Hi, Kimberly!
I had this same question the first time I renewed my
Annual Pass. If you
RENEW your Annual Pass, your passes stay activated so if your renewal date is June 1, 2016, and you renew, the next one will expire June 1, 2017, even if you do not use your pass until a later date. (Annual Passes can be renewed up to 60 days prior to the expiration date.)
So why renew? Well, you get a pretty nice discount to renew, so you have to weigh your options if the value of the discount is good enough even though your passes may go unused for several months. If you let your passes expire without renewal, you will have to pay full price next time you get Annual Passes.
I had this dilemma last year. My passes were expiring July 31, but I knew I would not be visiting again until November. However, by the time I factored in the discount for renewing and the price increase that I knew was imminent, I renewed and it was well worth it.
Weigh the pros and cons of renewal, and decide what makes the most sense financially. The
Annual Pass is a large investment, so make it work the best you can.
Cathy