Annual Pass upgrading help

[M2DD's]

I'm sure the info I'm looking for is somewhere on these boards but I'm having trouble finding the answers to my questions about upgrading to an AP

1) I know to upgrade after we enter the park but how do we not loose our FP+ already linked to out 10 day tickets?

2) Do we get new mickey bands? Our room key and dining plan out on our 1st set of mickey bands. Can they link the AP so we don't have to use two bands during the trip?

3) We are there for 13 park days but since we only have 10 day tickets now we have 3 days with no FP+ booked. Can we book those 3 days once we get the AP's(they are spread out throughout or trip)?

4) Should we just add park hoppers now and forgo getting the AP's till the last day as to not mess thing up/make it harder? that would mean 3 days without FP+ during Christmas time

I'm so confused any help would be appreciated

 

[jlhill4444]

Your fastpasses are actually tied to your MDE account, not necessarily your tickets. They will link the AP to your MDE account for you and you will be able to use the same bands you already have. Once you get home you can order new bands in a different color and use those for your AP at a later time, along with the ones you received for this trip.

I would recommend upgrading after your first use because then you will be able to use the discount in the parks.

 

[RUSTYGATOR]

From my experience of going last summer and upgrading a 10 day to an annual pass.

We kept the original 10 days of Fastpasses as scheduled, but I believe the AP only allows 7 days, so we could book days 10+, only as the first 3 days of fast passes expired and rolling forward one day at a time. Meaning you could only have 7 days booked at any time.

We got new magic bands, but they were sent to out house while we were still on the trip. The old bands functioned with the AP and FP+. They did give us the AP as a plastic card too.

It doesn't matter when you get the upgrade to the annual pass, unless you have a lower priced ticket than the gate. Then you should use it to get into the park so it is bridged to the current price.

I paid for the upgrade with gift cards, so I felt a little bad doing that. I used the ticket booth in front of the gates then immediately went to customer service and added the tables in wonderland card too.

 

[figment_jii]

I just upgraded from a 6-day PH to an AP ticket and the process was very easy.

1) I know to upgrade after we enter the park but how do we not loose our FP+ already linked to out 10 day tickets?

My FP+ selections were unaffected by the upgrade.

2) Do we get new mickey bands? Our room key and dining plan out on our 1st set of mickey bands. Can they link the AP so we don't have to use two bands during the trip?

The AP links to the bands you already have, so you will not get another MagicBand when you upgrade. In fact, any band you have links to your MDE account. I did a split stay and bought the MNSSHP MagicBand, so by the end of the trip I had three active (i.e., interchangeable) MagicBands!

3) We are there for 13 park days but since we only have 10 day tickets now we have 3 days with no FP+ booked. Can we book those 3 days once we get the AP's(they are spread out throughout or trip)?

Yes. I was able to make FP+ reservations for all of days of my trip (13-total) once I did the upgrade to an AP (because we were already within the 30-day window). I think AP holders are only limited to 7-day when making FP+ selections for an onsite stay (i.e., when making FP+ selections between 31 and 60-days in advance).

4) Should we just add park hoppers now and forgo getting the AP's till the last day as to not mess thing up/make it harder? that would mean 3 days without FP+ during Christmas time

No, I would get the 10-day ticket and make your FP+ selections now. Then on your first day (after you've entered the parks once), upgrade to an AP. At least for my family, it's worth it to upgrade early because of the dining (limited) and shopping discounts associated with the AP. Also, if there are any special AP merchandise, you can't buy those until you have a valid AP.