So, how concerned are we about the limit on AP sales?

[mousestruck]

With all of the changes here and on the way, I have put off buying tickets for our upcoming trip (12/30-1/7). I was planning to purchase 8 or 9 day park hoppers for this trip and then upgrade to Gold APs at the end of the trip because we have another trip planned for June 2022. However, the announcement regarding limited AP sales has thrown a wrench in my plans. I could buy the APs now (which would add about $200 to the cost per person), but then we can't use them for the first two days of our
December trip. Not the biggest deal for us (since we're planning to avoid the parks on 12/31 and are frequent visitors), but not great either. Or, I could buy the park hoppers and hope that APs are not sold out before our December trip. That would save us money (if Disney continues bridging tickets from authorized resellers) and allow us to visit the parks the first two days of our December trip - but it's risky. If AP sales end, it will cost us considerably more to buy another set of park hoppers (probably 7 day hoppers) in June. So.... how concerned are we that they will cut off AP sales? I'm a bit torn about what to do! Any thoughts appreciated!

 

[Mamabun]

I’ve known people to try this particular bridging strategy in the past (pre-COVID) and it wouldn’t work. In other words, if you use a regular ticket for a blocked out date, you can’t upgrade that ticket to the AP with the blockout dates, you have to upgrade to an AP that would have allowed entry on that date. As I understood it, upgrading a ticket is pretty much like going into the system and making it like you had the AP from the first day of ticket use - that‘s why the year starts on the first date the regular ticket was used, not the date you upgrade, etc. There was a similar issue if you had a water parks ticket and used a water park day, you had to upgrade to an AP with water parks. Has this process changed?

 

[DisBuckMan]

Unfortunately, you cannot upgrade to Gold AP's anymore. You'll have to upgrade to the new "Sorcerer's Pass", which is substantially more money.

I'm on hold with DVC member services right now, as I'm giving one last Hail Mary that they'll allow me to renew my family's Gold Passes 4 days early (today's the last day Gold Passes are able to be renewed)...I've already gotten a hard "no" two days ago, but what do I have to lose in trying again?

The money grab by Disney is just a bit off-putting right now.

 

[AmishGuy91]

Not concerned at all. They put that language in there in case an extreme situation arises that would trigger them to stop sales again (like a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic). They can limit individual days' park passes so generally no need to restrict AP sales.

 

[AmishGuy91]

I’ve known people to try this particular bridging strategy in the past (pre-COVID) and it wouldn’t work. In other words, if you use a regular ticket for a blocked out date, you can’t upgrade that ticket to the AP with the blockout dates, you have to upgrade to an AP that would have allowed entry on that date. As I understood it, upgrading a ticket is pretty much like going into the system and making it like you had the AP from the first day of ticket use - that‘s why the year starts on the first date the regular ticket was used, not the date you upgrade, etc. There was a similar issue if you had a water parks ticket and used a water park day, you had to upgrade to an AP with water parks. Has this process changed?

There have actually been numerous reports of this bridging strategy working successfully pre-COVID and was even advertised by CMs themselves.

 

[Mamabun]

There have actually been numerous reports of this bridging strategy working successfully pre-COVID and was even advertised by CMs themselves.

Good to know - thanks

 

[720L]

Does anyone know what time they will go on sale at tomorrow? I'm a little concerned about them limiting sales so I want to purchase ASAP.

 

[mousestruck]

Unfortunately, you cannot upgrade to Gold AP's anymore. You'll have to upgrade to the new "Sorcerer's Pass", which is substantially more money.

I'm on hold with DVC member services right now, as I'm giving one last Hail Mary that they'll allow me to renew my family's Gold Passes 4 days early (today's the last day Gold Passes are able to be renewed)...I've already gotten a hard "no" two days ago, but what do I have to lose in trying again?

The money grab by Disney is just a bit off-putting right now.

Yes, I realized I now need to upgrade to Sorcerer's Pass, which would cost about $200 compared to less than $50 for a Gold AP. It would still represent a considerable savings over purchasing two sets of park hoppers.

