Annual pass changes coming........

[Dan Murphy]

I'm holding the new passholder sleeve and it says to go to Disneyworld.com/PassholderPerks for information on various discounts.

Yes, looked there before, nothing new that I can see. But thanks.

 

[lovethattink]

Yes, looked there before, nothing new that I can see. But thanks.

Yeah. I didn't see anything added or subtracted.

 

[javaj]

Posted this on the Dvc board but I just found this thread which is a lot more active so posting my question here.

I have a DVC PAP purchased with the 2014 special and activated in January 2015. Planning to use it for 1 last trip next month (no blackout dates). I'd been planning to purchase memory maker so I'm interested in one of the options that provide the photopass downloads.

I'm trying to figure out my options based on what price I'll be credited for my DVC PAP. Can I convert to gold or only platinum? I'm not sure if they'll let me switch to gold if my PAP is credited at a higher price than the cost of the gold.

 

[rfc0001]

Posted this on the Dvc board but I just found this thread which is a lot more active so posting my question here.

I have a DVC PAP purchased with the 2014 special and activated in January 2015. Planning to use it for 1 last trip next month (no blackout dates). I'd been planning to purchase memory maker so I'm interested in one of the options that provide the photopass downloads.

I'm trying to figure out my options based on what price I'll be credited for my DVC PAP. Can I convert to gold or only platinum? I'm not sure if they'll let me switch to gold if my PAP is credited at a higher price than the cost of the gold.

They should credit the non-discounted DVC PAP price of your current AP (before the increase) towards the upgrade to a new AP. So $649 DVC PAP credit towards $649 DVC Platinum AP = $0 downgrade. Why would you want Gold over Platinum? Yes, you could downgrade to Gold, but why? It's free to downgrade to either Gold or Platinum in your situation, so take the better of the two, which is Platinum (same benefits as Gold, without blackout dates). You can still renew at Gold, if that is what you are worried about.

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

From my understanding it used to be that buying tickets and then using one of them locked you into the pricing of that time period. For example if it was $280 for 4 days tickets and $625 for an AP, but then a week later that turned into $300 and $650, as long as you used one of the tickets you would be able to upgrade to the $625 price. Otherwise what would be the point of using one of the tickets first? Am I wrong in this?

Because from what you are saying it sounds like the $280 will be applied towards the $749 price with no other option.

It never worked that way. By buying the ticket before a price increase you would save vs buying after the increase but if upgrading to an AP that was done at whatever the new/current AP price was. However, if you used the ticket for entry to a park prior to upgrading you would bridge from the lower price you paid for the ticket to the current value of that ticket.

 

[javaj]

They should credit the non-discounted DVC PAP price of your current AP (before the increase) towards the upgrade to a new AP. So $649 DVC PAP credit towards $649 DVC Platinum AP = $0 downgrade. Why would you want Gold over Platinum? Yes, you could downgrade to Gold, but why? It's free to downgrade to either Gold or Platinum in your situation, so take the better of the two, which is Platinum (same benefits as Gold, without blackout dates). You can still renew at Gold, if that is what you are worried about.

I didn't realize converting to platinum would be 0 cost, that certainly does seem like the best option.

The other factor I forgot about is that we have used our PAPs for water park admission on a past trip. While we aren't looking to use that option during this next trip, I wonder if I will be allowed to convert to platinum or only platinum plus.

 

[Pirate Fairy]

Hopefully one of the CMs can help me with a frustrating situation. Our passes (1 AP and 2 Seasonal) were up for renewal a week ago. We had some very serious medical issues in September, which led to a hospitalization for one of our children right around the time of renewal. I figured no big deal, I have 30 days to renew. Life got back to normal last week and I reviewed the renewal rates, but wasn't able to finish my transaction that night due to the website not cooperating. Fast forward to Sunday and now my only options are the new ones, which are more money obviously. I call in and am basically told I am out of luck unless I travel an hour and a half from my home to WDW to present the postcard that Mickey sent with the prior rate written down (which I do have, although I was only sent one for a Seasonal Pass renewal for my child).

I have spoken to Guest Relations who is supposedly working on this but did not hear back from her today.

I really don't have the time to drive over to deal with this and I think it's ridiculous that something that was put in writing and guaranteed until the end of October is no longer available unless I inconvenience myself to drive all the way over there when it states on the postcard I can renew online. Also, I think Disney trying to renew my pass back to the end of September (prior to the new rates being in effect) yet trying to make me pay the higher rates that took effect October 4 is ridiculous.

