Staying for two weeks on 4/3 plan - ticket question

[eeyoreforever]

We have been to Disney multiple times and I should know this, but the more I read other posts, the more my brain feels like mush.

We have two packages booked back to back with the 4/3 deal. My plan is on the first week to purchase 10 day park hopper tickets (Ticket #A) and on the second week just purchase 7 day base tickets (Ticket #B). At the end of the first week we will still have 3 park hopper days left on the 10 day tickets(Ticket #A). During the second week, I can use one of my park hopper days from Ticket A on a day that we want to hop as opposed to using one of my days on Ticket #B that is a base ticket. Since the tickets are good for 14 days I should be able to do this - right?

I think one thing confusing me is if the tickets are on my room key, once I check out of the room at the end of the first reservation, I am afraid my card won't be good anymore. We always do room and tickets separate so these packages just confuse me.

Thanks for any clarification.

 

[PolyAddict]

We have been to Disney multiple times and I should know this, but the more I read other posts, the more my brain feels like mush.

We have two packages booked back to back with the 4/3 deal. My plan is on the first week to purchase 10 day park hopper tickets (Ticket #A) and on the second week just purchase 7 day base tickets (Ticket #B). At the end of the first week we will still have 3 park hopper days left on the 10 day tickets(Ticket #A). During the second week, I can use one of my park hopper days from Ticket A on a day that we want to hop as opposed to using one of my days on Ticket #B that is a base ticket. Since the tickets are good for 14 days I should be able to do this - right?

I think one thing confusing me is if the tickets are on my room key, once I check out of the room at the end of the first reservation, I am afraid my card won't be good anymore. We always do room and tickets separate so these packages just confuse me.

Thanks for any clarification.

By no means am i an expert on this pkg stuff but wouldn't you have to have the No Expire option on ticket A or is it good for 14 days from first use?

 

[RMAMom]

Have you considered upgrading your tickets to an AP.
During your first stay you will have purchased a 4 day but are receiving a 7day. once you use one day of that ticket its locked into the face value of a 7 day so if you upgrade to AP you will pay the difference between a 7 day and the AP. I haven't run the numbers but it may be the same or cheaper and you would get the benefits of the AP.
You will have to change your second week to a 1 day ticket but that is good until you use it so you could save it until your next trip.

 

[RMAMom]

We have been to Disney multiple times and I should know this, but the more I read other posts, the more my brain feels like mush.


I think one thing confusing me is if the tickets are on my room key, once I check out of the room at the end of the first reservation, I am afraid my card won't be good anymore. We always do room and tickets separate so these packages just confuse me.

Thanks for any clarification.

After you check in go to the concierge desk and they can separate the tickets for you. They will take you park tickets off of your KTTW card and put them on a separate card.

 

[thunderbird1]

There shouldn't be any problem doing what you're suggesting. The first tickets (10 day ph) don't expire until 14 days after first use, so they should be good for your entire trip. And because the second tickets (7 day base) are separate, you could use one admission off of them and one admission off of the first tickets on the same day (if you could keep them straight, lol). But, like RMAMom said, you may be better off upgrading to an annual pass. I'll try to run the numbers for you.

10 day ph on 4/3 deal (price of 7 day ph): $296.07 +
7 day base on 4/3 deal (price of a 4 day): $233.24
Total price for 2 tickets: $529.11
Total price for an annual pass: $499.49

Bear with me--this is where it gets a little confusing. Because you're purchasing tickets at a discount with the 4/3 deal, your best bet is to use the ticket once before upgrading it. By doing this, you "lock in the current gate price" for that ticket, and can get full face value for it on the upgrade instead of the discounted price you paid for it. (See post #7 on this sticky for a better explanation: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1452684)

This doesn't help you much on the longer park hoppers, as park-hopping is a flat $50 no matter which ticket you buy, and the cost to add on days after 4 is pretty minimal (less than $10). But if you go with no expiration instead of parkhoppers, the difference in price between the 7 day and 10 day is over $100.

