Upgrading just one package ticket (out of many)

[squirk]

We are planning a WDW trip next Feb. that would be a package (room + 8-day PH's). However, I myself will be in Orlando in January on a business trip, and would like to visit the parks while I am there.

We are DVC, so with the discount, an AP makes sense for me, though not for the other seven people in my Feb. travel party (who probably won't visit the parks again in the next 12 months).

So, is there any way for me to book the Feb. package with 8-day PH's for all of us, but upgrade just my PH to AP and activate in January before the Feb. package trip occurs?

I am guessing the answer is "no," but I've been surprised before.

Please and thank you!

 

[Robo]

I am guessing the answer is "no," but I've been surprised before.

BEFORE your actual package date, that is not possible.

Is there a particular reason why you have booked the resort as a "package" WITH the tickets?
If not, you could rebook as "room only"and buy any tickets that you'd like for anybody.
(You could even buy from a ticket discounter and save some money on your upgrading to AP.)

 

[squirk]

BEFORE your actual package date, that is not possible.

Is there a particular reason why you have booked the resort as a "package" WITH the tickets?
If not, you could rebook as "room only"and buy any tickets that you'd like for anybody.
(You could even buy from a ticket discounter and save some money on your upgrading to AP.)

Thanks. No, no particular reason for booking as a package, other than a.) getting my TA a slightly higher commission and b.) the $200 deposit vs. the $1,800 deposit.

So, if I buy the tickets 3rd-party, should I list "day of first park admission" for all six of us to be that Feb. trip, or should I buy my 8-day PH separate and list the day in January (during my business trip) as "day of first park admission"?

Or does it really matter - i.e., does it all "come out in the wash" when I upgrade to the AP regardless of which day I select as my first park visit?

 

[seashoreCM]

For those not upgrading to annual pass, the cost of their tickets can vary depending on the declared day of first usage.

Also, the declared day of first usage will affect the day of last usage (for those who don't upgrade to AP) although only rarely does this cause an unforeseen problem i.e. you make a last minute extension of your vacation and also spread out park days.

Now you can sometimes adva ntageously declare an earlier day of first usage to get a lower ticket price knowing you will finish using the ticket before it expires. If you no-show on the first day the ticket can be used, that does not automatically demand a ticket change or upgrade to a later first day.

There is no more early ticket pickup. You will not be able to use a February package ticket in January.

You mean there is an $1800. deposit to book room only but only a $200. deposit to book a package? I thought it was the other way around. Now the cancellation date before penalties apply comes sooner for a package compared with for room only. Usually it is better to book room only compared with a package unless there is something special with the package such as free hopping (on the tickets) or free dining. But also check out any room only discountsw available at the time and crunch some numbers before making your choice. A few complimentary mini-golf or water park admissions is generally a bad impetus for favoring a package because only a few members of the family can get in.

 

[squirk]

For those not upgrading to annual pass, the cost of their tickets can vary depending on the declared day of first usage.

Also, the declared day of first usage will affect the day of last usage although only rarely does this cause an unforeseen problem i.e. you make a last minute extension of your vacation and also spread out park days.

Now you can sometimes adva ntageously declare an earlier day of first usage to get a lower ticket price knowing you will finish using the ticket before it expires. If you no-show on the first day the ticket can be used, that does not automatically demand a ticket change or upgrade to a later first day.

Thanks. I guess what I was thinking about was when I upgraded to the AP.

If I picked first usage for my 8-day PH to be, say, Jan. 8., the cost is $570. If I picked first usage to be Feb. 22, the cost is $585.

So will they just charge me $15 more for the upgrade if I picked the Jan. 8 first-use vs. the Feb. 22 first-use? If so, it seems like it doesn't really matter which date I pick, correct? In the end, I will wind up paying $699 either way.

 

[bumbershoot]

No, no particular reason for booking as a package, other than a.) getting my TA a slightly higher commission and b.) the $200 deposit vs. the $1,800 deposit.

Yikes at reason 1. I mean, nice, but not something that would ever be on my radar. (Then again I don’t use TAs for Disney).

As for 2, are you sure about the room-only deposit?


I’d run the numbers, and probably book room only, then buy yourself an AP and buy the other tickets later on.

 

[squirk]

Yikes at reason 1. I mean, nice, but not something that would ever be on my radar. (Then again I don’t use TAs for Disney).

As for 2, are you sure about the room-only deposit?

1.) I like my TA; she puts up with my OCD. And I really don’t save all that much buying tickets 3rd-party.

2.) Yes. I ran a dummy quote on the WDW site.

But yeah, I’ll probably just do the room-only given my AP situation.

 

[squirk]

You mean there is an $1800. deposit to book room only but only a $200. deposit to book a package? I thought it was the other way around.

Package deposits = $200. Room-only deposit = ~18% of total cost of stay (excluding tax).

 

[Fangorn]

Package deposit is $200. Room only deposit is 1 night room +tax. Obviously, with 8 people you're getting multiple rooms. How many and where? You can do multiple reservations: 1 for you as room only, no tickets, and then everyone else on a separate package reservation(s) if that works better for you.

Steve

 

[KittyKitty]

If you buy your AP 1st, then you might be able to get AP resort room rate, and avoid any possible increase in AP's price. I know you have to put a lot of $$$ upfront, but at least it will be done. You could call Disney, and ask them if they have AP room rates during your stay and how much. This will give you an idea what you are working with. You TA can book AP rooms rates too.

You are not OCD, you are a planner! Very helpful with Disney World trips!

