Question regarding upgrading MYW tix to AP's???

[dsnygirl2006]

Hi everyone
I am so confused and the more I read the more confused I get because there are so many different opinions.....We are booked for 7 nights at the Polynesian CL in June and we have 8 day MYW park tickets and dlx dining in our package, we are also going back in October so I was reading that I can upgrade the park tickets I have in my package to Annual Passes, do I just call and have this done ahead of time, do I do this when we get there, I have no idea what to do????? In the long run the AP's will save us more money so I would really like to get AP's but keep the package I have booked with the dlx dining? Any tips/advice would be GREATLY appreciated!!!!!

 

[Missytara]

Check the sticky regarding tickets at the top of the Theme Parks and Strategies boards for upgrading tickets.

It is very specific and helpful, from a person who actually works in the ticket office.

 

[Jestocost]

You can do the upgrade once you are there. It's generally best to use the tickets at least once before doing the upgrade as that means you should get credit for the full, current gate price of the tickets you have toward the APs you want. It really doesn't matter if you do it the first day of your trip or the last as far as how much credit you get. You just need to be certain that you do it within 14 days of the first use of the tickets. Resorts can't do anything with APs even with their new systems, so you'll need to go to any of the ticket booths outside of the parks or any of the guest relations locations at the parks or DTD.

The reason to upgrade early in your trip is that you can take advantage of any AP merchandise discounts or get a TIW card for discounts on dining (including adult beverages). The reason some CMs will have you wait until your last day is that occasionally doing the upgrade can screw up the DDP and resort info on your KTTW card. They can fix that eventually so you won't lose anything, but it can be a bit of a hassle.

FWIW, when we upgraded last November they let us get a TIW card on our first day even though we waited until the last day to upgrade. Any given CM may or may not be willing to do the same.

See CheshireFigment's Ticket Sticky for more info.

 

[nrpofp]

We are doing the exact thing in May. We are booked at poly with deluxe dining and our returning in October. We are also upgrading to APs. I was told that this is permitted and you can keep your dining plan. The cm also told me that I could book our next two trips with a AP rate and still buy the dining plan.

 

[dsnygirl2006]

We are doing the exact thing in May. We are booked at poly with deluxe dining and our returning in October. We are also upgrading to APs. I was told that this is permitted and you can keep your dining plan. The cm also told me that I could book our next two trips with a AP rate and still buy the dining plan.

Are you just going to upgrade after you get there? I read that it's better to use it first and then upgrade so you can get the full gate ticket prices?

 

[DebbieB]

You can't upgrade your MYW to an AP in advance, you have to do it there.

 

[Josh'sDad1974]

According to Stargazer's post from earlier today on the Theme Parks board, you can no longer upgrade MYM tickets to APs. She got the official policy from Disney after many, many emails and phone calls over a confusion at a ticket counter. You may want to go over and check it out. It is titled "final update to ticket drama". The policy she was quoted contradicts Chesire Figments sticky post on tickets.

 

[doconeill]

According to Stargazer's post from earlier today on the Theme Parks board, you can no longer upgrade MYM tickets to APs. She got the official policy from Disney after many, many emails and phone calls over a confusion at a ticket counter. You may want to go over and check it out. It is titled "final update to ticket drama". The policy she was quoted contradicts Chesire Figments sticky post on tickets.

I think there is still a lot of confusion on this.

stargazertechie's post does NOT say you cannot upgrade MYW tickets to APs. That is definitely still possible.

The whole drama was about BRIDGING tickets to APs (and specifically, AP renewals). What that post is saying is that Disney now says that you cannot BRIDGE the price (that is, get the full gate price for a discounted MYW ticket) towards an AP renewal. Supposedly because it is considered combining tickets. However, that has never been the case before - an AP renewal was considered a new ticket in the past.

Regardless, if you are getting a new AP, you CAN upgrade to it, AND get gate price (if you got it from a discounter).

 

[dsnygirl2006]

Ok, Thanks guys, you all have been very helpful, I will just upgrade once we get there and from what I read on the sticky on the theme parks board its better to go ahead and use it once and then upgrade so you can get the gate ticket prices....You guys are awesome!!!!

 

[Sue M]

Actually, if an AP discount came out for your dates in June (currently they just came out for April - June 1) you could switch your package from MYW to the AP + Dining plan if the room discount is better then (or if) the one you have. So you can change your package, and buy the AP in advance either by phoning Disney or on line. Having an AP, you can add any DDP on to your reservation without buying tickets.

