We’ve done this a few times now. It takes 7-10 minutes on average after the wait in line at GS, so plan a little time and if you can do it other than at park open it’s usually a little quicker as well.

 

[Luvears]

Our (DVC Gold) passes "expire" in a few days, but we already purchased our renewal through Member Services. It's on our MDE account and we (no longer) have any issues with reserving Park Pass reservations for our stays later this year. My question has to do with the dates of the renewal and how it actually works. Right now, it's still showing that our APs expire 1/5/21, but then separately, our accounts show a DVC Gold Pass Renewal Certificate that expires 12/31/30. So when we go next (currently will be May), do we have to "activate" our passes as though they were new ones? Also, what does that mean for when our next expiration date will be? Is it still a year from our current one since we're renewing, or since it's a "renewal certificate," does that mean we activate it later then get a year from when we first use it again (likely May)? I assume this is less of an issue for locals w/ APs, but DVC members tend to have more gaps between trips.

So this has been a fluid answer for me from Passholder VIP line since the shut down. I renewed in Jan 2020 for family of 4 (downgraded from platinum prior year to gold) but have since not been activated... paid in full as DVC did not have monthly option. The latest that was shared with me is that typically... a DVC gold Renewal Certificate will say exp Dec 2031 until activated but technically retroactively expires at anniversary... However, I'm sitting on a "willy wonka" certificate (VIP Passholder Cast Member's words)- If it's a renewal certificate... and not activated during pandemic... then Disney will honor a new 12 mo. period start from the first time you activate. If the pass rates go up in the interim (even though they are not actively selling)- you will just have to pay the difference if any. I'll take that answer as it's the best scenario for anyone still sitting on an unactivated gold renewal certificate.

 

[Ronaldo17]

So this has been a fluid answer for me from Passholder VIP line since the shut down. I renewed in Jan 2020 for family of 4 (downgraded from platinum prior year to gold) but have since not been activated... paid in full as DVC did not have monthly option. The latest that was shared with me is that typically... a DVC gold Renewal Certificate will say exp Dec 2031 until activated but technically retroactively expires at anniversary... However, I'm sitting on a "willy wonka" certificate (VIP Passholder Cast Member's words)- If it's a renewal certificate... and not activated during pandemic... then Disney will honor a new 12 mo. period start from the first time you activate. If the pass rates go up in the interim (even though they are not actively selling)- you will just have to pay the difference if any. I'll take that answer as it's the best scenario for anyone still sitting on an unactivated gold renewal certificate.

Yeah, that's pretty much the same answer I got from the Passholder VIP line.
(Minus the Wllly Wonka bit!)

 

[JETSDAD]

So this has been a fluid answer for me from Passholder VIP line since the shut down. I renewed in Jan 2020 for family of 4 (downgraded from platinum prior year to gold) but have since not been activated... paid in full as DVC did not have monthly option. The latest that was shared with me is that typically... a DVC gold Renewal Certificate will say exp Dec 2031 until activated but technically retroactively expires at anniversary... However, I'm sitting on a "willy wonka" certificate (VIP Passholder Cast Member's words)- If it's a renewal certificate... and not activated during pandemic... then Disney will honor a new 12 mo. period start from the first time you activate. If the pass rates go up in the interim (even though they are not actively selling)- you will just have to pay the difference if any. I'll take that answer as it's the best scenario for anyone still sitting on an unactivated gold renewal certificate.

Same here (also minus the Willy Wonka though that would have made the 3.5 hr phone call a bit more fun lol).

 

[n2mm]

So this has been a fluid answer for me from Passholder VIP line since the shut down. I renewed in Jan 2020 for family of 4 (downgraded from platinum prior year to gold) but have since not been activated... paid in full as DVC did not have monthly option. The latest that was shared with me is that typically... a DVC gold Renewal Certificate will say exp Dec 2031 until activated but technically retroactively expires at anniversary... However, I'm sitting on a "willy wonka" certificate (VIP Passholder Cast Member's words)- If it's a renewal certificate... and not activated during pandemic... then Disney will honor a new 12 mo. period start from the first time you activate. If the pass rates go up in the interim (even though they are not actively selling)- you will just have to pay the difference if any. I'll take that answer as it's the best scenario for anyone still sitting on an unactivated gold renewal certificate.

i had one and when we canceled our APs the CM also canceled our renewal certificate too. She said we could not renew a pass if the actual pass was canceled. So again, no consistency in rules/guidelines

 

[WebmasterDoc]

I just renewed our APs today. The wait time was 50 minutes, but the MS rep made it worth the wait with a cheerful attitude. While there was no mention of Willie Wonka, she did say we should enjoy our "Golden Ticket" status allowing us this renewal.

