Premier Pass -- Upgrading from Hopper Passes

[I❤MICKEY]

We will be visiting both WDW and DL multiple times in the next year and have decided that the Premier Pass is the way to go. My issue is that our first trip is to DL in October 2015 and our last trip is to WDW in October 2016 for the some time period. I am thinking about buying hopper passes to DL for our October 2015 and then upgrading to a Premier on the last day.

• If I do that will the first day of my Premier pass be the day I upgrade or the first day I used my hopper pass?
• What is involved in the upgrading process?
• The hopper passes I'm considering purchasing are part of a package (hotel and tix). There is a discount price on the tix. How will this impact the cost of the Premier Pass?

Any other information or recommendations that you can make are greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[figment_jii]

• The expiration date of the AP will be based on the first day when you used the ticket (hopper). So let's say you first used your ticket on October 15 and upgraded on October 20. The expiration will be based on the October 15th date.
• The upgrading process is fairly easy (although, not always fast). You take your valid park ticket to a ticket window and ask to upgrade it. The CMs will then walk you through the steps (you'll need ID and a payment method). It's not terribly hard, but it can take a bit of time (>30 minutes).
• Maybe...it's hard to say. DLR does not consistently bridge ticket prices like WDW does, so there is a good chance you will only be credited the price you paid for the tickets. You will then have to pay the difference between that amount and the price of the Premier AP. I think it's best to know how much you paid for the tickets, the gate price of the tickets, and the price of the Premier AP and then figure out how much is upgrade price range. Then as long as the price the CM tells you is between those two numbers, it should be right. The Premier AP is $1,134.72 with FL tax added - which has to be paid regardless of where you buy the Premier AP (the base price is $1,099.00).

It's worth pointing out that the AP discounts at DL are generally better (and more wide-spread) than they are at WDW. So if you wait until the last day to upgrade, you'll miss out on the shopping and dining discounts.

 

[Malela9]

My family currently have Premier passes and are going to WDW for our 2nd trip this year in July. This is the most reasonable way to pay for a WDW vacation. However, because you are using discount tickets, Disney will make you pay full price for the Premier. We were able to pay the difference because we had a DL Premium AP. I know the price seems prohibitive, but it really is the most cost efficient way to go.
I also agree that the AP discounts are better at DL. Try and buy more non-WDW specific merch. at DL. I rarely spend money at WDW. my dh loves it! Good luck!

 

[figment_jii]

However, because you are using discount tickets, Disney will make you pay full price for the Premier. We were able to pay the difference because we had a DL Premium AP.

Just to clarify, I don't think the OP is going to have to pay the full price of the Premier AP ($1,134.72) just because they bought discounted Disneyland tickets. As long as the DLR tickets can be upgraded, they'll be able to pay the price difference between the discounted DLR tickets (or gate price if they get some pixie dust and the ticket prices are bridged) and the price of the Premier AP.

 

[I❤MICKEY]

Thank you for all the insight.

As the Premier Pass would be backdated to the first day of the hopper passes I will probably just upgrade on the first day. It was my hope that it would be dated based on the date it became a Premier Pass. Looks like I will need to adjust my plans for DCL/WDW in December 2016.

 

[Pygmypuff07]

Has anyone upgraded to the premier pass with a WDW Annual pass at Disneyland? We were thinking about doing this on our next trip to DL but weren't sure if they would upgrade since our pass is for WDW.

 

[ShariM]

I have upgraded a Disney World annual pass to a premier passport at Disneyland. No problems. I brought the receipt for my AP as well, but they never asked for it. Took about 5mn at the ticket booth in Disneyland, as I had gotten a very efficient cast member that knew her stuff.

 

[figment_jii]

Has anyone upgraded to the premier pass with a WDW Annual pass at Disneyland? We were thinking about doing this on our next trip to DL but weren't sure if they would upgrade since our pass is for WDW.

My understanding is that you can upgrade your WDW AP to a Premier AP at DLR, but just note that it might take a bit longer (sometimes upgrades are fast, sometimes it's slow - it varies!). The CM at DLR has to call someone (ticketing I'm guessing) at WDW to find out the details about your WDW AP (e.g., price you paid). From there they can figure out how much the upgrade costs and then process the upgrade.

 

[starry_solo]

Have a great time at DLR and WDW!