help me understand trading hopper for annual pass

[pigletforever]

We are headed to DL October 21 for 5 days. I was just going to buy annual passes before we went but knew that we would lose a magic morning. So I decided to go with a 5 day pass instead. But we are coming back in December/January so the annual pass makes most sense.

I thought I read on here somewhere that we could get the hopper pass and then exchange it at the end of the trip for annual pass. Or at least exchange after we get our magic morning.

Can someone please explain how this works?

thanks

 

[cruise cruise cruise]

From my basic understanding, you use your hopper pass for one or all days of the pass (including your MM and any black out days that you otherwise would not get with your AP) then before close on or before your 5th day, go to (I belive) guest services inside DL and upgrade to an AP. You will be charged the difference between what you actually paid and the price of the AP

 

[Kayla's Mom]

I would recommend upgrading to the AP as soon as possible after you use your MM so you can get discounts on the food (and merchandise if you are upgrading to a Premium AP.)

 

[pigletforever]

thanks. I thought it worked that way. What days are MM? We will arrive Wed afternoon and leave Sunday some time. we are doing the Trick or treat party on Thursday night.

 

[Brady's Mom]

The discounts on food do start to add up - especially if you are buying a lot of your meals in the Parks. We love the 10% with our Deluxe AP's. I think it would make a HUGE difference if you were doing a character meal, too.

But, I miss magic morning since we have AP's and would definitely not update until we had used that little perk. After we had used it, I would update ASAP to get the discounts.

Magic Mornings are S and T days. So you could definitely use it that first Thursday morning. And then upgrade later that day if you want. Just go to wherever they've moved the Bank - you don't have to go all the way to the front of the Park to Guest Services.

 

[DisneyMomma81]

Just wanted to add that it's easy to do ~ we've done this same thing twice now. You just need to be sure your hopper does not cost more than the AP you're upgrading to.

 

[bumbershoot]

Definitely ask a CM where the AP processing center (formerly in the bank) is. They are the *only* ones who have the camera so you'll end up there anyway, might as well only wait in ONE line!

If you go to disneyland.com, on the right/top-ish, click annual passholders. On the left of the page it takes you to, you can click to see the blockout dates for the Deluxe pass (I assume that's the one you'll get, which is based on assuming you don't live in Southern CA), so you know your future trips will work with that pass. In the grid that shows the passes and what has what, you'll see words "view blockout dates", and that pops out the calendar for the 12 months). Your visit has no blockout dates, but if your future visits might...then consider getting the Premium. More expensive, but no blockout dates (and bigger/more discounts).

Of course you can upgrade to the Deluxe this time, and if the future has many blockout date visits...you can upgrade to the Premium.

With all upgrades, there is no pro-rating of the cost (you'll always end up paying the full amount of the pass you end up with) and your expiration date is going to be put back to the first day you used the tickets...those are the things we deal with in order to take their kindness of letting us upgrade even on the last day of a ticket.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

You upgrade at the Plaza Pavillion at the end of Main Street. It was super easy. MM days are Tues, Thurs, Sat., Sun.

 

[nunzia]

We just did this also..just be careful and watch that they give you the full credit that you paid for your PH. The guy did all this tuff then asked for a big amount, after some puzzlement in both directions we found he charged me to upgrade from a 3 day SO Cal pass, not a park hopper. Now THAT made a huge price difference. Also got a 20.00 per DVC discount and applied my Birthday Fun card..bargain!

 

[DisneyJulieZ]

OP--This is the EXACT question I was going to ask...thank you! Very helpful thread.
We're going in May of 2010 and then in December of 2010, so we've already decided to start in May w/ 3 Day PH then upgrade after we get our MM! Then in December we're staying at the DLH!! (1st time!!) So that way, even w/ AP's, we'll still get our MM!!

Question I still have:
May 24th, 2010--1st day we'll use 3-day PH.
We'll then upgrade to AP's after our MM the next day, but I know they will "backdate" our AP's to START on the 1st day of our PHs (May 24, 2010).
My question is: What day will our AP's expire--May 23, 2011 or May 24, 2011?
With a 1st AP day being 5/24/10--does that make 5/23/11 the LAST DAY that our AP's will work?

TIA!!!

 

[disneychrista]

It will expire on 5/24/10. So you actually get 366 days of fun (367, if leap year).

 

[DisneyJulieZ]

disneychrista--YEAH!! Thank you for that info--another whole day in the park right as our AP's expire--what could be better?!?