New Ticket Upgrade Policy?

[Robo]

So is there a consensus on where one should go for an upgrade?

Nope.
Each location will have CM's who rotate in and out for days off, lunch and coffee breaks,
new arrivals, reassignments, retirements, promotions, etc.

Luck-of-the-draw is the situation for guests.

 

[lucyem]

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.

My experience was bad at guest services inside the MK. 30+ minutes with tired bored child in tow, cannot do it, back and forth with unseen manager out back via the cm, I stood my ground, eventually told "just this one time", cm was totally clueless and I actually got money back which should not have happened but he said it was the only way he knew how to do it.

The next day I had two more for late arriving family members and I went to the ticket booth outside MK. I got someone in training. Their trainer walked them through price bridging no questions asked. It was done in just a couple of minutes.

I tend to avoid price bridging for the above situation. I was made very much to feel like I was trying to take advantage and it is a common occurrence as seen by many on here. If I were to try again I would certainly go to the ticket booth outside MK again. They see the most tickets and one would hope have the best understanding of ticket policy.

I have never understood why they do not publish actual ticket policies for all to see. It would save everyone, CM's included, a lot of time and frustration.

 

[dsneprincess]

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.

I have done it 4 times successful, always at AK ticket booths. Maybe I've been lucky or it is a slower time, but I have always down mid-afternoon outside AK, without a blip of a problem.

 

[rt2dz]

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.

Yes, I get that, but that is not what I said, so your saying it isn't known (the date you claimed I alluded to) didn't make sense. That was my point. Remember, it was others that said date guest bought. I mentioned that in my post, but also said it was impossible.

I also said the exact same thing in that "sliver of detail". The only thin we are disagreeing on, is that you said I said the opposite when I did not.

I don't trust it either. I've been told many, many times over the years that price bridging doesn't exist (I also stated that earlier in this thread). And, I too, am reading reports of no problems also. But I'm also reading reports (I go beyond DisBoards) of more and more problems doing upgrades. Then take into account the sources that are reporting this. Although MY respect and trust in those sources regarding this are going downhill, especially All Ears. And I doubt UT has their crap together either (they tend to be the root source for Len Testa and MouseSavers).

All I am saying is right now there is an unknown, for me. Time will tell. I'm thinking it's going to be a no-change, but I'm not 100% sure given all the facts/rumors.

 

[Robo]

Yes, I get that, but that is not what I said, so your saying it isn't known (the date you claimed I alluded to) didn't make sense. That was my point. Remember, it was others that said date guest bought. I mentioned that in my post, but also said it was impossible.

I also said the exact same thing in that "sliver of detail". The only thin we are disagreeing on, is that you said I said the opposite when I did not.

I don't trust it either. I've been told many, many times over the years that price bridging doesn't exist (I also stated that earlier in this thread). And, I too, am reading reports of no problems also. But I'm also reading reports (I go beyond DisBoards) of more and more problems doing upgrades. Then take into account the sources that are reporting this. Although MY respect and trust in those sources regarding this are going downhill, especially All Ears. And I doubt UT has their crap together either (they tend to be the root source for Len Testa and MouseSavers).

All I am saying is right now there is an unknown, for me. Time will tell. I'm thinking it's going to be a no-change, but I'm not 100% sure given all the facts/rumors.

We are in agreement.

(I thought we were all along, but now we both know it and have said so.)

Let the upgrading begin!

 

[dmunsil]

Just to be clear, we were told by people inside Disney that there was a policy change, and that the change was to only give people gate price at time of purchase when upgrading tickets, across the board for all MYW tickets. UT confirmed with us that this was what they were being told. So that's what we went with.

At no point has anyone at Disney told us that guests couldn't upgrade their tickets. The responses from Disney people when we asked if upgrading third-party tickets was not happening was generally disbelief and things like "Where did you hear that?".

I did also get told by more than one lower-level employee that there had been no change. And I got told by one higher level employee that he believed the no-price-bridging policy had been in place for a few years officially, but he thought a lot of front-line CMs did it anyway. I assumed he just was thinking of the policy change to not price bridge direct-purchased tickets.

But the consensus opinion (matched by what UT was being told by their contacts) was that there had been a change.

