I just returned from 6-nights at WDW and wanted to share my experience in upgrading/bridging my ticket to an AP. I know there has been a lot of talk lately about some cast members not being too familiar with the procedure and/or stating that bridging can't be done. I purchased a 6-night vacation package with a MYW base ticket and knew I wanted to upgrade it so I began on the first day of my trip. Here's how it worked out for me....
Day 1: Animal Kingdom - I arrived at AK guest relations and asked the CM how much it would be to upgrade my ticket to an AP. She scanned the ticket then looked at my like I had horns coming out of my head. She asked me 'what kind of ticket is this?' I immediately knew this was going to go nowhere fast so I told her it was a 6-day base ticket. She then hit a few keys and asked me how much I had paid for it. I explained to her that it came as part of a package. She asked me who I bought the package from and I told her WDW. She hit a few more keys then went to the back with my ticket. About 10 minutes later she came back and informed me that guest relations can't upgrade a ticket to an annual pass that is purchased as part of a vacation package and that I had to do it back at the hotel. I know this isn't correct but before I could say anything a supervisor came out to talk to me. He asked me what I was trying to do and I told him I just wanted to upgrade my ticket to an AP. He said while they could do it, they can't do it on the first day of a package. They had to give the system a day to lock in the reservation or else if they did upgrade the ticket the system could screw up the entire reservation. Frustrated (but friendly), I thanked him for his help and left.
Day 2: Epcot - I arrived at Epcot guest relations and told the young lady behind the counter what I wanted to do and she was extremely helpful. She swiped the ticket, entered some information and said it would be about $100 more than I was planning on. I asked her if she had bridged the ticket to current gate price and she informed me that this type of ticket can't be bridged. I asked her if she was sure because I've had a ticket bridged in the past and she assured me that it could not happen. With a growing line of people behind me I decided to take my ticket and leave while intending on trying again later.
Later that day I returned to Epcot guest relations and tried the same thing with a new cast member to get the same result. Upon swiping the ticket I was told it could not be bridged and it would cost me over $400 to upgrade (when I was planning on paying $330). I asked to speak to a supervisor and was told that he was unavailable as he was on a phone call. I took my ticket and left with the intention of trying again tomorrow.
Day 3: Hollywood Studios - I went into guest relations and told the CM my intentions. She swiped my ticket and quoted me the $400+ price. I asked her if the ticket had been bridged and she asked me "what do you mean by bridged?" I explained that the ticket should be brought up to the normal gate price since I purchased it before the current price hike. She looked at me like I was crazy and said she'd have to ask someone else since she had never heard of that before. Another CM came over to assist and I was once again quoted $400+. I asked the new CM if the ticket had been bridged and then it happened.....her eyes widened, I heard angels sing, the hallelujah chorus began playing and she said 'Oh yeah, I think I can do that. Give me just a minute.'
After 15-minutes I walked out of Hollywood Studios guest relations with a shiny new AP for the price of $330 and some change.
I knew it would be a process trying to upgrade with the stories recently but I always kept my cool, was super friendly and cut the CM's some slack. The moral of my story is if at first you don't succeed, try try again.
Day 1: Animal Kingdom - I arrived at AK guest relations and asked the CM how much it would be to upgrade my ticket to an AP. She scanned the ticket then looked at my like I had horns coming out of my head. She asked me 'what kind of ticket is this?' I immediately knew this was going to go nowhere fast so I told her it was a 6-day base ticket. She then hit a few keys and asked me how much I had paid for it. I explained to her that it came as part of a package. She asked me who I bought the package from and I told her WDW. She hit a few more keys then went to the back with my ticket. About 10 minutes later she came back and informed me that guest relations can't upgrade a ticket to an annual pass that is purchased as part of a vacation package and that I had to do it back at the hotel. I know this isn't correct but before I could say anything a supervisor came out to talk to me. He asked me what I was trying to do and I told him I just wanted to upgrade my ticket to an AP. He said while they could do it, they can't do it on the first day of a package. They had to give the system a day to lock in the reservation or else if they did upgrade the ticket the system could screw up the entire reservation. Frustrated (but friendly), I thanked him for his help and left.
Day 2: Epcot - I arrived at Epcot guest relations and told the young lady behind the counter what I wanted to do and she was extremely helpful. She swiped the ticket, entered some information and said it would be about $100 more than I was planning on. I asked her if she had bridged the ticket to current gate price and she informed me that this type of ticket can't be bridged. I asked her if she was sure because I've had a ticket bridged in the past and she assured me that it could not happen. With a growing line of people behind me I decided to take my ticket and leave while intending on trying again later.
Later that day I returned to Epcot guest relations and tried the same thing with a new cast member to get the same result. Upon swiping the ticket I was told it could not be bridged and it would cost me over $400 to upgrade (when I was planning on paying $330). I asked to speak to a supervisor and was told that he was unavailable as he was on a phone call. I took my ticket and left with the intention of trying again tomorrow.
Day 3: Hollywood Studios - I went into guest relations and told the CM my intentions. She swiped my ticket and quoted me the $400+ price. I asked her if the ticket had been bridged and she asked me "what do you mean by bridged?" I explained that the ticket should be brought up to the normal gate price since I purchased it before the current price hike. She looked at me like I was crazy and said she'd have to ask someone else since she had never heard of that before. Another CM came over to assist and I was once again quoted $400+. I asked the new CM if the ticket had been bridged and then it happened.....her eyes widened, I heard angels sing, the hallelujah chorus began playing and she said 'Oh yeah, I think I can do that. Give me just a minute.'
After 15-minutes I walked out of Hollywood Studios guest relations with a shiny new AP for the price of $330 and some change.
I knew it would be a process trying to upgrade with the stories recently but I always kept my cool, was super friendly and cut the CM's some slack. The moral of my story is if at first you don't succeed, try try again.
