Upgrading deal (Reg tickets to Annual Pass)

[katybug34]

I remember people talking about taking advantage of undercovertourist's prices to purchase tickets and upgrade to a DVC Annual Pass and save money. Can anyone tell me exactly how that works and how to determine which tickets to buy?

Thanks!

 

[Missyrose]

Basically you want to buy the ticket with the greatest savings off gate price from Disney BUT costs less than the AP you want to buy. Then, once you've used the ticket to get into a park (thereby bringing its value up to the gate price) you can upgrade it to an AP by paying the difference from the gate price of the ticket and the AP. For example (using phony numbers) if the UT ticket costs $200 and the gate price of that same ticket cost was $230 and the AP costs $450 then your equation would look like this:
$450-$230 = $220 -- This is what it should cost you to upgrade to an AP, again this is a phony number.

 

[Breyean]

Basically you want to buy the ticket with the greatest savings off gate price from Disney BUT costs less than the AP you want to buy. Then, once you've used the ticket to get into a park (thereby bringing its value up to the gate price) you can upgrade it to an AP by paying the difference from the gate price of the ticket and the AP. For example (using phony numbers) if the UT ticket costs $200 and the gate price of that same ticket cost was $230 and the AP costs $450 then your equation would look like this:
$450-$230 = $220 -- This is what it should cost you to upgrade to an AP, again this is a phony number.

I'm also curious as to how this works.

In you example with the made up numbers, do they account for the DVC discount? So are you assuming the $450 AP cost in your example already is the DVC discounted price? Or does the DVC discount not apply if you do the upgrade?

Thanks.

 

[Missyrose]

I'm also curious as to how this works.

In you example with the made up numbers, do they account for the DVC discount? So are you assuming the $450 AP cost in your example already is the DVC discounted price? Or does the DVC discount not apply if you do the upgrade?

Thanks.

You can still get the discounted DVC APs when upgrading, just substitute the discounted AP price where I had put the original (made up AP price), so your upgrade should be $100 less than if you were upgrading to a non-DVC AP.

Just be sure to take into account the lower-priced AP when deciding which UT ticket to buy.

 

[hakepb]

There was a recent thread that mentioned the best discount was using the mousesavers link to UT and getting the 6 day hopper. That resulted in a $29 savings per ticket. (Or a total savings of $118 total for a family of 4 after taxes)

FYI There is no DVC AP "discount". the DVC AP is its own unique base ticket that is priced ~$100 less than the standard AP. (Just like the FL resident AP is its own form of a base ticket..).this is good because it allows us to upgrade a discounted MYW to the DVC AP

 

[hakepb]

Also, the most important step in the upgrade deal is to first use the MYW ticket to enter a park before the AP upgrade.
( And you must upgrade with at least 1 day remaining and within 14 days of first use-- I recently upgraded my ticket on day 3..)

Ticketing will "bridge" a used ticket to current gate price before an upgrade. (That is how you get the $29 savings I mentioned above).

If you do not first use an MYW ticket, then Ticketing will charge you the difference between what UT paid for the MYW(less than what you paid) and the DVC AP.

 

[luckyman_apd]

There was a recent thread that mentioned the best discount was using the mousesavers link to UT and getting the 6 day hopper. That resulted in a $29 savings per ticket. (Or a total savings of $118 total for a family of 4 after taxes)

FYI There is no DVC AP "discount". the DVC AP is its own unique base ticket that is priced ~$100 less than the standard AP. (Just like the FL resident AP is its own form of a base ticket..).this is good because it allows us to upgrade a discounted MYW to the DVC AP

I've never done it (yet) but I've read that you must USE the discounted ticket FIRST before upgrading. If you bring the ticket BEFORE use, then Disney will be able to determine what you paid and give you that as a credit, instead of the normal price for credit. Ex. AP cost (made up numbers from above) $450. You buy an UT ticket for $200 but it is normally $230. When you walk up to upgrade, they will only give you the $200 credit.

If you use the ticket to enter the park FIRST, then go to upgrade, they will have no way to tell what you paid for the ticket, and give you the full $230 credit. You have to have AT LEAST 1 DAY REMAINING on the ticket in order to upgrade.

Again, this is what I have read on the forums here. I've never gotten an AP.

 

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

I have done this and NEVER again.

1. I did use the ticket. next day took it to Guest Services at DTD to upgrade.

2. First price... the difference between what UT PAID and what a DVC AP costs.. Yes folks it was going to cost MORE then an AP! I complained that it wasn't MY fault they gave UT a discount (so they can see the price from point one!)

3. Manager agreed to bring to gate, got AP.

4. Walked away and turned it over.. "date of expiration" indicated I had pass for 3 months already, I was only getting 9 MONTHS.

5. Back in line. "That's the day we printed the ticket" SO? They fixed it.

Not worth it IMHO!

 

[NoMatter]

yes be very careful as they gave my family a very hard time to upgrade our tickets to annual passes. especially if you do not buy them actually from WDW. It is true you need to use them first in the park and make sure you complete the upgrade within 14 days.

 

[Sammie]

It really will depend on the CM you get to whether it is an easy transaction or not.

I agree with OCC, it is not worth the time and effort for us.

As more and more do this, I think you will see more difficulty as it is stacking discounts which Disney does not allow in other areas of operations.

Others have had problems.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2627757

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2800963

 

[hakepb]

I agree that the savings may not be worth the effort for some/many users.

I actually think there is a slight time benefit. The UT tickets are ready to go through the turnstile. If you buy an AP / voucher, you have to stand in a line to get a ticket that is valid for enrty. If you do not need AP discounts right away, you can wait to upgrade at a more convenient time for you. (Like when you are heading back to the resort in the afternoon)