Understanding Annual Passes

[AngiTN]

I'm not sure how to make that into the form of Q & A... maybe
Q: What is the easiest way to upgrade from discounted tickets to an AP
A: Unused tickets seem to be easier for CMs to process and bridge

That hits the highpoints.
Hopefully, others will report back with their experiences in discount tickets bridging AP renewals. Not something that happens a lot I'm guessing. It's one of those things that may work differently every time based on the particular CM and their knowledge.
I can report that credit for the unused ticket worked extremely well for us and if they could do it for ours surely it's something that can be done for others.

 

[MEFacct]

I am trying to prepare to upgrade my 7 day park hoppers (from ParkSavers) to a Gold AP (DVC) next week. I would like to calculate the exact (or as close as possible) that I will need to pay for the upgrade. The ParkSavers ticket prices included tax, so does that mean that the "plus tax" will only apply to the difference between gate ticket price and Gold pass price?
Gold pass (549) - Gate (439) = 110.
Tax will be calculated on 110 (7.15).
Total to upgrade 4 tickets to Up will be 468.60?

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

I am trying to prepare to upgrade my 7 day park hoppers (from ParkSavers) to a Gold AP (DVC) next week. I would like to calculate the exact (or as close as possible) that I will need to pay for the upgrade. The ParkSavers ticket prices included tax, so does that mean that the "plus tax" will only apply to the difference between gate ticket price and Gold pass price?
Gold pass (549) - Gate (439) = 110.
Tax will be calculated on 110 (7.15).
Total to upgrade 4 tickets to Up will be 468.60?

The ticketing computers don't calculate tax separately. Your number is right but you way overthought it.

Please bring photo ID for each adult 18+ and your DVC card.

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

I've been reading this thread with interest as I was just making notes about our tickets and what it'll cost to upgrade to DVC Gold AP on our trip next month so I have the numbers with me when I go to GR. I bought 9-day PH/WP&M from UT last November, so pre-price increase. Here's my math if anyone's interested in how nicely you can save (all numbers include tax)!


current gate price of tix $516.43 - 11/15 UT price of tix $444.95 = $71.58 savings on tix

DVC Gold AP $584.69 - gate price of tix $516.43 = $68.16 cost to upgrade from tix to AP


So you can see that I saved more on the tix than it will cost to upgrade to the AP!!! I will use the AP for this year and next year's trips within 12 months. Multiple that by a family of four. We go 2 years in a row, every 3 years. This is the third time we have upgraded to AP from discounted pre-price increase tickets since 2008 (went in 08&09, 12&13 & now 16&17). Rack 'em and stack 'em, baby!!!!!!!! Cha ching!

I really hope this helps someone else save some dough on their trip(s)!

 

[MEFacct]

The ticketing computers don't calculate tax separately. Your number is right but you way overthought it.

Please bring photo ID for each adult 18+ and your DVC card.

Of course I overthought it - it's what I do.

Thanks for your reassurance.

 

[vicki_c]

Don't know if you want to include an info regarding using discounted tickets (or package tickets) to apply to renewal but I can list what our experience was last week.
I had discounted tickets (purchased from Parksavers) for both DH and DGD to use towards the renewal of their AP.
We had NOT used the tickets. That actually ended up making the process easier.
The CM we got (at AK's ticket window) called to confirm she was using the right process.
The process the CM used was to issue a credit for the cost of the tickets I was using to renew. Not the cost I paid but the cost Disney sells them for.
Had we used them it would have still been possible to bridge them to a renewal but it would have made it harder on the CM (or at least a difference process with more steps)
So there were 2 credits issued.
She then processed the renewal, used the credits for each ticket and then I paid the balance owed.
Total due was exactly right and I knew before it would be since she'd issued the credits and showed me the amount on those credits.

So bottom line based on my experience, don't use the ticket first to simplify the process

OH, and DGD did not need to be present for the renewal. We did however, need her MB to scan to access her ticket. I'm sure they would have been able to look them up some other way but that again, made it a less involved process for the CM since all she needed to do was scan DGDs band and she saw her AP

Just curious, how much savings you gave up though by not using the tix first (difference between gate price and what you actually paid to Parksavers)? Depending on the amount, I'm tolerant of a little inconvenience.

