Can I upgrade to AP and get a discount?

[MarBee]

I am headed to Pop Century at the end of the week and currently have 5 day park hoppers and meal plan with my package. I debated getting an AP, and I definitely want to after seeing the AP rates for hotels after logging in with a friend to check.
My questions are:
1) Can I get an AP discount by upgrading to an AP now even though the AP won't be "activated" until we arrive on the 26th?
2) I am only 23 days out- is it possible to get the APs and this package without penalty? (I know there is a penalty to cancel within 30 days.)
3) If I was able to amend the package and upgrade, would it screw up my ADRs and fastpasses that I just finalized?

Thanks in advance for your help all!

 

[danielocha30]

ADR are not link to the package so they stay the same
You should call and see if you can cancel the current package without penalty. If yes, go ahead and try to book a AP discounted room only, that way you just pay deposit and the rest at check in. Buy annual pass online or on the day you arrive head straight to the parks to activate and then check in.
Edited to add: You need the actual annual pass not a voucher for check in. That’s the rule but Disney might or might not ask for it.

 

[MarBee]

ADR are not link to the package so they stay the same
You should call and see if you can cancel the current package without penalty. If yes, go ahead and try to book a AP discounted room only, that way you just pay deposit and the rest at check in. Buy annual pass online or on the day you arrive head straight to the parks to activate and then check in.
Edited to add: You need the actual annual pass not a voucher for check in. That’s the rule but Disney might or might not ask for it.

Thanks! Wouldn't I need to buy the APs before I book my package in order to get the AP discount on the room? (I checked, and there are no other packages close to this rate.)

 

[danielocha30]

I just saw about fastpasses those will get screwed. If they are really important to you don’t cancel the package.

 

[Ben E N]

2 things.
1. You do not need the AP to be activated to book that room. You do have to show them your AP close to check in time to shoe them that your rate is appropriate.
2. It is worth calling to see if you can buy the AP over the phone, change the reservation, keep your FPs. Considering it will get Disney more money over all, they may be motivated to make it work.

 

[MarBee]

I just saw about fastpasses those will get screwed. If they are really important to you don’t cancel the package.

Yes, those are definitely important to me. There's no way I'll be able to get 7DMT or FOP at this point if I forfeit them. I wasn't sure if they'd be able to stay or not if I changed.

 

[MarBee]

2 things.
1. You do not need the AP to be activated to book that room. You do have to show them your AP close to check in time to shoe them that your rate is appropriate.
2. It is worth calling to see if you can buy the AP over the phone, change the reservation, keep your FPs. Considering it will get Disney more money over all, they may be motivated to make it work.

Thanks! I just wanted to check on here before calling because it seems like the answers that you get differ from cast member to cast member when you call on the phone. I'd hate to hear "Oh gosh, remember how I said there'd be no penalty and none of your fastpasses and reservations would be affected? Whooops, you're out of luck because I was wrong!"

 

[Ben E N]

Thanks! I just wanted to check on here before calling because it seems like the answers that you get differ from cast member to cast member when you call on the phone. I'd hate to hear "Oh gosh, remember how I said there'd be no penalty and none of your fastpasses and reservations would be affected? Whooops, you're out of luck because I was wrong!"

I am not guaranteeing that it will work to transfer them over by any means. Just that it is worth calling to find out. If th cast member is not confident that it will work, then I would say tread lightly.

 

[MermaidMommy]

Actually, you don’t even need to have an AP when you check in at all. If they ask you for it, you can just tell them that you’re upgrading in the parks, and they’ll ask you to bring it to show them after you have it. You can tell the CM on the phone the same thing when you call to ask for an AP rate. We did this at AKL in June, and it worked fine — it’s very common.

If you’d like, post your dates, and I can check online to see if there’s AP discounts available anywhere. Like most Disney discounts, they’ve been more and more scarce lately, so don’t know if you’ll find much this close to your trip....

Edited to add: Just noticed that you saw availability already. Hope it works out!

 

[MarBee]

Actually, you don’t even need to have an AP when you check in at all. If they ask you for it, you can just tell them that you’re upgrading in the parks, and they’ll ask you to bring it to show them after you have it. You can tell the CM on the phone the same thing when you call to ask for an AP rate. We did this at AKL in June, and it worked fine — it’s very common.

If you’d like, post your dates, and I can check online to see if there’s AP discounts available anywhere. Like most Disney discounts, they’ve been more and more scarce lately, so don’t know if you’ll find much this close to your trip....

Edited to add: Just noticed that you saw availability already. Hope it works out!

Thank you for the offer! There’s a great deal on AKL that I might go for (I logged in under a friend’s account to see it.).
The deciding factor now is whether or not I would lose my fast passes if I switched.

