Need expert help with resort/ticket booking

[ravenclawtrekkie]

Wow, I always read here that you had to use the ticket at least one time to get the full face value. I'm curious about the current state of price bridging, any recent posts?

Fun story: When I went to my core training last summer to work in Vacation Planning (AKA ticket sales), I was super excited to learn about price bridging because I thought it was this mega complicated procedure based on what I'd read on these boards. Turns out it's not and my teachers thought I was nuts.

Here's how it works: I read the ticket in my computer system. If it's a 4 day park hopper bought directly from Disney, it says 4D PH. If it's a package ticket, it says 4D PH TC. If it's from Undercover Tourist (or similar resellers), it says 4D PH IA. Any sort of "Alphabet Soup" after the ticket type generally indicates a discounted or 'net rate' ticket. In order to price bridge those tickets, I run them through a specific computer function to bring them to gate price. The computer does the calculation, I just have to tell it to. If I do that step before using the 'Upgrade' function, the guest pays the correct price for their upgrade. If I fail to do that step, they pay too much. Usage doesn't come into the equation at all.

EDITED TO ADD: It is a little more complicated at resorts because they use a different computer system, but usage still doesn't matter. They just have to do a little more work to perform the procedure than I do because it involves writing off the price difference, whereas that's automated in my system.

 

[IrishNYC]

Fun story: When I went to my core training last summer to work in Vacation Planning (AKA ticket sales), I was super excited to learn about price bridging because I thought it was this mega complicated procedure based on what I'd read on these boards. Turns out it's not and my teachers thought I was nuts.

Over-complicating things is a specialty around here sometimes.

 

[dres40]

Fun story: When I went to my core training last summer to work in Vacation Planning (AKA ticket sales), I was super excited to learn about price bridging because I thought it was this mega complicated procedure based on what I'd read on these boards. Turns out it's not and my teachers thought I was nuts.

Here's how it works: I read the ticket in my computer system. If it's a 4 day park hopper bought directly from Disney, it says 4D PH. If it's a package ticket, it says 4D PH TC. If it's from Undercover Tourist (or similar resellers), it says 4D PH IA. Any sort of "Alphabet Soup" after the ticket type generally indicates a discounted or 'net rate' ticket. In order to price bridge those tickets, I run them through a specific computer function to bring them to gate price. The computer does the calculation, I just have to tell it to. If I do that step before using the 'Upgrade' function, the guest pays the correct price for their upgrade. If I fail to do that step, they pay too much. Usage doesn't come into the equation at all.

EDITED TO ADD: It is a little more complicated at resorts because they use a different computer system, but usage still doesn't matter. They just have to do a little more work to perform the procedure than I do because it involves writing off the price difference, whereas that's automated in my system.

Very interesting. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Mikie]

Thanks for all of the help, folks! Time to do some math on AP (and any possible discounts) vs the addon ticket idea.

Other items that may be relevant to your calculation: AP includes a photopass download entitlement (similar to Memory Maker) and would allow you to download all your ride photos and any shots from character meets and photographers throughout the parks. If you would have bought MM instead, that's a $149 savings. AP also includes free parking (possibly only for certain levels of AP, though? I can't remember all the new types and prices).

Just to make all your calculations "fun", you may consider only buying the AP for one family member to get the discounts and buying regular tickets for the others.

Do take note as Ravenclawtrekkie pointed out, that in your calculations you *may* be able to get those 4 extra days per ticket at only $40 each, or you *may not*. I suppose you could always ask, if you're told no, then you go ahead and upgrade to APs because at a price of 10 days plus a new 4 day, you're definitely going to come out ahead with APs.

Last option - if you get 10 day tickets with Water Park & More option, it's far less than the price of a 4 day ticket, you can spend 10 days in the main parks, plus a few days in the water parks, and maybe add in a resort/rest day to fill your whole 2 weeks.

 

[mbh106]

Also you can factor in that you will get a 10% discount on all QS food and all shopping and photopass.

I don't see the 10% discount on all QS food listed on the Disney website under AP benefits, only TS restaurants. Am I missing it somewhere?

 

[Mike&AllisMom]

I don't see the 10% discount on all QS food listed on the Disney website under AP benefits, only TS restaurants. Am I missing it somewhere?

I don't see it either and I didn't try mine at QS. Anyone else tried it and had it work?