Need advice on AP upgrading

[Willlyb]

Have a 10-night (10-day park ticket) room-only discount at GF coming up beginning on May 31. Immediately on the back-end of that trip, I have a 3-night room-only discount at Beach Club (with no park tickets booked currently). In the 10-night "package", we have the Disney Dining Plan and have our ADRs all set/reserved. We also have our FP+ all set/reserved for the 10-night stay.

We plan on going back to WDW a few times over the next 12 months, so I know an AP makes sense.

Quick questions:
1. When I upgrade to an AP (whether by phone or in person on May 31), will all of my ADRs and FP+ remain in place? Slightly worried that, when they "swap" my existing 10-day ticket with an AP, everything I had planned will instantaneously disappear.
2. Can I change the packages I reserved under (20% off room-only reservation) for a more advantageous AP (25-30% off) offer? Can I do this by phone before I even show up?
3. If I'm on a room-only reservation, I think that means I'm paying full-value for the Disney Dining Plan, so that would still be the same price for an AP, correct?
4. I'm thinking it's best to upgrade over the phone so that I can get FP+ picked for that 2nd stay beginning June 10th, right? Since I don't have any park tickets on that offer right now, I'm not able to do anything (and theoretically will not until I officially upgrade).
5. If the recommendation is to upgrade at Guest Relations instead of over the phone, is there any incentive to doing it on May 31st as opposed to say June 9th? In other words, Disney uses face value of ticket rather than remaining value of ticket, I believe.

 

[Robo]

Have a 10-night (10-day park ticket) room-only discount at GF coming up beginning on May 31. Immediately on the back-end of that trip, I have a 3-night room-only discount at Beach Club (with no park tickets booked currently). In the 10-night "package", we have the Disney Dining Plan and have our ADRs all set/reserved. We also have our FP+ all set/reserved for the 10-night stay.

We plan on going back to WDW a few times over the next 12 months, so I know an AP makes sense.

Quick questions:
1a. When I upgrade to an AP (whether by phone or in person on May 31), will all of my ADRs and FP+ remain in place?
1b. Slightly worried that, when they "swap" my existing 10-day ticket with an AP, everything I had planned will instantaneously disappear.
2a. Can I change the packages I reserved under (20% off room-only reservation)
2b. for a more advantageous AP (25-30% off) offer?
2c. Can I do this by phone before I even show up?
3. If I'm on a room-only reservation, I think that means I'm paying full-value for the Disney Dining Plan, so that would still be the same price for an AP, correct?
4. I'm thinking it's best to upgrade over the phone so that I can get FP+ picked for that 2nd stay beginning June 10th, right? Since I don't have any park tickets on that offer right now, I'm not able to do anything (and theoretically will not until I officially upgrade).
5. If the recommendation is to upgrade at Guest Relations instead of over the phone, is there any incentive to doing it on May 31st as opposed to say June 9th? In other words, Disney uses face value of ticket rather than remaining value of ticket, I believe.

1a. Yes.
1b. They will remain.
2a. Sorry, but I don't know what kind "room-only DISCOUNT" you have.
2b. Regardless, there is no guarantee that there will be any AP discounted rooms available for your dates. (May or may not be.)
2c. You can do the re-booking over the phone, if you like...
HOWEVER, if there a discount, you would first want to book that room (new reservation) and THEN, cancel your first reservation.
3. Dining plans are not in my field of experience.
4. That is a complex situation with APs. The AP will likely not let you book advance FP+ for your SECOND trip until near the end of your FIRST trip.
5. There is zero advantage in the cost of UPGRADING if you use (or don't use) a ticket at a park before the upgrade.
NOTES:
You may not be able to change your tickets to APs until you arrive at WDW.
You do not need to OWN an AP or AP voucher in advance of your trip in order to RESERVE an AP discounted room.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

Have a 10-night (10-day park ticket) room-only discount at GF coming up beginning on May 31. Immediately on the back-end of that trip, I have a 3-night room-only discount at Beach Club (with no park tickets booked currently). In the 10-night "package", we have the Disney Dining Plan and have our ADRs all set/reserved. We also have our FP+ all set/reserved for the 10-night stay.

We plan on going back to WDW a few times over the next 12 months, so I know an AP makes sense.

Quick questions:
1. When I upgrade to an AP (whether by phone or in person on May 31), will all of my ADRs and FP+ remain in place? Slightly worried that, when they "swap" my existing 10-day ticket with an AP, everything I had planned will instantaneously disappear.
2. Can I change the packages I reserved under (20% off room-only reservation) for a more advantageous AP (25-30% off) offer? Can I do this by phone before I even show up?
3. If I'm on a room-only reservation, I think that means I'm paying full-value for the Disney Dining Plan, so that would still be the same price for an AP, correct?
4. I'm thinking it's best to upgrade over the phone so that I can get FP+ picked for that 2nd stay beginning June 10th, right? Since I don't have any park tickets on that offer right now, I'm not able to do anything (and theoretically will not until I officially upgrade).
5. If the recommendation is to upgrade at Guest Relations instead of over the phone, is there any incentive to doing it on May 31st as opposed to say June 9th? In other words, Disney uses face value of ticket rather than remaining value of ticket, I believe.

When you upgrade to the AP, all FP+ and ADR's will remain as they are.

You could try getting an AP rate for your second reservation if there is availability at your resort. As long as you have an AP when you check in to your second stay (or shortly thereafter), you can use an AP discount. You won't be able to use an AP discount on a package that has tickets included. You can only book a room or room plus dining with an AP discount. You could try to get an AP discount for your GF stay, but you would have to cancel your existing package which probably is not advantageous at this point.

Yes, you are paying in full for the DDP on a general public room-only discount reservation and on an AP discount reservation.

You won't be able to upgrade to an AP until you arrive. You can't have an AP as part of a package reservation. I would just upgrade to the AP whenever it's convenient for you during your first stay (perhaps early on, so you can make FP+ sooner for your second stay). Regardless of when you upgrade, the starting date of your AP will be the date you first entered the park on the 10-day ticket.