If you buy them online you should be able to print your tickets. Theses will get you in the park on your first day. Then you go and get your real AP. also your AP year dosent start until you go through the gate for the first time. If you are looking to get the AP discount on something like Halloween tickets just call the AP phone number and they will help you with that. I bought my AP in march and went to the resort last weekend for the first time with it. But I purchased my hollow even tickets 2 weeks ago over the phone and they mailed them to me. Hope this helps. - mhpoker  265.4 #889 6:14AM

When I purchased annual passes, I did it over the phone through the Disney website, and they held our passes at the ticket booth for pick up. The day of your arrival, you just go straight to the booth, and a CM will give you your passes. :) - Alicewhoareyou  543.9 #213 12:11AM

Call guest services. I'm sure they can answer all that. - ScooterMike  1959.8 #37 12:12AM

I bought my sons pass online and printed a ticket that we took to the window to get his pass. It says on it to go straight to the turn styles which you can but they will tell you to stop back at the window for the actual pass. You can ask a photo CM to take your pic. - 4disneyfans  207.9 #1558 12:23AM

Even though you can print out a ticket before receiving your AP, I don't think you'd be able to use it for discounts yet. I may be wrong, but I think you have to activate your pass when you go to the parks, and if your pass isn't activated, I don't think you can use it for discounts before your actual trip. But again, I may be wrong.. - MEHlanie_Mouse  750.3 #135 1:38AM

I bought my AP before the price hike. Went for the first time a month later to activate it. However, my expiration date is one year from the day I purchased it. Someone please let me know if they get a different result. I'd love to get that extra month back if possible. - jugglingjeremy  211.0 #1504 4:11AM