How do you purchase an AP ?

[tinksdreamwishes]

Please help me understand a few questions. I know I feel like a dork to most of you... you are all so Disney smart! So I need your help please! i do not live in So Cal- so the only AP I can qualify for would be a Deluxe or a Premium correct?
2. I have bought a vacation package thru Costco- can I use my 5 day voucher to upgrade to an AP?
3. If the above question is a yes- then can I wait till my third day of my visit to upgrade to an AP? Even though it is a 5 day hopper- I will only be there for 3 days. I would do it on the first day- but then I would be "Blocked out" i am traveling July 2-4th.
4. I have a GAD voucher- can I use that also to upgrade to AP with the 5 day hopper? so I was figuring if a Deluxe AP costs $315- then they apply the GAD of $70 and the 5 day hopper of I dont know $180 I guess then I would pay the difference of maybe $70? Or is the price of an AP different at the gates then the on-line price, and if sooo how much different?
5. If I get lucky- what buildings or gates do I go to turn all this stuff in to get an AP?

Thank you ....

 

[bumbershoot]

GAD voucher. You might get lucky, but I don't think they've been letting people use their voucher AND another ticket to upgrade to APs. The way people have upgraded from the GAD voucher is to turn it into a one-day ticket, and then upgrade THAT into the AP (you get credit for the cost of a one-day ticket when doing that).

Ignoring the GAD issue, to upgrade the ticket you bought with the package, you will get credit for what you paid for that ticket. And when sold in a package, that value will likely be the cost you would pay if you went to disneyland.com right now and checked on the cost of a 5-for-3 (or just a 3 day). The promotion's value is the cost that will almost surely be assigned to it, so then you would just subtract that amount from the cost of the AP you're upgrading to, and that's what you pay per person.

You do this at the AP processing center, and they have one of those in each park, just look at the map or ask a CM. You have a picture taken, give them all of your info, pay, and you walk out with an AP.

BAck to the GAD...it's possible you might be allowed to combine the voucher AND the ticket to upgrade, but if I were in your situation, I would just use that GAD voucher for the Fast Pass option. Especially going at the time you're going.

If you're upgrading to the Premium, you can upgrade on the first day, as there are no blockouts for that AP.

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

Thanks Bumbershoot- so are you saying that I could turn the GAD into the one day ticket- then take that ticket with my 5 day hopper and apply both to an AP?
I cant afford a Premium right now. But DH said I could get an AP if I dont shell out more then $75. So trying to figure out if this is even duable. Hope some more folks chip in with some how to advice! Thanks!

 

[so_oregon]

at the end of Main Street on the left as you are walking towards the castle, used to be a restaurant, now AP processing center. On day 3, go there. They will credit the costs of the parkhopper but also backdate the AP to the date parkhopper first used. relatively painless process!!(I am like you, want lots of details about where to go, what to do, etc.) There was a line at beginning of the day, line middle of the day, finally I gave up and got in the line!!!

 

[Gidget]

at the end of Main Street on the left as you are walking towards the castle, used to be a restaurant, now AP processing center. On day 3, go there. They will credit the costs of the parkhopper but also backdate the AP to the date parkhopper first used. relatively painless process!!(I am like you, want lots of details about where to go, what to do, etc.) There was a line at beginning of the day, line middle of the day, finally I gave up and got in the line!!!

I'm planning to do this also...thank you for the info...but I have another question - if you have a 3 day park hopper, do you have to do upgrade before you use day 3, or can you upgrade after you enter the park on day 3?

 

[so_oregon]

I had a five for 3 day one...first day at park was Thursday and I bought the AP on Monday, after entry to the park (to get to the end of main street, had to enter...)

I got a little worried when CM started asking me what time I had entered park, how many days had I used, etc....then, I figured it was statistical questions.

 

[disneychrista]

I am pretty sure you can only use ONE ticket to upgrade so I would use the 5-day ticket to upgrade. So it would be 315 - 184 = $131. And yes do not upgrade if you are going to be blocked out. Also once you upgrade you lose anything extra on your ticket (like MM).

Use the GAD tickets towards the fastpass option.

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

thanks for that info! i never really paid attention to the AP spots since I never ever thought I would get an AP! The thought of it coming true would be a dream!! I still dont know if I am allowed to get any of the AP options or am I limited to only Deluxe and Premium since I do not live in SoCal. Its all soo confusing! I just hate running around from one booth to another and waste time to only find out that I dont have enough money or I dont qualify- which is why I love these boards for all the great info! Ty Guys!

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

Ok ty disneychrista! So .... is $315 a gate price too? Or just an online price? I think I have a disney Gift Card for $20 from the Costco package... can I use that too with the 5 day? And can I get a different AP other then just deluxe and premium? TY!

