Understanding Annual Passes

[cigar95]

we will be using 7 day hoppers april 17-24th 2017 and upgrading for april 13-20 2018. so 2018's trip wont be fully covered but trying to get it close enough

Do the calculation - since you have to buy a second ticket anyway, it could work out that buying a separate ticket for each trip costs less. I can't recall precisely where the breakeven happens. Since you're looking at a pair of weeklong trips, the annual is likely the better buy.
With the upgrade, of course, you get the passholder benefits. If you can use them, that would almost definitely tip the scale. (But be sure that your cast member computes your upgrade cost correctly - oh, the horror stories you can find on here . . . .)

 

[momtwoboys]

we would be just using whatever days we can for 2018 and not buy more. We can do a resort day or a typhoon lagoon day on one and the last day we fly out early anyway. so I was trying to get usage till at least april 18th 2018 from the 2017's passes. Hope this doesnt sound completely insane. It makes sense in my head! but a day is a day right? setting them up to expire on the 17th makes the second trip tougher, so stretching to the 18th is sweeter!

 

[BuckeyeBama]

Also remember that if you are upgrading a used ticket to an AP, the start date for the AP is the first date that the original ticket was used for park entry. So, if you use the ticket on June 10th to enter MK, then on June 11th to enter Epcot, then you upgrade it to an AP on June 12th, the initiation date for the AP would be June 10th. That is why they give you full credit for the cost of the initial ticket - because they back-date the AP.

 

[momtwoboys]

yup these 7 days will not be used prior days before the upgrade is done

 

[cigar95]

yup these 7 days will not be used prior days before the upgrade is done

Remember that there may not be any need to do the upgrade on your first day, if it turns out to be more convenient to do it later.
If you're going to use it to buy a TiW card, then clearly you want to do the upgrade as early as you can. But if, for example, you go the first day and encounter a CM who wants to charge you too much because they haven't been fully trained, don't hesitate to decline the upgrade and come back another time, be it the same day or another day.

 

[momtwoboys]

Oh yes I will have numbers written down and its way off, then nope not doing it! We arrive at AKV by 11:30am on the 17th so not sure if we will hang at the resort or be itching to head to a park. Holding off till the next day will be the deciding factor!

 

[NoMoneyThanks2Disney]

Fantastic information! If I may join in and ask a quick question, would I be able to use military tickets for a trade in on an ap to get a "discount" so to speak? It would be a 4 day park hopper.

 

[Guyton dis lover]

Fantastic information! If I may join in and ask a quick question, would I be able to use military tickets for a trade in on an ap to get a "discount" so to speak? It would be a 4 day park hopper.

Nope. Your 4 day park hopper is a special deal. They will not upgrade

 

[NoMoneyThanks2Disney]

Bummer, but thank you for the information!

 

[epcotty]

I recall reading on here some new APs have an "activate by date" not long in the future. Any info on that?

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

I recall reading on here some new APs have an "activate by date" not long in the future. Any info on that?

I bought mine in February of this year and they have to be activated by the end of 2030.

 

[SRUAlmn]

So the smart thing to do would be to go on Undercover Tourist and buy whichever type of ticket offers the best discount and then bridge to an AP once you get to WDW? Although, are FP+ allotments based on your linked ticket or the number of nights you have booked at a resort? If the best discount is on a 5 day ticket and we're staying 7 nights then would we not be able to make FP+ reservations for all the days by getting that ticket initially?

 

[Dan Murphy]

So the smart thing to do would be to go on Undercover Tourist and buy whichever type of ticket offers the best discount and then bridge to an AP once you get to WDW? Although, are FP+ allotments based on your linked ticket or the number of nights you have booked at a resort? If the best discount is on a 5 day ticket and we're staying 7 nights then would we not be able to make FP+ reservations for all the days by getting that ticket initially?

Based on the ticket, not the room.

 

[momtwoboys]

best deal now is parksavers 7 day hopper for the price of 4!

 

[SRUAlmn]

best deal now is parksavers 7 day hopper for the price of 4!

And they're legit and Disney will bridge them?

 

[SRUAlmn]

best deal now is parksavers 7 day hopper for the price of 4!

And linkable in MDE? Thanks!

 

[shh]

Great thread: would anyone happen to know if there are any savings buying a Florida resident 4 day pass, then upgrading to weekday AP...vs just buying the weekday AP outright? I'm not seeing any savings advantage when I look at the numbers, but you guys have a better handle on this than I do.

 

[momtwoboys]

And linkable in MDE? Thanks!

linked mine last night! they all show up as 7 day hoppers in our MDE! we paid 1,162 for 3 adult 7 day hoppers

 

[SRUAlmn]

linked mine last night! they all show up as 7 day hoppers in our MDE! we paid 1,162 for 3 adult 7 day hoppers

Thank you! What's their shipping time frame?

 

[momtwoboys]

They are like etickets, they email you the ticket number and I entered them last night on mde and assigned to each person. easy peasy. was nervous about lack of actual ticket but it was easy! they give you the option to turn in the vouchers for tickets but Its best to link them asap .