So, without knowing what if any discount you've booked with, I'd keep your current reservation, and watch for the AP discounts- Mousesavers.com is a good site to watch- they always post when Disney puts out any discounts. And people will post on the boards when they see new discounts released. Then do the Disney Math

If you're waiting till you get to the parks to upgrade to the AP, I'd do it within the first day, maybe when you are leaving the parks, because as mentioned, with an AP you can get a 10% merchandise discount at the shops, also a discount on boat rentals I think, & tours, etc.

 

[nrpofp]

Are you just going to upgrade after you get there? I read that it's better to use it first and then upgrade so you can get the full gate ticket prices?

Yes I was going to upgrade as soon as I get there and buy the TIW card to get a discount on adult beverages. I don't know why my tickets would not be worth full gate price. I bought them through disney with my package. Ticket prices have not gone up since I bought them. I bought some discounted universal tickets through undercover tourist. I was told to use them first before I add another day onto the tickets to get the full value. As far as I know the disney tickets I bought are full price tickets.

 

[dsnygirl2006]

Yes I was going to upgrade as soon as I get there and buy the TIW card to get a discount on adult beverages. I don't know why my tickets would not be worth full gate price. I bought them through disney with my package. Ticket prices have not gone up since I bought them. I bought some discounted universal tickets through undercover tourist. I was told to use them first before I add another day onto the tickets to get the full value. As far as I know the disney tickets I bought are full price tickets.

Thanks so much, were you told when you talked to someone about doing this that it would mess up your room key card with your dining credits on it? I was reading on the Theme Parks board that sometimes when you upgrade your KTTK card to an Annual Pass that it can wipe out your dining credits?

 

[doconeill]

Yes I was going to upgrade as soon as I get there and buy the TIW card to get a discount on adult beverages. I don't know why my tickets would not be worth full gate price. I bought them through disney with my package. Ticket prices have not gone up since I bought them. I bought some discounted universal tickets through undercover tourist. I was told to use them first before I add another day onto the tickets to get the full value. As far as I know the disney tickets I bought are full price tickets.

You are going to have the dining plan AND TIW card? Just be sure you can get enough use out of the TIW card to break even...

The "use it first" advice is good, even if you don't think there was a discount. Sometimes there are some "funny numbers" used in reservations to spread the cost of a discounted room over the other items, although I don't think they do it any more. It can't hurt to enter the park first.

Thanks so much, were you told when you talked to someone about doing this that it would mess up your room key card with your dining credits on it? I was reading on the Theme Parks board that sometimes when you upgrade your KTTK card to an Annual Pass that it can wipe out your dining credits?

It does happen if the CM isn't careful, as the CMs at the parks apparently have less familiarity in dealing with the dining credits. That is why it is still recommended that you get the ticket separated from the KTTW card at the resort first. However, the new system seems to have made that near impossible for the resort CMs to figure out...

Best bet I think at this point is to do the upgrade at a park guest relations location, and ask them to verify the dining credits afterward. And perhaps as an added check, go get a snack...

 

[nrpofp]

You are going to have the dining plan AND TIW card? Just be sure you can get enough use out of the TIW card to break even...

The "use it first" advice is good, even if you don't think there was a discount. Sometimes there are some "funny numbers" used in reservations to spread the cost of a discounted room over the other items, although I don't think they do it any more. It can't hurt to enter the park first.



It does happen if the CM isn't careful, as the CMs at the parks apparently have less familiarity in dealing with the dining credits. That is why it is still recommended that you get the ticket separated from the KTTW card at the resort first. However, the new system seems to have made that near impossible for the resort CMs to figure out...

Best bet I think at this point is to do the upgrade at a park guest relations location, and ask them to verify the dining credits afterward. And perhaps as an added check, go get a snack...

Good advice. We are returning in October and again next May so we will get good use out of TIW. I don't plan on getting the dining plan on our next visits. This package is already paid for so I am going to keep my dxdp and use the TIW to get a discount on alcohol. The first thing I will do when I leave guest relations is get a snack. Hopefully it all goes smoothly.

 

[nrpofp]

Thanks so much, were you told when you talked to someone about doing this that it would mess up your room key card with your dining credits on it? I was reading on the Theme Parks board that sometimes when you upgrade your KTTK card to an Annual Pass that it can wipe out your dining credits?

No I was not told this, but I could see it happening. If it does I will just return to guest services and have them fix it. Like a pp said the first thing you should do is buy a snack and make sure all is ok.