Conflicting answers on AP upgrade

[weesignlanguage]

We upgraded to APs last month at Epcot's guest services. Had a super nice young lady who helped us. I asked specifically about renewing next year. My question was this: if we have a free dining package for a trip this fall and don't need to use the required 2 day base tixs bc we now have APs, can we use the 2 day tixs towards the cost of our AP renewals next summer? It would knock 200 each off our renewals.

The CM said it varies on where you go to do it. That she would allow it. But other places don't.

I am asking bc I am trying to decide whether to keep our FD package to have those 2 day tickets to help with cost of renewals or if I won't be allowed to use those toward renewals, we may opt out of Fd and go with a room only discount and get a nicer room.

What do you guys think? What advice would you give? Thanks!

 

[siskaren]

It's allowed. I don't know why the CM you spoke to said it varies on where you go to do it. I have however seen posts indicating that not all CMs know how to do it correctly.

 

[weesignlanguage]

Would we need to use the 2 day tickets first in order to apply price to a renewal?

 

[Robo]

Yes, it IS allowed.

And, if you come across a CM who happened not to want to do that for you,
you could just thank them and go to another Guest Relations.

 

[weesignlanguage]

I was hoping you would chime in Robo! Always such a great help! Thanks! Makes me feel much better! See my other question above...any advice?

 

[Robo]

Would we need to use the 2 day tickets first in order to apply price to a renewal?

No.

But, you likely would not get the "current" gate price for the tickets at the time of your upgrade, if there has been an interim price hike.

You'd likely get the price at the time you received the tickets.

Still, a good deal.

 

[weesignlanguage]

Current prices are around 200 dollars each. Apply that to an already discounted price bc it's a renewal (isn't that 100 off from an initial AP purchase?) and that is a good cut off of the price!

How much does a 2 day base ticket usually go up each year anyway? A few dollars or is it a significant amount?

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Current prices are around 200 dollars each. Apply that to an already discounted price bc it's a renewal (isn't that 100 off from an initial AP purchase?) and that is a good cut off of the price!

How much does a 2 day base ticket usually go up each year anyway? A few dollars or is it a significant amount?

Yes, it is $100 different, but not necessarily the best strategy. If you only go a few times a year, you may do better to let them expire. If you renew your AP's then you keep the original expiration date. Allowing them to lapse means pushing the expiration date back that many months. You also don't know what kind of discount deals they plan to offer.

I usually find FD is a better deal at the values- it's about same as room % off codes at mods, and %off codes are better at deluxes - but often the difference is not huge. Paying for DDP does not seem like a great deal any more.

The difference varies. Often it is just a few dollars per ticket, sometimes - who knows?- they change the features on the tickets dramatically (when they started MYW tickets suddenly hopping became an add-on)...and it also depends which ticket features are added. When expiring tickets were introduced they were lower in $ than the previous tickets.(but with less features). Hopping could go up next year in addition to base prices.

the first time I had an AP, I almost renewed...then they came out with a great package deal. I was glad I was not stuck with my AP, the package discount was that good. If the economy keeps improving, prices go up. If the travel industry has a major setback, better discounts are offered.

Either way, your two day tickets will still be there if you go that route, and don't use them.
Do read the thread posted by the person who made changes AFTER making FP+ plans. You may want to make changes before making FP+, and double check everything.

 

[weesignlanguage]

This year we have three fall trips and then probably a spring one planned. We plan on going one of the Star Wars weekends too which is right at the date is expiration. If we plan on going again at the end of next summer then fall and spring again next go around, doesn't it make sense to renew? I believe we have 30 days from expiration to do so and that would be around the time we would be going back after Star Wars weekend.

And what post about FP+? What happened? We haven't had any issues with FP+ yet with all our room reservations and dining so far. You have me worried! Lol! Please elaborate!

 

[willowsnn3]

We have always used tickets from the free dining promo when we renew. We go several times a year with one of the trips being free dining just so we can have those tickets to use at renewal. We usually renew at DTD. Once we renewed at guest relations in MK & had to ask for a supervisor cause the CM at our line said we couldn't do that. Supervisor said of course we could, so we did, lol.

 

[rlovew]

This year we have three fall trips and then probably a spring one planned. We plan on going one of the Star Wars weekends too which is right at the date is expiration. If we plan on going again at the end of next summer then fall and spring again next go around, doesn't it make sense to renew? I believe we have 30 days from expiration to do so and that would be around the time we would be going back after Star Wars weekend.

And what post about FP+? What happened? We haven't had any issues with FP+ yet with all our room reservations and dining so far. You have me worried! Lol! Please elaborate!

You have 30 days before or after to renew but you date does not change- your renewal date stays the same each time you renew. If you are not going to use the pass for the first 2-3 months of the renewal time it may be better off to wait and get new APs that will change you renewal date. You have to make that decision. We change between renewing and getting a new AP based on trips for the following year and how long it will be until our first trip after renewal. This year we choose not to renew at the beginning of May since our first trip was in July and we wanted to go in June of next year. Instead we are getting new passes.

 

[Dan Murphy]

This year we have three fall trips and then probably a spring one planned. We plan on going one of the Star Wars weekends too which is right at the date is expiration. If we plan on going again at the end of next summer then fall and spring again next go around, doesn't it make sense to renew? I believe we have 30 days from expiration to do so and that would be around the time we would be going back after Star Wars weekend.

And what post about FP+? What happened? We haven't had any issues with FP+ yet with all our room reservations and dining so far. You have me worried! Lol! Please elaborate!

60 days before, 30 days after.

 

[SUSIEQ]

You have 30 days before or after to renew

That is incorrect. It is 60 days before, and 30 days after to renew.

 

[disneyfan55]

Yes, it is $100 different, but not necessarily the best strategy. If you only go a few times a year, you may do better to let them expire. If you renew your AP's then you keep the original expiration date. Allowing them to lapse means pushing the expiration date back that many months. You also don't know what kind of discount deals they plan to offer.

I usually find FD is a better deal at the values- it's about same as room % off codes at mods, and %off codes are better at deluxes - but often the difference is not huge. Paying for DDP does not seem like a great deal any more.

The difference varies. Often it is just a few dollars per ticket, sometimes - who knows?- they change the features on the tickets dramatically (when they started MYW tickets suddenly hopping became an add-on)...and it also depends which ticket features are added. When expiring tickets were introduced they were lower in $ than the previous tickets.(but with less features). Hopping could go up next year in addition to base prices.

the first time I had an AP, I almost renewed...then they came out with a great package deal. I was glad I was not stuck with my AP, the package discount was that good. If the economy keeps improving, prices go up. If the travel industry has a major setback, better discounts are offered.

Either way, your two day tickets will still be there if you go that route, and don't use them.
Do read the thread posted by the person who made changes AFTER making FP+ plans. You may want to make changes before making FP+, and double check everything.

So very true and well said!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

So very true and well said!

Thanks!

I think most of what I said has been clarified by other posters. My apologies on anything that was not clear.

What I meant in the last section is if you decide to covert the free dining package to room only. You asked about putting those tickets towards the cost of renewing. (In my case, it has always been better to let them expire, as rlovew explained.) Sometimes ticket modifications are quick, sometimes it's time consuming; including lines and less trained CM's. Those tickets you mention are not free. You are just prepaying. The % off deal maybe an equal discount, with less complications.

Modifying your existing reservation SHOULD be glitch free. But IT is not perfect, If you change your FD reservation, just be sure to log into your MDE account and make sure all your reservations are still there. If possible, make the change BEFORE you make your FP+ reservations.