10 day base no expiration (price of 7 day ne): $359.97
Use it once to bring it up to full gate value ($465.41)
Cost to upgrade to an annual pass ($499.49): $34.08
Total cost for your annual pass: $394.05

You'll still have to buy a one day base ticket with your second package, but you can save that for another trip. Even if you figure in the cost of that one day base ticket ($79.88) you'd still come out cheaper by buying the (discounted) 10 NE tickets and upgrading them. Plus you'd have all the benefits of an annual pass, like parkhopping, shopping and dining discounts, free parking at the theme parks, etc. And if you manage to get back to WDW within the next year, your park admission will be free!

I hope I explained that well enough. It's exactly what we're going to be doing on our next trip, and what sold us on the 4/3 package. HTH, and good luck!

 

[eeyoreforever]

Thanks for the replies -

Thunderbird - I've read your explanation about 10 times now and its finally starting to sink in. I reran my numbers and this is what I'm getting:

There are three of us going - myself , my dd16 and dd14 and right now we have a preferred room both weeks.

What I currently have booked:
Week one - 7 days Value with 7 day base ticket 1291
Week two - 7 days Value with 7 day base ticket 1291
Total 2582

New Option based on your advice:
Week one - 7 days Value with 10 day NE ticket 1603
Week two - 7 days Value with 1 day base ticket 763
Add in 14 nights Preferred @ 15/night 210
Total 2576

Cost to upgrade 10 day NE to AP (34 (per your
calculation above x 3) 102

Grand Total 2678

So, in effect, I would be paying $ 96 more, but would have AP's with park hopping and (3) one day tickets for future use. Sounds like a bargain to me.

Did I calculate that correctly?

If I decide to go with this, should I go ahead and call and change the tickets on my reservations or just wait until I am there and change them. If so, I'm assuming you change them at guest services and not at the resort while you are checking in.

Again, thanks so very much for your help.

 

[thunderbird1]

Thank goodness it makes sense to you! I ran these numbers over and over and over for our trip and by the end, I had about 6 pages of scribbles and almost none of it made sense to me, lol. Doing some very quick calculations, your numbers look right to me, but the prices I get online, and the ones I get over the phone, and the ones I do on my own always vary a little. Must be disney math, lol.

You have to change the tickets on your package before you go (preferably before you make final payment) in order to be able to get the 10 day NE for the price of the 7 day. And make sure you drop the parkhopper option, or the value of the ticket will actually be more than an AP costs, and Disney doesn't do refunds on ticket upgrades.

You're correct-you can't do the upgrade at your hotel, you have to do it at guest services. But also make sure you use the ticket before upgrading, or you'll only get credit for the 7 day NE (which is what you paid for) instead of the 10 day NE (which is what you'll actually have). This process is explained in detail on Cheshire Figment's awesome ticket FAQ that I linked to in my last post.

What we've done in the past, and will do next month, is use the tickets to enter a park, then walk over to guest services inside the park and upgrade to annual passes. It's hit or miss whether you get a CM who fully understands what you're doing, but as long as you know how much it should cost you to upgrade from a 10 day NE to an AP, you should be okay.

And yes, you'll have the 1 day tickets to save for another trip. Another option (that we've only heard about, but will try next month) is to use them towards a water park, or disney quest, or wp/dq annual pass. WP only is about $105, DQ only is about $95, and the combo AP is about $137, but you'll get the credit of $80 or so from the base ticket. With teenagers, and 2 weeks at the parks, this is an option you might like to explore.

 

[winterman]

I think one thing confusing me is if the tickets are on my room key, once I check out of the room at the end of the first reservation, I am afraid my card won't be good anymore.
Thanks for any clarification.

Your ticket will still be valid even tho it is on the 'old' KTTW card. Just make sure you check the dates so you use the correct KTTW card.

