Question about AP (oh, no, not another one!)

[BoxerMom7]

I have 3 days left on a 4 day PHP (first day used January 17, 2003). During our 7 day trip, we will be at WDW parks 4 days. Have another trip planned January 2004 (will spend 2-3 days in WDW parks). With the recent increase in pricing and the restrictions on trading in remaining days from PHP toward an AP, would it be better to finish out those remaining 3 days and buy a 1 day 1 park ticket for 4th day this trip; then buy AP in January (will definitely go again after January at least once before the AP expires) or go ahead and trade in remaining 3 days toward an AP next week when we arrive?
(Boy--is that ever a run-on sentence and SOOOOOOOO confusing!)

 

[tjkraz]

I'm not sure what you mean about "restrictions on trading in remaining days from PHP toward an AP", so please enlighten me if there's something your aware of that makes my reply incorrect.

You should be allowed to trade your PHP and receive a pro-rated share of the purchase price toward an AP. So, if the pass was valued at $200 and you used one day, you should get $150 credit toward the AP. Bear in mind that if you purchased the pass from a non-Disney ticket broker you will likely get less than the acutal purchase price (pro-rated) in return. Disney will give you applicable credit based upon the price at which they sold the pass to the vendor.

If you plan on returning for your 3rd trip before September of next year, then I would very much advocate doing the trade-in. If you can get 3 trips under the single AP, and get some credit based upon a PHP you have in your possession, then go for it.

 

[GoldenOldie]

I'll take the other side.

If all you are going to use it for is 4 days on one trip and 2-3 days on another, then it isn't worth it financially to get the AP on your first trip. The break even point is eight days of park admissions.

If your January trip and the one you will take after that are equal to or greater than 8 WDW park days, then go ahead and get the AP. Or if you know you can get an AP room rate for your stay, that would make getting the AP worthwhile.

 

[tjkraz]

Originally posted by GoldenOldie
I'll take the other side.

Actually I think we're both on the same side.

OP said that she has trips scheduled for Sept 03 and Jan 04, and expected to take another trip later in 04. My comment was that if all THREE trips would fit under one AP, to go with the trade in.

If Trip #3 will fall sometime after September 04--and thus not be covered by an AP purchased in Sept 03--then I agree wholeheartedly with your comments regarding the breakeven analysis.

 

[BoxerMom7]

Trips: 4 days in WDW this month (9/03).
2-3 days in WDW Jan '04
another trip before 9/04 (most likely March/April)--plan
minimum of 3 days in WDW
Total days: 9-10 (possibly more) in under year's time

Restrictions: I read on another site and on another board here that if you don't trade in your PHP within 7 days of first using it, you will not get full credit (monetary value) for unused days when trading in on an AP at a later date (more than 7 days after 1st using your original PHP). I don't know if this is true or not--haven't called Disney to check--does anyone know?
Bought PHP onsite at Epcot Jan '03 so it wasn't thru anyone but Disney.

 

[GoldenOldie]

Originally posted by BoxerMom7
...Restrictions: I read on another site and on another board here that if you don't trade in your PHP within 7 days of first using it, you will not get full credit (monetary value) for unused days when trading in on an AP at a later date (more than 7 days after 1st using your original PHP)...

The 7 days only comes into play if you want to apply the ENTIRE amount you paid for the ticket to the upgrade. Within those 7 days, you would get a credit for the whole amount you paid for the ticket regardless of what has been used. The only caveats are that if you have used plus options, you can only upgrade to a PAP and your AP/PAP will be backdated to the first day you used the old ticket.

After that 7 day window has passed (as it has in your case), you will get full credit for all remaining unused major park days when you do the upgrade.

 

[Keeva]

If you plan on 3 or more trips in the next AP year why don't you just save your park hoppers.They are good forever.You get more value as a park day instead of a trade=in on an AP and you will always have 3 days at yesterdays prices.