Confused-what to do during blackout date arrival

[Queenofthecastle]

I will be at WDW for a convention 4/2-4/11 so the beginning of my stay will be during GAD blackout dates. I do want to get an AP since I will be coming back in September.

Here is what I was thinking of doing. I can get a slightly discounted convention rate 8-day Parkhopper for $277.03(includes tax) by ordering online through Disney's convention site. I would use this when I arrive, until 4/9 during which I would use my GAD voucher to get my 1-day ticket, go through the turnstiles with it, then use it to upgrade my 8-day Parkhopper to DVC AP(I'm a DVC member). The DVC AP costs $414.20.

$414.20 - $277.03 - $79 = $58.17 is what I would be paying to upgrade to DVC AP.

Is all of this correct? Would that work, or should I just use my GAD for the special fastpass ticket since I'm going during a peak period? Please help!

Thank you in advance!

 

[SilverMickey]

I believe you can not combine the GAD with any other ticket to upgrade... Upgrade one or the other but not both.

 

[LaurenT]

I believe you can not combine the GAD with any other ticket to upgrade... Upgrade one or the other but not both.

Silver is right - you can't combine the gad with anything else...you'd have to upgrade it directly. And you won't be able to save the gad for a later date unless you are returning before Dec 15th, and you can't upgrade the gad during blackout. So, your only real options are...upgrade the convention ticket and use gad once blackout is over to get the special FP's (you can pick 5 others from your group to get FP exchange cards with you..awesome networking potential there!) OR you can just use your convention ticket and then return before dec, upgrading your gad to an ap at that time OR donate the ticket to charity - a needy child will get to go to disney world OR get the collectible ear hat with figurines..this could be quite valuable in the future since very few people are opting for it.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

It will not work for two reasons.

First, by definition an upgrade is taking one ticket and adding cash (or similar) and ending up with one ticket with more entitlements. You cannot combine two tickets to get one ticket with more features.*

* The only exception to this rule is at the water parks where you can combine a one day water park ticket with a base or hopping MYW ticket and a payment to end up with a MYW ticket with the WPF&M option. Your payment will be the difference in price between the one day water park ticket and the cost of the WPF&M option plus tax on the difference.

Second is that most special rate convention tickets cannot be upgraded or modified in any way once they are issued. And I think you will find that youre eight day convention hopper also includes one water park or DQ visit which makes it totally incompatible with any non-convention tickets.

 

[Queenofthecastle]

Thanks for everyone's replies. Cheshire, I guess the best thing to do is to just buy the DVC AP now, and use my GAD for a FP day. I don't think I will be purchasing the convention ticket then if they not upgradeable. Thanks again!