Our current passes were originally valid from mid October, 2019 - mid-October, 2020 but the expiration was extended through January, 2021 due to the circumstances of 2020. The renewal will extend through January, 2022.

We have a will-call number to claim the new passes which may be accomplished at any Guest Relations location in a Theme Park or at DS.

Great MS experience again!

 

[Luvears]

I just renewed our APs today. The wait time was 50 minutes, but the MS rep made it worth the wait with a cheerful attitude. While there was no mention of Willie Wonka, she did say we should enjoy our "Golden Ticket" status allowing us this renewal.

Our current passes were originally valid from mid October, 2019 - mid-October, 2020 but the expiration was extended through January, 2021 due to the circumstances of 2020. The renewal will extend through January, 2022.

We have a will-call number to claim the new passes which may be accomplished at any Guest Relations location in a Theme Park or at DS.

Great MS experience again!

Great that you were able to renew- only those that had passes (*not cancelled) were able to renew is my understanding. Maybe your situation was different... During your original Oct 2019 to Jan 2021 valid dates, you did not enter parks at all? You paid to renew a renewal certificate that wasn't used a single time?

 

[hayesdvc]

Phone line busy

 

[CarolynFH]

I just renewed our APs today. The wait time was 50 minutes, but the MS rep made it worth the wait with a cheerful attitude. While there was no mention of Willie Wonka, she did say we should enjoy our "Golden Ticket" status allowing us this renewal.

Our current passes were originally valid from mid October, 2019 - mid-October, 2020 but the expiration was extended through January, 2021 due to the circumstances of 2020. The renewal will extend through January, 2022.

We have a will-call number to claim the new passes which may be accomplished at any Guest Relations location in a Theme Park or at DS.

Great MS experience again!

Our Gold APs originally expired mid-October 2020 as well but were extended initially to February via the 117-day park closure extension and then to mid
March as a result of the additional 30 days they gave AP holders. Did y’all not get the second extension?

 

[WebmasterDoc]

I guess I'll need to check that. Thanks!

 

[Sandisw]

Our Gold APs originally expired mid-October 2020 as well but were extended initially to February via the 117-day park closure extension and then to mid
March as a result of the additional 30 days they gave AP holders. Did y’all not get the second extension?

Mine expired October 6th and originally went to end of January and is now March 2nd, so we got about the 4 months.

Which did work out to cover a few extra trips!

 

[MrsM]

Our gold APs also expired 1/5/21 and I was debating whether to renew but when I looked online it only showed me the option of renewing as a platinum pass. If I decide within the 30 day period after expiration to renew, I should be able to get the gold pass through DVC member services?

 

[CarolynFH]

Our gold APs also expired 1/5/21 and I was debating whether to renew but when I looked online it only showed me the option of renewing as a platinum pass. If I decide within the 30 day period after expiration to renew, I should be able to get the gold pass through DVC member services?

Yes, to renew as a Gold pass you have to call DVC MS. I’ve never tried renewing ours as Platinum so I’m not sure whether we can get the DVC renewal price for those online or not.

 

[Ohana2011]

Our gold APs also expired 1/5/21 and I was debating whether to renew but when I looked online it only showed me the option of renewing as a platinum pass. If I decide within the 30 day period after expiration to renew, I should be able to get the gold pass through DVC member services?

I, too, received the email to renew with the only option of a platinum pass indicated. Luckily, I was in the parks when I received the email. I was able to renew both my Gold Pass and my DD’s in person at Guest Services. So if in Orlando, try stopping by Guest Svcs.

 

[Sandisw]

I, too, received the email to renew with the only option of a platinum pass indicated. Luckily, I was in the parks when I received the email. I was able to renew both my Gold Pass and my DD’s in person at Guest Services. So if in Orlando, try stopping by Guest Svcs.

Thanks. I’ll be there tomorrow and was hoping I’d be able to do this in person!