Upgrading Park Hoppers to AP's?

[perlster]

I have a 4 day hopper purchased from the disney website for $194.00

I would like to upgrade to So Cal select $134.00 plus parking which comes to $193.00 Do you think they will let this go?

Not exactly what I was planning to do, but close - it's not clear if the parking is included in the AP "value" to determine if you can upgrade a particular PH. It seems that even if parking "counted", you would actually be downgrading, which I doubt is possible.

I tried emailing Disney with a very specific question, but after two tries, only was instructed to call this phone number: (714) 781-4400

 

[Gisele]

I just wanted to make sure about the special AP sign up discount. Being, if purchased this year, it will not be until next year, I believe in April to validate that AP? I know that the special runs through until the end of this year.

 

[Gisele]

I just read my own post, and thought what? he he! What I meant was, one would have by April to have their AP validated. That it would not have to be done any sooner from that.

 

[CalvaryMike]

What you paid for your ticket is encoded on the ticket. You will always pay the full price of the AP you're upgrading to. They know what you paid, and they will base the upgrade cost on what you paid.

Sorry, but in one scenario I disagree with this. I bought 2 day hoppers through my work for $118. When upgrading, I received $143 credit towards my AP.

 

[Gisele]

That sounds like a awesome deal all the way around Mike.

 

[disneysweethearts]

Not exactly what I was planning to do, but close - it's not clear if the parking is included in the AP "value" to determine if you can upgrade a particular PH. It seems that even if parking "counted", you would actually be downgrading, which I doubt is possible.

I tried emailing Disney with a very specific question, but after two tries, only was instructed to call this phone number: (714) 781-4400

In the past, the parking has def. been included as a way to reach the dollar value of the hopper. We've done that several times, but it's been hit or miss as to wether you could be a dollar or two under.

 

[kkheburn]

My husband and are are going to DLR in Feb. with our girls and are considering buying the deluxe AP's but we want to return in the summer. If there is a black out date do we just pay $40 or do we have to pay full price?

 

[bonita_babe232]

I just read my own post, and thought what? he he! What I meant was, one would have by April to have their AP validated. That it would not have to be done any sooner from that.

I asked the same thing in another post and a person who had bought one online said you have till january 2010 and then expire.... atleast thats what it said on her ticket.

But for me it seems it might be cheaper to do the city pass and get the hopper price taken off. But i will work it all out and see....

 

[pixiewings71]

My husband and are are going to DLR in Feb. with our girls and are considering buying the deluxe AP's but we want to return in the summer. If there is a black out date do we just pay $40 or do we have to pay full price?

If you get the Deluxe and want to go in on a blackout day you have to wait at the ticket booths and pay the fee, it was $40 for us last June but that may go up next summer. Depending on how many times you may want to visit on a blackout day it might be worth it get the premium AP so you don't have to worry about it.

 

[bumbershoot]

Sorry, but in one scenario I disagree with this. I bought 2 day hoppers through my work for $118. When upgrading, I received $143 credit towards my AP.

Very cool. Your company got a good deal.

But know that there are also cases that a person will have to pay MORE than the AP value. I can't remember her name right now, but there's a poster here whose husband is in the military, and the hoppers they get from the military have an encoded value that is LESS than what they are charging.

So for instance, they pay 189, but the encoded value is 179. So they end up paying a total of 279 for an AP that is 269.

I think both situations are pretty rare, but if you're military it's worth finding out what the encoded value of your military-office-purchased hopper is, and if you get something from your company that has a higher value than you paid, then it's time to celebrate!!!!

 

[Sleepless Knight]

If you know that you're going to visit during one blockout day, then you may want to reconsider the deluxe and just get the premium instead. The premium comes with parking, higher food discounts, merchandise discounts on most purchases $10 and over, and no blockout days. I know that you can plan around blockout days, but a consequence of having an AP is that you suddenly find yourself taking more advantages of opportunities to visit SoCal.

Last February, I bought my 2nd AP(premium this time) knowing that I would go down again in May or June and knew that those two visits would pay for the AP. Now when Disney showed Sleeping Beauty at El Capitan in August, I had an excuse to take a long weekend over Labor Day(blockout dates). And even before then, my family started planning a December trip, but with the premium, I didn't have to "miss" out on those visits since my pass wasn't good then.

 

[kimkatmom]

I don't mean to further complicate this discussion, but my question is as follows: We are planning to buy a Deluxe AP. If we decide, in the future, to go to DL on a blackout date, can we go to guest services and upgrade our ticket to a Premium AP?

 

[Sleepless Knight]

Yes, but you should do so before the blackout day. Otherwise, you'd have to buy a blackout ticket to get in and I don't know if they'll put that towards the premium AP. They probably would, but better to be safe than sorry.

Random note, if you decide to buy a blackout ticket, your deluxe AP still works for both food discounts and collecting fastpasses.

 

[sarasmom97]

My dd and I have 5 day passes. I would like to upgrade to Deluxe AP's on our last day, which happens to be a blackout day.
I know since we are already in DL, we can stay. But we probably would not be able to go to DCA after we upgrade, right?
Just trying to plan out our last day.

 

[kkheburn]

We will be getting our passes as gifts in Dec. but will not be going to the park until Feb. Do they become active when you purchase them or when you get to the park? How do I get in with the pass if I do not have a photo on it yet? Do I have to wait at the ticket booths?

 

[disneysweethearts]

I don't mean to further complicate this discussion, but my question is as follows: We are planning to buy a Deluxe AP. If we decide, in the future, to go to DL on a blackout date, can we go to guest services and upgrade our ticket to a Premium AP?

Yes, but you should do so before the blackout day. Otherwise, you'd have to buy a blackout ticket to get in and I don't know if they'll put that towards the premium AP. They probably would, but better to be safe than sorry.

Random note, if you decide to buy a blackout ticket, your deluxe AP still works for both food discounts and collecting fastpasses.

When we did this this past year, we had So Cal Select and went on a black out date. We went to guest services outside the park and paid the $40.00 to get in on a blackout date and they upgraded us to So Cal passes bc the difference between So Cal Select and So Cal was an even $40.00.

My dd and I have 5 day passes. I would like to upgrade to Deluxe AP's on our last day, which happens to be a blackout day.
I know since we are already in DL, we can stay. But we probably would not be able to go to DCA after we upgrade, right?
Just trying to plan out our last day.

Just wait until the end of the day to upgrade.

 

[pixiewings71]

I don't mean to further complicate this discussion, but my question is as follows: We are planning to buy a Deluxe AP. If we decide, in the future, to go to DL on a blackout date, can we go to guest services and upgrade our ticket to a Premium AP?

Yes, they will credit the amount of your blackout pass to your upgrade. We seriously considered this last year and we asked when we had our blackout tickets. We were told that yes, you can upgrade again and yes, you will get credit for your blackout day pass towards your upgrade.

My dd and I have 5 day passes. I would like to upgrade to Deluxe AP's on our last day, which happens to be a blackout day.
I know since we are already in DL, we can stay. But we probably would not be able to go to DCA after we upgrade, right?
Just trying to plan out our last day.

Why would you not be able to go to DCA? We did, no problems at all. They are parkhoppers, once you are in you are fine. We upgraded on a Saturday and had no problem hopping.