Sorcerer Pass

[MamaBelle4]

Hi! I wasn't "here" when there were renewals or sales of the Sorcerer Pass.

Does anyone know why they stopped? Is it a capacity thing? Or did Disney halt it when Covid numbers started peaking again? Do we think they'll be on sale again soon?

We're going to Disney Dec 3-10. I'm trying to decide whether it is better to buy my tickets ASAP to get park reservations or wait to see if the passes become available again. Or if we buy tickets (even through a reseller) would we be able to upgrade them to annual passes at guest services? This would be our first time with annual passes so I'm not really sure what the process is.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

 

[jbish]

I am going to answer the second part of your question and will just weigh in with my own experience. Pre-covid, I successfully upgraded my tickets (that I bought through a broker) to a Gold Annual pass. I think I did this two different years. It was critical that I had actually entered the park at least one time to ensure that I got full credit for the cost of my ticket (i.e. the going rate, not the rate at which I bought) and the "bridging" amount was just the difference between whatever that ticket would cost and the annual pass. But I have no idea what they are capable of. On my next trip, I bought my tickets, again, through a broker and then decided to add G+ to the length of my stay. I ended up paying the full $15/person/day PLUS the difference in the cost of the tickets as WDW had just raised prices. NOT pleased with that.

 

[MamaBelle4]

It was critical that I had actually entered the park at least one time to ensure that I got full credit for the cost of my ticket

I am really glad you said that! I would have thought entering the park would have made any upgrades impossible or highly unlikely!

 

[Mle8308]

Hi! I wasn't "here" when there were renewals or sales of the Sorcerer Pass.

Does anyone know why they stopped? Is it a capacity thing? Or did Disney halt it when Covid numbers started peaking again? Do we think they'll be on sale again soon?

We're going to Disney Dec 3-10. I'm trying to decide whether it is better to buy my tickets ASAP to get park reservations or wait to see if the passes become available again. Or if we buy tickets (even through a reseller) would we be able to upgrade them to annual passes at guest services? This would be our first time with annual passes so I'm not really sure what the process is.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Are you a FL resident? The only pass available to non FL residents was the Indredi-Pass prior to the pause of selling. Nevermind!!! Looks like from your posting that you are DVC owners, so you can purchase the Sorcerer's pass when they start selling them again.

 

[alldiz]

I am going to answer the second part of your question and will just weigh in with my own experience. Pre-covid, I successfully upgraded my tickets (that I bought through a broker) to a Gold Annual pass. I think I did this two different years. It was critical that I had actually entered the park at least one time to ensure that I got full credit for the cost of my ticket (i.e. the going rate, not the rate at which I bought) and the "bridging" amount was just the difference between whatever that ticket would cost and the annual pass. But I have no idea what they are capable of. On my next trip, I bought my tickets, again, through a broker and then decided to add G+ to the length of my stay. I ended up paying the full $15/person/day PLUS the difference in the cost of the tickets as WDW had just raised prices. NOT pleased with that.

Hi, I managed to get the DVC AP. Which does not include genie, before they canceled.

my DD went in Jan and added it every day.( I did not and plan on activating Labor Day wknd.

ok just wondering why u didn’t add the genie each day? Like you would for AP?
Instead of all that extra money?

You can’t prebook anything before 7 am and if u want to sleep in , we are talking a few minutes max to buy pass and then start genie selection.
I’m still learning this new system myself….
Which I effin hate BTW

so I am curious what is the benefit of pre buying genie??

bring back my free fastpass!!!
Happy planning
Kerri

 

[jbish]

ok just wondering why u didn’t add the genie each day? Like you would for AP?
Instead of all that extra money?

You can’t prebook anything before 7 am and if u want to sleep in , we are talking a few minutes max to buy pass and then start genie selection.
I’m still learning this new system myself….
Which I effin hate BTW

so I am curious what is the benefit of pre buying genie??

bring back my free fastpass!!!
Happy planning
Kerri

We are going the week leading up to Easter, which I anticipate being the densest crowds. We will plan to park hop most days. While conventional wisdom is that you don't need them for EP or AK, I was thinking we could go to one of those parks in the morning and start stacking while at the "less crowded" park earlier in the day. And when they moved one of the ILL$ to G+ at each park, I thought there was a chance they could increase the price of G+ from $15/day. So since I was starting to plan with G+ every day, I figured let's just get them now in case Disney decides to raise the price again. Only now I look like the dope because I ended up paying more anyway!!!

 

[alldiz]

We are going the week leading up to Easter, which I anticipate being the densest crowds. We will plan to park hop most days. While conventional wisdom is that you don't need them for EP or AK, I was thinking we could go to one of those parks in the morning and start stacking while at the "less crowded" park earlier in the day. And when they moved one of the ILL$ to G+ at each park, I thought there was a chance they could increase the price of G+ from $15/day. So since I was starting to plan with G+ every day, I figured let's just get them now in case Disney decides to raise the price again. Only now I look like the dope because I ended up paying more anyway!!!

