Any luck with upgrading existing vouchers to premiums?

[ryels]

I won't have a chance to call MS until later today, but just wondering if anyone has attempted to call and get existing vouchers upgraded to the new special premium rate?

I know that initially people were told no, but I was just hoping that now that it's October there might be some guidelines in place for those of us who purchased our vouchers ahead of time.

I know it's a long shot, but it would be nice.

 

[n2mm]

I'm sure alot of folks are watching and waiting. I saw on the other thread that MS told them that no tickets could be upgraded to the new PAP, while someone who is currently there had no problem upgrading existing hopper tickets to the new PAP. It should be confusing over the next few days. We arrive next Friday and are hoping to upgrade older renewed APs (cost less than $399) to the new DVC PAP and pay the small difference.

 

[ryels]

I figured there would be some mixed results, depending who people talk to. I'm really torn on this one. I don't want to sound ungrateful, because the premium pass offer is a legitimately great perk for DVC members, and I want them to do more of this sort of thing.

But it just seems like they would have the forethought to account for those of us who bought our AP vouchers months ago. Again, not complaining, I'm just hopeful that they allow us to upgrade. It will be kind of a bummer if we can't take advantage of this offer just because we bought too early.

 

[tjkraz]

It appears to be standard Disney ticketing policy that tickets cannot be "upgraded" to something which costs less. Just to make up some numbers, if you have a $450 MYW ticket, they don't want you "upgrading" to a $425 Annual Pass...instead they want you spending the extra $125 to upgrade to a $550 Premium AP.

But what's unique about this situation is:

1. A previously-purchased Annual Pass (inc voucher) in most cases costs MORE than the $399 Premium AP.

2. There IS no better ticket than the PAP to which Disney could upsell the guest. (Other than a non-discounted PAP, which sort of defeats the purpose.)

It's not a very member-friendly policy, but I'm not sure how much clout DVC has to set ticketing policies. Right now the standard policy DVC is communicating to members is that you can only upgrade tickets valued at less than $399. I'm not sure that n2mm's upgrade will even work because although less than $399 was paid for the renewal, prices have since increased and it's now valued higher.

 

[n2mm]

I agree. There are alot of folks who are left out because they bought early. My DD bought 7 day base tickets this summer before the increase to use to apply to her AP's in May 2013. They were still sealed in the wrapper and last week she sold them on her local facebook yardsale site. She sold them for what she had paid UT for them. She has to buy the new APs by December, so needed the cash now. The person she sold them to made out also by saving $90 off the gate price. It's a huge chunk of $$ for families to buy APs. She has to buy 4. I bought my granddaughters their AP vouchers, so will be sitting on them until May 2015.


Tjkraz, I'm not sure either, CheshireFigment did post that it would work and even quoted me the additional amount I needed so I know that it might be possible.

 

[LisaS]

Right now the standard policy DVC is communicating to members is that you can only upgrade tickets valued at less than $399. I'm not sure that n2mm's upgrade will even work because although less than $399 was paid for the renewal, prices have since increased and it's now valued higher.

I recall reading on the Theme Parks forum that discounted tickets (such as those from UT) are bridged to current prices provided you use them at least once but that DVC APs are not discounted tickets, they are a different kind of AP so perhaps they don't get bridged to current prices. I assume that is why you can upgrade them to these promo PAPs provided you paid no more than $399 for them.

ETA: Also, Disney knows what you paid for your voucher because you bought it from them. There is no reason for Disney to bridge your AP to current prices. The Mouse doesn't give away money.

 

[tjkraz]

Tjkraz, I'm not sure either, CheshireFigment did post that it would work and even quoted me the additional amount I needed so I know that it might be possible.

Well, she would know better than I would so that's a good sign.

Of course, it makes things even more confusing for members. I believe that my daughter's under 9 AP purchased in Feb '12 was less than $399 (before tax) but other Adult APs in the family were more than $399.

Others would have child APs which are not eligible for an upgrade. And in your situation with the renewal pricing coming into play, some adult APs can be upgraded while others cannot.

Hate to say it but this is how good intentions (great AP discount) and often go awry. This myriad of scenarios plus not even allowing voucher upgrades is not very member friendly, IMO. If you spent <$399 on a MYW ticket to upgrade, you're fine. But >$399 on an AP voucher is ineligible for upgrade. Boo.

 

[SEC71]

I don't mean to sound ungrateful but I would not have bought vouchers for a regular pass if I had known they were going to offer this. I plan on going to Disney as often as possible so I could save the vouchers but I really do not want to spend another $1,300 on vouchers. Also, I have a brain tumor so who knows if I will be able to go to Disney in the future.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

I thought Disney's general policy was that you can change to a lower-valued ticket, but they do not refund any difference. For those who bought a regular annual pass, it wouldn't get you a refund, but it would at least be a way to add the PAP benefits at the price you already paid.

The other option would be to put the vouchers you've already purchased away for a future year, and purchase the $399 tickets for this year (since those need to be activated before 2014). That just ties up the cash you paid for your current vouchers for a full year or more.

 

[vicki_c]

I thought Disney's general policy was that you can change to a lower-valued ticket, but they do not refund any difference. For those who bought a regular annual pass, it wouldn't get you a refund, but it would at least be a way to add the PAP benefits at the price you already paid.

