How do you upgrade to an AP?

[MomtoGKC]

We're going to Disney this weekend for oour first family trip. I was thinking about buying season passes, but now I'm not so sure. I want to make sure my kids like it there (I know - who doesn't? but just in case...) before I spend all that money. I've read about people upgrading their regulas tickets to APs - how does that work? Do I have to do it suring the trip? Is there a time limit to how long I have to upgrade? I only have 2 more days of planning and I think this is one of my last questions!

Thank you!

 

[Robo]

We're going to Disney this weekend for oour first family trip. I was thinking about buying season passes, but now I'm not so sure. I want to make sure my kids like it there (I know - who doesn't? but just in case...) before I spend all that money. I've read about people upgrading their regulas tickets to APs - how does that work? Do I have to do it suring the trip? Is there a time limit to how long I have to upgrade? I only have 2 more days of planning and I think this is one of my last questions!

Thank you!

You can do it at any Guest Relations window at any of the Theme Parks and at DTD.
The time-limit to do so is within 14 days after your first use of the ticket(s).

 

[MomtoGKC]

14 days is greeat - gives me time to make sure they love it as much as I do and it I can figure out if the SP is worth it. But what if I'm leaving Disney - can I upgrade over the phone or at a AAA office?

 

[CoPirate]

I dont think you can 'upgrade' at the AAA office, since they only give you a voucher that you then have to exchange at the ticket window.

Since they would apply some of the cost of your unused days on your ticket, I'm pretty sure you'd have to use Disney ticketing.

Are you staying onsite? If so, ask the conceirage in the lobby. Explain the situation, and ask if you can upgrade from home once you leave WDW. Also explain you'd like to use the AAA discount, and they should be able to give you the answers you'd need.

 

[MomtoGKC]

Thank you! I just called WDW and the CM said I had to do the upgrade on site so they could do the pro-rating of the price. Darn, I was hoping to wait a few weeks while I saved up the money if we decided to do it!

 

[seashoreCM]

They prorate the time, not the price. The start date of your AP is the first day of usage of the Magic Your Way ticket surrendered for upgrade. Except the start date would be backdated further to the expiration of your previous AP if you are paying the renewal rate.

If your ticket had water park fun and you used any of those admissions, your upgrade must go all the way to premium AP.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Upgrading any MYW ticket to any type of AP can only be done at a park (including water park and TTC) ticket window or Guest Relations Office.

The following are quotes from the section "Upgrades: Magic Your Way Tickets to Annual Passes" from the Cast Portal (updated 8/9/06). (Note - the first paragraph below is a paraphrase combining parts of two paragraphs and leaving the technical instructions out, the other two paragraphs are quotes.)

Because MYW tickets are configured to expire based on FIRST USAGE and Annual Passes are configured to expire based on DATE OF ISSUE, Cast Members must manually enter the expiration date to be one year from the original ticket's FIRST USAGE.

Guests are able to upgrade or modify their MYW tickets any time within 14 days of first use, regardless of whether the No Expiration Option is purchased. After 14 days no ticket modifications or upgrades may take place.

When upgrading to Annual product, if the Guest's original ticket included Water Park Fun & More Option, and any part of that option was used, then the Guest may only upgrade to the Premium Annual Pass.

Of course you cannot use more than one pass to upgrade to an Annual, it must be a one to one relationship only.

There is an exception to the 14 day rule. That is if you have bought a Florida Play Three pass which is good for six months from daytre of first use, but the expiration date ties to date of first use of the P3P.

 

[northie]

We're going to Disney this weekend for oour first family trip. I was thinking about buying season passes, but now I'm not so sure. I want to make sure my kids like it there (I know - who doesn't? but just in case...) before I spend all that money. I've read about people upgrading their regulas tickets to APs - how does that work? Do I have to do it suring the trip? Is there a time limit to how long I have to upgrade? I only have 2 more days of planning and I think this is one of my last questions!

Thank you!

