Upgrading child ticket to adult...

[ruadisneyfan2]

Just wanted to tell everyone about my recent experience in WDW.
It has been my understanding that if a child partially uses a non-expiring ticket, once they turn 10 you could upgrade to adult ticket for free.
I did this last Nov and the CM agreed.

I just tried again in EPCOT last week and was told no, I have to pay the difference. I told him I had done it recently and didn't have to pay so he called someone on the phone who agreed with him.
He said he would do it for free this time since someone else at WDW already told me otherwise but to know for the future it's not free.



Did I get a newbie or is this true? I guess I'm in denial. The reason I think he might have been new is that I also asked to upgrade my 10 day, non-exp. to add the hopper option, knowing it is $45 and he charged me $80 something. When I told him it should be $45, he said, "Oh sorry, it automatically added in the price difference since you first bought this." which was in May 06.

Also, when he upgraded ds's ticket to an adult, he changed it from the old (pre MYW) Park Hopper, to an expiring ticket. When we tried to use it at the gate, it said it was expired so we had to go back in line at GS to the same guy to have this resolved.

With each transaction, he say, "That's ok. We'll absorb the difference in cost here." like he was doing me a big favor and trying to make me feel guilty.


What has your experience been?
Thanks!

 

[janets]

We did this for ds last year. WDW recognizes that kids will often outgrow their kids non expiring tickets and will upgrade to an adult ticket for free. There is no cost for this. Otherwise, no one would buy longer length tickets if they knew they'd have to pay again if their kids got older.

We paid no difference.

 

[Principessa1284]

Here's what happened - he should have never upgraded the May 06 ticket. Reguardless of when they expire, you can only upgrade a ticket within 14 days of first use, unless it's some sort of annual or seasonal pass, and in that case you have until the pass expires to upgrade it. My guess is, he was either trying to make that exception for you due to the mixup with the child - adult ticket, or he didn't realize and just plain made a mistake.

Yes, upgrading a child to adult ticket does not cost anything as long as the ticket is partially used. If the ticket is unused, you must pay the difference in the price of the ticket.

I agree that this particular situation wasn't handled as well as it should have been, but just keep in mind (and i'm sure you know) guest relations cast members have the difficult task of balancing outstanding guest service without giving away the farm. You should see the stuff people try to get away with sometimes!

 

[bumbershoot]

I would think that Cheshire Figment would have updated us all, in his "everything about WDW tickets" sticky thread, if things had changed regarding the child to adult change.


But I agree with the PP. You should NOT have been allowed to upgrade your adult May '06 ticket in any way, shape, or form. Hopping should not have been allowed to be added. Or so I've learned from CF.

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

I thought the 14 day rule was gone since it's a non-expiring. So after 14 days, what you have is what you keep?


I wasn't really trying to get away with something. I thought I was following the rules. I will re-read the sticky.

 

[tjmw2727]

You should have been able to upgrade the 3-9 ticket to a 10 + no problem, unfortunately the CM was misinformed. I have done it now twice with my dd's and been present a few times with my bil/sil when they did it for my neices or nephew.

Its not an easy transfer and some of the CM's need a supervisor - this has happend to us twice, once the supervisor walked the CM though the steps and another time the supervisor did the transaction. Its not a simple procedure but there should be no charge to change the ticket from a 3-9 to a 10 +. IMHO you should have a copy of the ticket before transfering it and I always save my receipts until the ticket used in full just in case.

On the second issue - I am not sure should have been able to add the ph feature to your ticket even though it was non- expiring - IIRC you have to make any changes or additions within the first 14 days. So you got a slide on that - sort of because you paid for it.

If you want feedback from Cheshire Figment (and I think she is a she??) then its best to post on the theme parks board rather than on the family board. Although the issue is on topic for both boards you will get more info on the theme parks board.

HTH
TJ

 

[bumbershoot]

Here is the post about upgrading.

Any MYW ticket (other than Florida Resident Play Three or Play Four or any type of Annual Pass, discussed later) can be upgraded within 14 days of first use. There are no exceptions. This applies even if the ticket has the No Expire Option.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

I thought the 14 day rule was gone since it's a non-expiring. So after 14 days, what you have is what you keep?


I wasn't really trying to get away with something. I thought I was following the rules. I will re-read the sticky.

You can only modify or upgrade within 14 days of first use, even if it is non-expiring. You should not have been able to add hopping to a May 06 ticket that you had used before. Florida resident tickets have different rules, but they can only be upgraded for six months.

For your child, here is the info from Cheshire Figment's sticky:

"Disney does not penalize children for growing older. If you have a partially used child's ticket, and the child is now 10 or older, you may exchange the child's ticket for an adult ticket with the same remaining entitlements and no charge. "

So, you should have been able to get a non-expiring ticket for the number of days remaining, since the pre-MYW tickets did not expire.

Sounds like you got a newbie. He should read CF's sticky - it is the definitive word on all things ticket-related!

 

[ruadisneyfan2]

Thank you all for setting me straight. I did re-read Chesire's sticky and it explains it very well.