New Ticket Upgrade Policy?

[POOHsie]

Forgive me if this has already been answered, but why do you have to use the ticket once before attempting to upgrade?

We are planning on upgrading our UT tickets to annual passes (fingers crossed). We are staying at the Polynesian so I guess I will try at the front desk and if that doesn't work walk over to TTC. I really hope this isn't a huge problem. My husband will be so annoyed and will question my "great idea".

Thanks

Your UT tickets have two issues associated with them. First, you bought your ticket from a third party reseller and you received a discount off the Disney gate price. Second, Disney had a ticket price increase on Feb 23, 2014. If you used your UT tickets for your stay and did nothing to upgrade them, none of the following would matter.

Don't do this upgrade at the resort. Your upgrade needs to be done after you have used your UT tickets at least once thru a WDW theme park turnstile. The actual upgrade can be done at either a park ticket booth or a guest services outlet, one of which is located inside and outside of each park gate.

Why do you have to use your UT tickets first before upgrade? If you got your ticket upgraded to AP before you entered the park, your ticket issues would come into focus. If you had a regular upgradable Disney ticket from a direct Disney source, and the bar code showed your ticket to be dated prior to the Feb 23rd price increase, you would owe that increase, in addition to your upgrade cost. In your case, the ticket would show that it was sold by a third party discounter. Disney doesn't know how much that discounter charged you for the ticket. They would only know the wholesale price they sold the ticket to the discounter. And that is what your ticket would be valued at (which is lower than what you paid).

There is a solution for this. If you used your ticket to enter a theme park at WDW, Disney would price-bridge the ticket to that day's current gate value. Then they would do the upgrade, calculating the value of your ticket at that day's price, and the upgraded ticket cost at that day's price.

If you don't get a chance to upgrade until after a few days of using your UT ticket at the parks, the AP you upgrade to will still be dated to the first day you used your UT ticket. In that way, you get credit for all the days on your UT ticket, used or not. However, you must upgrade before all the days on your UT tickets are used up.

Make sure to know what the current gate price is for your ticket and for the AP. If a CM wants to charge you more than your figures determine the amount to be, then they haven't price-bridged your tickets. Sometimes that happens. Take your ticket back and go to another CM.

 

[michelle06]

Yes.

As many times as you'd like, up to the maximum allowable assets of a ticket, and
within the first 14 days after a ticket is first used.

Just curious, but if you decide to upgrade twice, for example, add a day and then at the end of the trip add another day:
Would the second upgrade be as difficult as the first? Or would the ticket already be bridged at that point? In other words, would you run into as many different answers about price the second time around or would it be much smoother? Just curious.

 

[Robo]

Just curious,


1. but if you decide to upgrade twice, for example, add a day and then at the end of the trip add another day:
Would the second upgrade be as difficult as the first?

2. Or would the ticket already be bridged at that point?

3. In other words, would you run into as many different answers about price the second time around

4. or would it be much smoother?

1. I'm not going to just assume that the first upgrade is going to be difficult.
Many times a well-trained, experienced CM will do the correct upgrade procedure quickly and efficiently.

2. Yes. (But, that's because the ticket has been used to go into a theme park.
Not specifically because it has already beeen upgraded.)

3. Frankly, yes, if the CM doesn't know the correct procedure for (s)he's doing.

4. Ultimately, I'd say it's a toss-up.

 

[SKTiger]

Can an Orbitz ticket have days added while at Disney? Also, is it possible to upgrade this to an AP? Do you have to be there to do the upgrade or can it be done over the phone?

 

[rt2dz]

Can an Orbitz ticket have days added while at Disney? Also, is it possible to upgrade this to an AP? Do you have to be there to do the upgrade or can it be done over the phone?

As far as I know, Orbitz is treated like any other authorized reseller. So, yes, days should be able to be added or an AP upgrade should be available.

Can you do the upgrade over the phone? Most likely, but don't. One thing that we know hasn't changed, is if you haven't used the ticket, you'll only get credit for what Disney sold the ticket for. You would not only lose the discount you received, you would cover orbitz mark up. You'd lose money even without a price increase, or any discount. Why? Using the ticket will bring it up to gate value. What is in question is, is it gate value at time of purchase or current gate value? Then the question is current gate value at time of purchase by the guest (unlikely since Disney doesn't know the date you purchased it) or when the reseller purchased it (almost guaranteed)?

Then, of course, the pitfalls are that there is no way for the consumer to know the due the reseller purchased the ticket. And depending on that date, and what the guest wants to add on, the guest *could* still lose money as a worse case scenario. At best, the guest only keeps what the reseller discount was, but no further discounts.

