Upgrade WDW AP?

[focusondisney]

Hi all! We're WDW AP holders & planning to visit DL this fall. I know you used to be able to get an AP that was good for both WDW & DL ( I think it was called a premier AP?) Anyone know if this is still available & if I am able to upgrade my WDW AP to this new AP @ DL?


Any other info about this pass would be appreciated too, like cost & benefits. We are going to be there for Dapper Days & trying to decide whether to decide on purchasing those tickets or not. We do a lot of sit down meals, so an AP discount on those would be nice. I looked all over the DL website but couldn't find any info. TIA!!

 

[figment_jii]

The Premier AP has the same benefits at the Premium AP at Disneyland. The Premium AP has up to 20% off merchandise and up to 15% off dining (varies by location). Overall, the discounts are actually better at DLR than WDW in terms of shopping and dining. You won't find much about the Premier online because you have to purchase it at the parks (not available online).

Yes, my understanding is that you can upgrade your WDW AP to the Premier AP at DLR, but it might take a while because the CMs have to call WDW to verify the information, etc. It's not necessarily a straight foward process and I would allow a good bit of time to do the upgrade. If you're going to be at WDW first, I would upgrade to the Premier there. The expiration date will be based on your WDW AP anyway, so you won't be gaining or losing anything in that regard.

 

[SMD]

It will also depend on what level WDW AP you have. They don't prorate, so if your APs are close to expiring and they're FL resident ones then it might not be such a great deal.

 

[ShariM]

Just completed this process last fall. Took my unused WDW AP AND the purchase receipt from it to the Disneyland ticket booth (no longer at guest services, where it said to go online) and they sold me the Premier AP for the difference in cost between my unused AP and the Premier Passport. It took about 10 minutes. I was warned that when using it at WDW for the first time, I should have my card along (and not just the magic band that would be used there), in case it didn't read the first time using it. It didn't, so I went with the card to Guest service in WDW and in 5 minutes that worked too. Disneyland does amazing passholder discounts, and it was even slightly better with the Premier. Going back to both parks this summer and will take both the card and the receipt just in case, but it was relatively glitch free and worth it! The cost for the Premier AP is 1099.00, I think. So subtracting the 654.00 I paid for a WDW AP... 445 difference?

 

[focusondisney]

The Premier AP has the same benefits at the Premium AP at Disneyland. The Premium AP has up to 20% off merchandise and up to 15% off dining (varies by location). Overall, the discounts are actually better at DLR than WDW in terms of shopping and dining. You won't find much about the Premier online because you have to purchase it at the parks (not available online).

Yes, my understanding is that you can upgrade your WDW AP to the Premier AP at DLR, but it might take a while because the CMs have to call WDW to verify the information, etc. It's not necessarily a straight foward process and I would allow a good bit of time to do the upgrade. If you're going to be at WDW first, I would upgrade to the Premier there. The expiration date will be based on your WDW AP anyway, so you won't be gaining or losing anything in that regard.

We won't be back to WDW til December so will have to do whatever it takes to upgrade at DL. I just wanted to be sure we could. We will be at DL for 9 days, but probably will only do parks 6 or 7 days. If my math is correct, upgrading will only be about $75 more than getting 5 day PHs & 1 "after 6" conference ticket thru Dapper Days website. The discounts would make up that $$ and we would be able to go into the parks every day if we want. Thanks for the info!

 

[focusondisney]

It will also depend on what level WDW AP you have. They don't prorate, so if your APs are close to expiring and they're FL resident ones then it might not be such a great deal.

Just regular WDW APs, so full price for that. They will expire in January, but we would have the Sept DL trip (8 park days) & another 8 days at WDW before they expire. Thanks!

 

[figment_jii]

The price of the Premier AP is about $1,135 (there is tax on the WDW half).

 

[focusondisney]

Just completed this process last fall. Took my unused WDW AP AND the purchase receipt from it to the Disneyland ticket booth (no longer at guest services, where it said to go online) and they sold me the Premier AP for the difference in cost between my unused AP and the Premier Passport. It took about 10 minutes. I was warned that when using it at WDW for the first time, I should have my card along (and not just the magic band that would be used there), in case it didn't read the first time using it. It didn't, so I went with the card to Guest service in WDW and in 5 minutes that worked too. Disneyland does amazing passholder discounts, and it was even slightly better with the Premier. Going back to both parks this summer and will take both the card and the receipt just in case, but it was relatively glitch free and worth it! The cost for the Premier AP is 1099.00, I think. So subtracting the 654.00 I paid for a WDW AP... 445 difference?