So here are my questions:
1) If I indeed must show up at one of the parks to complete this transaction with my Mickey rate postcard addressed to my small child, will they honor the old rates for all of our passes? They never sent postcards for my husband or I but all of our passes renew on the same date. For some reason, the Mickey Monitor also comes addressed to my child so I don't know if they have her marked as head of the household or what...
2) Is there a way to get this handled online or via phone so I don't have to drive 3 hours roundtrip to deal with this?

I am considering not renewing our passes this year which really makes me sad, but I feel Disney is not handling this situation well.

Thank you for any advice you can give.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

So here are my questions:
1) If I indeed must show up at one of the parks to complete this transaction with my Mickey rate postcard addressed to my small child, will they honor the old rates for all of our passes? They never sent postcards for my husband or I but all of our passes renew on the same date. For some reason, the Mickey Monitor also comes addressed to my child so I don't know if they have her marked as head of the household or what...
2) Is there a way to get this handled online or via phone so I don't have to drive 3 hours roundtrip to deal with this?

1) The "letter of the law" is that they'll honor the rate on the postcard for the pass type listed on the postcard. If the postcard is for a Seasonal, they should renew your 2 Seasonal passes to Silver passes at the old Seasonal renewal rate. Whether or not they'll renew your Annual to one of the new pass types at the old renewal rate will depend on the leader/coordinator who handles your situation. I would explain the extenuating circumstances to them, including the fact that you never got passholder mail for anyone but the child.

2) If you're already talking to GR, they are your best option.

 

[Pirate Fairy]

Thank you very much for the insight, ravenclawtrekkie! I really appreciate it!

 

[Madteaparty001]

I don't think you had it quite correct. The way it previously worked was that if you bought a ticket at a discounted rate and then upgraded to a more expensive ticket after using the ticket once you locked in the current gate price for your ticket. So using your example you would then get $300 credit toward your $650 pass even though you actually only paid $280. (Though it would actually be $300 toward the current $750 cost unless you are DVC/Fl resident and eligible for lower cost passes). They call it price bridging and we did it back in May-we had bought 4 day PH tickets from AAA before the Feb price increase. We used them once and then upgraded to the DVC discounted annual passes. We got the credit for the current 4 day PH cost applied toward the cost of the current DVC annual passes not the prices that were in effect when the tickets were purchased in January.

It never worked that way. By buying the ticket before a price increase you would save vs buying after the increase but if upgrading to an AP that was done at whatever the new/current AP price was. However, if you used the ticket for entry to a park prior to upgrading you would bridge from the lower price you paid for the ticket to the current value of that ticket.

Thanks you guys! I never really understood how it worked before because I've never done it, that makes more sense, it sounds like upgrading just got a lot more expensive, come on Disney, give my wallet a break!

 

[GATORinaZ28]

Passes that were already active prior to the changeover - meaning they weren't certificates - will retain their previous benefits and terms.

Passes that are activated after the changeover - even if they were certificates purchased prior to it - will be part of the new system.

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Edit: I read further down the list and found that since mine is a renewal, it will still be a Season Pass.
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Hmmm...now I am confused. I renewed my Annual Pass a week prior to the change over. I downgraded to the Seasonal Pass and paid in full over the phone. I just got the voucher in the mail to turn in and renew at Guest Services, which I plan to do in two weeks from now.

I am now confused as to whether my renewed AP will be a Seasonal Pass or a Silver Pass.

 

[linzbear]

Posted this on the Dvc board but I just found this thread which is a lot more active so posting my question here.

I have a DVC PAP purchased with the 2014 special and activated in January 2015. Planning to use it for 1 last trip next month (no blackout dates). I'd been planning to purchase memory maker so I'm interested in one of the options that provide the photopass downloads.

I'm trying to figure out my options based on what price I'll be credited for my DVC PAP. Can I convert to gold or only platinum? I'm not sure if they'll let me switch to gold if my PAP is credited at a higher price than the cost of the gold.

I have the same question, but I'll be in the world in a few days and can definitively answer then! My guess is that it would be ~$85 (80 + tax) to upgrade to the Platinum plus. MM is worth about $85 to me so I'll do it for that! You can't get anything besides the plus if you've used a plus, that much I know.

