Best (cheapest) way to get AP?

[pjpoppins]

Never bought an AP before. We are going to FW for 16 nights next July. Have booked the campground only so far (booked 450 days out or whatever it was). We want to buy AP since we will be there so long and then hope to get to MNSSHP in the fall and then maybe one more trip during April vacation 2017. Is there any tips/tricks for the AP? I don't want to buy it now as "a dollar in your pocket today is worth more than a dollar in your pocket tomorrow". I do want to have it for Day 1 of the trip as we will try to take advantage of some of the discounts. Can I buy a 10 day pass from a third party (UT, ticketsatwork, etc) and then upgrade? Will I pay the difference to upgrade that I paid or Disney's price to upgrade? Please don't flame me not trying to cheat the system or anything but the more I can save...what the hell am I talking about the more I save the more I will spend on snacks, souvenirs, and special events. The money will be going right back to Disney. lol
Thanks.

 

[TwinPrincessMermaids]

I imagine any Magic Your Way ticket can be upgraded to an AP as long as it is active. Keep in mind that the Annual date will retroact to the beginning of your ticket. So if you buy a ten day ticket and on day ten, you upgrade it, is as if your AP started from the beginning that first day. So make sure that the timing works for you and your future plans (with your anniversary/renewal day).

I can't comment to differences paid, I find it hard to believe you can really save that much outside of the parks for tickets (outside of the scary timeshare tours). Every time I would try, no one was cheaper than Disney, only Disney was the cheapest (because I wasn't buying like a long 10day pass.)

At the end of the day, the price is the price as far as I know. However you manage to get your tickets, I imagine Disney will only charge the difference in their system to upgrade it.

You will love having an AP. Or at least we do! It makes touring so relaxing and fun and partial days very enjoyable. If course, the closer you get to the parks, the more you can come. We enjoy the FLR rates for AP. We knew were going to move somewhere in FL (about 7 hrs away initially) and then we decided to buy by Disney so we could go when we wanted. I think that having the FLR is the cheapest way to get APs, obviously!

 

[Accident]

You can upgrade at any Guest relations at WDW, they will apply the cost of your unused tickets to the cost of the AP. Renewals are less than the initial buy in. I had to look this up also recently and we plan to upgrade to AP when we get there..

NOW! There are different discounts for rooms and things for AP holders, if your not booked yet. Getting the AP voucher online might unlock better rates for room or dining than you are getting at the moment.

Word of caution, Make sure you check the renewal date, sometimes on an upgrade if you didn't touch your tickets yet they forget to make it the day you upgraded and keep it the day you originally purchased the tickets. Online you get a voucher that you turn in at guest relations and the day you do that is the renewal date. You can not upgrade online, that has to be done at the park.

 

[MermaidMommy]

You can buy tickets elsewhere to upgrade -- usually you can save about $20 getting 10 day hoppers somewhere like Undercover Tourist vs buying from Disney.

However, you don't want to upgrade unused tickets, because they won't price bridge those. You need to go through the turnstile at any park FIRST, and then you can upgrade at guest relations. That's the only way that you'll get the full value from the tickets you're upgrading.

You don't have to have an AP already to make a room reservation with an AP discount. You can book it now, and then upgrade when you get there. They'll allow you extra time to get the AP once you check in. People do it all the time.

 

[pigletgirl]

You can buy tickets elsewhere to upgrade -- usually you can save about $20 getting 10 day hoppers somewhere like Undercover Tourist vs buying from Disney.

However, you don't want to upgrade unused tickets, because they won't price bridge those. You need to go through the turnstile at any park FIRST, and then you can upgrade at guest relations. That's the only way that you'll get the full value from the tickets you're upgrading.

You don't have to have an AP already to make a room reservation with an AP discount. You can book it now, and then upgrade when you get there. They'll allow you extra time to get the AP once you check in. People do it all the time.

So if I were to upgrade my 8 day park hopper when I go next month, I should go into Magic Kingdom prior to the upgrade?

