Question about Upgrading a 10-day ticket to AP renewal

[Lightshield]

Ok, this seems a little complicated in my head, hopefully I can describe it correctly.

My wife and I are currently Annual Pass holders, which expire in late December.

We have a room-only reservation in September currently. I've been toying with the idea of rebooking it as a package to get the free dining, which would require purchasing at least a 2-day ticket each.

Would it be possible to add 10-day Park Hoppers to that September package, wait until December to activate them, then "bridge" then toward the renewal fee of our Annual Passes, or would they have to be used for brand new AP's, or is it not possible at all since we are already AP holders?


Hopefully that question makes sense! Thanks for any advice.

 

[Robo]

Ok, this seems a little complicated in my head, hopefully I can describe it correctly.

My wife and I are currently Annual Pass holders, which expire in late December.

We have a room-only reservation in September currently. I've been toying with the idea of rebooking it as a package to get the free dining, which would require purchasing at least a 2-day ticket each.

1. Would it be possible to add 10-day Park Hoppers to that September package, wait until December to activate them, then "bridge" then toward the renewal fee of our Annual Passes,

2. or would they have to be used for brand new AP's,

3. or is it not possible at all since we are already AP holders?


Hopefully that question makes sense! Thanks for any advice.

1. Yes.

2. Nope.

3. It will work.


HOWEVER-
Make sure that the ticket you are buying has a gate value the same or LESS than the cost to renew your AP.

There is no monetary gain in what you are planning (except as a sort of "non-interest-earning savings account"
for the AP renewal.)

 

[Lightshield]

Well in order to get the Free Dining on our September reservation we'd have to buy a package including at least 2-day tickets, so I was thinking why not buy the 10-day and then hold them for our AP renewal.

 

[Robo]

Well in order to get the Free Dining on our September reservation we'd have to buy a package including at least 2-day tickets, so I was thinking why not buy the 10-day and then hold them for our AP renewal.

I understand that idea.
But, what I'm saying is that you won't be "gaining" anything by doing so, and you will be "out the extra money" for the time in-between when you BUY your package tickets, and such time as you use them to help pay for the AP.

That's fine.
But, it doesn't gain you anything, financially.
(Just sort of a "hold" on your funds for future use.)

You won't be "holding" nearly as much money if you just buy the minimum ticket to enable the package.
And, yes, you can use value of the unused 2-day ticket to help pay for your AP.

Again, I need to say-
Make sure that the package ticket that you are buying has a gate value the same or LESS than the cost to renew your AP.

 

[brettb]

Well in order to get the Free Dining on our September reservation we'd have to buy a package including at least 2-day tickets, so I was thinking why not buy the 10-day and then hold them for our AP renewal.

I think what Robo means is that there's no financial benefit of doing this with a 10-day vs. a 2-day. All you do is tie up more of your money until renewal time. So on the package with 2-day tickets. There's no reason to buy longer passes - UNLESS your APs won't be renewed (valid) until you arrive and you want to make Fastpass+ reservations for your whole trip.

Generally, buying the minimum ticket protects you against price increases that might occur between the time your purchase the ticket and the time you purchase the renewal.

The only time when buying a longer ticket gave an advantage was the the 7-for-5 (or 4?) packages. And then you had to buy non-expiring tickets to really see a big benefit. You also had to make sure you didn't buy a ticket worth more than the cost of the AP. We made out like gangbusters that year. The free extra two days doesn't amount to much on expiring tickets but the 7th and 8th (free) days of a non-expiring ticket certainly did! And that was on top of 10% off AP referral coupon!

 

[Lightshield]

Ahhh, I understand what you are saying now. I didn't think about it that way, I was in the "more must be better!" mentality.

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it very much.

 

[cvjw]

Do you have another trip planned during your AP renewal window? I have thought about doing what you are planning, and it never worked out that we would be in the parks during the AP renewal window to upgrade the base tickets to an AP. It is my understanding that you can't upgrade that base ticket to an AP renewal over the phone - it has to be done at guest services.