 

[vicki_c]

That hits the highpoints.
Hopefully, others will report back with their experiences in discount tickets bridging AP renewals. Not something that happens a lot I'm guessing. It's one of those things that may work differently every time based on the particular CM and their knowledge.
I can report that credit for the unused ticket worked extremely well for us and if they could do it for ours surely it's something that can be done for others.

We've done the discount tix to AP twice with tickets that were used, once for a new pass and once for a renewal. One went smoothly (the renewal upgrade) and the other did not due to a brand new GR CM in Magic Kingdom. When I told her her figures were wrong, she got her supervisor who confirmed I knew what I was talking about and taught her about bridging right there as we waited for the correction to be made. We also bought TiW at the end, so we were there a while. Probably 30 minutes.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

We just purchased a home in Florida for a steal! I always wanted a vacation home if me and the significant other are on the bank account together statement will that count or do we each need one?

 

[AngiTN]

We just purchased a home in Florida for a steal! I always wanted a vacation home if me and the significant other are on the bank account together statement will that count or do we each need one?

Do you mean to prove you are FL residents? 1 account is going to be fine. I'm sure the vast majority of families that get FL passes have 1 bank account.

 

[AngiTN]

Just curious, how much savings you gave up though by not using the tix first (difference between gate price and what you actually paid to Parksavers)? Depending on the amount, I'm tolerant of a little inconvenience.

None. Tickets do not have to be used prior to bridging or upgrading to keep the discount. Common misconception

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Thanks @AngiTN, as we are partial Florida residents - it's a weekend/summer house that will soon be a snow bird retreat once I get more time off.

So I'm assuming bank statement, and ID...Drivers License/Passport?

 

[vicki_c]

None. Tickets do not have to be used prior to bridging or upgrading to keep the discount. Common misconception

Didn't your earlier post say you got a credit equal to what Disney sold the tickets to Parksavers for? That would not be bridging.

 

[AngiTN]

Didn't your earlier post say you got a credit equal to what Disney sold the tickets to Parksavers for? That would not be bridging.

No, I said the credit was for the cost of the tickets if bought from Disney, not the cost I paid for them. I haven't a clue what PS paid Disney for them, not sure anyone does

 

[Accident]

None. Tickets do not have to be used prior to bridging or upgrading to keep the discount. Common misconception

There's a lot of cms that really have no clue how to bridge, but I agree using them first isn't required but pay attention to the cost and your renewal date when you do upgrade to ensure they did the bridge correctly.

 

[AngiTN]

There's a lot of cms that really have no clue how to bridge, but I agree using them first isn't required but pay attention to the cost and your renewal date when you do upgrade to ensure they did the bridge correctly.

Right, you always should know what your cost should be. But if the CM doesn't know how to do it, using them first won't change things. They still wouldn't do it right if you have used it. Either they know how or they don't.

 

[erionm]

So I'm assuming bank statement, and ID...Drivers License/Passport?

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/florida-residents/validation-requirements/

Florida Resident Tickets:
Proof of a Florida residential address is required. For each ticket purchased for an adult, you may provide any of the following:

• Valid Florida Drivers License (must have a Florida address)
• Valid Florida State-issued ID Card (must have a Florida address)
• Valid Florida-based military ID

If you do not have one of the IDs indicated above, then you must provide one of the following, dated within the past two (2) months evidencing a Florida residential address together with a corresponding picture ID (passport, driver's license, state identification card):

Proof of Current Mortgage
Monthly mortgage statement not older than two (2) months old
Deeds, Mortgage Contracts, Mortgage Payment Booklets and leases are not accepted.

Bills, Policies or Registration
Current homeowner's insurance policy or bill
Current automobile registration, insurance policy or bill
Current Utility bill (Power / Phone / Cable / Water)
Bills can be no more than two (2) months old (PO Boxes are not accepted as proof of residency).

