Any luck with upgrading existing vouchers to premiums?

[tjkraz]

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.

Personally I think the more sensible approach would be to not allow upgrades of ANY current tickets...but to allow unredeemed vouchers to be upgraded. And I say that as someone who is considering upgrading a current ticket.

I'm still a little dumbstruck that Disney is drawing a line in the sand regarding vouchers. A member could have literally purchased a voucher an hour before the perk was announced, and they will still be denied any sort of upgrade rights.

I'm keenly aware that rules are necessary and not everyone can "win" on every perk. But I still think they dropped the ball on this one. Not customer friendly at all.

 

[LisaS]

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.

I have an AP voucher that cost $399 pre-tax. I bought it a couple of years ago to beat a price increase and for various reasons I have not redeemed it yet. So perhaps they are referring to AP vouchers purchased before the price rose above $399.

The current renewal price is still under $399 so if someone has a renewal voucher that could be applied toward a PAP.

I agree it would be better if they allowed people to exchange any current AP or AP voucher regardless of cost for the discounted PAP. Allowing some to do it and not others, particularly those who paid more to begin with, doesn't make sense.

 

[Sammie]

I am sure there is some obscure marketing and accounting reason for the decision, something probably none of us would agree with or even understand.

I guess it has to all equal out and since they can't give you money back on ticket purchases, they can't downgrade. I do know their money has to come out to the penny. I had a 2 cent mistake once on my bill and it was a huge deal to them.

They can upgrade because you pay the difference.

I do understand frustration, but I also know there have been other promotions that not everyone could take advantage of. With hundreds of thousands of members, sometimes that is just not possible.

The regular Annual Pass for DVC is $425 and the new one if $399, how would they account for $26 if they allowed anyone to exchange a AP voucher for the new PAP.

Where they messed up is when they decided to discount the PAP, they should have made them the same price or a dollar more.

 

[cvjw]

We upgraded our regular DVC AP's to the DVC PAP's at DHS a couple of days ago. Our AP's were renewals, which cost us $385 - which is less than the new price of $399. It was a very easy process - took about 5 minutes, and cost $14 per pass to upgrade.

 

[n2mm]

We upgraded our regular DVC AP's to the DVC PAP's at DHS a couple of days ago. Our AP's were renewals, which cost us $385 - which is less than the new price of $399. It was a very easy process - took about 5 minutes, and cost $14 per pass to upgrade.

Thanks for the update. This is what we are hoping/planning to do next Friday when we arrive. We both have active renewed APs that cost less than the $399 new PAP. If it all works out, we plan to visit a water park. We haven't visited a water park in a long time, since the prices are too high and the discount for AP holders isn't very good.

Wouldn't it be nice if Disney would let folks who paid more than the $399 price (holding a voucher or an active AP) upgrade to the new PAP and take the overpayment of $26 and donate it to a charity. Just a thought!

 

[mom_rules]

We upgraded our regular DVC AP's to the DVC PAP's at DHS a couple of days ago. Our AP's were renewals, which cost us $385 - which is less than the new price of $399. It was a very easy process - took about 5 minutes, and cost $14 per pass to upgrade.

Great news! We'll give it a try in November also.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

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.

My expereince is telling folks they are stupid is rarely helpful.

I just pointed out that this was NOT good Customer Service and that is something Disney prides itself on. I also indicated that if they hadn't let anyone upgrade this would have made sense but to say "you paid more so you can't have more benefits" was not good service

 

[gripp35]

Right.

People demanding discounts on top of already discounted tickets.

To be sure, Sammie's (quite appropriate) comments were directed at someone who was NOT demanding (or even asking) for a discount on top of a discount. They were actually asking to get less of a discount...

 

[tjkraz]

The regular Annual Pass for DVC is $425 and the new one if $399, how would they account for $26 if they allowed anyone to exchange a AP voucher for the new PAP.

Write off the difference?