Ahhh gotcha!
Domt sweat it we are all a victim of running to give Disney our money at some point
The whole covid has messed with everyone’s mind!!!
We jus want a zero stress vaca… more than usual lol

 

[CarolMN]

Hi! I wasn't "here" when there were renewals or sales of the Sorcerer Pass.

Does anyone know why they stopped? Is it a capacity thing? Or did Disney halt it when Covid numbers started peaking again? Do we think they'll be on sale again soon?

We're going to Disney Dec 3-10. I'm trying to decide whether it is better to buy my tickets ASAP to get park reservations or wait to see if the passes become available again. Or if we buy tickets (even through a reseller) would we be able to upgrade them to annual passes at guest services? This would be our first time with annual passes so I'm not really sure what the process is.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

Our annual passes (DVC Socerer's) expire in October. We are also going in early December. I see no reason to worry about park reservations until our passes expire. Park reservations will be part of the renewal decision. FWIW, I believe APs will become available again long before I need to worry about park reservations for our early December stay.

 

[MamaBelle4]

Our annual passes (DVC Socerer's) expire in October. We are also going in early December. I see no reason to worry about park reservations until our passes expire. Park reservations will be part of the renewal decision. FWIW, I believe APs will become available again long before I need to worry about park reservations for our early December stay.

That makes me feel much better!

 

[twinklebug]

I was just there, my gold pass actually expires tomorrow, but instead of re-upping my pass (which I plan to do on my next trip) I asked if my daughter also living at the same address could buy a new DVC pass upgrading her 3 day non-hopper pass.

Day 1: went to MK. Didn't even think of upgrading at that time.
Day 2: Epcot ticketing window - Got a flat out (polite) "No. Only selling Florida Resident passes." Was told that I need to call DVC Member services to ask about buying a pass since only they could do it.
Day 3: I call Member services (it was the last day of her 3 day pass and I wanted an upgrade answer before she used it and the pass was marked completed.) Member services told me I had to go to the booth.
Later on Day 3: Back at EPCOT, looked for a plaid wearing manager in a booth, there were none so went with a cast member who looked like she might know the systems. She had no problem issuing my daughter a DVC Sorcerer's pass, dated back to the start of her 3 day ticket.

DVC Annual passes are for sale. If told no, just be polite, not all cast members know how this is done. Say thank you and move on to another window elsewhere.

Interesting note - I was talking with the DVC sales folk in the lobby of my resort and one of them said that even though the standard 1 day pass may be used/completed, the ticketing folk can backdate a new pass to the start of that used up ticket and charge the price difference (plus tax).
Didn't know this, and I have not seen it in action so I'm not a believer. A completed pass used to mean it was gone, used, no upgrades.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

I was just there, my gold pass actually expires tomorrow, but instead of re-upping my pass (which I plan to do on my next trip) I asked if my daughter also living at the same address could buy a new DVC pass upgrading her 3 day non-hopper pass.

Day 1: went to MK. Didn't even think of upgrading at that time.
Day 2: Epcot ticketing window - Got a flat out (polite) "No. Only selling Florida Resident passes." Was told that I need to call DVC Member services to ask about buying a pass since only they could do it.
Day 3: I call Member services (it was the last day of her 3 day pass and I wanted an upgrade answer before she used it and the pass was marked completed.) Member services told me I had to go to the booth.
Later on Day 3: Back at EPCOT, looked for a plaid wearing manager in a booth, there were none so went with a cast member who looked like she might know the systems. She had no problem issuing my daughter a DVC Sorcerer's pass, dated back to the start of her 3 day ticket.

DVC Annual passes are for sale. If told no, just be polite, not all cast members know how this is done. Say thank you and move on to another window elsewhere.

Interesting note - I was talking with the DVC sales folk in the lobby of my resort and one of them said that even though the standard 1 day pass may be used/completed, the ticketing folk can backdate a new pass to the start of that used up ticket and charge the price difference (plus tax).
Didn't know this, and I have not seen it in action so I'm not a believer. A completed pass used to mean it was gone, used, no upgrades.

I think you got an uninformed CM. New Sorcerer passes are not for sale. That said, glad you got what you wanted.

Perhaps family members are different, but I wouldn’t let yours expire and expect to get a new one.

 

[Bluemystique]

I got my 3-year-old’s 3-day ticket upgraded to a sorcerer pass on his last day this past week under the condition of him turning 3 when annual passes were suspended and me being an AP as his parent. When I called about it previously, the CM said he could only get a pixie pass but that I was welcome to try at the park on my last day to upgrade to sorcerer. Tried and succeeded lol.