 

[wendypooh22]

I'm planning to do this also...thank you for the info...but I have another question - if you have a 3 day park hopper, do you have to do upgrade before you use day 3, or can you upgrade after you enter the park on day 3?

You can upgrade any day of your 3 day ticket...
Not sure if you are staying on property or not, but I remember hearing that with 3 day or greater hopper tickets, you get one MM entry once during the 3 days. If you have that and are not staying on property (where you would get MM each day it is offered) use your MM before upgrading to an AP. You will surrender your ticket and any "extras" will be lost.

Also, depending on which one you will be purchasing, it would most likely be best to upgrade on your last day in case block out dates apply..

I hope I haven't confused you too much..

 

[disneychrista]

If you do not live in a zip code for a SoCal then yes you are limited to the Deluxe, Premium, and Premiere (DL/WDW).

As far as I know there is no online special price for AP's. You should be able to use the giftcard toward the cost of upgrading.

 

[Gidget]

You can upgrade any day of your 3 day ticket...
Not sure if you are staying on property or not, but I remember hearing that with 3 day or greater hopper tickets, you get one MM entry once during the 3 days. If you have that and are not staying on property (where you would get MM each day it is offered) use your MM before upgrading to an AP. You will surrender your ticket and any "extras" will be lost.

Also, depending on which one you will be purchasing, it would most likely be best to upgrade on your last day in case block out dates apply..

I hope I haven't confused you too much..

Nope that makes PERFECT sense! Thank you!!! That was exactly what I needed to know, because our 3 day hopper will have a MM and I wanted to use it before I upgraded to APs. Our 3rd day would fall on our last day and a MM (though I may use the MM on Thanksgiving if that is MM day). We are going over Thanksgiving Thu-Sat, and we will be getting Deluxe APs, I believe I remember, most of those days are blocked out!

 

[Disney Dreams]

I'm planning to do this also...thank you for the info...but I have another question - if you have a 3 day park hopper, do you have to do upgrade before you use day 3, or can you upgrade after you enter the park on day 3?

You have to upgrade while you still have a valid ticket, so in your case... before the end of Day 3.

I had a five for 3 day one...first day at park was Thursday and I bought the AP on Monday, after entry to the park (to get to the end of main street, had to enter...)

I got a little worried when CM started asking me what time I had entered park, how many days had I used, etc....then, I figured it was statistical questions.

They are asking those questions to verify that YOU are the one who used the ticket, not someone else. It is against Disney policy to transfer a ticket between people, so - they ask those questions.

...I still dont know if I am allowed to get any of the AP options or am I limited to only Deluxe and Premium since I do not live in SoCal. Its all soo confusing!...

You cannot get the SoCal Passes since you don't live in So Cal. So, you can get the Deluxe, Premium, or if you really want to - the Premiere.

- Dreams

 

[tinksdreamwishes]

blah- I need a SoCal address now... can I rent a room from someone? hehe...

 

[Gidget]

I had a five for 3 day one...first day at park was Thursday and I bought the AP on Monday, after entry to the park (to get to the end of main street, had to enter...)

I got a little worried when CM started asking me what time I had entered park, how many days had I used, etc....then, I figured it was statistical questions.

Hahahahaha!!! To get to the end of main street, you had to enter!!!

I would have worried too at all of the questions - I am such a "rule" follower - panic definitely would have set in that I had made a HUGE mistake. Thank you for calming my fears!!!

 

[Gidget]

You have to upgrade while you still have a valid ticket, so in your case... before the end of Day 3.

PERFECT! Thank you so much for the info!!!!

 

[radiatorsprings]

The Deluxe AP is $299. I'm going to upgrade my GAD voucher to a parkhopper, use the magic morning, and then upgrade to a Deluxe AP on my trip in July.

 

[bumbershoot]

Thanks Bumbershoot- so are you saying that I could turn the GAD into the one day ticket- then take that ticket with my 5 day hopper and apply both to an AP?
I cant afford a Premium right now. But DH said I could get an AP if I dont shell out more then $75. So trying to figure out if this is even duable. Hope some more folks chip in with some how to advice! Thanks!

No, because they don't normally take two tickets towards upgrades.

$75??? That's awfully low. If the point of upgrading is so that you can go again this year, know that almost any ticket you get for a future trip is going to cost more than that...

You can upgrade to the higher level of AP any time, FYI. It's not going to be pro-rated and the expiration date stays the same (and they don't retroactively give you the higher level of discounts), but as a courtesy, they would let you upgrade to the Premium at a later date, if you needed that at a future date but could only do the Deluxe right now.

We upgraded from 5 day tickets to an AP back in '07 (the day before a price increase, thank goodness) and if I recall correctly we paid about $80 each. (more for DS, actually, b/c his ticket was priced lower but the APs for kids are the same amount), so I really think your husband's figure is unrealistically low...