Confused on how to use the GAD voucher!

[goochy18]

when I spoke to a CM/Operator when I called to book our vacation, they had said that to use the GAD voucher as a free ticket was only worth it if one would be going for a day trip or a short trip because the longer you stayed (therefore buying more tickets) the price is cheaper ... etc. So from that we are considering donating the tickets back - however NOW my question is ... since I already booked for a 7 day park hopper ticket for 2 adults - if I were to change to a 6day park hopper & use the GAD voucher PLUS add a hopper option to it - is this worth the difference AND would they charge me a penalty to change my accommodations?

I'm kinda confused about redeeming the voucher - from the very beginning - any further advice would be much appreciated! thanks!

erin

 

[Poohbug]

Since you already have tickets, I would just keep them if you have a package with dining booked.

If you are not on a package with dining, you can cancel the tickets and buy them there using your GAD ticket. You can get the same ticket you have now but you will be able to take the $79 value of the GAD off of your 7 day PH ticket.

If you have a dining plan, you can also use the GAD for fastpasses in the parks or a special mickey ear figure with pins on it. If you don't want either of these things, then you can donate the ticket.

 

[PictureJumpr]

when I spoke to a CM/Operator when I called to book our vacation, they had said that to use the GAD voucher as a free ticket was only worth it if one would be going for a day trip or a short trip because the longer you stayed (therefore buying more tickets) the price is cheaper ... etc. So from that we are considering donating the tickets back - however NOW my question is ... since I already booked for a 7 day park hopper ticket for 2 adults - if I were to change to a 6day park hopper & use the GAD voucher PLUS add a hopper option to it - is this worth the difference AND would they charge me a penalty to change my accommodations?

I'm kinda confused about redeeming the voucher - from the very beginning - any further advice would be much appreciated! thanks!

erin

No, it is not worth the difference to add parkhopper to the seventh day. The seventh day is only worth $3 if you do it this way (take the seventh day off a seven-day ticket). Your cost in this case would be $52, since the parkhopper added on to the seventh 'free' day is $55 and you would get $3 off the original ticket. Not a good plan.

As the PP mentioned, if you do not have dining added into your package, your best result will be from cancelling the tickets on your package altogether, and then purchasing your 7-day hoppers once you arrive at WDW. By using your vouchers to enter your first park, and then upgrading them to the 7-day hopper, you will end up paying $84 less than you already paid for your passes.

If your package does include dining, though, you will not benefit from using the vouchers for tickets at all, and the other options open to you are the fastpass cards or the pin sets, or donating the tickets.

 

[justcantwait]

Or, if you're planning on going back some other time, change the tickets that are with your package to one-day base tickets. Cash in your voucher and use that money toward your 7-day hoppers. They'll give you $79 toward each adult ticket. That will give you your 7 days for this trip. The one-day base ticket attached to your package can then be put away for your next trip, when you would upgrade that to however many days you need for that trip. I hope I didn't confuse you further. Just another option to consider.

Kathy

 

[magicmommy]

I already have an annual pass so I was wondering if I could use the voucher towards a waterpark season pass since I can't use it upgrade my existing AP to a PAP since I am past my 30 day renewal window.

 

[goochy18]

As the PP mentioned, if you do not have dining added into your package, your best result will be from cancelling the tickets on your package altogether, and then purchasing your 7-day hoppers once you arrive at WDW. By using your vouchers to enter your first park, and then upgrading them to the 7-day hopper, you will end up paying $84 less than you already paid for your passes.

Thanks - I don't have the dining plan with our vacation package. However, will they charge me to change or cancel the tickets? Also, does it make it more confusing with check-in (i.e., hotel key, park tickets, etc)?

 

[singitalto]

I would change your reservations to a room only, then you don't have to pre-pay your vacation and you have till 5days before if you had to cancel with no penalty.

You can upgrade your GAD's and save about $80 per ticket. That's substantial. And it is easy. You would need to upgrade your passes at the parks.

 

[singitalto]

As far as charging to change the reservation. When are you going?

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I already have an annual pass so I was wondering if I could use the voucher towards a waterpark season pass since I can't use it upgrade my existing AP to a PAP since I am past my 30 day renewal window.

