Is it worth it to just upgrade with the GAD ticket?

[Lisha1979]

When I volunteered to do the GAD program I was thinking about just getting the FP's but now that I'm thinking about it I'm wondering if that's such a good idea?
We are a family of 3 and could only volunteer for 2 members (our dd is too young to get a ticket even though she participated.)

Would it be better to drop our park tickets from our package and upgrade at the gates with our GAD tickets (no dining plan so I think we can do this) or would it be better to just use the GAD vouchers for FP's? We're first time visitors with a 4 year old dd. We are also all about saving money if we can. We'll be going to disney Mid May (15th-20th) are FP's really needed then?

I just looked online and it looks like for our fam of 3 the 6 day tickets total $702,91. If I upgrade our GAD tickets we'll actually be saving $144.84, then our park tickets will only cost about $559 at the park. (Is that correct? $72.42 x 2)

Thanks so much for the help!!! =)

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Your math is off slightly.

Two adult six day base tickets are $231 each plus once child six day base is $198 plus the 6.5% tax comes to the $702.91 which you stated.

However, the value of the two one day tickets are $79 plus tax each for a total of $168.28. So that is your actual savings. So you would be paying $534.63 at the park.

You would buy the six-day Child ticket at the same time you pick up your GAD tickets. Then after you enter the park go to Guest Relations and upgrade the two GAD adult tickets to six day.

 

[GoofItUp]

Just a question to help out the OP that those of you in the know could answer....for an additional savings, couldn't she buy the childs ticket from Undercover Tourist or another discount broker ahead of time (sign up for the Mousesavers e-mails and use the link provided) and just upgrade the adults GAD tickets at the park? I'm not sure what the discount is on a childs ticket so don't know if it would be worth it or not.

 

[Lisha1979]

Thanks Goofitup! I'll look into that! =)

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Your situation sounds a lot like ours. I wanted to ask to make sure I understood and also help others (if I understand correctly) because this can be confusing!

I just wanted to make sure you didn't have a "package" booked like for the gift card offer. We have this booked and therefore had to do 5 days of tickets (I think it's 5) in order to receive the gift card. I wanted to make sure you wouldn't be losing this if you decided to buy your tickets individually.

I'm really confused on the "savings" piece. I thought the difference in like a 5 day ticket and a 4 day ticket (basically one day) was only like $9. How will someone save the true value of $70 something? For example - if I buy a 5 day ticket it's $651.00 and a 4 day ticket is $642 so it's only $9.00 for a savings? See below from the WDW website, cut and pasted. I put 2 adults and one child. If I could truly save over $70 per person since all three of us are volunteering and will have a certifcate, the savings would be far worth it over the fast passes but I didn't think $9 was worth it?
4 Day Ticket $642.00

5 Day Ticket $651.00

Thanks and hope you understand this or I haven't confused you more!!

Heather

 

[momof2cutegirls]

Your situation sounds a lot like ours. I wanted to ask to make sure I understood and also help others (if I understand correctly) because this can be confusing!

I just wanted to make sure you didn't have a "package" booked like for the gift card offer. We have this booked and therefore had to do 5 days of tickets (I think it's 5) in order to receive the gift card. I wanted to make sure you wouldn't be losing this if you decided to buy your tickets individually.

I'm really confused on the "savings" piece. I thought the difference in like a 5 day ticket and a 4 day ticket (basically one day) was only like $9. How will someone save the true value of $70 something? For example - if I buy a 5 day ticket it's $651.00 and a 4 day ticket is $642 so it's only $9.00 for a savings? See below from the WDW website, cut and pasted. I put 2 adults and one child. If I could truly save over $70 per person since all three of us are volunteering and will have a certifcate, the savings would be far worth it over the fast passes but I didn't think $9 was worth it?
4 Day Ticket $642.00

5 Day Ticket $651.00

Thanks and hope you understand this or I haven't confused you more!!

Heather

I've done a lot of asking about this as well, and Chesire Figment has answered lots of my questions. You are right in saying the more days you purchase, the cheaper it is. But the value of the GAD voucher is equal to the price of a one day ticket. So that is the amount you would save after upgrading to a multi-day ticket.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

I've done a lot of asking about this as well, and Chesire Figment has answered lots of my questions. You are right in saying the more days you purchase, the cheaper it is. But the value of the GAD voucher is equal to the price of a one day ticket. So that is the amount you would save after upgrading to a multi-day ticket.

Thanks!!

To OP - not trying to hijack, I promise. I'm hoping by us asking these questions we'll help someone.

So, it sounds like due to us needing to buy the 5 day tickets (I think I actually did the 6 days tickets) for the gift card offer, I can't trade our vouchers to save a "day" and therfore save the $70 per person? I can't pay for the 6 days of tickets and hoppers in our package and then redeem the vouchers for $70 in some way once we get there, can we? It doesn't make sense for us to only pay for 5 days and then use the vouchers to upgrade to 6 days because again, the price difference is only about $9.

