Converting tickets to annual pass and free dining

[rotlex]

Question - please move if this is not the appropriate forum. (I'll try to make this quick and to the point).

We are visiting WDW in a few weeks for a 2 week stay on a free dining bounce back from last year. There are 4 of us, each with 10 day park admission. We already know next years bounce back free dining dates won't work for us due to school, and have decided on an earlier in the year trip, hence, twice within the same 12 months. This makes me think an annual pass would be worth it considering we do two week trips.

My question is, can I "convert" my existing 10 day park passes to annual passes and NOT lose my free dining for this year? If so, how does this work? Do I have to do it before I use the tickets? Can I do it mid way, last day etc. etc.?

Thanks for any info, links, or anything else!

 

[mom2rtk]

Do it any time after first using the ticket to enter a park (for maximum value) and you'll be fine.

People upgrade free dining tickets to other tickets, including APs, all the time.

 

[rotlex]

Do it any time after first using the ticket to enter a park (for maximum value) and you'll be fine.

People upgrade free dining tickets to other tickets, including APs, all the time.

Thank you. One other quick one i forgot. We opted for the waterpark and more option this year and plan on visiting both water parks before the end of the trip. (I would NOT add that option to the annual passes as we don't do them often enough). So with that said, if I am understanding your response, I could start our trip, go to the parks, visit the water parks as that option is tied to the tickets, and then, on the tail end of the trip, convert the tickets to annual passes and still get the full value toward the purchase. Does that sound right?

Thanks a million.

 

[DebbieB]

Thank you. One other quick one i forgot. We opted for the waterpark and more option this year and plan on visiting both water parks before the end of the trip. (I would NOT add that option to the annual passes as we don't do them often enough). So with that said, if I am understanding your response, I could start our trip, go to the parks, visit the water parks as that option is tied to the tickets, and then, on the tail end of the trip, convert the tickets to annual passes and still get the full value toward the purchase. Does that sound right?

Thanks a million.

If you use the tickets for a water park, you can only convert to a Premium Annual Pass.

 

[scoobygrl79]

That's where it gets tricky (I'm doing the same thing as you) as I was told by several Disboarders that if you are trying to upgrade from water parks n more option, then you HAVE to buy the corresponding AP IF YOU USE ONE OF YOUR ENTRIES INTO THE "OTHER" OPTIONS (but as long as you only used for one of the traditional park entries...they are still upgradable to the REGULAR AP)...and if you happen to use the water park n more options before you upgrade, then it is required of you to get the premium AP that includes water parks. So confusing to me. Therefore, I just switched back to Park Hoppers for my Free Dining so I would not get confused.

 

[rotlex]

If you use the tickets for a water park, you can only convert to a Premium Annual Pass.

That's where it gets tricky (I'm doing the same thing as you) as I was told by several Disboarders that if you are trying to upgrade from water parks n more option, then you HAVE to buy the corresponding AP IF YOU USE ONE OF YOUR ENTRIES INTO THE "OTHER" OPTIONS (but as long as you only used for one of the traditional park entries...they are still upgradable to the REGULAR AP)...and if you happen to use the water park n more options before you upgrade, then it is required of you to get the premium AP that includes water parks. So confusing to me. Therefore, I just switched back to Park Hoppers for my Free Dining so I would not get confused.

That's interesting, and confusing, but thanks! Seems kind of odd to me that you would be forced to buy the premium pass just because you had the waterpark and more option on your current tickets. Not doubting it, but have to really think this one out now. We actually haven't added it yet but were planning on it once we arrived on site and checked the weather for the days we think we will be doing them.

Thanks again. More to think on!!!!

 

[scoobygrl79]

That's interesting, and confusing, but thanks! Seems kind of odd to me that you would be forced to buy the premium pass just because you had the waterpark and more option on your current tickets. Not doubting it, but have to really think this one out now. We actually haven't added it yet but were planning on it once we arrived on site and checked the weather for the days we think we will be doing them.

Thanks again. More to think on!!!!

You are forced to IF you used it towards one of the Water Park n More options. As long as you did not, and only went to AK/MK/DHS/Epcot...then you can still upgrade to the regular Annual Pass. I think I might have seen the wordage on official Diz site, I will try to find it for you if I can. Right now I'm working a very slow slow night at the hospital....which can change any moment. Boy, I would love you to be right though because I sure wanted to take my kiddos to a water park and even a round of mini golf

 

[MrPTato]

That's interesting, and confusing, but thanks! Seems kind of odd to me that you would be forced to buy the premium pass just because you had the waterpark and more option on your current tickets. Not doubting it, but have to really think this one out now. We actually haven't added it yet but were planning on it once we arrived on site and checked the weather for the days we think we will be doing them.

Thanks again. More to think on!!!!

It is confusing..but think this way. You are only paying the difference now from your 10 day ticket to the AP. In the end, you have only paid for the AP without the waterpark option. If you used water park for your 10 day, then you would have to upgrade to a ticket that would encompass the water park feature, like the premium AP.

 

[DebbieB]

What I would do is upgrade to AP's before you go to the water park. The credit they give you towards the AP includes the water park option, so you are not losing the money you paid.

There is an AP discount for water parks, so buy your ticket after the upgrade.

Passholders and their guests (up to 2 guests per visit) can get special savings of $4 off adult admission (ages 10 and up) and $3 off child admission (ages 3-9) at the following places:

-- DisneyQuest® Indoor Interactive Theme Park
-- Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park
-- Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

 

[ChristophersMom2]

I just upgraded in May and I had WP and more with an entry already to Blizzard Beach and Disquest. We upgraded at IG guest relations and the gave me the option to upgrade to either pass and told me the price differences.