I did mine before I used the ticket and the CM at the MK Guest Relations asked me "Have you used it yet?" I said "no" and he said "Good, because if you have, we can't upgrade it." Now that was not my understanding before going to the park, but then I called like 4 times even calling the tickets number and got a different answer each time...but that's what he said when I was there in person, so I'd say to be safe, do it right away.

Sara

 

[hightown]

Well, the information from Cheshire Figment is contrary to what I thought I read on WDWIG.

I have a 6 day MYW w/Hopper and w/no expiration option purchased and we used 2 days on last trip (November). I thought we would be able to use this to apply toward an AP when we go in May. When trying to figure out what tickets we needed, I was pretty sure I had read that with the no expire option, it could be used to upgrade beyond this 14 day from first use condition. Am usually pretty good at doing my homework. Did this change?

 

[northie]

That's a good question, and whether you will ever get the definitve answer is also a good question. I called four times, talked to four CM, and got a different answer every time. I gave up calling and just hoped I'd be able to upgrade it when I got there. Then I got a different answer again when I went to upgrade it at the park---but it did get upgraded and I am the proud and happy owner of my first AP which I get to use 25 days this year...which thrills me to pieces and I will enjoy it immensely, but I doubt it will ever happen again, because DH gets a pained look on his face whenever I mention going to Disney World. He is of the school that he's done it all and seen it all, and I can rattle off a ton of things we haven't done or seen but he still is only going to appease me.

Sara

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Upgrading any MYW ticket to any type of AP can only be done at a park (including water park and TTC) ticket window or Guest Relations Office.

The following are quotes from the section "Upgrades: Magic Your Way Tickets to Annual Passes" from the Cast Portal (updated 8/9/06). (Note - the first paragraph below is a paraphrase combining parts of two paragraphs and leaving the technical instructions out, the other two paragraphs are quotes.)

Because MYW tickets are configured to expire based on FIRST USAGE and Annual Passes are configured to expire based on DATE OF ISSUE, Cast Members must manually enter the expiration date to be one year from the original ticket's FIRST USAGE. (This paragraph is a paraphrase of the internal published rules)

Guests are able to upgrade or modify their MYW tickets any time within 14 days of first use, regardless of whether the No Expiration Option is purchased. After 14 days no ticket modifications or upgrades may take place. (This paragraph is an exact quote (cut and paste) from the current Cast Portal Ticket Procedures)

When upgrading to Annual product, if the Guest's original ticket included Water Park Fun & More Option, and any part of that option was used, then the Guest may only upgrade to the Premium Annual Pass. (This paragraph is an exact quote (cut and paste) from the current Cast Portal Ticket Procedures)

Of course you cannot use more than one pass to upgrade to an Annual, it must be a one to one relationship only.

There is an exception to the 14 day rule. That is if you have bought a Florida Play Three pass which is good for six months from daytre of first use, but the expiration date ties to date of first use of the P3P.

What part of what I said is not clear?

 

[hightown]

Cheshire Figment, if your question is to me...I didn't mean to imply that anything you said was unclear and did not mean to imply that I didn't believe you! Sorry if you got that impression.

MY understanding was apparently wrong. Bad me. I simply asked if this was a change --that if you had a non-expriy, the upgrade still had to be done within 14 days of first use.

 

[MomtoGKC]

Now I'm confused. It sounds like if you try hard enough you can upgrade after 14 days? Also - I was going to get the FL play 3 days pass so maybe I'll have the 6 months - that would be perfect! I'll have to call tomorrow to ask about that.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The real problem is when you call you will almost never get connected to a person who does something with tickets. If you call the WDW Main Switchboard the operators will attempt to answer your question by looking up the answer in their computer. If you call WDTC/CRO all they do is sell packages or rooms.

Those of us who actually work in the park ticket booths and/or Guest Relations deal with all the weird questions all of the time.

(As a side note, at the Theme Parks the Guest Realtions, Ticket Sales {called Vacation Planers} and Turnstile Greeters are actually three different teams. At the Water Parks {which is where I work} the three jobs are one team; due to my low seniority I tend to be a greeter about 70% of the time.)