 

[Cals dad]

It really feels like they are just trying to price out the people come often. Let's face it. Disney does not make as much money off of AP holders as they do from the people that come infrequently or from far away. As an AP holder, my family doesn't take long vacations to Disney. Usually day trips, so we don't get hotels. We are just as likely to eat at least 1 meal off site depending on what time we get to the park, or leave the park. When we do eat at a park, it is usually cheaper counter service meals. We rarely buy photos from them. AP holders are also some of the more vocal people when it comes to wanting new attractions and upgrades to current ones. It seems like they are adding a service that costs them next to nothing to justify a huge price increase. We are going to downgrade our passes when they are due. Can't justify $100 more a person.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

No. I mean change. He's used his AP once last week.

(So this would be an upgrade then.)

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

Has anyone used their renewal postcard or letter to get the old price at the ticket windows?

Any mailings, postcards, ANYTHING you have from Disney, BRING IT WITH YOU TO THE WINDOW. The VP cannot assist you unless you physically bring it with you, that is the only way they can honor it. For everyone, please don't just come and say "but I got something in the mail," it must physically be in your hands in order to have any hope of honoring it. No exceptions. Bring it with you.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

=============
Edit: I read further down the list and found that since mine is a renewal, it will still be a Season Pass.
=============

Hmmm...now I am confused. I renewed my Annual Pass a week prior to the change over. I downgraded to the Seasonal Pass and paid in full over the phone. I just got the voucher in the mail to turn in and renew at Guest Services, which I plan to do in two weeks from now.

I am now confused as to whether my renewed AP will be a Seasonal Pass or a Silver Pass.

If your renewal is actually ACTIVE already, you are Seasonal and will remain such through your anniversary date unless you decide to make any changes. If you have not activated your renewal, you will activate to Silver when you activate your renewal. Basically, NOT talking about certificates, ACTUAL activations: If you were active prior to 10/4, you are the status you were through your anniversary. If you are NOT active until after 10/4, your former status does not exist to be able to renew, and you will renew into the new correlating pass status (for you, Silver.) It's all about when your renewal is actually activated.

It sounds like you may need to bring in your renewal certificate with you, and you can bring it up to any window, it does not have to be Guest Relations (which is more problem resolution). Any of the windows should be able to assist you in activating your pass.

 

[TravelingTotMom]

I have a question I don't believe was asked...

We have previously purchased FL Res Seasonal Pass non-renewal certificates, which I understand will become Silver when we activate them later this month (yay free parking!).

However, if we want to upgrade one to Gold to have PP, any idea how they would calculate the upgrade cost? Would they use how much we originally paid for the seasonal pass, or would it be the difference of the current face value of the silver vs. the gold? (Btw, upgrading just one totally works for us b/c DH refuses to go to WDW in the summer.)

 

[rfc0001]

I have a question I don't believe was asked...

We have previously purchased FL Res Seasonal Pass non-renewal certificates, which I understand will become Silver when we activate them later this month (yay free parking!).

However, if we want to upgrade one to Gold to have PP, any idea how they would calculate the upgrade cost? Would they use how much we originally paid for the seasonal pass, or would it be the difference of the current face value of the silver vs. the gold? (Btw, upgrading just one totally works for us b/c DH refuses to go to WDW in the summer.)

Should be difference between Silver and Gold since you could upgrade to Gold after getting Silver for the difference anyways.

 

[Lorilais_mommie]

Question
I bought Standard AP vouchers using the DVC discount back in feb.
When I go to redeems those vouchers what pass would I get??

That ap vouchers I bought were for all 4 parks (no water parks) no blackout dates and have no expiration date on them

 

[GATORinaZ28]

If your renewal is actually ACTIVE already, you are Seasonal and will remain such through your anniversary date unless you decide to make any changes. If you have not activated your renewal, you will activate to Silver when you activate your renewal. Basically, NOT talking about certificates, ACTUAL activations: If you were active prior to 10/4, you are the status you were through your anniversary. If you are NOT active until after 10/4, your former status does not exist to be able to renew, and you will renew into the new correlating pass status (for you, Silver.) It's all about when your renewal is actually activated.

It sounds like you may need to bring in your renewal certificate with you, and you can bring it up to any window, it does not have to be Guest Relations (which is more problem resolution). Any of the windows should be able to assist you in activating your pass.

Ah, I guess I was still confused then. I renewed my AP 60 days in advance (renew date is Nov 29) and then a week later the changes were announced. I just received the little green card in the mail yesterday which I plan on turning in Oct 19th, so the renewal isn't activated yet.

Thanks for the info on that. I appreciate it!