New Ticket Upgrade Policy?

[disfanforlife]

Just an update on our experience. We had 6day park hopper, no exp, water park which were bought from UCT back in Janurary before the most recent price increase. We had 2 adult tickets and two child tickets.

We went to upgrade our tickets on Sunday after we used them for the first time to a regular AP. We tried our upgrade at the Magic Kingdom ticket and transportation center. Our tickets were scanned by the CM and I told him what I wanted. He came back with a price of $600+. I told him these tickets should be bridged and he said you are correct. He had trouble doing it at first. He made a phone call and spoke with someone for further assistance. After working on the computer for 10 mins he came back with the price of $144.84 which was to the penny what I had calculated!!!

He did ask me several questions about our tickets. Where did I buy them from? When did I buy them? He also told me he was basing his first upgrade price off of the price paid by UCT for the ticket. The CM was very friendly told me he wanted us to pay the least possible. Also told me if they were bought directly from Disney they would not be bridged.

Anyways all is good! Happy to be passholders for the first time!!

Glad it worked well for you! I felt the same in November - so happy to be PH and go twice in 12 months! Sadly, our next trip isn't until December and we will not renew AP for it. Hopefully, it will work out to get them again the next year though. Enjoy!

 

[Robo]

I told him these tickets should be bridged and he said you are correct.

He made a phone call and spoke with someone for further assistance.

After working on the computer for 10 mins he came back with the price of $144.84 which was to the penny what I had calculated!!!

Also told me if they were bought directly from Disney they would not be bridged.

Great, detailed post!

This, again, reinforces the situation that there has been no
official change in overall upgrading/price-bridging policy
(CM calling to inquire about proper procedure, and guest getting current gate price for ugrade.)
Good news!

Anyone else who performs an upgrade, please post your experience.

 

[Weluvdizney2]

Upgraded to APs with tix bought from UCT with no problems.

 

[Disneylover99]

Also told me if they were bought directly from Disney they would not be bridged.

This confuses me. So, if I buy a package from Disney that includes tickets, those tickets will not be bridged?

 

[BuckeyeBama]

This confuses me. So, if I buy a package from Disney that includes tickets, those tickets will not be bridged?

Correct - of course, this is only a problem if the tickets were purchased before a price increase. But price increases are no longer bridged for Disney purchased tickets.

 

[Disneylover99]

Correct - of course, this is only a problem if the tickets were purchased before a price increase. But price increases are no longer bridged for Disney purchased tickets.

So if I want to use my two day tickets that I've had for a few years, it may be better to just use them as two day tickets because if I have to pay a significant difference in price and then upgrade to let's say 10 day tickets it may not be worth it. Does that make sense?

 

[BuckeyeBama]

So if I want to use my two day tickets that I've had for a few years, it may be better to just use them as two day tickets because if I have to pay a significant difference in price and then upgrade to let's say 10 day tickets it may not be worth it. Does that make sense?

It does. I don't know if they grandfathered in older tickets. Someone else might be able to answer that question. But going forward, that is the policy.

 

[Disneylover99]

It does. I don't know if they grandfathered in older tickets. Someone else might be able to answer that question. But going forward, that is the policy.

Thank you for trying to help me. When did this change come into effect? I thought this whole thread was about tickets purchased from places like Undercover Tourist?

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Thank you for trying to help me. When did this change come into effect? I thought this whole thread was about tickets purchased from places like Undercover Tourist?

It is a part of the over-all policy change discussed in this thread.

 

[Disneylover99]

It is a part of the over-all policy change discussed in this thread.

So what I'm understanding is that if you buy discounted tickets from UCT, DW will bridge your ticket. But if you buy your tickets from DW at full price or with a package, they will not bridge your ticket. That just doesn't make sense to me.

So what is the point in buying tickets as part of a package from DW?

 

[POOHsie]

This confuses me. So, if I buy a package from Disney that includes tickets, those tickets will not be bridged?

Correct - of course, this is only a problem if the tickets were purchased before a price increase. But price increases are no longer bridged for Disney purchased tickets.

So what I'm understanding is that if you buy discounted tickets from UCT, DW will bridge your ticket. But if you buy your tickets from DW at full price or with a package, they will not bridge your ticket. That just doesn't make sense to me.