 

[Bjaiken77]

Do we know if they are going to all current AP holders to renew? I know it’s still 5-6 months off (I forget when they put them back on sale before closing again), but I’m starting to think ahead as we plan out trips.

 

[DisBuckMan]

Do we know if they are going to all current AP holders to renew? I know it’s still 5-6 months off (I forget when they put them back on sale before closing again), but I’m starting to think ahead as we plan out trips.

Yes. If you're a current AP holder and you renew within your "window" (60 days before expiration to 30 days after expiration), then you'll have no problem renewing your AP.

 

[dcfromva]

Hi! I wasn't "here" when there were renewals or sales of the Sorcerer Pass.

Does anyone know why they stopped? Is it a capacity thing? Or did Disney halt it when Covid numbers started peaking again? Do we think they'll be on sale again soon?

We're going to Disney Dec 3-10. I'm trying to decide whether it is better to buy my tickets ASAP to get park reservations or wait to see if the passes become available again. Or if we buy tickets (even through a reseller) would we be able to upgrade them to annual passes at guest services? This would be our first time with annual passes so I'm not really sure what the process is.

Thanks for any help you can offer.

This is only speculation, but they paused most of the annual pass sales for CA and FL shortly after a law suit was filed in CA in Nov in regards to no availability of park reservations for folks who had the type of pass that did not have any block out dates (while reservations were still available for folks who had other types of tickets/and resort guests). Back in Nov (in CA), the entire month of Dec had no reservation availability for annual pass holders. (I stopped looking after Nov, so I don't know how the reservation situation actually turned out for pass holders in Dec in CA).

If you do buy the tickets with the intention of upgrading them to annual passes, remember your park reservations are going to be tied to the pass you used to make the reservation and don't get transferred over to the new pass. That is why a lot of folks upgrade on the last day. Obviously, you wouldn't have this complication if you were able to just buy the annual pass voucher in the first place. Maybe they will figure something out by the time you have to purchase your passes.

 

[Sandisw]

I was just there, my gold pass actually expires tomorrow, but instead of re-upping my pass (which I plan to do on my next trip) I asked if my daughter also living at the same address could buy a new DVC pass upgrading her 3 day non-hopper pass.

Day 1: went to MK. Didn't even think of upgrading at that time.
Day 2: Epcot ticketing window - Got a flat out (polite) "No. Only selling Florida Resident passes." Was told that I need to call DVC Member services to ask about buying a pass since only they could do it.
Day 3: I call Member services (it was the last day of her 3 day pass and I wanted an upgrade answer before she used it and the pass was marked completed.) Member services told me I had to go to the booth.
Later on Day 3: Back at EPCOT, looked for a plaid wearing manager in a booth, there were none so went with a cast member who looked like she might know the systems. She had no problem issuing my daughter a DVC Sorcerer's pass, dated back to the start of her 3 day ticket.

DVC Annual passes are for sale. If told no, just be polite, not all cast members know how this is done. Say thank you and move on to another window elsewhere.

Interesting note - I was talking with the DVC sales folk in the lobby of my resort and one of them said that even though the standard 1 day pass may be used/completed, the ticketing folk can backdate a new pass to the start of that used up ticket and charge the price difference (plus tax).
Didn't know this, and I have not seen it in action so I'm not a believer. A completed pass used to mean it was gone, used, no upgrades.

That is what is called pixie dust. They are not for sale. The CM was referring to upgrades the last day, which has always been allowed. You can not go back weeks later and get credit, even if back dated for a pass that was finished. CM's had actually told guests that during the first round of suspensions and it turned out to NOT be true.

Again, I think you were very fortunate to be allowed to get a new AP for your daughter, as evidenced by how many times it took you to get someone to do it. The only thing it does tell us is that there is a way in the system to override the no new passes for supervisors.

 

[twinklebug]

That is what is called pixie dust. They are not for sale. The CM was referring to upgrades the last day, which has always been allowed. You can not go back weeks later and get credit, even if back dated for a pass that was finished. CM's had actually told guests that during the first round of suspensions and it turned out to NOT be true.

Again, I think you were very fortunate to be allowed to get a new AP for your daughter, as evidenced by how many times it took you to get someone to do it. The only thing it does tell us is that there is a way in the system to override the no new passes for supervisors.

Pixie dust for sure, and I'm very appreciative as my daughter has been very helpful with an immense task of helping me work on closing up the family home nearby.

Regarding the "many times it took (me) to get someone to do it": I did not have more than one inquiry out to a ticketing cast member regarding passes, and his body language screamed that he was not familiar with the process so as we should in such a case I moved on after his answer and did not push.

