Annual Passes Questions

[BCV23]

CArolAnn, I just saw your post. Whom did you speak to? Did you actually get through to the AP office?

 

[CarolAnnC]

Sorry, but I cannot post my contact names here on the DIS. You can trust our staff here on the DIS that we provide correct information only and do not propogate rumors nor heresay.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

Quick question regarding AP's
I am looking into purchasing them for myself and DD next year...only my DH's name is on the Membership card as I am the Associate. Will I have any problems if I pick these up at WIll Call?? What is the best way to purchase these?

 

[CarolAnnC]

The AP discount is given to the DVC Member and immediate family living in the same household. You will need the member there with the blue card, his drivers license and yours to show you reside in the same household.

I know an Associate is not given the same advantage and does not have a blue member card, so I don't think you can pick this up without the member being there. I would give MS a call in case there is another alternative for you.

 

[DisneyBride'03]

Thanks for the info, that is what I feared. My DD and I will be the only ones on our next trip.

 

[BCV23]

DisneyBride, I ordered an AP for our son using the DVC discount a couple years ago. He was able to pick it up will call with his id.

MS will be able to help you I think.

CarolAnn, I was certainly not asking you for any deep throat sources. Just hoping that you spoke to someone with whom you felt confident. Since I didn't reach the AP office, I was not confident at all. WDW is so huge these days that at times info is slow reaching the CMs.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The following is taken from The Hub, also known as the Cast Portal, which is only available to Disney Cast Members:

Upgrades: Magic Your Way Tickets to Annual Passes
Date: 08/09/2006

When upgrading partially or fully used Magic Your Way Tickets to Annual Passes, the following technical and business rule procedures must be followed for the transaction to happen correctly.

TECHNICAL PROCESS

1. Because Magic Your Way Tickets are configured to expire based on FIRST USAGE and Annual Passes are configured to expire based on DATE OF ISSUE, the upgrade MUST take place on Level 96. This will allow Cast Members to manually input the expiration date.
2. The expiration date should be entered as one year from the original ticket's FIRST USAGE.

BUSINESS RULES REMINDER

1. Guests are able to upgrade or modify their Magic Your Way Tickets anytime within 14 days of first use, regardless of whether the No Expiration Option is purchased. After 14 days, no ticket modifications or upgrades may take place.
2. The only exception to this rule is the Florida Resident 3-Day Play Pass. Guests may upgrade their Florida Resident 3-Day Play Pass to a Florida Resident Seasonal, Annual or Premium Annual Pass anytime within 6 months of first use, regardless of whether the No Expiration Option is purchased. After 6 months, no ticket modifications or upgrades may take place.
3. When upgrading to Annual product, if the Guest's original ticket included the Water Park Fun & More Option, and any part of that option was used, then the Guest may only upgrade to the Premium Annual Pass.

Since this is the exact offical Disney Policy, and I work in Tickets and Guest Relations, I think that this, and my general ticket information is correct.

I don't know who you talked to, but when you call Walt Disney World, unless you really know a direct number, you will get one of two offices.

The Disney Reservations Center (DRC) includes Walt Disney Travel Company (WDTC), Central Reservations Office (CRO), Disney Dining, and some other lesser known information lines. To the best of my knowledge the DRC locations are in the International Drive area, Tampa, Kansas City and somewhere in Texas or even Utah. There may be more. Some of the people working at the DRC call centers may never have been to either WDW or DL (or both).

The Main Switchboard (407-824-2222) is also where all calls to Disney Resorts go if you are dialing the phone number on the back of your reservations form. Also that is where calls go if you dial the Operator from your room, and possibly even calls to the Front Desk. The Main Switchboard people will, if asked, also identify themselves as Guest Services. They can put you through to any number on WDW.

At both DRC and MS they have access to a computer which has lots of Guest Information and it is very well organized. Actually, all CMs who have access to a terminal, or who even can access the Cast Portal from off-site, have access to this Guest Services information. I will often open an extra window when I am responding to people and go into the Portal for the latest official information.

The people at DRC and MS do not deal with upgrades, partially used tickets, or problems related to tickets. They do not know all the rules. The people at DRC can sell unused tickets; the people at MS don't deal with tickets at all.

The people who work in the ticket booths at the Parks or in Guest Relations at the Parks (and this includes TTC, the Water Parks, and GRO in DTD) deal with ticket upgrades and unusual problems on a daily basis. I would not say that someone you talked to on the phone lied to you, but just they were attempting to answer a question when they really did not have an answer.

In addition, if you go to this Stickey on TPA&S you will find a very complete discussion about WDW tickets; Page 7 has to do with upgrades to Annual Passes.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Thank you for your information Mike.

I think the confusion may lie in the verbage being used. "Upgrade" seems to denote the full ticket price being applied towards other admissions. We are speaking of the value left on the MYW tickets after there has been use, redeeming the remaining value of the unused days towards a new AP.