Since we have the dining plan, that wouldn't change, would it?

 

[MermaidMommy]

You can upgrade at any Guest relations at WDW, they will apply the cost of your unused tickets to the cost of the AP. Renewals are less than the initial buy in. I had to look this up also recently and we plan to upgrade to AP when we get there..

NOW! There are different discounts for rooms and things for AP holders, if your not booked yet. Getting the AP voucher online might unlock better rates for room or dining than you are getting at the moment.

Word of caution, Make sure you check the renewal date, sometimes on an upgrade if you didn't touch your tickets yet they forget to make it the day you upgraded and keep it the day you originally purchased the tickets. Online you get a voucher that you turn in at guest relations and the day you do that is the renewal date. You can not upgrade online, that has to be done at the park.

Renewals are for people who are renewing an existing AP, so that wouldn't apply to anyone getting an AP for the first time. And the date of the new AP starts from the renewal date, not from the first time you use the new AP. So, for example, if you renew your AP in January, but your next trip isn't until April, your AP is still activated in January.

Also, if you're upgrading tickets to an AP -- not renewing an existing AP -- the AP date begins the first day you used the tickets, not the day you upgraded.

 

[MermaidMommy]

So if I were to upgrade my 8 day park hopper when I go next month, I should go into Magic Kingdom prior to the upgrade?

Since we have the dining plan, that wouldn't change, would it?

You can go to any park, just as long as you go through a turnstile first. Then, you can upgrade that same day or any other time up to the last day of your tickets. However, since there are AP discounts, it makes more sense to upgrade sooner rather than later.

 

[pigletgirl]

You can go to any park, just as long as you go through a turnstile first. Then, you can upgrade that same day or any other time up to the last day of your tickets. However, since there are AP discounts, it makes more sense to upgrade sooner rather than later.

Wonderful! Thank you!

 

[Accident]

Also, if you're upgrading tickets to an AP -- not renewing an existing AP -- the AP date begins the first day you used the tickets, not the day you upgraded.

Sorry that is a common misunderstanding. It's the day your AP is activated. That's either purchase date or the date you turned in the voucher for it to be activated depending on how you purchased it. You can purchase a AP activated but not sure why anyone would do this. Turn style has nothing to do with the start date. Most buy it and then go through the turn style and why it's commonly misunderstood that it's not first use day.

You can go to any park, just as long as you go through a turnstile first. Then, you can upgrade that same day or any other time up to the last day of your tickets. However, since there are AP discounts, it makes more sense to upgrade sooner rather than later.

Did you typo here? If you go through the turn style and use your ticket, that day is lost towards the cost of your AP upgrade. You want to use the guest relations that is behind security/bag check but before the ticket turnstyle. Every park has one and it will be on the left or right of where they check your ticket. there's another in DTD.

 

[hakepb]

If you buy a 10 day ticket, you will only be able to make advanced FP+ reservations for those 10 ticketed days. After upgrading to an AP, you will then be able to make FP+ for the remaining 6 days if you are onsite.

With 10 days of FP+ it should be manageable But you will want to list out your most in-demand choices (A&E, 7DMT, TSMM) and leave some lower demand days (like a day 4 at DAK) off the FP+ calendar until after you upgrade to the AP.

 

[MermaidMommy]

Sorry that is a common misunderstanding. It's the day your AP is activated. That's either purchase date or the date you turned in the voucher for it to be activated depending on how you purchased it. You can purchase a AP activated but not sure why anyone would do this. Turn style has nothing to do with the start date. Most buy it and then go through the turn style and why it's commonly misunderstood that it's not first use day.



Did you typo here? If you go through the turn style and use your ticket, that day is lost towards the cost of your AP upgrade. You want to use the guest relations that is behind security/bag check but before the ticket turnstyle. Every park has one and it will be on the left or right of where they check your ticket. there's another in DTD.