The other option would be to put the vouchers you've already purchased away for a future year, and purchase the $399 tickets for this year (since those need to be activated before 2014). That just ties up the cash you paid for your current vouchers for a full year or more.

That is the normal policy, but apparently is not the policy for this particular offer.

 

[mom_rules]

If you renewed your DVC Annual Pass over the phone but have not yet picked up the actual Annual Pass would they allow the upgrade in pass? Our renewal was September.

 

[tjkraz]

If you renewed your DVC Annual Pass over the phone but have not yet picked up the actual Annual Pass would they allow the upgrade in pass? Our renewal was September.

Don't believe so...not unless the pass cost less than $399 to renew.

Even though you haven't claimed the ticket, you've already bought it. It's similar to members holding unredeemed vouchers / exchange certificates. Disney isn't allowing those to be upgraded, either.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I just sent DVC an email based on what I have read today.

If I had purchased a renewal I could upgrade. But since I purchased a new AP I can't????

I was fine until the above. If they hadn't let ANYONE upgrade no biggie but this is just bizarre. I said I didn't want an refund but I should not be penalized for paying MORE them my friend who was there at the same time as me...

I would encourage EVERYONE who is impacted to let them know that they are being stupid LOL!

 

[ryels]

So I got a response back from MS regarding upgrading. It's pretty much what people have already said:

"We appreciate your concern over upgrading your current Annual Pass to a Premium Annual Pass during this special promotion. While you are still welcome to take advantage of the promotional Premium Annual Pass offer, we are only offering an exchange as an upgrade. Therefore, we are not able to exchange an existing Annual Pass that was purchased for a retail price greater than $399.

Any Annual Pass that was purchased at a retail price less than $399 is eligible to be upgraded to a Premium Annual Pass during the promotional period, October 1 – December 31, 2012. Please note that the anniversary or renewal date of your original pass will remain the same. This means you may enjoy less than one full year of the Premium Annual Pass depending on your anniversary date."

Talk about a silly policy. I wonder if they'll let me "downgrade" to a better ticket then??????????

I'm still going to ask when we get to Guest Relations. This policy is so dumb. I don't even want any money back, even though I paid more. I just want the premium AP!

Talk about Goofy...

 

[drusba]

The renewal AP cost is $385 per adult, less than the $399 for the discounted PAP, So I guess that means if you have a renewal effective Sep but have not yet picked it up you can get the discounted PAP for the $14 difference. But if you bought a new AP which with a DVC dscount costs more than $399 and have not yet picked it up you cannot "downgrade" to a PAP even if you are willing to forego any refund. Go figure.

 

[DougEMG]

The other option would be to put the vouchers you've already purchased away for a future year, and purchase the $399 tickets for this year (since those need to be activated before 2014). That just ties up the cash you paid for your current vouchers for a full year or more.

That's what I'm planning on doing, will just have to save those vouchers for another year.

I had emailed Disney about upgrading my voucher when I got there in Dec, their response was

Any Annual Pass that was purchased at a retail price less than $399 is
eligible to be upgraded to a Premium Annual Pass during the promotional
period, October 1 – December 31, 2012.

 

[cmehling]

I had emailed Disney about upgrading my voucher when I got there in Dec, their response was

Any Annual Pass that was purchased at a retail price less than $399 is
eligible to be upgraded to a Premium Annual Pass during the promotional
period, October 1 – December 31, 2012.

How would one purchase a annual pass that was less than $399 in the first place? From what I understand these are current DVC discount prices...

Annual Pass $452.63 (Including Tax)
AP Renewal $410.03 (Including Tax)

Perhaps if you use the Renewal price, without tax, that would be under $399.

 

[tjkraz]

How would one purchase a annual pass that was less than $399 in the first place? From what I understand these are current DVC discount prices...

Annual Pass $452.63 (Including Tax)
AP Renewal $410.03 (Including Tax)

Perhaps if you use the Renewal price, without tax, that would be under $399.

Correct. Must be $399 or less pre-tax. The adult renewal rate prior to the June 2012 price increase was around $385. Also the child AP (age 3-9) was approx the same $385 price before June.

 

[Sammie]

I just sent DVC an email based on what I have read today.

If I had purchased a renewal I could upgrade. But since I purchased a new AP I can't????

I was fine until the above. If they hadn't let ANYONE upgrade no biggie but this is just bizarre. I said I didn't want an refund but I should not be penalized for paying MORE them my friend who was there at the same time as me...

I would encourage EVERYONE who is impacted to let them know that they are being stupid LOL!

Just remember when you are telling them they are stupid, that DVC did not make that decision, Disney Ticketing did. (actually it was probably Marketing that made the decision.)

And Disney ticketing is probably thinking we give you a $300 discount and you want to tell us we are stupid.

Just saying.

 

[bwang123]

Just remember when you are telling them they are stupid, that DVC did not make that decision, Disney Ticketing did.

And Disney ticketing is probably thinking we give you a $300 discount and you want to tell us we are stupid.

Just saying.

Right.

People demanding discounts on top of already discounted tickets.