Hmm, don't think I have the receipt. We had booked a package & then upgraded the tickets to APs after we got there. I did plan on bringing the tickets, not just the Magic Band. Glad to hear you did it without too much trouble. I'm thinking the discounts will make it worth the small amount of extra money to upgrade the AP. Thanks!

 

[figment_jii]

As a follow-up to ShariM's experience, I second the recommendation to take the Premier AP card with you when you go to WDW. When I upgraded my WDW tickets (not an AP) to the Premier AP, it did something wonky with the Magic Band. It didn't disassociated it because we didn't lose our FP+ reservations, but the MagicBand didn't really know that the APs were there either. We ended up having to take the AP cards and our MagicBands to Guest Services and have everything re-connected by a CM. So when you go to WDW, make sure to take the card with you in case there are issues.

I don't think you need the MagicBand at DLR. As long as you have the card, that should be fine. DLR doesn't use the Magic Band technology anyway.

 

[focusondisney]

The price of the Premier AP is about $1,135 (there is tax on the WDW half).

So no tax on the DL portion? I guess I have already paid the tax on the WDW portion. Using that $1135, I think upgrading to the premier passport would be about $445, or about $120 more than the DD tickets. But we'd get the AP discounts & could go into the parks all 8 days we'll be there, instead of 5 1/2. We're planning sit down meals every night & maybe at lunch some days too, so the dining discount is big for me too.

I could also get DD tickets for DH & just upgrade mine to the AP & still get the discounts. Hmmmm, I hate decisions!

 

[focusondisney]

As a follow-up to ShariM's experience, I second the recommendation to take the Premier AP card with you when you go to WDW. When I upgraded my WDW tickets (not an AP) to the Premier AP, it did something wonky with the Magic Band. It didn't disassociated it because we didn't lose our FP+ reservations, but the MagicBand didn't really know that the APs were there either. We ended up having to take the AP cards and our MagicBands to Guest Services and have everything re-connected by a CM. So when you go to WDW, make sure to take the card with you in case there are issues.

I don't think you need the MagicBand at DLR. As long as you have the card, that should be fine. DLR doesn't use the Magic Band technology anyway.

Oh, I misunderstood. So take the card that we'll get at DL when we go back to WDW in December. And we might need Guest Services at WDW if we have any problems. Got it now! Thanks again!!

 

[figment_jii]

I largely think upgrading your WDW AP to a Premier AP makes sense, especially if you plan to do a lot of shopping and TS dining. The only drawback I can see is that you will not have access to one Magic Morning during your stay. Certain 3-day or longer tickets usually include access to one Magic Morning (which happens in DL only and includes Fantasyland and Tomorrowland). If you purchase a 5-day ticket, you'll most likely have access to Magic Morning. I generally think MM is nice, but not necessary (especially given that you have a fairly lengthy trip planned).

 

[focusondisney]

We're staying at DL Hotel, so I think we'll get early entry from that. Thanks so much for your help. Really appreciate your thoughts!

 

[figment_jii]

For all practical purposes, yes. Guests staying on-site (DLH, PPH, and GCH) have access to Extra Magic Hour (EMH) which happens in both DL and DCA on alternating mornings (usually). DL's EMH and MM are on the same morning, but early access to DCA is a perk for onsite guests only.

 

[starshine514]

So no tax on the DL portion? I guess I have already paid the tax on the WDW portion. Using that $1135, I think upgrading to the premier passport would be about $445, or about $120 more than the DD tickets. But we'd get the AP discounts & could go into the parks all 8 days we'll be there, instead of 5 1/2. We're planning sit down meals every night & maybe at lunch some days too, so the dining discount is big for me too.

I could also get DD tickets for DH & just upgrade mine to the AP & still get the discounts. Hmmmm, I hate decisions!

I think I would upgrade both of them, so you can both go into the park everyday!