The OP isn't talking about using a voucher. They want to purchase regular tickets from an outside vendor at a discount and then upgrade their AP's, and they want to be able to keep the discount that they get from the outside tickets when they upgrade. The situation you're talking about with a voucher doesn't apply to the OP.

 

[hakepb]

Sorry that is a common misunderstanding. It's the day your AP is activated. That's either purchase date or the date you turned in the voucher for it to be activated depending on how you purchased it. You can purchase a AP activated but not sure why anyone would do this. Turn style has nothing to do with the start date. Most buy it and then go through the turn style and why it's commonly misunderstood that it's not first use day.



Did you typo here? If you go through the turn style and use your ticket, that day is lost towards the cost of your AP upgrade. You want to use the guest relations that is behind security/bag check but before the ticket turnstyle. Every park has one and it will be on the left or right of where they check your ticket. there's another in DTD.

No, if a ticket is used, then Guest relations (in or out of a park) should bridge that used ticket up to the full, current gate value...and in the use of UT tickets, bridging makes your ticket worth more than you paid.

If you don't use the ticket, then Disney will only give you"credit" for the wholesale ticket cost (less than you paid)

 

[Jestocost]

Sorry that is a common misunderstanding. It's the day your AP is activated. That's either purchase date or the date you turned in the voucher for it to be activated depending on how you purchased it. You can purchase a AP activated but not sure why anyone would do this. Turn style has nothing to do with the start date. Most buy it and then go through the turn style and why it's commonly misunderstood that it's not first use day.

The original question was about upgrading from a MYW ticket to an AP and, in that case, the renewal date for the AP should be set at the day the original MYW ticket was first used. Your answer applies only to someone who is purchasing an AP to begin with.

The issue with using a ticket applies to any ticket that is considered a "discounted" ticket, which includes tickets purchased as part of a WDW package and tickets purchased from third-party resellers. If you use the ticket first you are supposed to get credit for the full gate price of the ticket applied to the cost of the AP (this is the so-called "price bridging). If you don't use the ticket first you only will get credit for what the re-seller originally paid Disney for the ticket and that will be less then what you paid. Tickets purchased directly from Disney online or at a park ticket sales location before the current gate prices were implemented are not eligible for price bridging to the current price.

Note that some CMs at ticket windows or in guest relations locations don't know how to set the right expiration date, and may try to set it at the date you originally purchased the ticket, and some don't know that they should (or are too lazy to) do the price bridging and will try to give you credit only for the discount price even if you have used the ticket.

 

[MermaidMommy]

Note that some CMs at ticket windows or in guest relations locations don't know how to set the right expiration date, and may try to set it at the date you originally purchased the ticket, and some don't know that they should (or are too lazy to) do the price bridging and will try to give you credit only for the discount price even if you have used the ticket.

Yes, it's not uncommon to have to a CM who doesn't know how to price bridge. OP needs to make sure they know the price they're supposed to pay so they get their discount.

However, when you upgrade, the start date of the AP is the date you first used your tickets, not the date you upgraded (unfortunately!).

 

[Accident]

However, when you upgrade, the start date of the AP is the date you first used your tickets, not the date you upgraded (unfortunately!).

There has been some threads on this lately and it's suppose to be the upgrade day if you didn't use the ticket yet. Some cms are marking this incorrect and if your upgrading. Don't use your ticket first and verify the date before you walk away. It's a pita to fix when your renewal comes.

I've been paying close attention as I plan to upgrade next week. I confirmed what I've said via the direct number to the AP group making sure I knew everything I needed so I got it right the first time.

 

[MermaidMommy]

There has been some threads on this lately and it's suppose to be the upgrade day if you didn't use the ticket yet. Some cms are marking this incorrect and if your upgrading. Don't use your ticket first and verify the date before you walk away. It's a pita to fix when your renewal comes.

I've been paying close attention as I plan to upgrade next week. I confirmed what I've said via the direct number to the AP group making sure I knew everything I needed so I got it right the first time.