Again, I want to reiterate that this has been the official policy at Disneyland for many years, and yet people still have their tickets price-bridged at Disneyland. Disney just won't tell you that they'll do it. You have to show up and hope for the best. Probably they will actually price bridge your ticket, but they don't have to do it.

--
Don

 

[cigar95]

By using the term "current value" rather than "current gate price", there's still some ambiguity. Current value of *what*, specifically? There's more than one way to answer that for most tickets.

 

[paxsarah]

Just to be clear, we were told by people inside Disney that there was a policy change, and that the change was to only give people gate price at time of purchase when upgrading tickets, across the board for all MYW tickets. UT confirmed with us that this was what they were being told. So that's what we went with.

Gate price at time of purchase by the reseller, or time of purchase by the consumer? Because the former is attached to the ticket and can easily be known by Disney, and the latter is only known by the consumer and the reseller. And if it is the latter, how did your Disney sources explain how cast members and consumers are supposed to proceed in an upgrade situation when the reseller acquired a ticket prior to a price increase and the consumer purchased it just afterward? Surely your sources explained the official policy on how this is supposed to work?

 

[dmunsil]

Gate price at time of purchase by the reseller, or time of purchase by the consumer? Because the former is attached to the ticket and can easily be known by Disney, and the latter is only known by the consumer and the reseller. And if it is the latter, how did your Disney sources explain how cast members and consumers are supposed to proceed in an upgrade situation when the reseller acquired a ticket prior to a price increase and the consumer purchased it just afterward? Surely your sources explained the official policy on how this is supposed to work?

I have posted literally everything I have been told. I have been unable to get further clarification. I'm super frustrated, believe me. I would absolutely love it if Cheshire Figment would come back and tell everyone that nothing had changed. I'd be mad that I was given wrong info, but I'd be happier to have definitive answers.

I said what I thought about the date issue here:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=50886067#post50886067

--
Don

 

[PKWallaby]

Greetings all,

I have been watching this thread with interest since the start as I purchased 3 UT tickets on 2/23 (right after the increase but before the thread started) with the intention of upgrading to APs at the DVC rate.

I head down in 12 days (yeah!!). We are staying at BWV and I plan on using the tickets on our first day at Epcot (Rule #1: use the tickets prior to any add-on/upgrade) after which I will stroll to the front of the park and make our first stab at upgrading at the guest service window.

I will have all of my figures calculated ahead of time and know exactly what amount I should expect to pay (Rule #3: do your research first) to upgrade. If they bridge to current gate price and I pay the anticipated amount, I will leave happy. If not, I will still leave happy (I'm at Disneyworld after all!) and I will try again that night at DTD (Rule #3: keep calm and try again elsewhere - life is too short to stress while on vacation).

I will be sure to report back to my friends on the DIS to let them know about my experience. Sorry you have to wait that long!

 

[michelle06]

I think we should all take names and report who is helpful and who is not. Not fullproof, but if I see someone post that "Fred" was not helpful and then I show up and see a "Fred", maybe I know to try later. I plan to add days in June. I will try and get names so we have a better idea who is helpful.

 

[PolyLover]

Greetings all,

I have been watching this thread with interest since the start as I purchased 3 UT tickets on 2/23 (right after the increase but before the thread started) with the intention of upgrading to APs at the DVC rate.

I head down in 12 days (yeah!!). We are staying at BWV and I plan on using the tickets on our first day at Epcot (Rule #1: use the tickets prior to any add-on/upgrade) after which I will stroll to the front of the park and make our first stab at upgrading at the guest service window.

I will have all of my figures calculated ahead of time and know exactly what amount I should expect to pay (Rule #3: do your research first) to upgrade. If they bridge to current gate price and I pay the anticipated amount, I will leave happy. If not, I will still leave happy (I'm at Disneyworld after all!) and I will try again that night at DTD (Rule #3: keep calm and try again elsewhere - life is too short to stress while on vacation).

I will be sure to report back to my friends on the DIS to let them know about my experience. Sorry you have to wait that long!

I'm in the same boat! Check in to the Polynesian on March 23rd, got the tickets from UT and plan on upgrading to annual passes. I may try at the TCT (AFTER using the ticket once). I'm nervous about it all working out! I too will post results!