So what is the point in buying tickets as part of a package from DW?

BuckeyeBama, you have misunderstood the price-bridging changes that were last made in 2012. Disney will no longer price-bridge tickets sold directly from Disney. That means tickets from WDW ticket booths and Guest Relations, from Disney online and from Will Call.

Other Disney sources of tickets are actually sold wholesale to subsidiaries and are qualified for price-bridging. These include tickets purchased from the Disney Store, and package tickets from a Disney resort, which come thru Walt Disney Travel Co. Also available for price-bridging are tickets from authorized third-party resellers, such as AAA, Undercover Tourist, Maple Leaf Tickets.

Disneylover99, your tickets that came from a Disney resort stay package are eligible for price-bridging. Remember, you must use the tickets first thru a Disney turnstile (Tap-stile) in order to price-bridge them.

Source: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2938971

 

[Disneylover99]

BuckeyeBama, you have misunderstood the price-bridging changes that were last made in 2012. Disney will no longer price-bridge tickets sold directly from Disney. That means tickets from WDW ticket booths and Guest Relations, from Disney online and from Will Call.

Other Disney sources of tickets are actually sold wholesale to subsidiaries and are qualified for price-bridging. These include tickets purchased from the Disney Store, and package tickets from a Disney resort, which come thru Walt Disney Travel Co. Also available for price-bridging are tickets from authorized third-party resellers, such as AAA, Undercover Tourist, Maple Leaf Tickets.

Disneylover99, your tickets that came from a Disney resort stay package are eligible for price-bridging. Remember, you must use the tickets first thru a Disney turnstile (Tap-stile) in order to price-bridge them.

Source: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2938971

Thank you so much for clarifying POOHsie!

 

[kaddjr]

I've read through most of this thread and I'm still a little confused about how things *should* work. Here's my situation.

In 2006, I purchased a package through WDWTC that included 1 day PH. We never used those tickets, as we originally were staying offsite and had tickets from UT. The 1 day tickets are still on our KTTW cards from that trip. We are planning to return this June and I would like to upgrade the old tickets for this trip.

So how do I approach this? Can the 1 day PH be bridged? In other words, can I use them at the gate, then add the extra days? Is that even possible with a 1 day ticket? Also, one is a child's ticket that needs to be upgraded to an adult ticket.

Or, do I just take the cards to guest services in DTD and get the original value applied to the tickets we plan to purchase?

Anyone know the best way to do this?

 

[POOHsie]

I've read through most of this thread and I'm still a little confused about how things *should* work. Here's my situation.

In 2006, I purchased a package through WDWTC that included 1 day PH. We never used those tickets, as we originally were staying offsite and had tickets from UT. The 1 day tickets are still on our KTTW cards from that trip. We are planning to return this June and I would like to upgrade the old tickets for this trip.

So how do I approach this? Can the 1 day PH be bridged? In other words, can I use them at the gate, then add the extra days? Is that even possible with a 1 day ticket? Also, one is a child's ticket that needs to be upgraded to an adult ticket.

Or, do I just take the cards to guest services in DTD and get the original value applied to the tickets we plan to purchase?

Anyone know the best way to do this?

Your package tickets can be price-bridged, except for the child's ticket. It's worth it to go thru the price-bridging process for the adult tickets. You simply enter a theme park first before upgrading your adult tickets. That elevates the adult ticket value to current gate price value when calculating upgrade cost. In 2006, adult tickets were worth $63 or $67, depending on if they were purchased before or after the August 6, 2006 price increase. Now they're $99 for MK or $94 for EP, HS and AK. You would lose $30+ if you upgraded these tickets before entering a theme park. Prices are pre-tax.

Since these are one-day tickets, you only have that day to do your upgrade. If you want to get it out of the way, your first stop inside the park should be to Guest Relations. There's one inside the gate at each park. You can add days up to a 10 day ticket, add PH, add WPF&M, etc. You can also upgrade on your way out of the park later in the day. There's also Guest Relations outside of each gate and at DTD, plus the park ticket booths.