In any event, two of us called and spoke to WDW reps who in my case assured me that she had the correct information. Not sure who BCV23 spoke to but she obtained the same information as I.

I have gone ahead and emailed WDW (not that I doubt your information) but there is obviously a discrepancy in what information they are providing. I will let you all know what their response is when I receive it.

 

[BCV23]

Well, the CM I talked to was confident in her info but as I said, I was not at all.

I called the number on the AP holder and followed the prompts. The closest option was #4 which was something like purchase new APs. But then it lead me to the usual...enter your reservation # or home phone, etc.. I was in the good old DRC queue.

Thanks, Mike. I keep forgetting that you work there too.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Below is the policy as quoted from Allears.net. As you can see it is defining "Upgrade" as apply the Whole purchase price to the new AP. My question to WDW was the application of only the remaining value on the MYW tix "after 14 days". Herein is where the discrepancy lies, I believe.
------------------------------------------

UPGRADES

UPGRADING is the act of applying the entire original purchase price towards the new MYW ticket or AP/PAP.

Disney allows you to UPGRADE most park tickets to a longer Magic Your Way ticket, an Annual Pass (AP), a Premium Annual Pass (PAP) or a Season Pass for Florida Residents (SP) prior to using or within 14 days from first use for MYW tickets. They will take the entire price of the ticket you started using and deduct it from the cost of the new ticket. Disney will not allow you to upgrade certain promotional tickets not available to the general public or any partially used ticket purchased prior to the January 2005 introduction of Magic Your Way tickets.

You can upgrade your MYW ticket to an AP/PAP/SP. You will receive full purchase price on the original ticket and you will pay only the difference in price to the AP/PAP/SP. The starting date of an AP/PAP will be back dated to the date you first used any admission off the old ticket. This transaction must be done within 14 days of first use of the MYW ticket

 

[Cheshire Figment]

An upgrade is to take any ticket within 14 days of first use (except Play-3 or Play-4) and add days and/or options plus money to come up with a new ticket. Once the 14 day period has passed (or 6 months for a Play-3 or Play-4) the dollar value of the ticket is zero, even if the No Expire Option has been purchased and there are entrance entitlements remaining.

Allearsnet, although reliable, is not an official source of information. I work in ticket sales and Guest Relations at one of the Disney Parks. My quote above was from the official ticketing section of the Disney Employee website.

 

[MBELSANTI]

Wow great info! Thanks you guys!

Ok, I previously purchased 2 A MYW no exp, hopper, WPF& nmore. I bought as part of a package, but I believed them to be $435.59 each. I have only used 4 park days and none of the WPF days. In actuality I have paid more than what a DVC member would pay for an AP which is $370.62. So will I still be able to change to an AP ( but forfeit the WPF days)? I have plans tp got for 4 days in Feb and 6 days in August which will be a week prior to the dates I was there this year. What do you think? Worth it?

 

[CarolAnnC]

The following taken from Allears.net would seem to provide further information in this regard. This matches the information I was given from WDW today. I am awaiting written confirmation from them as mentioned before and will report back when or if I receive such. Remember the AP/PAP will be back dated to the first original date of use of the MYW tix.

I have heard that I can upgrade my MYW ticket to an AP or PAP and get full credit for the original purchase price even after I have used a few days admission. Is this true?

Yes it is. If you decide that you want to upgrade it to an AP/PAP, you will get full credit for the price of the ticket towards the AP/PAP. Expiring MYW tickets must be upgraded within 14 days of first use. MYW tickets with the no expiration option on them can me upgraded at any time. In all cases, the AP/PAP will be backdated to the date the hopper pass was first used. Tickets purchased prior to MYW tickets can still be upgraded but must be completely unused to do so. But beware: If you get a MYW ticket with the Water Park Fun & More option and use one of the WPF&M admissions before doing this, you will only be allowed to upgrade to a PAP

 

[uncw89]

Cheshire Figment, I did the land/sea package and added the no exp to the tickets because I had the 7 day hoppers and didn't use all of the days. they are good forever, right? You are saying that I wouldn't be able to use the remaing days to upgrade to an AP, but my days are good forever.
Thanks!

 

[GoldenOldie]

The following taken from Allears.net would seem to provide further information in this regard...
Expiring MYW tickets must be upgraded within 14 days of first use. MYW tickets with the no expiration option on them can me upgraded at any time.

This was true for upgrade transactions done prior to August 2006. However, it is no longer the policy. Now, all MYW tickets regardless of whether or not they have the no expiration option on them must be upgraded prior to or within 14 days of first use of the ticket. After the 14 day window, there are no exceptions.

Allears.net has been informed and have changed their information accordingly.

 

[4everluvDisney]

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