AP upgrade possible?

[Disneykate605]

I was wondering if anyone has been able to upgrade their Gold AP recently NOT during renewal? I was thinking of going a couple of times during the AP Gold blackout dates. I forgot about the blackout dates and went to make a Park reservation and was confused when I was unable to. I did a quick chat in the My Disney Experience app. She reminded me about the blackout dates so I asked how much it would be per person to upgrade each pass to platinum and she said I could not do that at this time. I was thinking about calling the Passholder line but was wondering if anyone else has any experience with this lately?
Thanks!

 

[APiratesLifeForMe2]

Our friends tried to multiple times because their December trip fell into blackout and they were denied every time (in person and over the phone). They had to purchase separate park tickets.

 

[Sandisw]

Most people here have reported they are not allowing upgrades other than during a renewal.

Now, if you have trips later in the year, they are allowing renewals farther out so that someone’
can make park reservations. For example, my DDs pass expires in October but we have a January 2022 trip. I would be allowed to renew it now if I want.

Maybe this will work in your favor?

 

[supersnoop]

Upgrades have always been available, but have to be done on site. Someone else mentioned that they are able to make park reservations despite being in the blackout period, which surprised me. That could certainly create a wrinkle in your plans if you have to upgrade on site but can't get a park reservation.

 

[CarolynFH]

We tried multiple times to upgrade to cover our December trip but were not allowed. As Sandi says above, when renewing we could upgrade to a higher pass but could not upgrade an existing pass.

 

[supersnoop]

We tried multiple times to upgrade to cover our December trip but were not allowed. As Sandi says above, when renewing we could upgrade to a higher pass but could not upgrade an existing pass.

In person? Or over the phone?

 

[CarolynFH]

In person? Or over the phone?

Admittedly, this was in August and September, when the AP refund/repurchase/extension process was just getting started, and I asked several times via email to DVC to allow us to upgrade our DVC Gold to DVC Platinum passes and was told No each time. After they extended our passes four months, I was also concerned that upgrading them would somehow negate that extension, which was very useful for us. I didn't email or chat or phone the VIPassholder folks (I didn't realize at the time that they could deal with DVC APs). We needed to make park pass reservations for our big family trip in December, the week leading up to Christmas, so we finally just gave up and purchased regular tickets so we could reserve park passes to match our kids and grandkids.

 

[Disneykate605]

Thanks for all the replies! I don't think we will be going at that time now anyway. It stinks that they won't let people upgrade...if they already have one what's the real harm!

 

[supersnoop]

Thanks for all the replies! I don't think we will be going at that time now anyway. It stinks that they won't let people upgrade...if they already have one what's the real harm!

They absolutely will let people upgrade; it's just unfortunate that it has to be done in person.

 

[Moneypenny]

They absolutely will let people upgrade; it's just unfortunate that it has to be done in person.

I was trying to upgrade via phone a few weeks ago and was first told that I could upgrade, but only in person, but then was told that no upgrades were possible at all right now. Both the AP VIP line and DVC member services then confirmed that I would not be able to upgrade, even in person. I sent an email to Guest Services and received the same response. I saw one report that someone was allowed a "one-time exception" to upgrade in person when they were actually standing there at Guest Services making a fuss, but other people have been denied in the same situation and have to buy new tickets. So, I wouldn't count on being able to upgrade in person. It's possible you may get lucky and be able to, but I wouldn't consider it a guarantee.

 

[supersnoop]

I was trying to upgrade via phone a few weeks ago and was first told that I could upgrade, but only in person, but then was told that no upgrades were possible at all right now. Both the AP VIP line and DVC member services then confirmed that I would not be able to upgrade, even in person. I sent an email to Guest Services and received the same response. I saw one report that someone was allowed a "one-time exception" to upgrade in person when they were actually standing there at Guest Services making a fuss, but other people have been denied in the same situation and have to buy new tickets. So, I wouldn't count on being able to upgrade in person. It's possible you may get lucky and be able to, but I wouldn't consider it a guarantee.

I'll be there next week activating my gold pass renewal. I'll make sure to ask about upgrading to platinum. I'm 99.99% certain it's possible in person.

 

[Sandisw]

I was trying to upgrade via phone a few weeks ago and was first told that I could upgrade, but only in person, but then was told that no upgrades were possible at all right now. Both the AP VIP line and DVC member services then confirmed that I would not be able to upgrade, even in person. I sent an email to Guest Services and received the same response. I saw one report that someone was allowed a "one-time exception" to upgrade in person when they were actually standing there at Guest Services making a fuss, but other people have been denied in the same situation and have to buy new tickets. So, I wouldn't count on being able to upgrade in person. It's possible you may get lucky and be able to, but I wouldn't consider it a guarantee.

When I renewed in January in person, she did ask which pass I wanted,,gold or platinum. So I think I would have been allowed to upgrade as I renewed.

 

[Moneypenny]

It's quite possible an upgrade is allowed during renewal. Our passes don't expire until November, so my experience was what the poster was asking about (i.e. upgrading NOT during a renewal). I'm glad for everyone who does get to upgrade, but I don't think those of us who aren't in the renewal time frame can count on it right now.

 

[Sandisw]

I just had a thought. Since they will let people renew early if you have a reservation you want to make a park reservation for, maybe just make a few nights past your pass expiration?

This way, you can upgrade? It only works if you are renewing but at least if someone needs it for black out dates it may work.

 

[Carlnne]

I'll be there next week activating my gold pass renewal. I'll make sure to ask about upgrading to platinum. I'm 99.99% certain it's possible in person.

Could you please report back? I am curious what your experience will be.

 

[Sandisw]

I'll be there next week activating my gold pass renewal. I'll make sure to ask about upgrading to platinum. I'm 99.99% certain it's possible in person.

They are allowing people to renew at a different level. The issue has been upgrading an AP that has already been used to a platinum. That is what is not being done.

So, if your certificate is not yet used, you should be allowed. Once you use it is when you could have trouble.

 

[zfletch74]

They are allowing people to renew at a different level. The issue has been upgrading an AP that has already been used to a platinum. That is what is not being done.

So, if your certificate is not yet used, you should be allowed. Once you use it is when you could have trouble.

Can confirm this. We bought our gold passes in March 2020 for a May 2020 trip. We haven't been able to activate them until our trip this week. Went to Disney Springs last night and were able to upgrade them to Platinum. Cast Members at the Ticket Center made it seem like they were making an exception. But should not be a problem upgrading if you haven't activated a purchased pass yet.