How to save money on an annual pass?

[3littlecuties]

We are planning on getting Annual Passes beginning with our next trip in December. We are not FL residents and would get the Platinum Pass (the one that does not include water parks).

I read an article that said that you can buy a discounted multi-day ticket from a 3rd party (like Undercover Tourist) and then upgrade it at the park for an annual pass and that Disney will give you the full value for the multi-day ticket...therefore saving you money over just purchasing the annual pass outright. Is this legit? Has anyone done it?

Any other ways to save on annual passes?

 

[CAS239]

You can buy discounted tickets and then upgrade them to AP's and you get the full Disney amount for the tickets you're upgrading. But as far as I know it's only a few dollars. I don't think you can really find heavily discounted tickets to then upgrade

 

[Robo]

We are planning on getting Annual Passes beginning with our next trip in December. We are not FL residents and would get the Platinum Pass (the one that does not include water parks).

1. I read an article that said that you can buy a discounted multi-day ticket from a 3rd party (like Undercover Tourist) and then upgrade it at the park for an annual pass and that Disney will give you the full value for the multi-day ticket...therefore saving you money over just purchasing the annual pass outright.
2. Is this legit?
3. Has anyone done it?

1. Correct.
2. Yes.
3. Dozens (hundreds) of guests have done so.
It has been done (and discussed) over the entire 15 years I've been on these boards.

 

[Robo]

You can buy discounted tickets and then upgrade them to AP's and you get the full Disney amount for the tickets you're upgrading.
1. But as far as I know it's only a few dollars.
2. I don't think you can really find heavily discounted tickets to then upgrade

1. & 2. It can be pretty substantial if you can find a major deal like "Buy 4 days, Get 7 days" kind of thing.
(That would save about $40-$50, per ticket.)

 

[3littlecuties]

You can buy discounted tickets and then upgrade them to AP's and you get the full Disney amount for the tickets you're upgrading. But as far as I know it's only a few dollars. I don't think you can really find heavily discounted tickets to then upgrade

We would need 3 adult tickets and 2 child tickets. Undercover Tourist says that I can get a "6 day park hopper with extra day" for a savings of $333 vs gate price. I haven't yet verified those prices but that's a significant savings!

 

[3littlecuties]

1. Correct.
2. Yes.
3. Dozens (hundreds) of guests have done so.
It has been done (and discussed) over the entire 15 years I've been on these boards.

Sorry...guess I should have searched!

 

[Robo]

Sorry...guess I should have searched!

It wasn't a criticism.
I was just pointing out that it is not a rare or unique situation.
It has been a "standard technique" for saving money on APs for many years.

 

[CAS239]

We would need 3 adult tickets and 2 child tickets. Undercover Tourist says that I can get a "6 day park hopper with extra day" for a savings of $333 vs gate price. I haven't yet verified those prices but that's a significant savings!

Just make sure the price you're looking at includes any fees/taxes/shipping. I've seen a few people on here mention seeing tickets on a few sites for some great savings, but then by the time their ready to check out they see all the extra fees added in.

But $333 is a good chunk saved. I forgot about the packaged ticket deals from sites and was only thinking about single days and saving money on those

 

[3littlecuties]

It wasn't a criticism.
I was just pointing out that it is not a rare or unique situation.
It has been a "standard technique" for a saving money on APs for many years.

Thank you!

 

[AngiTN]

We would need 3 adult tickets and 2 child tickets. Undercover Tourist says that I can get a "6 day park hopper with extra day" for a savings of $333 vs gate price. I haven't yet verified those prices but that's a significant savings!

Are you sure you've read that right? I can't think of any deal UT has that saves $333 off gate price. Or are you totaling your 5 tickets to get that savings?

 

[3littlecuties]

Just make sure the price you're looking at includes any fees/taxes/shipping. I've seen a few people on here mention seeing tickets on a few sites for some great savings, but then by the time their ready to check out they see all the extra fees added in.

But $333 is a good chunk saved. I forgot about the packaged ticket deals from sites and was only thinking about single days and saving money on those

I'll definitely verify all the prices first!

 

[3littlecuties]

Are you sure you've read that right? I can't think of any deal UT has that saves $333 off gate price. Or are you totaling your 5 tickets to get that savings?

Yes. That's the total for 5 tickets.

 

[AngiTN]

Yes. That's the total for 5 tickets.

Ah, ok. That seems likely total.

 

[Robo]

Ah, ok. That seems likely total.

This is an example of why I am always trying to discuss ticket situations using only ONE ticket
at a time.

It gets so confusing when the total values of multiple tickets come into the mix.
My eyes start to melt.

 

[MimiOfTwo]

We would need 3 adult tickets and 2 child tickets. Undercover Tourist says that I can get a "6 day park hopper with extra day" for a savings of $333 vs gate price. I haven't yet verified those prices but that's a significant savings!

Parksavers has 7 day hoppers for the price of 5 day.

 

[cigar95]

Another option - one that I've migrated to - is to purchase discounted Disney gift cards from warehouse clubs, like BJs. You can save a flat 5%, with no membership required. (Or 4% at Sam's Club.) Then just buy the Annual Pass, without worrying about if you're going to get a CM who doesn't understand the upgrade process and wants to charge you amount that would actually cost more than just having bought the AP in the first place.

 

[scrapquitler]

We would need 3 adult tickets and 2 child tickets. Undercover Tourist says that I can get a "6 day park hopper with extra day" for a savings of $333 vs gate price. I haven't yet verified those prices but that's a significant savings!

AP Prices are the same for children and adults.

 

[3littlecuties]

AP Prices are the same for children and adults.

Yes...I know that. But I was comparing the multi day ticket that I would initially be purchasing.

 

[DisneyDeb83]

Another option - one that I've migrated to - is to purchase discounted Disney gift cards from warehouse clubs, like BJs. You can save a flat 5%, with no membership required. (Or 4% at Sam's Club.) Then just buy the Annual Pass, without worrying about if you're going to get a CM who doesn't understand the upgrade process and wants to charge you amount that would actually cost more than just having bought the AP in the first place.

Thanks for the suggestion. I had already bought 2 $100 cards from BJ's for a little extra spending money. We have free dining in September and are upgrading our 5 day hopper at that time. I never even thought to buy more cards to use towards the upgrade. Should save us about $35!

 

[cigar95]

Thanks for the suggestion. I had already bought 2 $100 cards from BJ's for a little extra spending money. We have free dining in September and are upgrading our 5 day hopper at that time. I never even thought to buy more cards to use towards the upgrade. Should save us about $35!

If you haven't already bought the other tickets, I would skip the upgrade process entirely and use the gift cards to just buy the entire annual pass.