Annual Pass help....

[mattb65]

Hey all, my gf and I bought APs for the first time this past year. We upgraded our 2-day 2-park tickets to the SoCal AP+parking (parking for just one of us)

We're considering upgrading to the Deluxe pass this upcoming year and we're trying to figure out the cheapest way to do so...
This is what I've come up with so far and am wondering if anyone has a better idea to get the APs cheaper?

1) Her family is going at the end of this year and buying either 2-day 2-park tickets or 3-day hoppers.
We could use their tickets to upgrade to the deluxe pass at the end of their trip. So the final cost to us would be:
- $126w/o parking and $185 w/parking - if they choose 2-day hop
- $102w/o parking and $161 w/parking - if they choose 3day (corp discount on 3 day ticket)
One question I had on this though is if our AP doesn't expire until 12/16 but their last day of the hopper is 12/14 can I still use their ticket like I'm buying a whole new AP?

2) Costco has Deluxe passes for $269 that includes a $50 gift card. So final cost on this is essentially:
- $219w/o parking

3) Ebay seems to have a LOT of auctions that are a bit cheaper than gate prices. I'm guessing that these people also received corporate discounts or something on the tickets which is how they sell them cheaper, so final cost on these would vary but I'm guessing around the same cost as #1 above.

So if anyone has tips on how to get the APs cheaper I'd love to hear them

 

[Califgirl]

Hey all, my gf and I bought APs for the first time this past year. We upgraded our 2-day 2-park tickets to the SoCal AP+parking (parking for just one of us)

We're considering upgrading to the Deluxe pass this upcoming year and we're trying to figure out the cheapest way to do so...
This is what I've come up with so far and am wondering if anyone has a better idea to get the APs cheaper?

1) Her family is going at the end of this year and buying either 2-day 2-park tickets or 3-day hoppers.
We could use their tickets to upgrade to the deluxe pass at the end of their trip. So the final cost to us would be:
- $126w/o parking and $185 w/parking - if they choose 2-day hop
- $102w/o parking and $161 w/parking - if they choose 3day (corp discount on 3 day ticket) corp discount is noted on the ticket and you will only be credited the actual price paid toward an AP. Also you cannot use their tickets to upgrade as tickets are 'non-transferable for this purpose
One question I had on this though is if our AP doesn't expire until 12/16 but their last day of the hopper is 12/14 can I still use their ticket like I'm buying a whole new AP? No

2) Costco has Deluxe passes for $269 that includes a $50 gift card. So final cost on this is essentially:
- $219w/o parking

3) Ebay seems to have a LOT of auctions that are a bit cheaper than gate prices. I'm guessing that these people also received corporate discounts or something on the tickets which is how they sell them cheaper, so final cost on these would vary but I'm guessing around the same cost as #1 above.

So if anyone has tips on how to get the APs cheaper I'd love to hear them

IF you already have AP's the only way you can upgrade is with a block out ticket for that day, or an actual upgrade at the ticket booth without bothering with a blockout ticket.

If you use parkhoppers to upgrade to an AP for the first time they often will ask you your park attendance history to make sure the tickets are yours. (what date did you first use this, what park did you go into first, what time .. etc)

If you are getting an entirely new AP, the Costco deals seems like the best. Remember, you can always add parking when you go get your pic taken for your AP, or when you activate it at a ticket booth (since you already have an AP pic on file).

 

[mattb65]

So am I understanding correctly in that because my AP expires on 12/16 and her family's park hoppers would expire on 12/14 I could not use their ticket on the evening of the 14th to get a "new" AP since mine would not have expired yet?

--- edit --- didn't see what you had bolded in quoting me

 

[Califgirl]

So am I understanding correctly in that because my AP expires on 12/16 and her family's park hoppers would expire on 12/14 I could not use their ticket on the evening of the 14th to get a "new" AP since mine would not have expired yet?

That is correct.

They are not stupid. There would be no reason for you to have purchased a parkhopper when you have an AP. They will ask you questions every which way and still deny your upgrade.

You can renew your AP and upgrade to a deluxe (up to 30 days before it expires) online for a $20 discount. That might save you a little money. But you cannot use someone elses ticket to purchase an AP and the only way to upgrade an AP is with a blockout day ticket or directly at the ticket booths without bothering with a blockout day ticket.

 

[glendalais]

With regards to options 1 & 3.

