Upgrade to AP @ DLR ? DVC Disc?

[nunzia]

I don't how or if this would work. We are going in Sept to DLR and will get the 3 day PH with free extra 2 days added. Now..we are only using 4 days of this. Can I upgrade on the 3rd day of use (the second day of use is blacked out for AP lowest level) and then get credit for the unused days in the upgrade? If I do this can I also use the DVC AP discount? (only $20 at DLR, but still)
Anyone know?
Why don't they get a combo WDW/DLR AP..that would certainly make things nicer...

 

[maburke]

I thought that you could go to the park on the day you upgrade, even if it's blacked out. So maybe you could do it the second day? I know very little about DLR, though.

 

[spiceycat]

you can do it!

 

[nunzia]

you can do it!

..and get my DVC discount? Here's another dumb question..where do you do this???

 

[kkbeaton2]

You can do it a couple of places. Inside DL, when you first enter, go to the right, just after going through the tunnel, and there is an AP location. It is just to the right of the exhibit with Mr. Lincoln (changing back over from The First 50 Magical Years exhibit). Over in DCA you can do it when you first walk in just to the left. There are 2 offices over there and one is an AP place (I believe it says Guest Relations). I think you might be able to do it at the ticket booths also, but in order to do the AP picture, you have to go to one of the other locations, so you would just have to stand in 2 lines.

 

[nunzia]

You can do it a couple of places. Inside DL, when you first enter, go to the right, just after going through the tunnel, and there is an AP location. It is just to the right of the exhibit with Mr. Lincoln (changing back over from The First 50 Magical Years exhibit). Over in DCA you can do it when you first walk in just to the left. There are 2 offices over there and one is an AP place (I believe it says Guest Relations). I think you might be able to do it at the ticket booths also, but in order to do the AP picture, you have to go to one of the other locations, so you would just have to stand in 2 lines.

Thanks..I think I'll do this when I go in Sept.. it won't cost much more and if we have APs am much more likely to go more often If you figure room and tickets are paid for, then getting there (cheap by train) and eating (we can do this cheaply as well) make it a pretty economical trip. I'm thinking there may be less lines in DCA
Thanks!

 

[kerickson]

Hi Nunzia
My DH and I have free DLR APs from our original DVC purchase, but we are planning on purchasing Deluxe APs for my 2 kids during our trip in May. Problem is, that our last day is a blackout. My plan is to purchase 6 day PHs, then on the last day upgrade to APs (with DVC discount) My understanding is that I can upgrade and use the AP on a blackout day, and they will apply the purchase price of the 6 day PH to my AP price.
So, given 6 day will cost $164 and the DVC Deluxe AP will cost $249, I expect to pay $85 per pass at the time of upgrade. I'll let you know how it all turns out! Note, doesn't really matter what type of discount/promo you get on the initial ticket as they make you pay the different up to the AP cost in the end.

Note, I've been told you can only get your AP picture in DL, not DCA. I'm hoping that's not the case as the first day we only plan on going to DCA... I guess if needed we'll hop over to DL to get our photos.

 

[justkeepswimmin]

I will add some of my own dumb/ dvc newbie questions:

The discount is only $20 per pass, is that correct? I thought I read somewhere it was 20%.

Can I buy these ahead of our trip (Dec 2009) and not activate them till our trip? I know APs usually go up in price around the fall so I would like to get them in advance of a price increase if I can.

What are the DL DVC discounts around the resorts (restaurants, shops, etc)? All I can seem to find info on is WDW discounts and I do not have access to members site yet. Are these posted anywhere?

Much thanks!

 

[nunzia]

The only question I know the answer to is the discount. It seems everywhere gives 10%..even the corn dog place in DCA!

