The Annual Pass thread - information and questions

[cwis]

I'd be going on a blockout date so I guess I'll have to pay the extra at one of the ticket booths before going into the park.

I've been told tickets for blackout days no longer exist. You need to buy a full price ticket, or use BAF for yourself, is such offer exist when you want to enter.
Disclaimer: I've been told this by the AP desk, not ticketing. I would trust ticketing more about this.

 

[SpectroBelle]

I have the same situation as WelshPrince. We have Fantasy passes but will be arriving on a blackout day. Can we pay to upgrade to Dream passes at the ticket booth to gain entry and then go on to the AP desk, or do we have to buy a full-price day ticket? Also, does anyone know how we can do this in advance and be able to get the Halloween party tickets at the 30% off rate? I'm worried the party will be sold out if we don't buy tickets in advance.

 

[cwis]

I'm still not sure about buying an “entrance” ticket for Fantasy AP holder; however if those tickets no longer exists, you would not have to pay for a full ticket, as you would be able to buy a 10%-discounted ticket for yourself.

You will not be able to upgrade an AP at a ticket booth, I'm not even sure Guest Relations would allow you to do this (though it wouldn't hurt asking).

In any case, if you need to buy a ticket to enter the park, I would recommend buying a ticket only for yourself, then go to the AP desk with all APs. From there, I believe you would pay only the difference between your day-ticket, and the cost of upselling all of your passes.

Regarding the Halloween evening ticket, I would not hesitate and call CRO to order a ticket with the Dream discount. They rarely ask for a number (and you could always say you're at work, and your AP is home). As long as you plan entering the park with a Dream passport, I believe you're fine (both morally, or if someone asks you for your tickets).

 

[SpectroBelle]

I'm still not sure about buying an “entrance” ticket for Fantasy AP holder; however if those tickets no longer exists, you would not have to pay for a full ticket, as you would be able to buy a 10%-discounted ticket for yourself.

You will not be able to upgrade an AP at a ticket booth, I'm not even sure Guest Relations would allow you to do this (though it wouldn't hurt asking).

In any case, if you need to buy a ticket to enter the park, I would recommend buying a ticket only for yourself, then go to the AP desk with all APs. From there, I believe you would pay only the difference between your day-ticket, and the cost of upselling all of your passes.

Regarding the Halloween evening ticket, I would not hesitate and call CRO to order a ticket with the Dream discount. They rarely ask for a number (and you could always say you're at work, and your AP is home). As long as you plan entering the park with a Dream passport, I believe you're fine (both morally, or if someone asks you for your tickets).

Thank you so much! So I would be allowed to upgrade my husband's pass too? Do they need to take a new photo of him or can they use the one from the original pass?

 

[cwis]

Thank you so much! So I would be allowed to upgrade my husband's pass too? Do they need to take a new photo of him or can they use the one from the original pass?

They can keep the photo. You would need to have proper ID if you have children, though.

 

[SpectroBelle]

I'm still not sure about buying an “entrance” ticket for Fantasy AP holder; however if those tickets no longer exists, you would not have to pay for a full ticket, as you would be able to buy a 10%-discounted ticket for yourself.

You will not be able to upgrade an AP at a ticket booth, I'm not even sure Guest Relations would allow you to do this (though it wouldn't hurt asking).

In any case, if you need to buy a ticket to enter the park, I would recommend buying a ticket only for yourself, then go to the AP desk with all APs. From there, I believe you would pay only the difference between your day-ticket, and the cost of upselling all of your passes.

Regarding the Halloween evening ticket, I would not hesitate and call CRO to order a ticket with the Dream discount. They rarely ask for a number (and you could always say you're at work, and your AP is home). As long as you plan entering the park with a Dream passport, I believe you're fine (both morally, or if someone asks you for your tickets).

CWIS, thank you so much for all your help. I called today and got Halloween tickets, being mailed. But, I had already posted this question on another forum (magicforum) and someone replied there saying you cannot upgrade a pass, only when it's renewal time then to get the Dream pass. This has me so concerned as now I have party tickets with the Dream discount plus possibly having to pay for entrance at full price for all of our days. Do you know where I could call that they might be able to confirm this? It seems when I call DLP I get conflicting information from different CM's. If it makes a difference our passes expire May 1st, so we have a while.

 

[cwis]

CWIS, thank you so much for all your help. I called today and got Halloween tickets, being mailed. But, I had already posted this question on another forum (magicforum) and someone replied there saying you cannot upgrade a pass, only when it's renewal time then to get the Dream pass. This has me so concerned as now I have party tickets with the Dream discount plus possibly having to pay for entrance at full price for all of our days. Do you know where I could call that they might be able to confirm this? It seems when I call DLP I get conflicting information from different CM's. If it makes a difference our passes expire May 1st, so we have a while.

Chances are the other forum is wrong. I have a hobby of trying to understand DLP rules and I would be very surprised if they changed this.

You can upsell to a better AP by paying the price difference between the public price of the new AP and the facial value of your passport (the value printed on it; if your AP was free then the upsell is the full price of the passport). The price of an upsell is the same regardless of the number of days that your pass remains to be valid (which means at some point buying tickets might be cheaper).