I'm not even sure how to get into will call pick up tickets because date of sale is confusing to me there. Date a reseller purchased? Are they technically purchased that date? Date consumer purchased? Date picked up?

Probably more than you were asking, but might as well include as a complete as an answer as possible for possible lurkers.

 

[SKTiger]

I guess I should give a better description of what we might try to do...

We bought the buy three/get two from Orbitz and will be using 4 days at the beginning of April. With one day left, making the ticket still valid for a week and a half after we get home, could we upgrade by phone to an AP for a possible beginning of May trip with family?

We looked at doing the 10 day/no expiration, but it was more than an AP.

 

[Robo]

As far as I know, Orbitz is treated like any other authorized reseller. So, yes, days should be able to be added or an AP upgrade should be available.

Can you do the upgrade over the phone? Most likely, but don't. One thing that we know hasn't changed, is if you haven't used the ticket, you'll only get credit for what Disney sold the ticket for. You would not only lose the discount you received, you would cover orbitz mark up. You'd lose money even without a price increase, or any discount. Why? Using the ticket will bring it up to gate value. What is in question is, is it gate value at time of purchase or current gate value? Then the question is current gate value at time of purchase by the guest (unlikely since Disney doesn't know the date you purchased it) or when the reseller purchased it (almost guaranteed)?

Then, of course, the pitfalls are that there is no way for the consumer to know the due the reseller purchased the ticket. And depending on that date, and what the guest wants to add on, the guest *could* still lose money as a worse case scenario. At best, the guest only keeps what the reseller discount was, but no further discounts.

I'm not even sure how to get into will call pick up tickets because date of sale is confusing to me there. Date a reseller purchased? Are they technically purchased that date? Date consumer purchased? Date picked up?

Probably more than you were asking, but might as well include as a complete as an answer as possible for possible lurkers.

I just can't quite buy into the "gate price on the date the ticket was purchased" idea.

A. It would be nearly impossible to know that date (to which you alluded.)

B. We've not heard that info from any ticket CM's at WDW.
(We have heard from one who says that, after checking, there have been
no new "rules" issued.)

C. We've seen no firsthand reports of that happening at WDW ticket windows when guests have upgraded.

I always have to disclaim that ANYTHING is POSSIBLE, but so far,
we've not seen any real-life situations that illustrate any upgrade changes.

 

[POOHsie]

I guess I should give a better description of what we might try to do...

We bought the buy three/get two from Orbitz and will be using 4 days at the beginning of April. With one day left, making the ticket still valid for a week and a half after we get home, could we upgrade by phone to an AP for a possible beginning of May trip with family?

We looked at doing the 10 day/no expiration, but it was more than an AP.

MYW tickets are good for 14 days after first use, and can only be upgraded during that time period. You can't upgrade your partially used ticket over the phone, even during the 14-day period. It must be done in person at WDW. Is there a reason you can't upgrade to AP during your April trip? In case you didn't know, when you use a ticket as a credit towards upgrade to AP, the AP will be dated to the first day of use of that original ticket. So calling a week or so later won't give you a later date on your AP.

 

[rt2dz]

I just can't quite buy into the "gate price on the date the ticket was purchased" idea.

A. It would be nearly impossible to know that date (to which you alluded.)

B. We've not heard that info from any ticket CM's at WDW.
(We have heard from one who says that, after checking, there have been
no new "rules" issued.)

C. We've seen no firsthand reports of that happening at WDW ticket windows when guests have upgraded.

I always have to disclaim that ANYTHING is POSSIBLE, but so far,
we've not seen any real-life situations that illustrate any upgrade changes.

I don't disagree with most of what you just said, BUT...

UT is still saying here that is gate price at time of purchase. UT said "current gate price" in an email to customers, which they have never corrected, and if it is "at time of purchase" I think it is deceptive and sleazy of them to not correct it. MouseSavers and Len Testa are also saying "at time of purchase", but MouseSavers has an affiliate relationship so it can be assumed UT is their source and Len has said outright UT is their source. I'm just not sure what is going on. At one time I would have trusted All Ears, but what they originally had on their website (not what is there now), was just a plain, 100% false rumor. And, they knew it was a rumor/not 100% sourced. Fact check people! With credible sources (which doesn't include Wikipedia or [many] CMs).

All in all, until fully confirmed one way or another (meaning retractions from UT/MouseSavers/Len Testa), I'm going both ways. I feel it is uncertain either way.

What I do disagree with: date of which ticket was sold, is very well known. The only date I said Disney can know is the date Disney sold the ticket for. I've upgraded often. The CM has almost always known that date. Sometimes, the CM screws up on the AP and forgets to change that date and puts that date as the expiration date. Fun to get home and find out the tickets you purchased in October, that you used for the first time at the end of November are expiring in April, a month before your next trip.