I already knew that DVC member services would be of no help and would shove me back in the direction of ticketing, my intention by talking with them was to get the current information which they gave me, I already knew that upgrades to tickets had to be done in person. They never told me it could not be done. (This was another indicator that the ticketing Cast member did not know all the info regarding APs.)

I totally questioned the backdated pass upgrade on an expired/closed ticket too which is why I posed it as an "interesting note" above. I still don't believe that works that way, and that was a different DVC cast member, the one at the sales kiosk... to me their info is akin to that of a bus driver, it may be right, but best to check it out on your own. It was entertaining how invested that CM was toward her info.

My son was a ticketing CM for the college program. He picked up on how to do many things within the system and said his favorite part was spreading pixie dust to families when it was within his ability. He also said there were many cast members who just didn't want to bother learning more than the basics. They'd shuffle guests off asap. It seems to me that this pass upgrade was not within the cast member's individual call, there had to have been a bit of direction in place. Yes, perhaps family members of a current passholder fall within that guidance that was given as also noted by other experiences we're now reading of.

My pass expires today, I will be renewing it when I'm back down there in about 2-3 weeks. I'll ask about their policy for family members while at the window and report back.

 

[Sandisw]

Pixie dust for sure, and I'm very appreciative as my daughter has been very helpful with an immense task of helping me work on closing up the family home nearby.

Regarding the "many times it took (me) to get someone to do it": I did not have more than one inquiry out to a ticketing cast member regarding passes, and his body language screamed that he was not familiar with the process so as we should in such a case I moved on after his answer and did not push.

I already knew that DVC member services would be of no help and would shove me back in the direction of ticketing, my intention by talking with them was to get the current information which they gave me, I already knew that upgrades to tickets had to be done in person. They never told me it could not be done. (This was another indicator that the ticketing Cast member did not know all the info regarding APs.)

I totally questioned the backdated pass upgrade on an expired/closed ticket too which is why I posed it as an "interesting note" above. I still don't believe that works that way, and that was a different DVC cast member, the one at the sales kiosk... to me their info is akin to that of a bus driver, it may be right, but best to check it out on your own. It was entertaining how invested that CM was toward her info.

My son was a ticketing CM for the college program. He picked up on how to do many things within the system and said his favorite part was spreading pixie dust to families when it was within his ability. He also said there were many cast members who just didn't want to bother learning more than the basics. They'd shuffle guests off asap. It seems to me that this pass upgrade was not within the cast member's individual call, there had to have been a bit of direction in place. Yes, perhaps family members of a current passholder fall within that guidance that was given as also noted by other experiences we're now reading of.

My pass expires today, I will be renewing it when I'm back down there in about 2-3 weeks. I'll ask about their policy for family members while at the window and report back.

Cant wait to get the report. You are the first post that I have read that got a new Sorcerer pass for anyone other than a child who has turned 3.

All other reports were family members being denied.

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Pixie dust for sure, and I'm very appreciative as my daughter has been very helpful with an immense task of helping me work on closing up the family home nearby.

Regarding the "many times it took (me) to get someone to do it": I did not have more than one inquiry out to a ticketing cast member regarding passes, and his body language screamed that he was not familiar with the process so as we should in such a case I moved on after his answer and did not push.

I already knew that DVC member services would be of no help and would shove me back in the direction of ticketing, my intention by talking with them was to get the current information which they gave me, I already knew that upgrades to tickets had to be done in person. They never told me it could not be done. (This was another indicator that the ticketing Cast member did not know all the info regarding APs.)

I totally questioned the backdated pass upgrade on an expired/closed ticket too which is why I posed it as an "interesting note" above. I still don't believe that works that way, and that was a different DVC cast member, the one at the sales kiosk... to me their info is akin to that of a bus driver, it may be right, but best to check it out on your own. It was entertaining how invested that CM was toward her info.

My son was a ticketing CM for the college program. He picked up on how to do many things within the system and said his favorite part was spreading pixie dust to families when it was within his ability. He also said there were many cast members who just didn't want to bother learning more than the basics. They'd shuffle guests off asap. It seems to me that this pass upgrade was not within the cast member's individual call, there had to have been a bit of direction in place. Yes, perhaps family members of a current passholder fall within that guidance that was given as also noted by other experiences we're now reading of.

My pass expires today, I will be renewing it when I'm back down there in about 2-3 weeks. I'll ask about their policy for family members while at the window and report back.

If I were you I would renew your pass online right now. Just because they have continued to allow AP renewals doesn’t mean they can’t suspend them at some point.

 

[RoseGold]

This is the first anecdote I’ve seen of anyone being able to get a sorcerer pass except aging in toddlers. I would not bet on this happening.

APs are suspended, except the Florida weekday pass and renewals. And we don’t know how long they will process renewals. Those could go away also.

You need to plan for the current, announced ticket situation. Chapek was very clear that he wants more $$ per guest.