Upgrade to AP - now or later?

[juliekzp]

Hubby and I are heading to WDW on Sept. 17 and have already bought a room package for Beach Club with 5-day park hoppers. I think we want to upgrade to APs, because we will definitely go back with the whole family this winter or spring. Should I upgrade now and get vouchers to activate when we get there? Or would it be better to wait until we get there to upgrade? Or does it not really matter?

Also, if we upgrade now and get a voucher so that our year doesn't start running until Sept. 17, will I still be able to book FP+ 60 days out?

We are Disney vets but AP virgins . Thank you!

 

[Robo]

Hubby and I are heading to WDW on Sept. 17 and have already bought a room package for Beach Club with 5-day park hoppers. I think we want to upgrade to APs, because we will definitely go back with the whole family this winter or spring. Should I upgrade now and get vouchers to activate when we get there? Or would it be better to wait until we get there to upgrade? Or does it not really matter?

Also, if we upgrade now and get a voucher so that our year doesn't start running until Sept. 17, will I still be able to book FP+ 60 days out?

We are Disney vets but AP virgins . Thank you!

Doesn't matter as long as your current tickets have enough "days" to cover your upcoming trip.

What KIND of ticket or voucher that you have does not affect when you can book your FP+
for a resort stay.
(But again, a regular ticket needs to have enough "days" to cover your upcoming trip.)

I recommend that you just wait.
Enter a theme park on your first park day, THEN go to Guest Relations inside or outside the park and do the AP upgrade. All adults must be present with legal photo IDs.

 

[Kirk]

Have things changed? I thought you had to upgrade tickets at GR in the park.

 

[Fantabulously Cherry]

We bought our package through AAA. Disney told us we would have to wait until we got there on our trip to upgrade from 8 day Park Hoopper to AP.

 

[Robo]

Have things changed? I thought you had to upgrade tickets at GR in the park.

You can upgrade at any Guest Relations or ticket booth at WDW.
Inside or outside a park, or at TTC or at DTD.

You can also upgrade (and purchase) tickets at any WDW Resort Concierge desk.
(EXCEPT, the Concierge can't do anything in regard to APs.)

 

[Robo]

We bought our package through AAA. Disney told us we would have to wait until we got there on our trip to upgrade from 8 day Park Hoopper to AP.

The OP has purchased tickets from WDW as part of a WDW Resort Package.
Different rules regarding tickets than buying stand-alone tickets.

But, generally, it will be a good plan to just wait to do any ticket upgrades until a guest is on-property.

 

[juliekzp]

Thanks for the info! Follow-up question -- for our whole family trip, will it be a problem to book a resort package with tickets for the kids, but APs for hubby and me? I seem to remember that everyone in a room or suite has to have the same kind of ticket (for example, I was unable to get a 3-day ticket for my dad who was going to be there only half the time, because the rest of us needed 6-days).

 

[Robo]

Thanks for the info! Follow-up question -- for our whole family trip, will it be a problem to book a resort package with tickets for the kids, but APs for hubby and me? I seem to remember that everyone in a room or suite has to have the same kind of ticket (for example, I was unable to get a 3-day ticket for my dad who was going to be there only half the time, because the rest of us needed 6-days).

Once you have received your tickets (checked into the resort,) you can THEN upgrade (or not) EACH ticket individually.

 

[juliekzp]

Also, can I add Tables in Wonderland at Guest Relations?

 

[Robo]

Also, can I add Tables in Wonderland at Guest Relations?

Yes.

 

[juliekzp]

Once you have received your tickets (checked into the resort,) you can THEN upgrade (or not) EACH ticket individually.

Oh, so I guess I should have bought 3 days for all of us and then upgraded everyone but my dad. Oh well.

But for the next family trip -- will I be able to book a package that includes a suite for the whole family but tickets for just my kids (since hubby and I will have APs and won't need new tickets)?

 

[Robo]

1. Oh, so I guess I should have bought 3 days for all of us and then upgraded everyone but my dad. Oh well.

2. But for the next family trip -- will I be able to book a package that includes a suite for the whole family but tickets for just my kids (since hubby and I will have APs and won't need new tickets)?

FP+ has complicated this issue immensely, but in the past it was a simple matter to buy EVERYONE the shortest ticket that fit the person who needed the least ticket.

But now, if you do that, you can't make advance FP+ for the number of days that suit the guests staying LONGER.

2. It may be a bit more complex. But, unless there is a NEED, you don't HAVE to buy any tickets for anybody when you book a WDW room-only.
If you MUST buy minimum tickets for something like "Free dining,"
then you can go ahead and buy everyone the same tickets THEN, and just hold onto the ones for the guests with APs. Those tickets can be used to help pay for an AP renewal or purchase of a new AP or just used or upgraded on a future trip.

 

[juliekzp]

FP+ has complicated this issue immensely, but in the past it was a simple matter to buy EVERYONE the shorted ticket
that fit the person who needed the least ticket.

But now, if you do that, you can't make advance FP+ for the number of days that suit the guests staying LONGER.

Right, that makes sense. How about a room with both AP-holders and not? I'll want 7-day tickets for the kids, so that I can get everyone FPs 60 days out, but I won't want any tickets for hubby and me, since we'll have APs.

 

[supersnoop]

Have things changed? I thought you had to upgrade tickets at GR in the park.

If tickets are part of a package, you can modify the package.

 

[juliekzp]

I guess I could have one room for hubby and me, one room for kids. But I'd like to keep open the possibility of a suite.

 

[Robo]

I guess I could have one room for hubby and me, one room for kids. But I'd like to keep open the possibility of a suite.

Unless there is a NEED, you don't HAVE to buy any tickets for anybody when you book a WDW room-only.
Just buy the kids tickets separately.
If you MUST buy minimum tickets for something like "Free dining,"
then you can go ahead and buy everyone the same tickets THEN, and just hold onto the ones for the guests with APs. Those tickets can be used to help pay for an AP renewal or purchase of a new AP or just used or upgraded on a future trip.

 

[Robo]

Right, that makes sense. How about a room with both AP-holders and not? I'll want 7-day tickets for the kids, so that I can get everyone FPs 60 days out, but I won't want any tickets for hubby and me, since we'll have APs.

Unless there is a NEED, you don't HAVE to buy any tickets for anybody when you book a WDW room-only.
Just buy the kids tickets separately.
If you MUST buy minimum tickets for something like "Free dining,"
then you can go ahead and buy everyone the same tickets THEN, and just hold onto the ones for the guests with APs. Those tickets can be used to help pay for an AP renewal or purchase of a new AP or just used or upgraded on a future trip.

 

[Lesverts]

So to upgrade you just go to Guest Relations and ask to upgrade your ticket? Can you do this if you want a day 7 from your 6 day ticket?

 

[Robo]

So to upgrade you just go to Guest Relations and ask to upgrade your ticket? Can you do this if you want a day 7 from your 6 day ticket?

Yes.
You want to wait to do this until AFTER you have actually USED your ticket to go into
a theme park at least one time.

Then, the cost will be $10.65 per added day, per ticket.

 

[juliekzp]

Oooooh, ok -- just book the room by itself, then buy tickets for kids, then link both tickets and APs to room in order to get FPs 60 days in advance. Thank you for your patience Robo .