 

[dansdad]

Thank you for the offer! There’s a great deal on AKL that I might go for (I logged in under a friend’s account to see it.).
The deciding factor now is whether or not I would lose my fast passes if I switched.

You will not lose your fast passes.

 

[MarBee]

You will not lose your fast passes.

Hi Dansdad! Thanks for the input! Are you definitely sure I won’t lose my fast passes even though I’m only 22 days out and switching my reservation?
I know I sound like a crazy person but I’m thinking I definitely want to upgrade to this room but really want to make sure I can keep them. I’m also afraid of “cast member roulette” when calling.

By the time I was able to call last night, they were gone for the day. Waiting for the lines to open now.

 

[dansdad]

Hi Dansdad! Thanks for the input! Are you definitely sure I won’t lose my fast passes even though I’m only 22 days?

Yes.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

As to FPs.... if you cancel a package (package being the key word), it does not immediately cancel your FPs, but you do need to have other theme park admission (tickets, AP, etc) otherwise your FPs are at risk. If you cancel a package and don’t then have other tickets purchased (or an AP), you have around 1.5 days to replace the ticket media, otherwise yes, your FPs will be cancelled.

I can’t totally follow what you’re trying to do above, but so long as you always have valid ticket media associated with your account, you’re good.

 

[MarBee]

As to FPs.... if you cancel a package (package being the key word), it does not immediately cancel your FPs, but you do need to have other theme park admission (tickets, AP, etc) otherwise your FPs are at risk. If you cancel a package and don’t then have other tickets purchased (or an AP), you have around 1.5 days to replace the ticket media, otherwise yes, your FPs will be cancelled.

I can’t totally follow what you’re trying to do above, but so long as you always have valid ticket media associated with your account, you’re good.

So is it okay to replace the ticket with a new AP even though the AP won’t be activated for another 3 weeks?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

So is it okay to replace the ticket with a new AP even though the AP won’t be activated for another 3 weeks?

Yes, the AP doesn't have to be activated - just has to be purchased/linked to your MDX profile.

 

[KNovacovschi]

As to FPs.... if you cancel a package (package being the key word), it does not immediately cancel your FPs, but you do need to have other theme park admission (tickets, AP, etc) otherwise your FPs are at risk. If you cancel a package and don’t then have other tickets purchased (or an AP), you have around 1.5 days to replace the ticket media, otherwise yes, your FPs will be cancelled.

I can’t totally follow what you’re trying to do above, but so long as you always have valid ticket media associated with your account, you’re good.

Just want to make sure I understand, and I'm sorry that this is kind of hijacking the thread, if I cancel my package at 30 days but have other tickets linked to the account the FPs booked at 60 days will remain in place?

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Just want to make sure I understand, and I'm sorry that this is kind of hijacking the thread, if I cancel my package at 30 days but have other tickets linked to the account the FPs booked at 60 days will remain in place?

Yes, that is correct. Assuming you have other park tickets linked to your MDX account for the same # of days you have FPs booked, you're good.

FPs always need to have valid park admission/tickets linked to your MDX account. It doesn't matter where or how those park tickets came from, they just need to be there. FPs aren't linked to specific tickets.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I am headed to Pop Century at the end of the week and currently have 5 day park hoppers and meal plan with my package. I debated getting an AP, and I definitely want to after seeing the AP rates for hotels after logging in with a friend to check.
My questions are:
1) Can I get an AP discount by upgrading to an AP now even though the AP won't be "activated" until we arrive on the 26th?
2) I am only 23 days out- is it possible to get the APs and this package without penalty? (I know there is a penalty to cancel within 30 days.)
3) If I was able to amend the package and upgrade, would it screw up my ADRs and fastpasses that I just finalized?

Thanks in advance for your help all!

You won't be able to upgrade the tickets you have with your existing package to an AP over the phone. You cannot purchase a package that includes a room and an AP. My suggestion would be to call and ask if you can modify your existing package to an AP discounted room plus dining (which is the only type of package you can purchase with an AP). If they can modify your existing package to the AP discounted one, you won't incur the $200 cancellation penalty. If they modify it, I would immediately buy the AP and link it to your MDE account so you don't lose your FP+.

 

[KNovacovschi]

Yes, that is correct. Assuming you have other park tickets linked to your MDX account for the same # of days you have FPs booked, you're good.

FPs always need to have valid park admission/tickets linked to your MDX account. It doesn't matter where or how those park tickets came from, they just need to be there. FPs aren't linked to specific tickets.

Ok thank you. We are currently booked at POP but we want to stay an extra day so my DH is considering offsite but if we are going to lose FPs then we would stay onsite. We already have other tickets as we are CDN and purchased last year with a promo and since they don’t expire we would just use them then.