DLR APs/Tickets are nontransferable. As such, you can't use someone elses tickets to upgrade your AP, unless you're going with them (and they buy you tickets). The Main Entrance CMs manning the Bank of Main Street can and will more than likely check this.

As to eBay. Again DLR APs/Tickets are nontransferable. As such, unless someone is selling AP Vouchers (such as those available at many Southern California supermarkets), they can't be used by another person, and could cause the person who bought them to have a less-than-pleasant run-in with DLR Security.

The DLR is now offering annual payment plans for Southern Californians purchasing APs, so you can spread the payments across 12 months, and that would be probably be the cheapest option with regards to the upfront cost.

 

[bumbershoot]

Since your relatives' tickets won't be transferrable, you really shouldn't do that. It's not "legal" in Disneyland terms, and, probably in actual legal terms as well.

Someone just the other day mentioned that when they upgraded their OWN tickets they were grilled. When did you enter this park, what did you do this day in terms of hopping, etc. They were their own tickets, and they knew the answers. If they weren't their tickets, they might not have had those answers!


With the Costco AP, it's a nice deal, but since you can't put the giftcard towards that AP, it's really an AP for 269 (normal price) and a giftcard to pay for other things. I wasn't able to get my brain to call it 219.

Because of that and because I couldn't get to a so cal Costco, I used the online $30 off Deluxe AP deal. Worked out great!

 

[mattb65]

That is correct.

They are not stupid. There would be no reason for you to have purchased a parkhopper when you have an AP. They will ask you questions every which way and still deny your upgrade.

You can renew your AP and upgrade to a deluxe (up to 30 days before it expires) online for a $20 discount. That might save you a little money. But you cannot use someone elses ticket to purchase an AP and the only way to upgrade an AP is with a blockout day ticket or directly at the ticket booths without bothering with a blockout day ticket.

Well that's a bummer. I never claimed they were stupid, but, what if I (or anyone for that matter) thought my/their AP had expired and bought tickets because of that belief? No leniency for misunderstandings?

Here's a question out of curiosity, if tickets aren't transferable per Disney why doesn't Disney crack down on the eBay sellers? That doesn't seem fair to unsuspecting buyers that wouldn't know that.

 

[pixiewings71]

Most "unsuspecting" buyers aren't so unsuspecting. Most know that they are non-transferrable and buy them anyway. I wish they could/would crack down on those selling on eBay, unfortunately it's very difficult to do that. They would have to have an entire team devoted to that and I'm just not sure it's worth it.

You will not be able to "cheat" the system and use your relatives' PH's for your own upgarde. The system keeps your AP info on file for a certain number of months after your AP expires. I'm not sure how long, we will find out when we go in Jan. to get our new AP's. If you really want the Deluxe just use the link Bumber provided and save yourself $30 on each AP.

 

[bonita_babe232]

Bumbershoot - did you notice the actual expirey date on the on-line ticket??? I'm still trying to decied between the so-cal pass and up-grade the disney part or doing it all seprate Thanx

 

[pixiewings71]

The online ticket expires Jan. 4th 2010

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks Pixie.

I had updated that original $30 off deal thread when I got mine, but in doing so I dumped the info from my brain!

Oh hey look at that, I still had it in my gmail account, and the PDF comes up nice and pretty. Helpful!

 

[JennCa]

I know that WDW avoids this issue by doing the finger scan thing and so far, it hasn't been at DL, but I wonder if that will last forever.

Jenn

 

[Disney Wishes]

We just renewed our passes last week. They were almost a year "pass due" and Disney still had all of aour information and pictures. Not sure when they dump the info but it's pass almost a year.

 

[pixiewings71]

Wow!! A year? I didn't think it would be that long but that's great, we can just reuse the same pictures!!

Thanks for confirming that date Bumber, I wasn't 100% sure.

 

[fairycat]

Dh hasn't had a AP in over a year and a half and we just got him a new pass and he was still in the system. I think they hold onto your information for a while.

I love the idea of a payment plan! Passes are getting so expensive! I remember when the big one was under $300 ah the good ole days

When I renew I am pretty sure I will go with the Costco AP's I think its the best deal since the $50 can go towards food in the parks which I would pay for anyway.

 

[pixiewings71]

I wish there was a cheaper version available for Nor Cal residents. Something for them to consider.....