Right, but if you don't use your ticket first, you don't get the discount, which is what the OP was wanting.

 

[pjpoppins]

Wow I guess this wasn't a dumb question as there appears to be some confusion. On my way to becoming a Disney vet but have always done a package, usually with free dining so this is new to me.
So I have already booked our campsite. I want to get an AP in order to try and take advantage of discounts (it's pretty much fake money once we reach property if I can get enough OT lol). IDK if FW has an AP discount for the campsites. Most people say no discounts and considering we are going during peak (6/22-7/8) I doubt it.
So what would be my best bet?
Another few wrenches to throw in:
1) We have some ADR's that we want to make, like HDDR, TH, etc. I always get online the second I can 180+10 out. Will I be eligible for that with a room only or should I have some type of ticket purchased say 200 days out?
2) I can buy Disney gift cards at my local BJ's (like a Costco or Sam's club). They are $95.99 for a $100 card. I also use my Disney Visa so every card I buy I get back $.96. I guess I can do that math myself but seeing if anybody else has any experience with this.
thanks everybody, disboards rocks

 

[MermaidMommy]

Wow I guess this wasn't a dumb question as there appears to be some confusion. On my way to becoming a Disney vet but have always done a package, usually with free dining so this is new to me.
So I have already booked our campsite. I want to get an AP in order to try and take advantage of discounts (it's pretty much fake money once we reach property if I can get enough OT lol). IDK if FW has an AP discount for the campsites. Most people say no discounts and considering we are going during peak (6/22-7/8) I doubt it.
So what would be my best bet?
Another few wrenches to throw in:
1) We have some ADR's that we want to make, like HDDR, TH, etc. I always get online the second I can 180+10 out. Will I be eligible for that with a room only or should I have some type of ticket purchased say 200 days out?
2) I can buy Disney gift cards at my local BJ's (like a Costco or Sam's club). They are $95.99 for a $100 card. I also use my Disney Visa so every card I buy I get back $.96. I guess I can do that math myself but seeing if anybody else has any experience with this.
thanks everybody, disboards rocks

Upgrades really are confusing, so not a dumb question at all!

No need to have tickets to make ADR's, so you'll be good to go for 180 + 10.

It's always great to get gift cards at a discount. If you're not aware, you can now combine your gift cards using the Disney Gift Card app, so that can keep you from having to cart around big stacks of cards. I think you can put up to $1000 on each card. There's a thread around here somewhere with more info.

Not sure about discounts for the campgrounds, but my guess would be no since they're already pretty cheap (for Disney, anyway).

I know you said you have the dining plan, but with AP's you're also eligible to purchase Tables in Wonderland, which can work out to be a better deal for some people. It might be worth doing the math to see which is cheaper, especially if you're planning a second trip within a year.

 

[Accident]

I'll let the others explain as I've caused enough confusion already, edited to remove

 

[AngiTN]

Yes, it's not uncommon to have to a CM who doesn't know how to price bridge. OP needs to make sure they know the price they're supposed to pay so they get their discount.

However, when you upgrade, the start date of the AP is the date you first used your tickets, not the date you upgraded (unfortunately!).

We first used our ticket AND upgraded them to an AP on the same day. Is that not common practice when you purchase from a 3rd party and want to bridge to keep the discount? Walked through the turnstile and right back out to the GS ticket counter, upgraded for exact cost I expected.

For what it's worth, UT will inform you the price you are saving over retail when you purchase. It's part of their chart. I found the 6 or so (I forget exact number now) day PH WP&M ticket to be the biggest discount. About $35 or so, per ticket. Since we used the ticket the first time at a park and not a WP we were able to upgrade to the standard pass.

The only drawback to this method is you can only book FP for the number of days on the ticket you buy. In our case we have old Ghost tickets on MDE that work for FP booking even though they don't have admission left on them. So it didn't hurt us to wait to do our upgrade. If we didn't have those the savings is too small to make it worth missing the FP