In the past DH and I have stayed onsite and had our tickets on our KTTW. Then moved offsite for a few nights and had no difficulty using them.

 

[eeyoreforever]

Thanks again for all the info - it has been a huge help.

In the past when I have had an AP, I've always had the DDE card (now Tables in Wonderland). I was dreading having to pay full price for my meals this year, but now that I will be getting my AP again, I will also be able to get the card and save even more money.

thunderbird - please post after your next trip and let us know if you were able to upgrade you ticket towards a water park, or disney quest, or wp/dq annual pass.

 

[diana13]

Does anyone know for sure if you can use that one day base ticket toward a Water Park annual pass? Also, we are doing whats noted above. Staying for 2 weeks.The first week a 10 day tix, then the second week a one day pass. So when we get there we'll upgrade to an AP. Like to use the 1 day tix toward a WP annual pass, which guest services says we can. Now since we dont get that 1 day tix until the 2nd week, can we somehow get that ticket earlier to upgrade it so we can use the water parks the first week?

 

[DalefromCT]

Since you upgrade to an Annual Pass at the park, how do you go about getting the Tables in Wonderland card? We used the DDE several years ago but I recall it took awhile to order. Is there a way to get one to be used on that trip?

 

[riaesq]

Used to be you could go over to Epcot Guest Services during the day and get your TIW (DDE) taken care of there with a temporary card. Not sure you still can tho..

 

[riaesq]

Thank goodness it makes sense to you! I ran these numbers over and over and over for our trip and by the end, I had about 6 pages of scribbles and almost none of it made sense to me, lol. Doing some very quick calculations, your numbers look right to me, but the prices I get online, and the ones I get over the phone, and the ones I do on my own always vary a little. Must be disney math, lol.

You have to change the tickets on your package before you go (preferably before you make final payment) in order to be able to get the 10 day NE for the price of the 7 day. And make sure you drop the parkhopper option, or the value of the ticket will actually be more than an AP costs, and Disney doesn't do refunds on ticket upgrades.

You're correct-you can't do the upgrade at your hotel, you have to do it at guest services. But also make sure you use the ticket before upgrading, or you'll only get credit for the 7 day NE (which is what you paid for) instead of the 10 day NE (which is what you'll actually have). This process is explained in detail on Cheshire Figment's awesome ticket FAQ that I linked to in my last post.

What we've done in the past, and will do next month, is use the tickets to enter a park, then walk over to guest services inside the park and upgrade to annual passes. It's hit or miss whether you get a CM who fully understands what you're doing, but as long as you know how much it should cost you to upgrade from a 10 day NE to an AP, you should be okay.

And yes, you'll have the 1 day tickets to save for another trip. Another option (that we've only heard about, but will try next month) is to use them towards a water park, or disney quest, or wp/dq annual pass. WP only is about $105, DQ only is about $95, and the combo AP is about $137, but you'll get the credit of $80 or so from the base ticket. With teenagers, and 2 weeks at the parks, this is an option you might like to explore.

Just want to say, YMMV depending on the CM. 3 times now I have done this, and only once did I get the full value. Didn't want to argue the $4.xx for too long so I didn't pursue it too much.

 

[eeyoreforever]

Since you upgrade to an Annual Pass at the park, how do you go about getting the Tables in Wonderland card? We used the DDE several years ago but I recall it took awhile to order. Is there a way to get one to be used on that trip?

From what I've read, now you can get the card at any Guest Service location. That sure does make it a lot more convenient.

 

[gallam5]

Since you upgrade to an Annual Pass at the park, how do you go about getting the Tables in Wonderland card? We used the DDE several years ago but I recall it took awhile to order. Is there a way to get one to be used on that trip?

We ordered one last minute before our trip, but we were able to go to guest services and get a temp card.
Sorry if someone already replied to this - I was just reading posts... )

 

[DalefromCT]

From what I've read, now you can get the card at any Guest Service location. That sure does make it a lot more convenient.