 

[Marionnette]

Does anyone know what time they will go on sale at tomorrow? I'm a little concerned about them limiting sales so I want to purchase ASAP.

Di$ney is relying on your FOMO to push sales of APs before the end of their fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.

 

[720L]

Di$ney is relying on your FOMO to push sales of APs before the end of their fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.

Yeah unfortunately they got me here.

 

[mousestruck]

Not concerned at all. They put that language in there in case an extreme situation arises that would trigger them to stop sales again (like a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic). They can limit individual days' park passes so generally no need to restrict AP sales.

Very good point. I doubt they will restrict AP sales, given the sky-high prices, but hard to predict what they'll do these days.

 

[subtchr]

I'm confused why you couldn't use a pass the first two days of your December trip?

To answer your question, I think the possibility of them "selling out" of APs is slim to none.

Just like the possibility of a park being at capacity for park hopping. Hasn't happened one day.

And if they "sell out" of an AP, when will it be available again? When enough APs let them expire? Never? This really doesn't make much sense.

 

[DisBuckMan]

I'm confused why you couldn't use a pass the first two days of your December trip?

The OP stated in a response to me above that they would be upgrading to a Sorcerer's Pass, which would be blacked out on those first two days due to falling during Christmas/New Year's holiday dates.

 

[mousestruck]

The OP stated in a response to me above that they would be upgrading to a Sorcerer's Pass, which would be blacked out on those first two days due to falling during Christmas/New Year's holiday dates.

Exactly. Even if the Gold Pass were available, 12/30 and 12/31 would still be blocked out. Reports are somewhat mixed about whether or not Disney would allow us to upgrade to a Sorcerer's Pass at the end of our trip, since the first two days are blocked out, but many people have done this successfully (upgrading from park hopper to Gold AP). Hopefully Disney would not close this "loophole," but of course that is possible. I don't really see why they wouldn't allow it. The AP would be backdated to the block out days, so it's not like we gain anything the following year.

 

[DisBuckMan]

Exactly. Even if the Gold Pass were available, 12/30 and 12/31 would still be blocked out. Reports are somewhat mixed about whether or not Disney would allow us to upgrade to a Sorcerer's Pass at the end of our trip, since the first two days are blocked out, but many people have done this successfully (upgrading from park hopper to Gold AP). Hopefully Disney would not close this "loophole," but of course that is possible. I don't really see why they wouldn't allow it. The AP would be backdated to the block out days, so it's not like we gain anything the following year.

I seriously doubt they'll close that "loophole", since it's not costing them any money...and that seems to be the most important thing to Disney right now.

In the past, you could save some money by bridging tickets to AP's, but that's in the past.

 

[Robbie Cottam]

Unfortunately, you cannot upgrade to Gold AP's anymore. You'll have to upgrade to the new "Sorcerer's Pass", which is substantially more money.

I'm on hold with DVC member services right now, as I'm giving one last Hail Mary that they'll allow me to renew my family's Gold Passes 4 days early (today's the last day Gold Passes are able to be renewed)...I've already gotten a hard "no" two days ago, but what do I have to lose in trying again?

The money grab by Disney is just a bit off-putting right now.

The gold pass is gone. the Sorcerer's pass is a DVC only pass that replaced the gold pass... It is like 800 dollars.... I though they charge me the wrong price when I got mine.... but I was wrong

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Sorcerer pass is the new "equivalent" of gold and is available to Florida residents and DVC members. There were some changes- no photo pass included, and some blackout dates moved from Easter to Thanksgiving.

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

Have they resumed AP sales for DVC members (not renewals)?

 

[1lilspark]

Have they resumed AP sales for DVC members (not renewals)?

No, only pass available for new purchase is the pixie dust pass (FL resident/weekday only)

Aside from that they MAY allow a family of AP holders to buy new into the higher tiers for a recently turned 3 year old