I am an 0-6 WDW planning loser

[ILoveMyDVC]

Started with our choice to drive - gas prices are now climbing like crazy.

Then the school schedule morphed forcing us to buy airfare for the kids and got stuck with really bad SW fares.

And then I put off buying the TIW card for a few weeks only to have the price go up. Made my ADRs and then found out that seasonal pricing will be in effect- are they kidding? Jacking up the price to punish people for coming down in June and July instead of 'lowering' it in the off season...what a stupid PR move...

But hey, I did buy 3 annual pass vouchers online in advance but now I have a nifty 10% off coupon that I could have used to save 120 dollars.

And the final straw was the news that there is a code to save 15% off the photopass that I already pre-ordered.

Yup, I'm a big fat Disney planning loser.

 

[jco_direwolf]

Started with our choice to drive - gas prices are now climbing like crazy.

Then the school schedule morphed forcing us to buy airfare for the kids and got stuck with really bad SW fares.

And then I put off buying the TIW card for a few weeks only to have the price go up. Made my ADRs and then found out that seasonal pricing will be in effect- are they kidding? Jacking up the price to punish people for coming down in June and July instead of 'lowering' it in the off season...what a stupid PR move...

But hey, I did buy 3 annual pass vouchers online in advance but now I have a nifty 10% off coupon that I could have used to save 120 dollars.

And the final straw was the news that there is a code to save 15% off the photopass that I already pre-ordered.

Yup, I'm a big fat Disney planning loser.

So I've not tried this. But Disney has always been flexible about media pricing. You have unused AP Vouchers. I would walk up to GS and say I'd like to buy APs with this 10% off, and can I get credit for these vouchers.

Same as any other ticket media. I would assume the would let you do it. It's not your 10% off right, it's one you got from someone ... the only case where I would see they wouldn't let you do it is if you got the 10% off due to the voucher.

johno

 

[tksbaskets]

Started with our choice to drive - gas prices are now climbing like crazy.

Then the school schedule morphed forcing us to buy airfare for the kids and got stuck with really bad SW fares.

And then I put off buying the TIW card for a few weeks only to have the price go up. Made my ADRs and then found out that seasonal pricing will be in effect- are they kidding? Jacking up the price to punish people for coming down in June and July instead of 'lowering' it in the off season...what a stupid PR move...

But hey, I did buy 3 annual pass vouchers online in advance but now I have a nifty 10% off coupon that I could have used to save 120 dollars.

And the final straw was the news that there is a code to save 15% off the photopass that I already pre-ordered.

Yup, I'm a big fat Disney planning loser.

With a start like this I'll bet all will be well once you arrive at WDW and start enjoying a magical vacation with your family. My guys never seem to notice the angst we planners go through - just look at the smiles on their faces and all this will fade away!

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

So I've not tried this. But Disney has always been flexible about media pricing. You have unused AP Vouchers. I would walk up to GS and say I'd like to buy APs with this 10% off, and can I get credit for these vouchers.

Same as any other ticket media. I would assume the would let you do it. It's not your 10% off right, it's one you got from someone ... the only case where I would see they wouldn't let you do it is if you got the 10% off due to the voucher.

johno

I might just try this - it is from a fellow DISer to be used for the other 3 passes we need to purchase.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

With a start like this I'll bet all will be well once you arrive at WDW and start enjoying a magical vacation with your family. My guys never seem to notice the angst we planners go through - just look at the smiles on their faces and all this will fade away!

I know -my dh thinks I'm certifiably insane. We will have 3 newbies with us so I expect it to be extra magical.

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

I know -my dh thinks I'm certifiably insane. We will have 3 newbies with us so I expect it to be extra magical.

I've taken newbies before...magical is not the 1st word to come to mind.

 

[wulfekamp]

No newbies for me. I have nightmares about that. What a train wreck that was. Don't let the bad planning thing get you down. Over the years we have had a few bad things happen on our WDW trips. Just say to yourself about 20 times I am not going to let this screw up our vacation. Example One christmas we went to WDW and had ordered tickets for the party at Magic Kingdom. Just pick them up at guess services. Got there no tickets and sold out for our entire trip. Yes I was mad but im not going to let someone elses mistake ruin my trip. Drop the bad stuff and move on.

 

[gkrykewy]

So I've not tried this. But Disney has always been flexible about media pricing. You have unused AP Vouchers. I would walk up to GS and say I'd like to buy APs with this 10% off, and can I get credit for these vouchers.

Same as any other ticket media. I would assume the would let you do it. It's not your 10% off right, it's one you got from someone ... the only case where I would see they wouldn't let you do it is if you got the 10% off due to the voucher.

johno

I think this would definitely work -- good suggestion! OP, I suggest you also check southwest.com every day to see if your fares dropped. You can get a flight credit free and painlessly, and it's almost as good as cash - if you can't use them within a year of your original booking, you can transfer the code to someone else. Lots of people sell them on craigslist or ebay and get about 80-cents on the dollar.

In 2003 or so, I drove straight through, all the way back from WDW to Philadelphia overnight. Listening to oddball shows on NPR, hopping from station to station along I-95. I will never, ever, ever drive to/from Florida again

 

[Crystal_27]

Bless your heart!! Hopefully, this just means that your vacation is going to be even more magical!!

 

[DisneyFreaks]

I had to giggle at your post OP. Sorry. But we have had so many trips that started that same way that I could have written this thread. We try so hard to make everything perfect and something always seems to go wrong. Don't beat yourself up about it. Better days are coming. As a PP said ...seeing the smiles on the faces of your family enjoying themselves will make it all worth it. Have an awesome trip!