Now that there is no longer an AP office outside the park, that means you have to get inside. I have been told of people who managed to get escorted by a Guest Relations cast, but would not count on it.

Note that you can also do this with 1-day ticket (eg upsell of 1-park 1-day ticket to a 2-parks 1-day tickets), and you can upsell 1-day tickets to APs (this excludes ticket from hotel packages that are at least valid for 2+ days).

If you require confirmation I would call the AP office. In any events I would strongly recommend against going to a ticket booth. There are so many rules to consider, trust me they will get something wrong (it's not they are bad, you wouldn't imagine how many exceptions and kind of tickets exists). Go straight to the Guest Relations desk if you need to ask something. The queue there is longer, but it is for a reason!

One last thing: I believe you're not staying in a Disney hotel, do you? If you do, blackout days no longer applies (except for contractual days after buying the Francilien AP).

And definitively keep us posted!

 

[SpectroBelle]

Chances are the other forum is wrong. I have a hobby of trying to understand DLP rules and I would be very surprised if they changed this.

You can upsell to a better AP by paying the price difference between the public price of the new AP and the facial value of your passport (the value printed on it; if your AP was free then the upsell is the full price of the passport). The price of an upsell is the same regardless of the number of days that your pass remains to be valid (which means at some point buying tickets might be cheaper).

Now that there is no longer an AP office outside the park, that means you have to get inside. I have been told of people who managed to get escorted by a Guest Relations cast, but would not count on it.

Note that you can also do this with 1-day ticket (eg upsell of 1-park 1-day ticket to a 2-parks 1-day tickets), and you can upsell 1-day tickets to APs (this excludes ticket from hotel packages that are at least valid for 2+ days).

If you require confirmation I would call the AP office. In any events I would strongly recommend against going to a ticket booth. There are so many rules to consider, trust me they will get something wrong (it's not they are bad, you wouldn't imagine how many exceptions and kind of tickets exists). Go straight to the Guest Relations desk if you need to ask something. The queue there is longer, but it is for a reason!

One last thing: I believe you're not staying in a Disney hotel, do you? If you do, blackout days no longer applies (except for contractual days after buying the Francilien AP).

And definitively keep us posted!

Well here's the latest. I called the booking desk and told them I had a question about my AP and asked to be transferred to the AP office. She said she could help me, so I asked about upgrading. She was quite insistent that it could not be done, but she said to hold and she would find out. Come to find out yes, indeed it can be upgraded as discussed but only in the park. Whew! She had no suggestion for getting to the AP office on a blackout date. That we will just have to sort out when we get there. Thank you for the guest relations suggestion vs ticket booth, I will definitely do that! I am hoping that if I have to buy an entrance ticket that the cost can be applied to the pass upgrades but the CM was not informed about that. And you are correct, we are staying off property as my DH is there on business and that's what the company would pay for.

Thank you, I'm feeling better now

 

[cwis]

Well here's the latest. I called the booking desk and told them I had a question about my AP and asked to be transferred to the AP office. She said she could help me, so I asked about upgrading. She was quite insistent that it could not be done, but she said to hold and she would find out. Come to find out yes, indeed it can be upgraded as discussed but only in the park. Whew! She had no suggestion for getting to the AP office on a blackout date. That we will just have to sort out when we get there. Thank you for the guest relations suggestion vs ticket booth, I will definitely do that! I am hoping that if I have to buy an entrance ticket that the cost can be applied to the pass upgrades but the CM was not informed about that. And you are correct, we are staying off property as my DH is there on business and that's what the company would pay for.

Thank you, I'm feeling better now

I'm glad you had the opportunity to talk to someone who actually knows what this is all about!
I would not be 100% confident but I believe there is a 99% chance that you can buy a ticket on a blackout date, and use it to upsell your passes while at the AP office. Anyway, I'm sure Guest Relations will be able to find out the best solutions for you!

Please post your experience when you return! I cross my fingers for you

 

[SpectroBelle]

Well I am back from my trip and wanted to give an update, hopefully this will help someone else in my same situation. We went to the park on the evening we arrived at about 6pm to try to upgrade our Fantasy passes. We went to Guest Relations, which is on the far right side of the entrance. Yes, there was a long line! But it was well worth it. The CM there told us we could indeed upgrade our passes and we had to buy day passes to gain entry (as it was a blackout day) so that we could go to the AP office and do the upgrade. The cost of the day ticket is applied toward the cost of the upgrade, which in our case since we both went in we didn't get any money back and actually paid more than the cost to upgrade. I didn't want to go in for the first time without him, seeing all the Halloween decor and such, and also we both had to sign a new contract and I'm not sure I could have signed for him. We stood in a very long line at the AP office, which closed at 8pm. I didn't mind, as the Halloween stage show was going on while we waited. We had a fantastic time and the Halloween Soiree was super fun! Thanks again CWIS for your help! You were right on the money! Bottom line: Fantasy passes can be upgraded to Dream passes for the difference in cost and the expiration date does not change.