Mail
Mail from financial institutions; including checking, savings or investment account statements
Mail from Federal, State, County or City government agencies
Mail can be no more than two (2) months old (PO Boxes are not accepted as proof of residency)

One form of Florida residency validation as listed above is required. Additional members of the same household must only provide proof of same residential address.

Current statements and bills printed from electronic versions are accepted, along with electronic bills provided via smart phones and tablet devices.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

so I'm assuming I'm good to go - thanks!

 

[MarBee]

Okay, so after reading through all of the posts on this thread, I'm conflicted as to what to do.
Here is my scenario:

I bought an 8 night hotel package with 6 days park hopper and water park option tickets. We arrive on the night June 25th and planned on going to the parks on the 26th.

I want to upgrade to the Annual Pass. I figured that it would cost $1657 for the four of us to upgrade to the AP with water park option minus the cost of the 6 day park hopper with water park option tix we already have.

I was told that if I upgraded on the night of the 25th but didn't use it until the 26th that my pass would start on the 26th and be able to use it on June 26, 2017. After reading through this thread, I see that that's wrong.

So, what should I do if I want to extend my pass for as long as possible? (We are planning a trip next year and cannot leave until June 17th, so the one day actually is a big deal for us.)
I don't want to spend my first day arrival at MK standing at Guest Services for an extended time. (We are going with a large group and we are the only ones upgrading to AP. It would ruin the "magic" to wait in line and work with GS for an extended period.)
Could I start off the day on my tickets and then upgrade sometime that afternoon? Would the cost of that day's ticket still come off the cost of the AP?

I apologize for the long winded email. I hope I didn't ramble too much. I'm just getting super nervous for my trip.

Thank you!

 

[Accident]

I was told that if I upgraded on the night of the 25th but didn't use it until the 26th that my pass would start on the 26th and be able to use it on June 26, 2017. After reading through this thread, I see that that's wrong.

The way it's suppose to work is the date you upgrade, or the date you started to use the ticket your upgrading is your renewal date (whichever date comes first). That means the last day the AP will work is the same date the following year and the day after the AP is expired if you didn't renew it. (366 days including the date you upgrade it for normal years, 367 days if there is a leap day in your year). When you use the AP has nothing to do with when it renews. If you were to purchase the AP online in advance, then the renewal date is the date you activate the AP on property, not when you use it.

What some people have reported here is when they upgrade near the end of the trip, they are getting the upgrade date as their renewal and most CMs just ignore the date you started to use the ticket your upgrading to get a few more days (or even a week) out of their upgrade. It's not suppose to be this way so it's a roll of the dice if this will happen to you. The catch22 on this of course is you miss out on the AP discounts while your at WDW for merch and food because you didn't upgrade it sooner but you'll have to do the math on which method works for your situation and cost. Also watch out for getting an AP room discount before you upgrade, that has specific requirements that last time I checked was you had 24 hours to upgrade after check in to keep that discount but I've also heard the difference isn't charged until the last night and people have upgraded late..

When upgrading, you really want to know the cost it should be and ask what the renewal date is. Both of these are hard to fix if you find out after leaving property that either was wrong but seconds to fix if you ask when your getting the AP.

 

[Moushe]

Hello everyone, I see there are a lot of knowledgeable people here regarding annual passes so I thought I would post my question her before calling Disney.

We will be in Disney from 8/14-8/19 staying offsite at Bonnet Creek. DH and I have Florida Resident Silver Annual Passes (formerly known as Seasonal passes) which will expire on 8/18 I will be renewing these in the next few weeks. This is the first trip DS will need a ticket and plan on getting him a Silver pass as well.

My first question is: Should I buy DS a 4-day FL Resident Pass and then upgrade it to the Silver pass while we are there or just buy him the AP pass outright before we arrive? Is there any benefit in one of these options or is it all the same?

Second Question: how does FP work for AP vouchers? Will I be able to make FP once I link the AP vouchers to MDE or will we have to wait until the AP are activated?