10day ticket w/park hopper w/upgrade to AP

[pixie36]

We are staying 12 nights next year 30MAY-11JUN and I think we want to go with AP's as we hope to take another trip later around christmas 2016.

So I've done some reading that you can buy a 10day ticket and then once you have gone through the gate at least once upgrade to AP to get full ticket price applied to your discounted 10day park hopper pass. What I am wanting to know is how much does that really save you?

Also in some of the posts I've read it said some of the CM's don't really know the process to upgrade so we get full price on the tickets when we exchange and I really don't want to mess with it if it only saves me 30 bucks.

Thanks for your help!

 

[Robo]

We are staying 12 nights next year 30MAY-11JUN and I think we want to go with AP's as we hope to take another trip later around christmas 2016.

So I've done some reading that

1. you can buy a 10day ticket and then once you have gone through the gate at least once upgrade to AP to get full ticket price applied to your discounted 10day park hopper pass.

2. What I am wanting to know is how much does that really save you?

3. Also in some of the posts I've read it said some of the CM's don't really know the process to upgrade so we get full price on the tickets when we exchange and

4. I really don't want to mess with it if it only saves me 30 bucks.

1. Correct.

2. It saves you nothing, if you buy your original ticket directly from the Disney site or over the phone.
It can save you some money if you buy your original ticket from an authorized ticket discounter.
Per ticket, maybe 15-30 dollars, give or take. You want to pick a discounted ticket with the
most savings (and enough days to cover your advance FP+ reservations for the first trip.)
Since you're staying 12 nights in the first trip, this method may not be for you.

3. Yup. That can happen. (Doesn't always, though. And, it can be corrected if it does happen.)

4. OK.
Have a good trip!

 

[pixie36]

Thanks for your detailed response. This helps!

 

[DisMommyTX]

We did just this in July. However, when we tried to upgrade we were told to wait until the second half of our trip. AP are only allowed to make FP+ reservations for 7 consecutive days every 30 days. If we had upgraded the first day of our trip, we would have lost our last 4 days of FP reservations. Similarly, purchasing an AP in advance will only allow you to make FP reservations for the first 7 days of your trip. Purchasing the 10 day ticket in advance will allow you to reserve 10 days of FP over 14 days---then upgrade to the AP within 7 days of the end of your trip without losing any FP. Keep in mind that the AP will still expire one year from the first day you used the 10 day ticket.

Guest services was also super nice about working a little pixie dust magic so we could purchase and use the TIW card for our dining reservations at the beginning of our trip, a few days before we officially purchased the AP.

 

[glamourgirl]

We did just this in July. However, when we tried to upgrade we were told to wait until the second half of our trip. AP are only allowed to make FP+ reservations for 7 consecutive days every 30 days. If we had upgraded the first day of our trip, we would have lost our last 4 days of FP reservations. Similarly, purchasing an AP in advance will only allow you to make FP reservations for the first 7 days of your trip. Purchasing the 10 day ticket in advance will allow you to reserve 10 days of FP over 14 days---then upgrade to the AP within 7 days of the end of your trip without losing any FP. Keep in mind that the AP will still expire one year from the first day you used the 10 day ticket.

Guest services was also super nice about working a little pixie dust magic so we could purchase and use the TIW card for our dining reservations at the beginning of our trip, a few days before we officially purchased the AP.

You can make FPP for the entire length of stay with APs if you have an onsite booked resort reservation. I upgraded my 10 day ticket to AP on day 1 of my 17-day onsite stay. I could make FPP for entire 17 days. That was last year. This year, upgraded 2 day ticket to AP on day 1 and was able to book FPP for entire 12 day stay.

You should upgrade to AP right away during your trip to take advantage of the AP discounts and have the ability to purchase a TiW card to use as food/alcohol discount during the duration of your trip.

 

[pixie36]

Thanks glamourgirl. We are staying onsite and thought about getting TIW card but we don't drink and don't eat at signature restaurants so not sure it will pay off. Still crunching numbers!

 

[glamourgirl]

Thanks glamourgirl. We are staying onsite and thought about getting TIW card but we don't drink and don't eat at signature restaurants so not sure it will pay off. Still crunching numbers!

Def use one of the online calculators where you can plug in your restaurants and it will tell you the cost if you used DDP, TiW, or just OOP

 

[spritna]

Link of said calculators? Please

 

[spritna]

Bumping this for a link to one of these calculators

 

[mousehappync]

We did this on a Free Dining trip two years ago. We upgraded our tickets before we entered the park (this was when FP+ was still a trial program, and we used Magic Bands along with paper FP.). We got our TIW card and used it to do a few extra table service places on that trip. If you can swing the dates, I do think this a fantastic way to do the parks. We stayed at POR, and if I remember correctly our 7- night trip with free dining plus AP upgrade and TIW was around $4000. We got FANTASTIC AP discounts throughout the next year-- we ended up spending something like 20 nights at the Beach Club, always for well under $300/ night. The TIW card paid for itself many, many times over, and we did mostly one-credit type meals.

 

[Robo]

Bumping this for a link to one of these calculators

http://seeyareelsoon.wix.com/seeyareelsoon#!dining-plan-calculator/cxc0

 

[glamourgirl]

http://seeyareelsoon.wix.com/seeyareelsoon#!dining-plan-calculator/cxc0

I like that one from Joe and Ashley's "See Ya Reel Soon" but find its better for use on laptop--just better visually. I like this one for use on phone: http://www.distripplanner.com/

Both are great!

 

[Disneylover99]

AP are only allowed to make FP+ reservations for 7 consecutive days every 30 days. If we had upgraded the first day of our trip, we would have lost our last 4 days of FP reservations the AP.

I agree with glamourgirl. We have an AP and we booked 18 consecutive days with our resort stay. Plus you will not lose previously made FP's when you upgrade. We have upgraded to AP's twice now without losing any previously made fp's.

 

[spritna]

Thanks for the links! We are thinking about upgrading this dec. to ap for the first time. 8days is this years trip but have min. Of 2 more trips next year. So back to this year, we buy 8day park hopper or base ticket now....make our fp this october and then when we get down there just pay the difference (8day to ap) and we can keep our fp? Can this be done at our resort or do we go to magic kingdom guest services? Epcot is our first park so mk isnt out of the way. Then we buy tiw card at same place we upgrade to ap? Tia

 

[Robo]

1. we buy 8day park hopper or base ticket now....
2. make our fp this october and
3. then when we get down there just pay the difference (8day to ap)
4. and we can keep our fp?
5. Can this be done at our resort or
6. do we go to magic kingdom guest services?
7. Epcot is our first park so mk isnt out of the way.
8. Then we buy tiw card at same place we upgrade to ap? Tia

1. Yes.
2. Yes.
3. Yes.
4. Yes.
5. No.
6. You can upgrade at any ticket booth or Guest Relations at any park, or at TTC or at 2 locations at DTD.
7. You can upgrade at an Epcot Guest Relations.
8. Yes.

 

[spritna]

Thanks Robo!