 

[SKTiger]

Is there a reason you can't upgrade to AP during your April trip? In case you didn't know, when you use a ticket as a credit towards upgrade to AP, the AP will be dated to the first day of use of that original ticket. So calling a week or so later won't give you a later date on your AP.

We won't know for sure if we'll be going back until we get home from the first trip. I may suck it up, bite the bullet and pull the trigger while we're there, then I'll be forced to plan another trip!

 

[vicki_c]

I will continue to rely on first hand reports. The most recent posts sound like nothing has changed at all.

The longer this goes on, the more it sounds like there isn't a change, just the usual reports of confused CMs not appropriately upgrading the tickets and giving bad info.

I've chosen to stop worrying about it unless more fact-based info comes to light.

 

[Robo]

What I do disagree with: date of which ticket was sold, is very well known. The only date I said Disney can know is the date Disney sold the ticket for.

Disney has no way of knowing the date that a 3rd party retailer (authorized ticket reseller) sells the ticket to a GUEST.

That's the date to which I'm referring.

Disney can see the date that the ticket was wholesaled to the reseller, but
not the date that the guest bought that ticket.

So, the point of this sliver of detail is that the GUEST doesn't know what
charge to expect at the upgrade IF what we have been told by UT is to be trusted.

And, so, I don't trust it... until I've seen reports from guests and CM's who
are actually making these unwieldy transactions.

 

[POOHsie]

Disney has no way of knowing the date that a 3rd party retailer (authorized ticket reseller) sells the ticket to a GUEST.

That's the date to which I'm referring.

Disney can see the date that the ticket was wholesaled to the reseller, but
not the date that the guest bought that ticket.

So, the point of this sliver of detail is that the GUEST doesn't know what
charge to expect at the upgrade IF what we have been told by UT is to be trusted.

And, so, I don't trust it... until I've seen reports from guests and CM's who
are actually making these unwieldy transactions.

RIGHT ON!

 

[paxsarah]

I will continue to rely on first hand reports. The most recent posts sound like nothing has changed at all.

The longer this goes on, the more it sounds like there isn't a change, just the usual reports of confused CMs not appropriately upgrading the tickets and giving bad info.

I've chosen to stop worrying about it unless more fact-based info comes to light.

I agree. As soon as I heard of this purported change in policy, I searched for info here and found this thread. While I couldn't bear to make it through all 49 pages, I did scan through the last 10, and if my highly-scientific counting on my fingers can be trusted, in those 10 pages (the last week or so) I found three first-hand accounts of users who were able to upgrade under the previously existing bridging/price process (though it did take jimandami three tries to find someone to do it - but that kind of thing happened before, as well), plus a cast member who states that no new processes/rules have been issued. We've got a trip coming up in May and we plan to upgrade some existing tickets, so I'll be watching the situation - but if first-hand accounts continue to come in of upgrade/bridging business as usual, I'm going to believe that over someone else's unnamed source.

 

[zuzu310]

So I emailed Disney also because I have UT tickets I wish to add a day to in May and I wanted to have a response in writing (for what it's worth anyways). Here is what it said:

"Thank you for contacting Walt Disney World Ticketing.

Yes you can upgrade Undercover Tourist tickets still.

All multi day ticket upgrades must be done in person at Walt Disney
World Theme Parks within 14 days of first usage. Any one day Walt Disney
Theme Park ticket must be upgraded on the date of usage.

An upgrade applies the current value of the ticket towards the purchase
of a new ticket of equal or greater value. Remember, tickets are
non-transferable and must be used by the same person for all days the
ticket is valid.

Return to the Walt Disney World Resort during the upgrade window and
visit any Guest Relations location at our Theme Parks or Downtown
Disney. Our Cast Members will be happy to assist you with determining
the best upgrade option for your needs.

We hope this information is helpful and we look forward to future
opportunities to entertain you."

Sincerely,

Julie
Ticketing Guest Services
Walt Disney World Resort

 

[Robo]

So I emailed Disney also because I have UT tickets I wish to add a day to in May and I wanted to have a response in writing (for what it's worth anyways). Here is what it said:

"Thank you for contacting Walt Disney World Ticketing.

Yes you can upgrade Undercover Tourist tickets still.

All multi day ticket upgrades must be done in person at Walt Disney
World Theme Parks within 14 days of first usage. Any one day Walt Disney
Theme Park ticket must be upgraded on the date of usage.