No, you can't apply it to the water park season pass (unlike the birthday gift card last year, which you could use to buy a water park pass). You can use it for the FP cards, redeem it for the figurine and pins (you get extra pins as an AP holder), or donate it.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

when I spoke to a CM/Operator when I called to book our vacation, they had said that to use the GAD voucher as a free ticket was only worth it if one would be going for a day trip or a short trip because the longer you stayed (therefore buying more tickets) the price is cheaper ... etc. So from that we are considering donating the tickets back - however NOW my question is ... since I already booked for a 7 day park hopper ticket for 2 adults - if I were to change to a 6day park hopper & use the GAD voucher PLUS add a hopper option to it - is this worth the difference AND would they charge me a penalty to change my accommodations?

I'm kinda confused about redeeming the voucher - from the very beginning - any further advice would be much appreciated! thanks!

erin

As the PPs have said, it only makes sense to use the voucher for admission if you use it to upgrade to the tickets you want. You can't use it to add a day to existing tickets, nor would you want to. Since you are within 45 days of your trip (I'm assuming it is the trip in five weeks), you have already made final payment and Disney would likely charge a penalty because you would in effect be canceling a package and booking room only. I think it is $100 to cancel at this point, but I'm not sure - we always book room only.

If you choose to keep your package, you can redeem the vouchers for FP cards or the figurine with pins, or you could donate them. To use them for admission, you would need to start with the GAD pass and upgrade it, not use it to upgrade another ticket.

As someone suggested, you could drop your package to one day tickets (unless you have to book a minimum number of tickets, like with the gift card option). The unused tickets won't expire. You could then use the GAD tickets and upgrade them. Out of pocket costs would be the same, but you would have one day tickets for another trip that could be upgraded. You would still probably have to pay a change fee, though, for modifying your package to one with a lower cost. If you chose this option, you would need to use and upgrade the GAD tickets since they are only valid on the date issued. The tickets with your package do not expire if you don't use them.

 

[goochy18]

As someone suggested, you could drop your package to one day tickets (unless you have to book a minimum number of tickets, like with the gift card option). The unused tickets won't expire. You could then use the GAD tickets and upgrade them. Out of pocket costs would be the same, but you would have one day tickets for another trip that could be upgraded. You would still probably have to pay a change fee, though, for modifying your package to one with a lower cost. If you chose this option, you would need to use and upgrade the GAD tickets since they are only valid on the date issued. The tickets with your package do not expire if you don't use them.

I just booked this past Saturday & only put a $200 deposit ... our plans are Apr 30 - May 6. So I need to:

• cancel tickets
• reserve ONLY the room
• buy tickets upon arrival including hopper pass
• Upgrade the GAD vouchers with Hoppers
• Redeem vouchers on whatever day

Now of course this would be great only if they let me do this w/o being charge $50 ... I pay the rest of the payment tomorrow (Tuesday, Mar 23) but now I"ll have to call & see what I can do i guess .... man i wish I would have asked this question before Saturday! Well at least I hope someone else can learn from this too!

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I just booked this past Saturday & only put a $200 deposit ... our plans are Apr 30 - May 6. So I need to:

• cancel tickets
• reserve ONLY the room
• buy tickets upon arrival including hopper pass
• Upgrade the GAD vouchers with Hoppers
• Redeem vouchers on whatever day

Sort of. To cancel the package and reserve only the room, you would book your room and pay a one night's room deposit. The rest of the room balance would be due at check in. IF you booked with a discount code, you might have to use a different code for room only (check out the Codes and Rates board or mousesavers.com).

DO NOT buy tickets upon arrival, unless someone in your party does not have a voucher and you need to buy a ticket for them. You can't upgrade tickets that you already have using the GAD voucher. Redeem the GAD voucher on your first park day (don't try to save time and do it the night before - it is only valid on the date issued). Either at the same time that you redeem your voucher at Will Call, or before you enter a second park, upgrade the GAD ticket to the ticket you want, including the hopper option if you want that.

You will have to cancel your package and book your room. Best to book the room first to make sure it is available and is offered with whatever discount you have with your package (no sense canceling a discounted package to pay rack rate for your room, or worse yet, not be able to get a room at your resort).

Good luck! If you have any questions, we are still here!