I can't speak to the sort of accounting controls Disney has in place today, but I do know that back in 2005 when the AP discount was first introduced they did allow such upgrades. The non-discounted price of an AP was about $7 more than a discounted PAP and the upgrades were permitted. Ticket reps were instructed that no refunds were to be issued but there were scattered reports of people even getting the money back.

I agree that a line had to be drawn in the sand. I just don't agree with where Disney decided to draw that line.

In our case, we have one child's AP which is eligible for an upgrade and two adult APs which are not. People with $425 vouchers are being told no upgrades while folks with $385 vouchers or MYW tickets can upgrade.

The policy almost seems petty on Disney's part. "Yes we will let you upgrade but only if you will give us more money in the process!" Forget the fact that the people they are turning-away already paid MORE than $399.

I had the same thought as you about the pricing. Too bad they didn't just make the PAP $426.

 

[bwang123]

To be sure, Sammie's (quite appropriate) comments were directed at someone who was NOT demanding (or even asking) for a discount on top of a discount. They were actually asking to get less of a discount...

When you buy a voucher it says that they are non-transferable and non-refundable. Even though they don't have to give you the cost difference between DVC AP and discounted PAP, they probably would still have to process it as a refund in their system, going against the policy you agreed to when you bought the voucher.

 

[disneynutz]

Personally I think the more sensible approach would be to not allow upgrades of ANY current tickets...but to allow unredeemed vouchers to be upgraded. And I say that as someone who is considering upgrading a current ticket.

I'm still a little dumbstruck that Disney is drawing a line in the sand regarding vouchers. A member could have literally purchased a voucher an hour before the perk was announced, and they will still be denied any sort of upgrade rights.

I'm keenly aware that rules are necessary and not everyone can "win" on every perk. But I still think they dropped the ball on this one. Not customer friendly at all.

Voucher holders who purchased before the announcement can just hold on to them for another time, I don't see the big deal.

The PAP offering is bound to cause problems. How many members won't read the fine print and will miss the purchase or redemption deadline? I can see the posts now.

Bill

 

[drusba]

Called and confirmed that we could upgrade our renewal AP vouchers to the new PAP but you need to do it when you go to Guest Services to pick up your actual tickets which means you must be going to WDW between now and end of December to be able to upgrade from the renewal AP voucher to the discounted PAP. The current renewal AP price with DVC discount is $385 plus tax. The tax takes it above $399 but tax is not used in determining whether it cost less than or equal to the $399 PAP. Moreover, when upgrading you do not get credit for the tax you paid and thus the upgrade will cost $14 per PAP if you have a $385 AP renewal plus any additonal tax added to that $14.

 

[LisaS]

Moreover, when upgrading you do not get credit for the tax you paid and thus the upgrade will cost $14 per PAP if you have a $385 AP renewal plus any additonal tax added to that $14.

I'm not following here. Are you saying they are charging $14 ($399-$385) and then charging tax on $399? That cannot be correct because you already paid tax on the $385 renewal ticket and that tax should be credited against the total tax due on the $399 PAP.

Other posts I've seen indicate that people were charged tax only on the $14 additional that they paid to upgrade, in other words the tax they paid on the $385 is credited and the only additional tax owed is on the price difference of $14 (an additional 91 cents).

The price of the PAP would be $399 + 25.94 in tax for a total of $424.94
The amount already paid for the renewal would be $385 + 25.03 in tax for a total of $410.03

The additional amount due for the PAP should be $14.91. If they are saying they will not credit the $25.03 already paid in tax, that is not correct.

 

[Sammie]

I agree that if anyone is willing to donate the difference in the passes, they should let everyone exchange the regular pass for the premium.

I will get right on this and see if I can get it changed.

I do think they could have save themselves some headaches by pricing them differently.

 

[Chumpieboy]

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.

Adding to the discussion here - we arrived and were able to do the swap. We had vouchers purchased a day before the recent price increase a few months ago and had planned to let those vouchers sit until later and take advantage of the PAP deal.

