Originally Posted By SuperDry I have a recently-expired AP. Does anyone know how difficult it is to renew? At DL, the process would probably take all of two minutes: you pay the money and they produce a new card using your photograph on file. Does it work this way at TDR, or does it take half an hour even though you're the only one there, like I did when I got my first one?
Originally Posted By Mr X I'd go with the half-hour. Don't forget to bring your park admission ticket, so it'll be refunded. (did you end up getting "fair value" for the last AP, SD?)
Originally Posted By MagicalNezumi SuperDry, It should be a snap, but the location is a temporary one and it is tiny, so it might be crowded... EAST GATE RECEPTION. After filling out the application, go up to the window and pay. Wait a few minutes (they have two photo booths) and get a new pic taken, should be done within 5-10min. Always go on non-holiday weekday afternoon to avoid crowds. -- MagicalNezumi
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< It should be a snap... After filling out the application, go up to the window and pay. Wait a few minutes (they have two photo booths) and get a new pic taken, should be done within 5-10min. >>> What you describe seems to be no different than the original process: fill out an application (which no doubt needs my full name, address, and several other details that have not changed), take a new pic (which also has not changed), and wait. Nezumi, is there anything about this process that is actually quicker for renewals? <<< I'd go with the half-hour. >>> That's what I'm afraid of. Some things in Japan work remarkably better than they do elsewhere, but this is the sort of thing that tends to be worse, which is why I asked the question. <<< (did you end up getting "fair value" for the last AP, SD?) >>> That's a great question. My previous (and first and so far only) TDR AP lasted from January 2006 through January 2007. It's a bit difficult to figure out where the break-even point is. Comparing current prices, it looks like a 2-park AP is about the same as 13 single-day, single-park tickets. But, how do you value the park-hopping privileges of a 2-park AP, since you can't purchase an unrestricted park-hopper ticket for individual days? Anyway, looking back at 2006, I held an AP for TDR and DLR. Tallying my visits, I know that I visited DL/DCA for exactly one day. They definitely got the best of me on that deal. The reason that I have DLR AP is that I have family as well as a key vendor in SoCal, and in 2004 and 2005, I was there more than enough to make an AP worthwhile. I may reconsider this year. For 2006, I spent 20 nights staying on site at TDR on three separate trips. Wow, that's over 5% of the nights of the entire year spent sleeping at Tokyo Disney Resort, spread between the MiraCosta, Hilton, and Sheraton. I didn't go into a park on every day I was there, but considering the days that I did, and considering the park-hopping that I did, I suspect that I got 100% of the value from my AP, and at least another 50%. I don't know if I'll be able to top that this year, but I'll probably renew my AP anyway. Does that answer your question?
Originally Posted By MagicalNezumi SD, I don't think the process has changed. I last renewed mine in July 2006. I've had to do a new application each time for the past 7 years. If you check the "renewal" box in the form and bring your expired AP, I believe they will compare this year's form data with what they have on record and verify any changes. Theoretically, it "should" be a faster process. -- MagicalNezumi
Originally Posted By MagicalNezumi I forgot to add, data entry for non-Japanese addresses takes longer because of the software they use. I got this from a friendly source. -- MagicalNezumi
Originally Posted By SuperDry <<< I forgot to add, data entry for non-Japanese addresses takes longer because of the software they use. >>> Do you have any visibility as to how many APs belong to people that have non-Japanese addresses? I know there are at least two
Originally Posted By MagicalNezumi SD, I'll have to ask my source about that. Or perhaps TDRboy or Leemac can chime in. -- MagicalNezumi
Originally Posted By SuperDry The answer is in: renewal is no faster, just as we suspected. And, the level of inanity actually exceeded my expectations. I presented my expired AP at the window and indicated that I wanted to renew. He gave me the regular form to fill out, which I did. It didn't take 30 minutes like last time, but it appeared to not be a bit faster than a new application would have been, including the part where he explained all of the rules to me, even though I obviously knew what they were. Then, when he gave it to me, he seemed to be really interested that I put a US address on the application. He asked "How did you get here?" and seemed genuinely interested in the answer. I told him that I swam. He said "Really?" and then I told him just kidding, and that I had actually flown. This seemed to satisfy his curiosity.
Originally Posted By Mr X A LOT. ;p (don't know the exact figures, so I'll let someone else chime in...close to $400 anyway for one park, almost double that for 2).
Originally Posted By SuperDry 75,000 yen for the 2-park pass, which is about US$635. The only types of annual passes are 1 park and 2 park - there are no special passes for locals or passes with blackout dates for less money.
Originally Posted By TDLFAN Megara, I would not invest in a TDR AP if you are not going to the resort less than 14 days in a year.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney ^^Yeah, sorry, but unless you going at LEAST once a month, they aren't worth it. I remember when there was a thread here a while back when the issue first came up 'is it worth it?' and I expressed they really aren't. I mean, besides the fact they are ridicously expensive, you DON'T get discounts on anything (or maybe that has changed), no free parking which seem like a no-brainer if they want to get you in the park a lot, but if you have to pay a hefty $20 just to use the pass for parking, that really, really sucks. When I lived in Tokyo, I seriously considered buying one, but when I realized at the time, you had to go 15 TIMES just to make it worth the money (it was 15 at the time according to the exchange rate)and since Tokyo is not exactly cheap to travel through meaning all the transportaion money on top of it, I knew I would be losing money. And I think I was right too. Out of a year's time of when I was living in Tokyo, I think I went about 8 times total. That's a HUGE amount of time for me lol, the most I ever been to a Disney park in one year. If the pass was set around $300 like DL pass, COMPLETELY worth it obviously. But, look how many times I ended up going? That's barely half the time used to make it worth it. Granted, if I had a pass, I probably would've went more since the money is already 'spent', but 7 more times?? No, about once a month is all I need honestly and about 80% of everyone I know would STILL tell me that's too many times . After awhile, I would've just been forcing myself to go to get my money's worth and that's no fun lol.
Originally Posted By MagicalNezumi Reminds me, my AP runs out at the end of this month. Time for my 8th straight AP. It's one of the few things at TDR in which a split-payment is not offered. Ouch! -- MagicalNezumi
Originally Posted By TDLFAN >>^^Yeah, sorry, but unless you going at LEAST once a month, they aren't worth it.<< Lucky for me... I go there more than once per month.
Originally Posted By WorldDisney ^^TDLFAN, you seem to go more than most AP people who actually LIVES in the country . That's quite a feat lol.
Originally Posted By Mr X I wouldn't go that far. Many (I won't say "most") APers in Tokyo go several times a week. I knew a girl who was SO dedicated, she actually paid for a full price ticket one day because she forgot her AP. I guess the idea of taking a couple of hours to go back home and get it was unthinkable.
Originally Posted By SuperDry ^^^ That's another example of Japanese rigidity in "rules." At Anaheim at least, they give AP holders the option to get a free courtesy pass once a year, should they forget to bring their AP. If you forget a second time, then you have to get a replacement pass, but even that is only $20-30 or so, and it takes like 5 minutes to do. It's regrettable that TDR doesn't have such a guest-friendly policy.