 

[hockeyprincess]

I second the checking SW every single day. My fares dropped and have fluctuated about 2x per week since my purchase. I called the second the fares dropped and have about $140 credit to use for our next flight. And oh, yes, there is ALWAYS a "next flight"!!

Also the AP discount card, definitely use that at the parks to get the discount. I have heard they are issuing refunds for the 10%....not totally sure of the details on this so don't take out of context, but have heard of it happening.

Either way, you're going to be at Disney, it can't be too bad!! Chin up, best of luck to you!

 

[gkrykewy]

I second the checking SW every single day. My fares dropped and have fluctuated about 2x per week since my purchase. I called the second the fares dropped and have about $140 credit to use for our next flight. And oh, yes, there is ALWAYS a "next flight"!!

Plus you can change/re-price just one leg of your flight if you want. For example, if your departure flight has dropped in price but your return flight has increased in price, you can change/re-book just the departure flight to benefit from the price change.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Yup, I'm a big fat Disney planning loser.

No offense but, Buck it up! What, this is no time to cry in your soup.

Even in this rotten economy with all that's going on with the world, H1N1 etc., your family is still going on vacation to the most magical place in the world!

The Glass is more than 1/2 full! Plan better next time. Now, take a deep breath and click your red shoes, Mickey's waitin for you!

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

So I've not tried this. But Disney has always been flexible about media pricing. You have unused AP Vouchers. I would walk up to GS and say I'd like to buy APs with this 10% off, and can I get credit for these vouchers.

Same as any other ticket media. I would assume the would let you do it. It's not your 10% off right, it's one you got from someone ... the only case where I would see they wouldn't let you do it is if you got the 10% off due to the voucher.

johno

I hate to rain on the parade, but I think there's one thing that will stand in the way of doing this. Let me make a few points leading up to the catch 22...

• Disney will not do refunds for tickets.
• I believe the only way you can get credit for the value of an existing ticket is as part of a ticket upgrade.
• Disney's FAQ for the 10% discount card says you can use it for upgrading an existing ticket to an AP. So you're covered there.
• Upgrades have to be done on a one-for-one basis. You can't use the value of two existing tickets to create one new ticket, and you can't apply the value of one ticket to create several new tickets.
• Here's the catch 22 for your situation -- a long standing Disney policy is that when upgrading any ticket, if the new ticket is worth less than the original ticket, Disney will not refund the difference.

If you're "upgrading" a full price AP voucher to a discounted AP, your new ticket would be worth less than the original, and they won't refund the difference. The net effect would be no 10% discount.

The only way I can see around this is to treat yourself to a Premium Annual Pass instead of the AP. The 10%-discounted PAP would still be more than the full-price AP voucher.

Unless you're able to store the vouchers away and use them on a future trip and buy a whole new set of discounted APs, I don't think you're going to get that $120 back. Sorry.

I suggest you pose this question to CheshireFigment over on the Theme Park board. He's a ticket window cast member, and can give you the best answer.

 

[iluveeyore]

No offense but, Buck it up! What, this is no time to cry in your soup.

Even in this rotten economy with all that's going on with the world, H1N1 etc., your family is still going on vacation to the most magical place in the world!

The Glass is more than 1/2 full! Plan better next time. Now, take a deep breath and click your red shoes, Mickey's waitin for you!

DITTO You're going to Disney, and things can only get better!!!! Have a great trip.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

I think this would definitely work -- good suggestion! OP, I suggest you also check southwest.com every day to see if your fares dropped. You can get a flight credit free and painlessly, and it's almost as good as cash - if you can't use them within a year of your original booking, you can transfer the code to someone else. Lots of people sell them on craigslist or ebay and get about 80-cents on the dollar.

In 2003 or so, I drove straight through, all the way back from WDW to Philadelphia overnight. Listening to oddball shows on NPR, hopping from station to station along I-95. I will never, ever, ever drive to/from Florida again

OMG, my dh LOVES NPR, I was going to pretend that I'd read it wasn't available on the East Coast anymore

I've been checking SW several times a day for weeks now - flights have only gone up, up, up

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

No offense but, Buck it up! What, this is no time to cry in your soup.

Even in this rotten economy with all that's going on with the world, H1N1 etc., your family is still going on vacation to the most magical place in the world!

The Glass is more than 1/2 full! Plan better next time. Now, take a deep breath and click your red shoes, Mickey's waitin for you!

Not to worry, I am over the top excited just mad that I *bet* wrong every step of the way and it's not like it's my first time out of the gate.

I absolutely get how lucky we are:

1. to be going
2. that our teenagers still want to come with us
3. to be able to share it all with friends (it's the best part of the DVC)

(We already had our flu scare - right at the begining with my daughter (after returning from NYC)).

 

[jco_direwolf]

Unless you're able to store the vouchers away and use them on a future trip and buy a whole new set of discounted APs, I don't think you're going to get that $120 back. Sorry.

I suggest you pose this question to CheshireFigment over on the Theme Park board. He's a ticket window cast member, and can give you the best answer.

Or get 3 APs plus say a 10-day non-expire, which you can then turn in next year to renew your AP. (Or what ever is about the right price.)

johno

 

[mom of princessx2]

Well, if this helps, there are people saying they cancelled their PhotoPass order and reordered using the code. I know it is only $15 however then you would be 1-5

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

Well, if this helps, there are people saying they cancelled their PhotoPass order and reordered using the code. I know it is only $15 however then you would be 1-5

Yes, the ballgame is over and the record is now 1-5 (you should be hearing fake applause, I do)

15 dollars = 1 round of ice cream