 

[cheesemouse]

Hi- just a quick update. We arrived yesterday and were able to add one day on to our 5 day base tickets from UT. I did this at the ticket window this morning at HS. We had already used one day at MK yesterday. Was charged $10 plus tax for each ticket. They were non RFID tickets and based on the guy's reaction you would have thought they were from the Stone Age. We had them linked to out magic bands so he just used those instead. Very relieved this worked out ok for us.

And another note, HS did not open early today . 9:00 on the dot.

 

[bumbershoot]

I think we should all take names and report who is helpful and who is not. Not fullproof, but if I see someone post that "Fred" was not helpful and then I show up and see a "Fred", maybe I know to try later. I plan to add days in June. I will try and get names so we have a better idea who is helpful.

It would be such a great idea. Except I think that it's a rule on the Dis that we can't call out CMs by name if we have negative things to say about them.



Disneyland and bridging was mentioned...in all my time on the Disneyland forum, I have heard of that happening a handful of times. It was either pixie dust or a CM not wanting to do math. It has NEVER been something to be relied on or expected in any way, shape, or form.

 

[TLSnell1981]

It would be such a great idea. Except I think that it's a rule on the Dis that we can't call out CMs by name if we have negative things to say about them.



Disneyland and bridging was mentioned...in all my time on the Disneyland forum, I have heard of that happening a handful of times. It was either pixie dust or a CM not wanting to do math. It has NEVER been something to be relied on or expected in any way, shape, or form.

Hasn't it been established, that it's a rule, not ? So, unless the rule has changed, bridging to the current gate price when performing an upgrade is REQUIRED.

Ask the CM to log onto The Hub. Go to

Work
Ticketing
Processes and Business Rules
Upgrade Guide to WDW Tickets (near the bottom of the page)
Promo Package Tickets (about halfway down)

In that sequence. It will get to the exact information they need.

"Price bridging to the current gate price is required prior to performing an upgrade."

 

[cel_disney]

Hasn't it been established, that it's a rule, not ? So, unless the rule has changed, bridging to the current gate price when performing an upgrade is REQUIRED.

The policy for DL tickets (which is what bumbershoot was referring to) is very different than WDW tickets.

 

[TLSnell1981]

The policy for DL tickets (which is what bumbershoot was referring to) is very different than WDW tickets.

Interesting.

 

[digiMom]

This is a follow up to my post #637:

I tried to get a more specific response on what "value" meant...

My Reply Email:

"Thank you so much for getting back to me. Can you clarify something in your response? You mention the following:

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

What do you consider to be the current value of the ticket. Is the the price of that ticket that's currently listed at the gates? Or was it the gate price at the time the ticket was purchased? Or something else?

Thanks again for your time. I would like to know what to expect for budgeting purposes."

Disney's Response:

" Thank you for your contacting Walt Disney World Ticketing.

We invite you to contact Walt Disney World Ticketing directly by calling 407-566-4985 option 5. Our office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

We look forward to speaking with you."

This is consistent with what we're hearing from Mousesavers and others. For some reason, they just really don't want to commit to their definitions in "print." Not sure why, but there it is for anyone interested in the info.

I'm still waiting to get my tickets straightened out with UT, but they're still working with me. The hold up right now is with USPS. I sent Registered so that my package is safe and insured, but it's making things go really slowly.

 

[edk35]

I have not read this entire thread but could someone tell me if Disney is price bridging? Last year we got UT 5 day PH tickets and upgraded them to DVC discounted AP's and we got the price bridging. Is that out now??? Thanks

 

[TLSnell1981]

Disney's Response:

" Thank you for your contacting Walt Disney World Ticketing.

We invite you to contact Walt Disney World Ticketing directly by calling 407-566-4985 option 5. Our office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

We look forward to speaking with you."

This is consistent with what we're hearing from Mousesavers and others. For some reason, they just really don't want to commit to their definitions in "print." Not sure why, but there it is for anyone interested in the info.

I'm still waiting to get my tickets straightened out with UT, but they're still working with me. The hold up right now is with USPS. I sent Registered so that my package is safe and insured, but it's making things go really slowly.

This is about the norm for Disney.

Personally, I wouldn't push them...we may not like the result. Sometimes, no news is good news. Let sleeping dogs lie.