An upgrade applies the current value of the ticket towards the purchase
of a new ticket of equal or greater value.

Remember, tickets are
non-transferable and must be used by the same person for all days the
ticket is valid.

Return to the Walt Disney World Resort during the upgrade window and
visit any Guest Relations location at our Theme Parks or Downtown
Disney. Our Cast Members will be happy to assist you with determining
the best upgrade option for your needs.

We hope this information is helpful and we look forward to future
opportunities to entertain you."

Sincerely,

Julie
Ticketing Guest Services
Walt Disney World Resort

I'm liking what I see here.

And, we have a NAMED Disney source (only a first name, but that's the Disney way)
from the department that counts in ticket matters.

Thanks for posting the response, zuzu!

 

[kenly777]

So I emailed Disney also because I have UT tickets I wish to add a day to in May and I wanted to have a response in writing (for what it's worth anyways). Here is what it said: "Thank you for contacting Walt Disney World Ticketing. Yes you can upgrade Undercover Tourist tickets still. All multi day ticket upgrades must be done in person at Walt Disney World Theme Parks within 14 days of first usage. Any one day Walt Disney Theme Park ticket must be upgraded on the date of usage. An upgrade applies the current value of the ticket towards the purchase of a new ticket of equal or greater value. Remember, tickets are non-transferable and must be used by the same person for all days the ticket is valid. Return to the Walt Disney World Resort during the upgrade window and visit any Guest Relations location at our Theme Parks or Downtown Disney. Our Cast Members will be happy to assist you with determining the best upgrade option for your needs. We hope this information is helpful and we look forward to future opportunities to entertain you." Sincerely, Julie Ticketing Guest Services Walt Disney World Resort

Thanks for posting! Definitely like that phrase applying the CURRENT value of the ticket towards the new ticket

 

[DavidNYC]

Disney has no way of knowing the date that a 3rd party retailer (authorized ticket reseller) sells the ticket to a GUEST. That's the date to which I'm referring. Disney can see the date that the ticket was wholesaled to the reseller, but not the date that the guest bought that ticket. So, the point of this sliver of detail is that the GUEST doesn't know what charge to expect at the upgrade IF what we have been told by UT is to be trusted. And, so, I don't trust it... until I've seen reports from guests and CM's who are actually making these unwieldy transactions.

The date sold to a guest is irrelevant. It's when it was sold to the reseller. This policy makes a lot of sense if you want to make sure only authorized reputable resellers stay in business. Sellers like UT price their tickets based on when they bought them. So if you bought a ticket right after a price increase, you can still get a ticket based on the old price while they have stock left. Customer does not get hurt at all. Only way customer loses is if a sleezy reseller raises their prices but gives you an older ticket. If you don't know the charge to expect, that means you bought your ticket from someone you don't trust. When I buy from UT, I believe if I get a pre-increase ticket, I paid a pre-increase price. That's why there are only 1-2 resellers I would even consider doing business with.

[edit - I also don't think there has been a change in policy - just uninformed cast members. Current policy is the most logical. But basing it on gate price at time of purchase does work and makes sense - I just see no good reason. Amount they gain from it isn't enough for the hassle. If they upgrade child to adult without penalty, why not just keep the value of a ticket the value of a ticket. Simple ... Or at least should be]

 

[TLSnell1981]

So I emailed Disney also because I have UT tickets I wish to add a day to in May and I wanted to have a response in writing (for what it's worth anyways). Here is what it said:

"Thank you for contacting Walt Disney World Ticketing.

Yes you can upgrade Undercover Tourist tickets still.

All multi day ticket upgrades must be done in person at Walt Disney
World Theme Parks within 14 days of first usage. Any one day Walt Disney
Theme Park ticket must be upgraded on the date of usage.

An upgrade applies the current value of the ticket towards the purchase
of a new ticket of equal or greater value. Remember, tickets are
non-transferable and must be used by the same person for all days the
ticket is valid.

Return to the Walt Disney World Resort during the upgrade window and
visit any Guest Relations location at our Theme Parks or Downtown
Disney. Our Cast Members will be happy to assist you with determining
the best upgrade option for your needs.

We hope this information is helpful and we look forward to future
opportunities to entertain you."

Sincerely,

Julie
Ticketing Guest Services
Walt Disney World Resort

I feel better, so much better.. thank you Julie!

 

[tarak]

So is there a consensus on where one should go for an upgrade? I seem to recall people recommending GR at DTD. I realize that it might still be a case of blind or bad luck with respect to the CM knowing the correct procedure. But is there one location over another where CMs seem to know the policy better than others? It seems as though the ticket booths outside the parks are also a better bet than GR inside the parks.