Unfortunately, the child's ticket cannot be used to enter a theme park if the user is not still a child. That ticket will have to be upgraded to adult ticket before entering the park. And therefore it can't be price-bridged. The 2006 child's ticket was worth $52 or $56, depending on if it was purchased before or after the August 6, 2006 price increase. That's all the credit you will get towards an adult ticket with additional days added.

A few CMs are clueless about price-bridging. So know what your tickets are worth, and what your target ticket is worth. If the CM's calculations of what you owe are too high, then the CM didn't price-bridge. If you get no useful cooperation, or if he/she tries to tell you that they don't price-bridge your tickets anymore, ask for your original tickets back and go see another CM. Most guests never have this experience, but have your calculations ready so you know you're receiving current gate price credit for your old tickets.

Here's a link to ticket prices, pre-tax. Multiply the cost x1.065 to get the cost plus Fla tax. http://allears.net/tix/tixpix10.htm

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Thank you so much for clarifying POOHsie!

I also want to thank you. I don't see how Disney doesn't consider a package ticket sold to you by Disney to be directly from Disney, but I won't look a gift horse in the mouth.

 

[Robo]

I also want to thank you.

I don't see how Disney doesn't consider a package ticket sold to you by Disney to be directly from Disney,


but I won't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Because the WDW "ticketing department" sells tickets (INTERNALLY, at a discounted wholesale price) to the specific department of WDW that books the resort packages (Disney Travel Company ?) and guests never see exactly what they are actually paying for their tickets when they come as part of a Resort Package.

Those (wholesale discount) resort package tickets are treated the same as those (wholesale discount) third party ticket-reseller/discounter tickets...
during the course of a ticket UPGRADE transaction.

Ditto for tickets purchased at the Disney Store, as THOSE tickets were
sold to the Disney Store by the WDW "ticketing department" (at a discounted wholesale price.)

 

[Disneylover99]

Unfortunately, the child's ticket cannot be used to enter a theme park if the user is not still a child. That ticket will have to be upgraded to adult ticket before entering the park. And therefore it can't be price-bridged. The 2006 child's ticket was worth $52 or $56, depending on if it was purchased before or after the August 6, 2006 price increase. That's all the credit you will get towards an adult ticket with additional days added.
http://allears.net/tix/tixpix10.htm

Good point about the child's ticket. We have a child's ticket but my son is now considered an adult.

If we have a two day children's ticket from a package that is not linked to a MB, could we just give this to another child? Are they transferable?

 

[disfanforlife]

Oh darn, I didn't realize that. We have two unused 10 day non expire tickets bought from UT in 2008. One is a child ticket and one is an adult. I thought that we could get it changed to an adult ticket since he was a child when we bought it? But that must be one of the policies that was changed.

 

[Robo]

Oh darn, I didn't realize that. We have two unused 10 day non expire tickets bought from UT in 2008. One is a child ticket and one is an adult.

1- I thought that we could get it changed to an adult ticket since he was a child when we bought it?

2- But that must be one of the policies that was changed.

1- Nope.

2- Nope, again.
The policy has always been that Disney will upgrade a PARTIALLY-USED (non-expiring) child's ticket
to an adult ticket with the same remaining assets after a child has turned 10 years.

BUT, they have never made it a policy to upgrade a NEW, never-used child's ticket to an adult ticket.
If THAT were the case, parents could just buy stack of kid tickets when a child is young and just keep
using those kid tickets throughout that (former) child's life.

It's not important how old the child was when you first BOUGHT a ticket.
It is only important how old the child was when you (he/she) first USED a ticket.

 

[disfanforlife]

1- Nope.

2- Nope, again.
The policy has always been that Disney will upgrade a PARTIALLY-USED (non-expiring) child's ticket
to an adult ticket with the same remaining assets after a child has turned 10 years.

BUT, they have never made it a policy to upgrade a NEW, never-used child's ticket to an adult ticket.
If THAT were the case, parents could just buy stack of kid tickets when a child is young and just keep
using those kid tickets throughout that (former) child's life.

It's not important how old the child was when you first BOUGHT a ticket.
It is only important how old the child was when you (he/she) first USED a ticket.

Ah ok, that makes sense. I didn't even think of that. I do have a pile of tickets over the past few year that I have bought but only one child ticket ( I think ). We can still use it for him, just will have to pay the difference in price, right?