Help! Stressed about small details RE: APs and Birthday Fun Card

[hurleysweety]

Okay, so I know I've asked a ton of questions about the APs and read countless threads about them and the Birthday Fun Card, but here is where my confusion begins...what order/process do I redeem all these fun things in? This might seem a little silly to worry about, but I would hate to mess up our perks or somehow miss out on something...

Here is what we have:
1. Two Deluxe AP Vouchers from Costco (with $50 gift card on each)
2. DHs Free on your Birthday Email
3. $150 in Disney Rewards

We need to:
1. Upgrade APs to Premium APs
2. Receive $50 gift cards from the vouchers
3. Get DH his Birthday Fun Card
4. Use Disney Rewards and Fun Card money towards upgrading the APs
5. Get a refund on parking cuz we'll have Premium APs

So, where to go and how to do this?
I plan on going to the ticket booth to take care of all of this, with IDs, of course. Could someone explain the best way to do this?

In other words, how do I make this process simple, and explain it to the poor CM who I hope is not their first day on the job!!!?

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Did the APs from Costco come in a voucher? Or can you take them straight to the turnstiles and then go to the Main Street bank?

Go to the bank, give them your voucher, tell them you want a Premium and not a Deluxe, pay the difference (using your giftcards and Disney rewards), then they'll get all your info, take your picture, print out your AP. They'll ask if you paid for parking, give them the receipt and they'll give you cash back (I think that's what they did for us). After alllll that. Walk across Main Street to City Hall, tell them it's your DH's birthday, he wants his fun card. They'll take his AP and the email print it and they'll give him his fun card.

I don't think you can get your fun card at the Main Street Bank, so you'll have to go to City Hall.

 

[hurleysweety]

Did the APs from Costco come in a voucher? Or can you take them straight to the turnstiles and then go to the Main Street bank?

I'm not sure...they are "ticket size" I believe, they read "Deluxe AP with $50 gift card" on the back. If I remember right, they have a black strip that would scan at the turnstiles. Was not aware these would go through the turnstiles - but that makes sense!

Also not aware that getting your fun card was done in City Hall, thanks!

Thanks for your help!

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

I'm not sure...they are "ticket size" I believe, they read "Deluxe AP with $50 gift card" on the back. If I remember right, they have a black strip that would scan at the turnstiles. Was not aware these would go through the turnstiles - but that makes sense!

Also not aware that getting your fun card was done in City Hall, thanks!

Thanks for your help!

You're welcome!

Do they have a barcode on them? If they do then they can be taken straight to the turnstiles, then after that go straight to the bank and do all the AP stuff there.

 

[hurleysweety]

You're welcome!

Do they have a barcode on them? If they do then they can be taken straight to the turnstiles, then after that go straight to the bank and do all the AP stuff there.

I don't have them in front of me...but if they don't have a barcode, then I should go to the ticket booth?

 

[pixiewings71]

Your Costco vouchers will NOT have a barcode on them, you will have to go to the ticket booths to get your APs activated. At that time you will get the $50 gift cards, you can also ask about the Fun Card, if you can get it at the ticket booth you will have the Fun Card and the gift cards for your upgrade already. You will then just go to the bank to upgrade. If you have had an AP within the past 2 years they will simply process and print your new AP right there at the ticket booth, they will have your old photo on file. When you upgrade you can ask the CM for new photos (we did for the girls because they look different from July 07), they might charge you the $20 fee but our CM did not. If you do not get the fun card from the ticket booth stop by City Hall after you get in, get the Fun Card and then head to the bank for your upgrade. OH and if you have parked in the garage remember to bring your parking pass with you so you get your $12 credit for that as well. The parking pass does not need to stay in your car while it's in the garage, you do need it for proof of parking payment and to get in and out of the garage during the same day.

Hope that helps!

 

[Dizneydaz]

J, I think you can do it all at the ticket booth. Give them your voucher for the AP and tell them you want to upgrade them to Premium. You can either use DH 's Fun card for the upgrade as well (if needed) or keep it for other uses.

As PP stated, if you had a previous AP they can just give you your new one at the ticket booth. As far as having to pay to get a more recent picture, I don't believe they would do so. I believe the $20 charge is to replace one if you lose it. I too had DD9's picture retaken last Sept. I keep them as souvenirs and want them to reflect her age at the time. I've actually been surprised recently when I've been there with other familes and they have 2, 3, or even 4 year old picture on their kid's AP. The kids don't look like their pictures anymore since the difference between say an 8 y/o and 5 y/o is pretty big. To me they look like a younger sibling. I'm surprised the CMs don't saying anything when they go through.

If you have to go inside to do your upgrades then I would pick Guest Services at DCA-less crowded. Since you are arriving in the middle of the day, hopefully the crowds (whichever location you choose) will be short.

Have fun!

 

[fairycat]

Ok I actually did some of this myself a few months back.

The Costco passes are not admission tickets, you must redeem them at the ticket booths. I gave them my Costco deluxe pass, they run these first, they do all the details and things and printed me out a Deluxe pass and gave me a $50 gift card. The CM then started out on transaction number two which was applying my GC and parking towards my Premium pass. I walked away with my upgraded pass and only dropped around $58

My question is, is your DH's B-day a blackout day? If it's not I am sure that the CM will do the Costco passes first, then the Birthday and then lastly your upgrade. If not I am sure they have another order in which to make it all work for you.

Honestly they are very happy to work with you on upgrading the best way for you, they will get all your discounts in and you will be just fine. Have fun!!!

 

[prettyprincessbelle]

Thank you, guys!

 

[LavenderPeach]

PPs are right, go to the ticket booth first. We had the costco ones with gift cards too. I wasn't sure where to go when we got there so I asked a CM. She didn't say anything about the ticket not having a barcode but she did say that we had to go to the ticket booth in order to get our gift cards since they don't have those at the turnstiles.