 

[scoobygrl79]

I just upgraded in May and I had WP and more with an entry already to Blizzard Beach and Disquest. We upgraded at IG guest relations and the gave me the option to upgrade to either pass and told me the price differences.

Oh boy, this would be amazing! Thanks for the report!

 

[supersnoop]

That's interesting, and confusing, but thanks! Seems kind of odd to me that you would be forced to buy the premium pass just because you had the waterpark and more option on your current tickets. Not doubting it, but have to really think this one out now. We actually haven't added it yet but were planning on it once we arrived on site and checked the weather for the days we think we will be doing them.

Thanks again. More to think on!!!!

Think of it this way: you're swapping your tickets for new one. The swap is retroactive. The new tickets have to cover everything you've already done.

 

[Disney_Alli]

Also consider that the cost of a single day water park ticket with the AP discount may be less than the cost of upgrading your pass to a premium AP. you might want to upgrade right away for merchandise discounts. I'd also consider TiW as it will cover an extras you order outside of the dining plan this trip and all your dining next trip.

 

[rotlex]

I just upgraded in May and I had WP and more with an entry already to Blizzard Beach and Disquest. We upgraded at IG guest relations and the gave me the option to upgrade to either pass and told me the price differences.

I'm not doubting the others at all, but this just makes sense to me. The way I would see it is lets say I was renewing an annual pass and currently had a premium. For next year I decide I don't need that. I'm sure they would allow you to downgrade. Makes sense they would allow the same thing with the ticket conversion.

Either way, thanks all for the input and discussion. Guess I'll see for sure what happens when we arrive in a few weeks!

 

[Robo]

I just upgraded in May and I had WP and more with an entry already to Blizzard Beach and Disquest. We upgraded at IG guest relations and the gave me the option to upgrade to either pass and told me the price differences.

The CM who offered the "choice" made an error.

The choices below are the correct info.

If you want to upgrade a Magic Your Way (MYW) ticket to an Annual Pass:

If you currently have the Water Parks Fun & More (WPF&M) option on your ticket, and have not used any of the WPF&M options,
you can upgrade to your choice of either a Tourist (Regular) AP or a Premium AP.
If you have used the original ticket to go into a theme park at least one time, you will be given the full value of a new unused ticket of the type you originally bought in the upgrade transaction.

If you currently have the Water Parks Fun & More (WPF&M) option on your ticket, and have used any of the WPF&M options,
you can only upgrade to a Premium AP.
You will be given the full value in the transaction of a new unused ticket of the type you originally bought.

If you currently do not have the Water Parks Fun & More (WPF&M) option on your ticket,
you can upgrade to your choice of either a Tourist (Regular) AP or a Premium AP.
If you have used the original ticket to go into a theme park at least one time, you will be given the full value of a new unused ticket of the type you originally bought in the upgrade transaction.

 

[Robo]

I'm not doubting the others at all, but this just makes sense to me. The way I would see it is lets say I was renewing an annual pass and currently had a premium. For next year I decide I don't need that. I'm sure they would allow you to downgrade. Makes sense they would allow the same thing with the ticket conversion.

Either way, thanks all for the input and discussion. Guess I'll see for sure what happens when we arrive in a few weeks!

For AP renewals guests are always allowed to decide to upgrade, downgrade, or keep the same type AP as they had the previous year.
At the time of the renewal, the appropriate charge will be made for the kind of AP chosen for the next year.

 

[rotlex]

For AP renewals guests are always allowed to decide to upgrade, downgrade, or keep the same type AP as they had the previous year.
At the time of the renewal, the appropriate charge will be made for the kind of AP chosen for the next year.

This, and your previous post make sense as well. However, again, not doubting you either, it doesn't make sense to me that you would HAVE to buy a premium just because your ticket had used water park options on it etc. (That is assuming of course you do NOT want to use the water parks any longer on your current trip).

If the other poster was indeed allowed to buy a regular pass even having had the WPM option used on the tickets, it is obviously possible, just not standard "policy".

Eh, it's giving me a headache now, LOL. Guess we will make the decision when on site after speaking with guest services and such. The kids really want to go to the waterparks this year, but it is not something we do every year. Usually every 5 trips or so. I just couldn't justify buying a premium pass knowing we would most likely not use the options on it.

Thanks again.

 

[CMNJ]

This, and your previous post make sense as well. However, again, not doubting you either, it doesn't make sense to me that you would HAVE to buy a premium just because your ticket had used water park options on it etc. (That is assuming of course you do NOT want to use the water parks any longer on your current trip).

Thanks again.

The reason why is that you are upgrading to an annual pass that is retroactive back to the day you first used your current tickets. However the extra money you paid toward going to the water parks (by having the water parks and more option) is being applied toward your regular annual pass cost BUT it is not included/covered by that pass-so basically you would have gotten admission to which you are not entitled with the regular annual pass you ultimately plan to purchase. That's why they (supposedly) require you to upgrade to the premium annual pass which covers the water park admission you already used for the year. Otherwise the only "fair" option would be to allow you to apply your current ticket cost toward the upgrade but then deduct the daily admission cost for each waterpark trip you took from your credit as the new pass you would be purchasing (which is retroactive) did not cover those admissions you already used.

Obviously some cast members may mistakenly allow upgrade to the regular pass but I would be prepared to have to pay for the premium pass in case you don't get lucky.