Thanks for the info. That will work out great if we upgrade to an AP while we are there!

 

[thunderbird1]

You're correct-you can't do the upgrade at your hotel, you have to do it at guest services. But also make sure you use the ticket before upgrading, or you'll only get credit for the 7 day NE (which is what you paid for) instead of the 10 day NE (which is what you'll actually have). This process is explained in detail on Cheshire Figment's awesome ticket FAQ that I linked to in my last post.

What we've done in the past, and will do next month, is use the tickets to enter a park, then walk over to guest services inside the park and upgrade to annual passes. It's hit or miss whether you get a CM who fully understands what you're doing, but as long as you know how much it should cost you to upgrade from a 10 day NE to an AP, you should be okay.

We're back, I finally found this thread again, the upgrade worked, and we got full credit for the 10 day NE. That's the short version.

Long version: After checking in and picking up our (10 day NE) tickets, we headed over to Epcot and used those tickets (which were still on our room keys) to enter the park. Dh and the kids went on S:E, and I went to Guest Services. I explained that I wanted to upgrade our MYW tickets to AP's, and was told I should wait until the end of the trip or else risk being locked out of my room and losing all my dining credits. I smiled, and explained that I appreciated his concern, but I really wanted to do the upgrade now so I could take advantage of parkhopping, AP discounts, etc. He called someone else over, who said the same thing, then added I could only get credit for what I'd paid for the tickets, which was $359.97, and not the gate price, which was $465.41. I continued smiling and explained that actually, because I'd already used the tickets, they are supposed to bridge the gap between the discounted price and the gate price, and credit me full gate price.

The second CM disagreed with me, but told the first CM that he could go call guest relations to find out for sure. So he left, made the call, and came back a few minutes later confirming everything I'd just said. When he noticed the difference between what I'd paid and the gate price, he said in shock, "that's over $100!" He began the long process of separating the tickets from the room keys, ringing up my credits, charging me for the AP's, applying my credits and finally printing out my AP's. He was still a little worried about messing up my room keys, but I assured him that we had done this before without incident and, in the unlikely event of a problem, I was sure we'd be able to work everything out back at the hotel.

At the end of it all, I got my AP's, I got my discount, and nothing happened to my room key or dining credits. The difference I had to pay to upgrade wasn't exactly what I'd calculated--it was $.07 more, so I decided to just let it go.

And yes, you'll have the 1 day tickets to save for another trip. Another option (that we've only heard about, but will try next month) is to use them towards a water park, or disney quest, or wp/dq annual pass. WP only is about $105, DQ only is about $95, and the combo AP is about $137, but you'll get the credit of $80 or so from the base ticket. With teenagers, and 2 weeks at the parks, this is an option you might like to explore.

thunderbird - please post after your next trip and let us know if you were able to upgrade you ticket towards a water park, or disney quest, or wp/dq annual pass.

Does anyone know for sure if you can use that one day base ticket toward a Water Park annual pass?

A few days later, we decided to take our 1 day base tickets from last September's trip over to DQ to find out if we could convert them to DQ/WP AP's. Short version: Yes you can.

Long version: very similar to the last story. I walked up to the ticket window and was told no. I smiled and said I was told that I can, and the CM offered to check with guest services for me. Since it was the next window over, I told her I'd be happy to do it. Guest services understood exactly what I wanted to do, and had no problem with it. Fortunately, it was a much shorter process and, within a few minutes, we were inside DQ fighting pirates on the high seas! This time, the upgrade cost was $2.00 less than what I'd calculated it should be--again, I decided not to argue.

The moral of the story: Complicated upgrades can be done. But if the first person (or two) doesn't know how, don't panic, but don't take no for an answer. Politely but firmly request that they check with guest (relations or services?). And even more important: make sure you know your numbers and have them written down in front of you. The first time we did this type of upgrade (2 years ago) I had no idea what I was doing, and the whole thing ended up horribly botched. It took 2 CM's at 2 different parks a long time, and even they still couldn't figure out exactly what had happened. I eventually got credited for my overpayment--I think--but I still don't know exactly what I paid for those AP's. This time, I know exactly what I paid, and exactly how much I saved by doing my research here first!