 

[Delite]

1.) I like my TA; she puts up with my OCD. And I really don’t save all that much buying tickets 3rd-party.

2.) Yes. I ran a dummy quote on the WDW site.

But yeah, I’ll probably just do the room-only given my AP situation.

Running my numbers I save 400+ bucks buying 2 10day tickets through discount ticket sellers. I have ap from last yr for free parking.

Maybe for super short trips it near washes out but disney rack rate tickets was awful for my stay calcs.

Now for free dining I could see it being a good 500 bucks and I wouldn't have to worry over food.

But then I'm still paying premium full rate hotel.

Just passing along that authorized ticket sellers do save funds. If you float a discount ticket into an ap once your onsite you bridge over that savings to a ap. Disney doesn't add back the savings they start the upgrade at their ten day price point.

 

[Robo]

Just passing along that authorized ticket sellers do save funds. If you float a discount ticket into an ap once your onsite you bridge over that savings to a ap.
Disney doesn't add back the savings they start the upgrade at their ten day price point.

Well, that is only if the guest has already purchased a ten day ticket.

The "price bridge" is based on the full on-line Disney price of the exact kind ticket (number of days and/or Hopper and/or "Plus") that the guest has already purchased before the upgrade.
AND, the date that the guest's original ticket was minted/issued by Disney (if there has been an interim price increase) can affect the price bridge.

 

[squirk]

Package deposit is $200. Room only deposit is 1 night room +tax. Obviously, with 8 people you're getting multiple rooms. How many and where? You can do multiple reservations: 1 for you as room only, no tickets, and then everyone else on a separate package reservation(s) if that works better for you.

Steve

I think I may have misspoke - it's six of us for an eight-night stay. We are looking at a Treehouse villa.

Even though it won't work this time, yours is a great idea, and one that I will keep in my hip pocket for another time.

 

[squirk]

Well, that is only if the guest has already purchased a ten day ticket.

The "price bridge" is based on the full on-line Disney price of the exact kind ticket (number of days and/or Hopper and/or "Plus") that the guest has already purchased before the upgrade.
AND, the date that the guest's original ticket was minted/issued by Disney (if there has been an interim price increase) can affect the price bridge.

Robo, I guess I just have to flat-out ask what you would do in this situation.

To recap: I want to do a room+ticket package in Feb. for my 5-member party to give my TA some extra commission, but I want to buy and activate the DVC Gold AP for myself the prior January. Is there any way to make that work?

If I leave myself off the travel party when buying the 8-day PH ticket package, I suppose there is no way to later add myself to the res ( i.e., before the 60-day FP window opens) without having to also buy the 8-day PH for myself?

If buying the tix separately is the only solution, that’s fine. But I want to be able to say that at least I tried.

Please and thank you.

 

[starry_solo]

@squirk : are you planning another trip after January 2021? If so, reassign the package ticket to a fake profile on your MDE and buy the AP in January 2020.

 

[squirk]

@squirk : are you planning another trip after January 2021? If so, reassign the package ticket to a fake profile on your MDE and buy the AP in January 2020.

I most likely will take at least one ‘21 trip. But I guess I am missing something - even with the dummy profile, I’m playing twice in ‘20, though, right?

I’m paying $699 for the AP in January, and I’m paying $550 for my package 8-day PH in February.

And if the idea is to not use the dummy profile’s 8-day PH tix in February, and use my AP instead, I’ll only get a 30-day FP window when the rest of my family gets 60, won’t I?

And with the implementation of “dynamic pricing” to park tickets, the package PHs will now expire soon after my package trip ends, right?

I apologize if I am not following your line of thinking.

 

[starry_solo]

I most likely will take at least one ‘21 trip. But I guess I am missing something - even with the dummy profile, I’m playing twice in ‘20, though, right?

I’m paying $699 for the AP in January, and I’m paying $550 for my package 8-day PH in February.

And if the idea is to not use the dummy profile’s 8-day PH tix in February, and use my AP instead, I’ll only get a 30-day FP window when the rest of my family gets 60, won’t I?

And with the implementation of “dynamic pricing” to park tickets, the package PHs will now expire soon after my package trip ends, right?

I apologize if I am not following your line of thinking.

Yes, you'd be paying twice. But the ticket's value can be applied towards the cost of an AP voucher (the 8 day ticket) for you to use in the future.

You'll get 60 days for fastpass window because you're staying on property

 

[Robo]

Robo, I guess I just have to flat-out ask what you would do in this situation.

I want to do a room+ticket package in Feb. for my 5-member party to give my TA some extra commission

Sorry, but that would not be something I would do.
I would, for sure, buy room and tickets separately.
That's the best deal for your money.

But, I don't have a special relationship with a TA.
Looks like you do.

So, I guess am no help in this situation.

 

[squirk]

Sorry, but that would not be something I would do.
I would, for sure, buy room and tickets separately.
That's the best deal for your money.

But, I don't have a special relationship with a TA.
Looks like you do.

So, I guess am no help in this situation.

No, that’s very helpful. Thank you. My TA will understand.

 

[cel_disney]

I have a few questions...

1) you are DVC but booking this on cash and not points. Is there a DVC cash discount that you are getting or did you not ask?

2) if you must do the package thing for your room for a promo or whatever - your TA could buy a shorter ticket for you than everyone else that you can save and apply the value of for a future trip, This would reduce the amount you have tied up in tickets.

3) Have you looked at past history to see if AP discounts apply to treehouse for Feb?