 

[dcfromva]

Hi Nunzia
My DH and I have free DLR APs from our original DVC purchase, but we are planning on purchasing Deluxe APs for my 2 kids during our trip in May. Problem is, that our last day is a blackout. My plan is to purchase 6 day PHs, then on the last day upgrade to APs (with DVC discount) My understanding is that I can upgrade and use the AP on a blackout day, and they will apply the purchase price of the 6 day PH to my AP price.
So, given 6 day will cost $164 and the DVC Deluxe AP will cost $249, I expect to pay $85 per pass at the time of upgrade. I'll let you know how it all turns out! Note, doesn't really matter what type of discount/promo you get on the initial ticket as they make you pay the different up to the AP cost in the end.

No worries, we've done this plenty of times. You just wait to convert it to the deluxe as your leaving on the last day. In any case, they will back date the pass to the first day of use of your PH. And, they will apply the DVC price.

 

[justkeepswimmin]

The only question I know the answer to is the discount. It seems everywhere gives 10%..even the corn dog place in DCA!

Oh yeah! My husband loves that corn dog place. I told him that now we are staying at the villas, it will be like going to a counter service meal at the hotel if he wants to run down and grab one !

I think someone needs to talk some sense into to me because I just cannot believe what a smokin' deal VGC is for people like us who go to DLR annually and like to stay on property. I am so excited!!!

 

[ACDSNY]

We're headed to DL the end of this month and I'm going to try to stop in at Costco, near SNA to see if they still have the Deluxe APs with a $50 Disney Gift Card. I thought I read somewhere on the DL Boards that they had to be activated by some date in May. If Costco no longer has them, then I'll just use the DVC discount.

 

[bumbershoot]

You can indeed upgrade ON the blocked out day, and they will let you go into both parks on that day. A little courtesy they do.

However, you will NOT get credit for the cost of a 5 day ticket, like they do at WDW. For instance, at WDW, if you buy the "pay for 4 days get a total of 7 days" ticket, if you use it then upgrade you get credit for the cost of a 7 day ticket.

At DLR it's different. You will only get credit for the amount you actually paid. There's even a case (buying certain military tickets) where you would end up paying MORE than the cost of an AP by upgrading... That doesn't affect you, but it just goes to show that you only get credit for the dollars you paid.

The discount is only $20 I do believe I read, so as long as your 3 day (with two extra days that you don't get credit for b/c you didn't pay for them, LOL) tickets cost less than AP-20 you should be fine upgrading.

 

[nunzia]

Ahh..I knew I'd find wise ones here..( I actually thought I had read once about someone upgrading to APs on a blackout day and then they wouldn't let her in!)
Anyway..is this how this would work?
3 day PH (upgraded to 5, but yes, I get that they will use the price actually paid) x 2 for myself and DH = 358.
2 deluxe APs = 538
538 - 358 already paid = 180
180 - 40 DVC discount (20 x2) = 140 due.
Is this right? Is there tax? Do they subract out the days already used on the PH before they do the upgrade?

 

[stopher1]

Is there tax?

Currently no. That could change given the fiscal situation in the state of CA...I've been reading about how Schwarzzen - however you spell Arnold's name - is considering proposing taxing amusement park tickets to boost revenues. Until that time comes, if that time comes, DL tickets are simply the price posted, unlike WDW where tax is then added, or they post some strange amount to show tax included.

 

[bumbershoot]

Ahh..I knew I'd find wise ones here..( I actually thought I had read once about someone upgrading to APs on a blackout day and then they wouldn't let her in!)
Anyway..is this how this would work?
3 day PH (upgraded to 5, but yes, I get that they will use the price actually paid) x 2 for myself and DH = 358.
2 deluxe APs = 538
538 - 358 already paid = 180
180 - 40 DVC discount (20 x2) = 140 due.
Is this right? Is there tax? Do they subract out the days already used on the PH before they do the upgrade?

That amount sounds right.

I'm not totally sure what you mean by subtracting the days...when you upgrade, you now have an AP backdated to the first day you used the tickets. And that's it!