We arrived at the DHS GS booth and asked if they knew about the DVC PAP deal. The CM behind the window said yes and started the process of purchasing. I asked him to verify that our existing voucher existed in their system and to confirm that we could let that voucher sit unactivated until after the PAP expired. The gal at the other window leaned over and suggested that we just convert the voucher to the DVC deal and they could give us a refund for the difference.

5 minutes later we walked away with 2 new PAPs and a $~58 credit on our CC.

 

[n2mm]

Adding to the discussion here - we arrived and were able to do the swap. We had vouchers purchased a day before the recent price increase a few months ago and had planned to let those vouchers sit until later and take advantage of the PAP deal.

We arrived at the DHS GS booth and asked if they knew about the DVC PAP deal. The CM behind the window said yes and started the process of purchasing. I asked him to verify that our existing voucher existed in their system and to confirm that we could let that voucher sit unactivated until after the PAP expired. The gal at the other window leaned over and suggested that we just convert the voucher to the DVC deal and they could give us a refund for the difference.

5 minutes later we walked away with 2 new PAPs and a $~58 credit on our CC.

This would be very welcomed news for some folks. It would be nice if it was the norm. I guess time will tell. If I was holding regular AP vouchers and going before Dec. I certainly would try to see if they would convert the vouchers before buying new PAPs.

 

[drusba]

I'm not following here. Are you saying they are charging $14 ($399-$385) and then charging tax on $399?

No that is not what I meant. You pay additional tax only on the additional $14 charge.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

Adding to the discussion here - we arrived and were able to do the swap. We had vouchers purchased a day before the recent price increase a few months ago and had planned to let those vouchers sit until later and take advantage of the PAP deal.

We arrived at the DHS GS booth and asked if they knew about the DVC PAP deal. The CM behind the window said yes and started the process of purchasing. I asked him to verify that our existing voucher existed in their system and to confirm that we could let that voucher sit unactivated until after the PAP expired. The gal at the other window leaned over and suggested that we just convert the voucher to the DVC deal and they could give us a refund for the difference.

5 minutes later we walked away with 2 new PAPs and a $~58 credit on our CC.

So in other words the ONLY group so far who hasn't been able to upgrade is those of us with ACTIVE 'new' APs? Hmm.. Talk about BAD show at Disney!

This is the response I received to my email


"Thank you for contacting DISNEY VACATION CLUB®.

We appreciate your correspondence and your taking the time to write to
us. Based on the nature of your comments, we have forwarded your
message to our Member Satisfaction Team for further review. Please
expect to be contacted again with regard to your message within 5
business days.

Thank you again for writing.

Sincerely,

Todd

Member Services | Online Communications
DISNEY VACATION CLUB"

Really? It's going to take you five days to respond.

All in all Disney's "customer service" on this has some flaws. In other words. " We didn't have a clue folks might want to upgrade to this and don't know what to do" (Really, didn't you get those phone calls earlier. Of course had you consistently responded then and stuck to it... LOL!)

 

[RachaelA]

Adding to the discussion here - we arrived and were able to do the swap. We had vouchers purchased a day before the recent price increase a few months ago and had planned to let those vouchers sit until later and take advantage of the PAP deal.

We arrived at the DHS GS booth and asked if they knew about the DVC PAP deal. The CM behind the window said yes and started the process of purchasing. I asked him to verify that our existing voucher existed in their system and to confirm that we could let that voucher sit unactivated until after the PAP expired. The gal at the other window leaned over and suggested that we just convert the voucher to the DVC deal and they could give us a refund for the difference.

5 minutes later we walked away with 2 new PAPs and a $~58 credit on our CC.

What????? I thought this wasn't allowed. Well, we are definitely going to try this next week then. Our vouchers have not been activated. I guess it doesn't hurt to try! I'll let my husband argue with them.

 

[vicki_c]

What????? I thought this wasn't allowed. Well, we are definitely going to try this next week then. Our vouchers have not been activated. I guess it doesn't hurt to try! I'll let my husband argue with them.

It's not. The PP got some pixie dust it sounds like. I would try if you want, but chances are it won't happen for you.