This is probably obvious....I need someone to help me figure this out...

[grumpy28]

So I have a question that is probably going to have an obvious answer, but my brain keeps going round and round. If anyone wants to help me figure it out, I'd be eternally grateful!

4 of the 5 of my family renewed APs on our trip last week. The youngest did not need an AP last year, but will this year. We booked a free dining BB offer for Sept (before deciding if we would be renewing APs or not). Would it make any financial sense to keep our BB offer for Sept, upgrading DS tix to an AP and "saving" the 2 day PH tix of the other 4 family members we bought with the package, for Sept 2019? I am sure we will do another free dining BB this Sept, buying the minimum ticket. We could use the tix we "saved" along with the new package tix for that trip, as I don't think we will be renewing APs in 2019.

OR

Does it make more sense to cancel the BB offer and buy DS an AP and book a room only and pay for dining?

I know we can do dining on our own, but "free dining" is tempting and we enjoy it. But we enjoy saving money more.

The package we booked was roughly $2600, for room, 2 day PH and food for 5. If I upgraded DS ticket it would be roughly $700. If I bought his ticket w/o keeping the package and upgrading, it was roughly $950.

Does it make sense to keep the package to get the FD, since the tix will be used next year (though I know they "expire" Dec 2018 and I will have to pay the difference)?

ETA: Or could I not buy DS an AP, and instead transfer the tix to him to use on the Sept trip. Would that make any sense?

 

[dsanner106]

I did this a few years back and kept the tickets we bought. They can be traded in toward the cost of the next years annual pass, so that is how we used ours. In the end it saved us money and Disney locked us in for another year, a good arrangement.

 

[grumpy28]

I did this a few years back and kept the tickets we bought. They can be traded in toward the cost of the next years annual pass, so that is how we used ours. In the end it saved us money and Disney locked us in for another year, a good arrangement.

That's a great idea too!

 

[afan]

You'd want to check if the tickets with your offer expire at the end of this year or next year. That would change the value you get to upgrade them later, and that also assumes that they don't change things and you can still upgrade tickets to an ap next year after they raise the prices again. You also might be able to get an ap rate at the hotel.

 

[grumpy28]

You'd want to check if the tickets with your offer expire at the end of this year or next year. That would change the value you get to upgrade them later, and that also assumes that they don't change things and you can still upgrade tickets to an ap next year after they raise the prices again. You also might be able to get an ap rate at the hotel.

Good points. I was told that the tix in the package expire on Dec 31, 2018, so I know I will have to pay a difference to use them next year. Thanks

 

[dsanner106]

You'd want to check if the tickets with your offer expire at the end of this year or next year. That would change the value you get to upgrade them later, and that also assumes that they don't change things and you can still upgrade tickets to an ap next year after they raise the prices again. You also might be able to get an ap rate at the hotel.

Disney has always honored any ticket ever issued, I have some from the eightys in a box that are still honored. I dole them out occasionally to friends of my kids who are coming along on a trip for example and their families can't afford the tickets. I doubt Disney would go back on that policy, but you never know.

 

[lanejudy]

I thought package tickets given out now expire Dec. 31, 2019. If so, you wouldn't have to make up the difference in the price increase when upgrading next year. I’d check on that, as with 4-5 if you that could add up quickly if tix expire in 2018.

I think you need a little more research to accurately crunch the numbers — namely, full cost of room-only plus meals OOP. I would likely find some more immediate use for the funds and opt for a room-only and meals OOP. Assuming it’s a measurable difference. But ultimately, if you are fine “front-loading” next year’s vacation now, keeping the package and saving the tix to upgrade in the future is fine.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[afan]

Disney has always honored any ticket ever issued, I have some from the eightys in a box that are still honored. I dole them out occasionally to friends of my kids who are coming along on a trip for example and their families can't afford the tickets. I doubt Disney would go back on that policy, but you never know.

I'm aware of that, but when they added the expiration dates last year at the price increase it changed how and how much was needed to bridge/upgrade a ticket to an ap which is what the OP was talking about. They also weren't sure how/if that would change this year which is why I bought my ap before the increase rather than worry about any potential changes. I wanted to make sure the OP was aware there would be a price difference due to the the expiration date, they'd still be able to use the tickets but only at the 2018 value.

 

[grumpy28]

I thought package tickets given out now expire Dec. 31, 2019. If so, you wouldn't have to make up the difference in the price increase when upgrading next year. I’d check on that, as with 4-5 if you that could add up quickly if tix expire in 2018.

I think you need a little more research to accurately crunch the numbers — namely, full cost of room-only plus meals OOP. I would likely find some more immediate use for the funds and opt for a room-only and meals OOP. Assuming it’s a measurable difference. But ultimately, if you are fine “front-loading” next year’s vacation now, keeping the package and saving the tix to upgrade in the future is fine.

Enjoy your vacation!

Thank you for your input! I was told they expire Dec 2018, but I am not sure myself. How would I find out for sure? Is there a way on the website or would I need to call Disney (and hope they know)? I bought the package in Sept 2017. I guess I am just not sure if "front-loading" next years vacation is worth the savings. I will try and price out the room and dining and see what numbers I can come up with.

 

[runwad]

Grumpy28, I've never done a package, so not sure if this hold true, but in the app I can see the expiration dates for my tickets, not sure if you could check there too?

 

[grumpy28]

Grumpy28, I've never done a package, so not sure if this hold true, but in the app I can see the expiration dates for my tickets, not sure if you could check there too?

Thank you. In the app, it says the tickets expire on the last day of the package. (09/18)

 

[dsanner106]

Thank you for your input! I was told they expire Dec 2018, but I am not sure myself. How would I find out for sure? Is there a way on the website or would I need to call Disney (and hope they know)? I bought the package in Sept 2017. I guess I am just not sure if "front-loading" next years vacation is worth the savings. I will try and price out the room and dining and see what numbers I can come up with.

Hi,
You can upgrade to a voucher for an AP, and then activate the voucher whenever you want. Any unused ticket can be upgraded and many people pre-buy their pass in the form of a voucher and activate on first day of use. The voucher number becomes your means of booking fastpasses in advance and transfers to a reg pass along with the vouchers later. I did that the last couple years. Yes the expiring tickets are a curve ball to the system but still can be done.

 

[grumpy28]

@dsanner106 Thank you for the info!