We had 5 day tickets with a package, started using them on the 18th, and on the 3rd day we went in to upgrade...when we left the AP processing center, we had APs that went through the next 18th of that same month the following year.

And should you ever wish to upgrade to a Premium, the one extra benefit DLR has is that you can do so, even after 14 days. At WDW you get credited the gate amount once you use the ticket, but you cannot upgrade again after 14 days. At DLR you (if you lived in so cal) start with the most basic so cal AP, upgrade to the next one, then to the Deluxe, then to the Premium through the year. There's no pro-rating and you don't get the discounts retroactively, but it's better than buying something that doesn't work for future trips and being stuck into buying $40/day/person blockout tickets for many days!

OK that's just extra info that doesn't help you.


I would be interested in hearing more about the person who wasn't allowed in when they upgraded (or just flat out bought an AP) on a blockout day. They are pretty clear that it's allowed, and I don't remember reading about it on the DLR forum. Curious!



kerickson, DCA doesn't have a camera for the APs. So even if you do the upgrade at DCA, you are going to *have to* go to DL THAT day to get your pix taken and get your AP. Because all you're going to have is a voucher until you do that. If I were in your shoes I'd just get into DL as early as you possibly can, get the AP stuff done (after you get through the line it's not long at all...get your name, address, payment, say cheese, get your AP), and THEN go into DCA.

 

[nunzia]

<<<I would be interested in hearing more about the person who wasn't allowed in when they upgraded (or just flat out bought an AP) on a blockout day. They are pretty clear that it's allowed, and I don't remember reading about it on the DLR forum. Curious!>>>

I wish I could remember when! It was a long time ago, and someone was writing a trip report and upgraded to an AP and then , since it was a black out day, she had to buy a 1 day pass..it was all very confusing and maybe I got it wrong, but it stuck with me that I better not do an upgrde on a blackout day...maybe she upgraded the day before a blackout day? :::
Another thing..can I apply my birthday fun card to purchase price of the upgrade? I don't really buy much stuff at Disney, so that would help with the upgrade cost...

 

[kerickson]

Is this right? Is there tax? Do they subract out the days already used on the PH before they do the upgrade?

Theoretically they subtract the used days out because they back date to the 1st day you used that ticket, but you do get the full $ amount credit.

bumbershoot
Thanks for the tips, it does make sense to go to DL and get the AP stuff done first. We fly down that morning so after shuttle and hotel check in, we probably won't be at the park until noon, but hopefully the line will be short. Just was worried about going into DL then having to leave to go to DCA before we go on any DL rides, but my kids are young enough they probably won't notice. Wanted to ease my son in with some DCA rides first given this is his first visit (last time he was 9mo old).

 

[dcfromva]

<<<I would be interested in hearing more about the person who wasn't allowed in when they upgraded (or just flat out bought an AP) on a blockout day. They are pretty clear that it's allowed, and I don't remember reading about it on the DLR forum. Curious!>>>

I wish I could remember when! It was a long time ago, and someone was writing a trip report and upgraded to an AP and then , since it was a black out day, she had to buy a 1 day pass..it was all very confusing and maybe I got it wrong, but it stuck with me that I better not do an upgrde on a blackout day...maybe she upgraded the day before a blackout day? :::
Another thing..can I apply my birthday fun card to purchase price of the upgrade? I don't really buy much stuff at Disney, so that would help with the upgrade cost...

If you upgrade your parkhopper on a block out date, I don't think you can get back into the park with your deluxe AP. Like if you get your deluxe ap at DL and then you plan to cut through DCA to get back to GC --that wouldn't work on a block out date.

The last time we did the upgrade to a deluxe DVC AP was during the week of NYE Dec '07-Jan '08. The days we were they were all block out dates. We had no problem. DH and DS did upgrades to the deluxe passes and I upgraded to a premium (we get 1 premium each year because the discounts are slightly better). But, we waited until we were leaving to do the upgrades.