GAD upgrade to AP on blackout day?

[dmked]

I am planning on beginning my trip on a Saturday which is a blackout day and using my GAD voucher and pay the different for an AP, if I begin my trip on a blackout day can I enter the parks on that day?

I think you can do this when buying an AP, can you do it when buying an AP with the GAD voucher? Or do I need to buy a PH and upgrade later in the trip?

 

[Eeee-va]

What's your motivation for upgrading to an AP immediately (versus upgrading to a hopper and then upgrading that to an AP)? Just to save time and not have to double-upgrade? Do you not need/use Magic Morning? Or are you in Southern California and have monthly payment issues that I (as a non-local) don't quite understand?

I know that even if you are able to upgrade at the ticket window, then if you haven't had an AP before, you will still need to go to the AP processing center for a photo. And I know that if you go to the AP processing center on a blockout date and upgrade a valid pass to an AP, they don't throw you out of the park--your admission IS valid for that particular blockout date only.

I do NOT know if you upgrade a ticket BEFORE ENTERING THE PARK, if you can still get in, or if it might cause problems.

So even if you don't want/need a Magic Morning, then IF you will need to go to the AP Processing Center anyway, I don't see why you don't just go in on Saturday with your GAD ticket and upgrade that once you're in Disneyland. I don't think it will end up taking much (and maybe not any) more time than upgrading at the booths (again, if you even can do that). It should also help get you in the park quicker on Saturday--if you're going Saturday near park opening, that's pretty valuable, IMO.

Or if you can use Magic Morning on Saturday or even Sunday, I would personally buy a 3-day hopper and then upgrade that to an AP sometime after your MM.

Have a great trip!

 

[dmked]

We won't be there at opening on Sat., our flight won't get in until later in the day. I just didn't want to lose any value in our tickets by upgrading later since don't you get what you paid towards the value of the ticket (so wouldn't I lose $72?) and I wanted to be able to use the discounts on food right away. I don't mind doing the PH first if I won't lose any value from the GAD ticket.

 

[Eeee-va]

If you upgrade to a hopper, then upgrade to an AP, you do not lose any value. At least, not from what I've read from numerous posters here (some of which I believe did this).

How it works is:
You upgrade your voucher to a 3-day hopper (gate price of $204 - $72 credit = $132 out of pocket)

You late upgrade your hopper (valued at $204) to an AP ($299 - $204 = $95 out of pocket).

Total spent = $227.

If you upgrade your GAD directly to an AP, that's $299 - $72 credit = $227.

The only "lost" value is if you were to JUST upgrade to a hopper and stop there, because gate prices are more expensive than online prices, so you're not "saving" $72 by upgrading to a hopper (since you could have gotten the hopper for $20 cheaper online, so you've really only saved $52). But when you upgrade to an AP that "extra" money spent counts towards your AP, so there's no money lost.

 

[MrsPinup]

Isn't the 3-day $149 right now?

 

[Eeee-va]

Isn't the 3-day $149 right now?

Yes, if purchased online. But those tickets are only valid through April 29, and dmked's signature says their trip is in the summer, so I used current non-discounted prices for my frame of reference, as those are closer to the prices we can expect in summer. (They MAY have other promotions in summer or overall ticket prices just might go up.)

The same rules apply to even a $149 3-day hopper, except you lose significant GAD value (as in, if you use your GAD during that promotion, you're paying $132 for a "discounted" hopper instead of $149). Still doesn't matter so long as you upgrade to an AP, though, as you'll effectively "get the money back" when you upgrade.

 

[MrsPinup]

Ok thanks. So would it be better to buy the discounted 3 day passes online, then show up at DL, upgrade to the AP with the GAD and 3 day passes on the third day (so I can use the MM)? Or...Wait to buy the 3 day passes at the gate while using my GAD, then upgrade to the AP on the third day? I know lots of people have discussed this, but it confusses me and I don't want to get denied by DL.

 

[Eeee-va]

Ok thanks. So would it be better to buy the discounted 3 day passes online, then show up at DL, upgrade to the AP with the GAD and 3 day passes on the third day (so I can use the MM)? Or...Wait to buy the 3 day passes at the gate while using my GAD, then upgrade to the AP on the third day? I know lots of people have discussed this, but it confusses me and I don't want to get denied by DL.

As far as I know, you cannot combine GAD with other passes to upgrade to an AP. I just say this because I would hate to have you "waste" your GAD tickets.

If you are going to get a Deluxe or Premium AP eventually, your best bet is:

*Upgrade your GAD to a 3-day hopper (this will be more expensive short-term but will cost you the same in the long run)

THEN

*Upgrade that hopper to an AP any time after you've done Magic Morning (provided no days during your trip are "blockout" days)

If you are NOT upgrading to Deluxe or Premium APs then let me know and there are other considerations.

Otherwise, follow the Claim GAD, upgrade to hopper, upgrade to Deluxe or Premium AP procedure and you should be fine.

 

[Kayla's Mom]

As far as I know, you cannot combine GAD with other passes to upgrade to an AP.

That is correct according to the FAQs on the DLR website. Although people have reported that they were able to combine the two to upgrade, we won't be risking it either (because someone else reported they were NOT allowed to). We will use the GAD voucher to get the parkhopper, use the MM, then upgrade to AP.

 

[MrsPinup]

*Upgrade that hopper to an AP any time after you've done Magic Morning (provided no days during your trip are "blockout" days)

What happens if one day is a blockout day? I want to get the deluxe pass, but we are going on a Saturday-Tuesday and the Saturday is blockout with the DAP.

 

[nunzia]

I hope you all will report back after you do this...If I am reading correctly:
I show up at DLR with no ticket at all...go to the ticket booth with my voucher and apply it to a PH...THEN after I have the PH in my little hands I then later in the trip take the PH to the AP place and upgrade it to AP?

 

[Kayla's Mom]

I hope you all will report back after you do this...If I am reading correctly:
I show up at DLR with no ticket at all...go to the ticket booth with my voucher and apply it to a PH...THEN after I have the PH in my little hands I then later in the trip take the PH to the AP place and upgrade it to AP?

You got it!!

 

[Eeee-va]

What happens if one day is a blockout day? I want to get the deluxe pass, but we are going on a Saturday-Tuesday and the Saturday is blockout with the DAP.

As I understand, at least, with that combination, you're just fine to upgrade any day. If you upgrade a park hopper to an AP on a blockout date, they do not kick you out of the park, but you can still enjoy the parks for the rest of that day. Blockout dates will apply on any other day (but if Sunday-Tuesday are not blockout dates then there are no problems).

If you're worried, you could upgrade on Sunday instead.

 

[MrsPinup]

Thanks Eeee-va, you are very helpful!

 

[Eeee-va]

You're welcome! Have a wonderful trip!

 

[dmked]

Thanks! Looks like I should get a 3 day PH first, then upgrade to an AP later. What days do they do MM?

 

[Eeee-va]

Magic Morning is generally offered on Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday. They can be affected by Grad Nights if your trip is in June (or May), though.

 

[MrsPinup]

One more thing, what is the gate price for the kids 3-day park hopper?

 

[nunzia]

ANOTHER wrinkle...I might be in DLR during my AP 'renewal window'..that's 30 days before or after, right? Anyway..if I can go to the Destination D that will be in my window, but it will be past the expiration date. So, how would I renew my AP with a voucher if I can't get into the park to get to the AP place ?