So - is there a way if you've bought your package with tickets to take advantage of the GAD vouchers for saving for the one day price of a ticket? If I could save $210 I would be all over it and would glady give up the fast pass option for it. If not, I'm very happy to do the volunteer work and have the fast pass option. I'm just trying to really understand this so I can explain it to others that ask me as well.

Thanks,
Heather

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Here it is fairly simply.

If you have a package the GAD cannot be applied to the package.

If you do not have a package then the GAD ticket can be upgraded from the full-value of a one-day, one-park tivcket.

A five day base ticket is $228. A six day base ticket is $231. A one day ticket is $79.

If you have no ticket and want six days, you can upgrade the GAD ticket from its one day value of $79 to its six day value of $231, paying the difference of $152.

If you already have a five day ticket it is only $3 to upgrqade to a six day ticket.

So if you have a package which includes tickets (and dining), then use the GAD voucher to either get the Fastpass Esxchange Cards or he sculpt with pins.

 

[Lisha1979]

I'm with you IBelieveInTheMagic! I'm confused and don't get why I can't get it.
Right now our ressie has the $300 giftcard in it. If we drop our tickets we have to go to the 25% off room rate discount.


Here's what I've typed out We're staying 5 days at POP with 6 day park tickets for 2 adults and a 4 year old. May 15-20th


Can someone please double check me? I'm not liking the answer LOL

To use the GAD tickets for Upgrade:
25% off hotel NO tickets.$425
Full price Tickets alone 702.91 (2 adults + 1 DD4)
Tickets upgraded with GAD voucher Total: $168.28
Tickets TOTAL upgraded with GAD at park (2 adults + 1 DD4): $534.63 (702.91-168.28)

Upgrading GAD at Will Call in WDW + hotel total - $959.63 (425+534.63)


Our current package with out using GAD as an upgrade option:Cost $1316 plus receive a $300 gift card. Which brings the total down to $1016.

So my total savings would be 56.37? (1016-959.63)

I think for all of the work and not much of a difference in the price difference, I might as well just use the tickets as fast pass options like I originally wanted to do.

 

[IBelieveInTheMagic]

Here it is fairly simply.

If you have a package the GAD cannot be applied to the package.

If you do not have a package then the GAD ticket can be upgraded from the full-value of a one-day, one-park tivcket.

A five day base ticket is $228. A six day base ticket is $231. A one day ticket is $79.

If you have no ticket and want six days, you can upgrade the GAD ticket from its one day value of $79 to its six day value of $231, paying the difference of $152.

If you already have a five day ticket it is only $3 to upgrqade to a six day ticket.

So if you have a package which includes tickets (and dining), then use the GAD voucher to either get the Fastpass Esxchange Cards or he sculpt with pins.

Thank you!!! Yes, the package is what people are forgetting and when "they" talk about it it confuses me again but now I'm clear. Our option will be the fast passes and we're fine with that. Thanks again for explaining it clearly and taking the time to do so!

I'm with you IBelieveInTheMagic! I'm confused and don't get why I can't get it.
Right now our ressie has the $300 giftcard in it. If we drop our tickets we have to go to the 25% off room rate discount.


Here's what I've typed out We're staying 5 days at POP with 6 day park tickets for 2 adults and a 4 year old. May 15-20th


Can someone please double check me? I'm not liking the answer LOL

To use the GAD tickets for Upgrade:
25% off hotel NO tickets.$425
Full price Tickets alone 702.91 (2 adults + 1 DD4)
Tickets upgraded with GAD voucher Total: $168.28
Tickets TOTAL upgraded with GAD at park (2 adults + 1 DD4): $534.63 (702.91-168.28)

Upgrading GAD at Will Call in WDW + hotel total - $959.63 (425+534.63)


Our current package with out using GAD as an upgrade option:Cost $1316 plus receive a $300 gift card. Which brings the total down to $1016.

So my total savings would be 56.37? (1016-959.63)

I think for all of the work and not much of a difference in the price difference, I might as well just use the tickets as fast pass options like I originally wanted to do.

I hear ya! Sounds almost idential to ours and I know $50 is $50, but I'm like you I'd likely just stick with the fast passes and not go through all the changes. Once I make the decision, it's almost best to not stress about and let it go. UNLESS something major would come out and change it but based on what we have, I'd just stay put! The fast passes are a nice treat and they will surely help out with timing at the parks and sometimes more time is worth something too, you know?

Good luck in your planning but the $300 gift card is awesome, isn't it?

Heather

 

[doconeill]

I think you DO get it...

You've obviously been able to crunch all the necessary numbers and can see what the difference for you would be - assuming you can't get better than 25% off the room.

The difference would be greater for a family which has more people with GAD vouchers. But as you can see, you can get the exact same thing for $56.37 less than what you are currently paying. That's another 5%.

You must be getting a better than 25% deal on the package.

 

[Lisha1979]

thanks so much for all of the help you guys!!! =)
I think the FP's will much more worth it than dealing with upgrading =)