Good luck everyone!

 

[NorweJenNY]

We're back, I finally found this thread again, the upgrade worked, and we got full credit for the 10 day NE. That's the short version.

Long version: After checking in and picking up our (10 day NE) tickets, we headed over to Epcot and used those tickets (which were still on our room keys) to enter the park. Dh and the kids went on S:E, and I went to Guest Services. I explained that I wanted to upgrade our MYW tickets to AP's, and was told I should wait until the end of the trip or else risk being locked out of my room and losing all my dining credits. I smiled, and explained that I appreciated his concern, but I really wanted to do the upgrade now so I could take advantage of parkhopping, AP discounts, etc. He called someone else over, who said the same thing, then added I could only get credit for what I'd paid for the tickets, which was $359.97, and not the gate price, which was $465.41. I continued smiling and explained that actually, because I'd already used the tickets, they are supposed to bridge the gap between the discounted price and the gate price, and credit me full gate price.

The second CM disagreed with me, but told the first CM that he could go call guest relations to find out for sure. So he left, made the call, and came back a few minutes later confirming everything I'd just said. When he noticed the difference between what I'd paid and the gate price, he said in shock, "that's over $100!" He began the long process of separating the tickets from the room keys, ringing up my credits, charging me for the AP's, applying my credits and finally printing out my AP's. He was still a little worried about messing up my room keys, but I assured him that we had done this before without incident and, in the unlikely event of a problem, I was sure we'd be able to work everything out back at the hotel.

At the end of it all, I got my AP's, I got my discount, and nothing happened to my room key or dining credits. The difference I had to pay to upgrade wasn't exactly what I'd calculated--it was $.07 more, so I decided to just let it go.







A few days later, we decided to take our 1 day base tickets from last September's trip over to DQ to find out if we could convert them to DQ/WP AP's. Short version: Yes you can.

Long version: very similar to the last story. I walked up to the ticket window and was told no. I smiled and said I was told that I can, and the CM offered to check with guest services for me. Since it was the next window over, I told her I'd be happy to do it. Guest services understood exactly what I wanted to do, and had no problem with it. Fortunately, it was a much shorter process and, within a few minutes, we were inside DQ fighting pirates on the high seas! This time, the upgrade cost was $2.00 less than what I'd calculated it should be--again, I decided not to argue.

The moral of the story: Complicated upgrades can be done. But if the first person (or two) doesn't know how, don't panic, but don't take no for an answer. Politely but firmly request that they check with guest (relations or services?). And even more important: make sure you know your numbers and have them written down in front of you. The first time we did this type of upgrade (2 years ago) I had no idea what I was doing, and the whole thing ended up horribly botched. It took 2 CM's at 2 different parks a long time, and even they still couldn't figure out exactly what had happened. I eventually got credited for my overpayment--I think--but I still don't know exactly what I paid for those AP's. This time, I know exactly what I paid, and exactly how much I saved by doing my research here first!

Good luck everyone!

You are a God-send!

Thank you for sharing your full experience here, Thunderbird!

Now I know what I am likely to encounter... if I do my homework, the work will pay off.

 

[thunderbird1]

You are a God-send!

Thank you for sharing your full experience here, Thunderbird!

Now I know what I am likely to encounter... if I do my homework, the work will pay off.

You're welcome (again), but I can't take the credit because I never would have figured this out on my own. I really have to credit the DIS community, and I'm just happy to be a small part of it.

 

[eeyoreforever]

Thunderbird1 - Thanks so much for the update. Now, do you want to come with us on our trip and handle the upgrade for me? You sound like you did a great job

I'm still hoping that they do it right the first time and I don't have to do your long version.

Hope you had a great trip!