 

[ang2383]

Hello, has anyone used the hotel discount with the Fantasy pass? I'm trying to figure out how to use the discount. It looks like I need to call to find out rates? Is there another way to do? Also, does anyone have the right number to call? The number on their site says it is out of service. Thanks!

 

[cwis]

Hello, has anyone used the hotel discount with the Fantasy pass? I'm trying to figure out how to use the discount. It looks like I need to call to find out rates? Is there another way to do? Also, does anyone have the right number to call? The number on their site says it is out of service. Thanks!

Unfortunately you have to call to get a quote. Don't forget to also ask for a quote for a regular package, more often than not, it is cheaper to buy a package including ticket than a discounted room-only AP rate!

 

[fitnessmouse]

It's been awhile since we've been. Can you also activate a temporary ap at the studios? Or only inside the main park at the ap office?

 

[cwis]

It's been awhile since we've been. Can you also activate a temporary ap at the studios? Or only inside the main park at the ap office?

The AP desk of the WDS has been closed to make room for a Spiderman photo location. You'll have to go the desk of the main Park, or to the Donald's Desk if you're lucky to visit one of the days it is open (mostly on weekends).

Enjoy your visit to DLP!

 

[chelynnah]

Hello, has anyone used the hotel discount with the Fantasy pass? I'm trying to figure out how to use the discount. It looks like I need to call to find out rates? Is there another way to do? Also, does anyone have the right number to call? The number on their site says it is out of service. Thanks!

I have a Dream, but just phoned the 08 number on the UK website. I got a deal that was better than the 2nights free offer for the time we are going, but often the special offers are better. In that case book it for one person so you only get 1 set of tickets, and add the extra person/people to the room when you get there. You will just need to pay the extra room tax which is €1 or 2 per person per night

 

[Disneyqueendenmark]

Hi,
I'm planning on buying a Dream annual pass (before March 28th!!)
I called today to hear about the annual pass hotel discount. The woman said that I would need to buy the AP now (makes sense) in order to book the hotel with the discount. She said that I could buy the AP now (as long as I did it before 28/3 when the new AP's come out) and then wait up to 6 months to activate it in Disneyland at the AP Office. I just want to double check and see if any of you tried this. Can I buy it now and wait 'till September to activate it. And if I buy it now - the dream with no block-out dates - I will get that pass when I activate it - I won't be forced to upgrade/change to some of the new ones?

Hope some of you can help! Thanks

 

[cwis]

Hi,
I'm planning on buying a Dream annual pass (before March 28th!!)
I called today to hear about the annual pass hotel discount. The woman said that I would need to buy the AP now (makes sense) in order to book the hotel with the discount. She said that I could buy the AP now (as long as I did it before 28/3 when the new AP's come out) and then wait up to 6 months to activate it in Disneyland at the AP Office. I just want to double check and see if any of you tried this. Can I buy it now and wait 'till September to activate it. And if I buy it now - the dream with no block-out dates - I will get that pass when I activate it - I won't be forced to upgrade/change to some of the new ones?

Hope some of you can help! Thanks

If you buy a voucher for à Dreams AP, then you will receive a Dreams AP when you'll exchange your pass.

In no way Disney will be able to force you having another AP that the one you bought.

(Technically, according to French law, while both parts engaging a contract are bound, it is allowed to change without permission the terms of the contract *only* if the new terms are in the favor of the other part. Since the Dreams AP has no block-out date, they cannot give you an AP which is less favouring.)

 

[Disneyqueendenmark]

If you buy a voucher for à Dreams AP, then you will receive a Dreams AP when you'll exchange your pass.

In no way Disney will be able to force you having another AP that the one you bought.

(Technically, according to French law, while both parts engaging a contract are bound, it is allowed to change without permission the terms of the contract *only* if the new terms are in the favor of the other part. Since the Dreams AP has no block-out date, they cannot give you an AP which is less favouring.)

Thanks! Just wanted to make sure.
And I have 6 months to exchange the voucher at the AP office in DL?

 

[chelynnah]

Thanks! Just wanted to make sure.
And I have 6 months to exchange the voucher at the AP office in DL?

Unless things have changed since we did it last year, yes you have 6 months to exchange it.

 

[ang2383]

Unfortunately you have to call to get a quote. Don't forget to also ask for a quote for a regular package, more often than not, it is cheaper to buy a package including ticket than a discounted room-only AP rate!

Thanks for your reply. I kept calling and calling, and the number is finally back in service. So very weird for it to be out of service for a few days. Odd part is, I tried to tweet them to let them know their phone wasn't working, and they didn't understand what I was talking about.

But anyway, I called to get a quote, but it was a quote for the room only. I will call back to ask for a quote with the package to compare the price. Thanks so much. Do you know on average what the cheapest it is? I have a quote for Santa Fe for 296 euros for two nights, and then 900 something euros for the NY hotel. This is for 2 ppl. So will my rate be cheaper if I tell them 2 ppl and add the second person later? Are the discounts for certain hotels only? They were only able to give me quotes for these two.