Upgrading ticket from hopper to AP...need help

[tracer]

I am trying to figure this out but I am not sure I fully understand it...So I need all of your help! There is a little bit of math involved.

We are going in March and have the 3 day hopper tickets. We have two adults and one child. It will be my dad, me and my two sons (one is under 3). We paid $129 each for our tickets. Total $387

DH, me and our two sons (DS2 will still be under 3 so no ticket needed) are going again the first week in December. The tickets then will be $179 each for the adults and $149 for the child. Total $507

So if I just buy park hoppers for both trips I will be paying a total of $894. If I buy 3 AP's at $239 each, that puts me at $717, right? Savings of $177.

-If I upgrade on my last day in March to the AP I only pay the difference from what I have already paid? ($717-$389 = $328)

-I am looking at the Deluxe AP (no parking and no stroller needed) is that a good AP? Are there only two AP's for non-local's? We are going again the first weekend in Dec, there are no block out dates to my knowledge at that time.

-Now we want to upgrade the ticket my dad uses to an AP for DH so he can use it in Dec. Can we do that? I am aussuming that the AP will have a name on it? If my dad isn't with me when I upgrade how will they know? Do I have to have DH there or some form of ID? Also with my DS do I have to have ID for him or do they just put a name on it. (I know I am totally cheating the system here )

-My dad has AAA, is there a discount on AP's with that?

-As an AP we will get a discount at the DLH right?

Thank you for taking the time to look at this, clarify anything, and give me any info. I greatly appreciate it!

-Tracy

 

[DangerMouse]

-Now we want to upgrade the ticket my dad uses to an AP for DH so he can use it in Dec. Can we do that? I am aussuming that the AP will have a name on it? If my dad isn't with me when I upgrade how will they know? Do I have to have DH there or some form of ID? Also with my DS do I have to have ID for him or do they just put a name on it. (I know I am totally cheating the system here )

-My dad has AAA, is there a discount on AP's with that?

-As an AP we will get a discount at the DLH right?

Thank you for taking the time to look at this, clarify anything, and give me any info. I greatly appreciate it!

-Tracy

I can answer this part of your question. Yes, you can use your dad's hopper to upgrade to an AP for your dh. We did that in 2005 using my mom's AP. They won't ask for ID. There is no AAA discount for AP's. The DLH offers AP rates SOMETIMES, not always. So you may get a discount depending on if they are offering AP rates during your dates of stay.

HTH!

Edited to add: Ok, now I re-read and see that your Dh won't actually be there to get the AP? I don't think that will work. He will need to be there in order to have his photo taken for the AP. Perhaps you could get a voucher for an AP at that point, and have his pic taken later? Nevermind, I'm not any help at all! Sorry! I really hope someone else knows the answer for you.

 

[camouseketeer]

To upgrade to an AP, you will pay the difference between what you paid for your ticket and the price of an AP.

There are only two AP's for non-locals, Deluxe and Premium.

There are no AAA discounts for AP's.

As Dangermouse said, sometimes the DLR hotels have discounts for AP's. Sometimes they don't. Sometimes the discount is the same as an AAA discount.

Tickets are not supposed to be transfered. To upgrade to an AP, the person must be present. Disney assumes you bought the ticket, you used it that day, and you are upgrading it to an AP. AP's have names and photos on them.

In order to "cheat the system" your DH will have to use your dad's ticket at least once during your March stay in order to be there to get his AP.

 

[tracer]

Tickets are not supposed to be transfered. To upgrade to an AP, the person must be present. Disney assumes you bought the ticket, you used it that day, and you are upgrading it to an AP. AP's have names and photos on them.

In order to "cheat the system" your DH will have to use your dad's ticket at least once during your March stay in order to be there to get his AP.

Do you have to get your picture taken the same day you upgrade your ticket to an AP? If not then DH could get his pic taken next time we go??

Do kids pay the same rate for AP's?

 

[dawnball]

For the first trip - leave your dad as a regular ticket, upgrade to AP for yourself and your son. For your second trip buy your husband a regular ticket. $789. That's a savings of $108 over buying individual tickets for both visits.

 

[tracer]

For the first trip - leave your dad as a regular ticket, upgrade to AP for yourself and your son. For your second trip buy your husband a regular ticket. $789. That's a savings of $108 over buying individual tickets for both visits.

That's what DH and I just figured out. It would be worth it to upgrade for at least DS and I. (we will still try to upgrade dad's for DH - eventhough I am pretty sure it won't work) Hey it's worth a shot right?!

We want to stay at the DLH so I am hoping to get better AP rates. And who knows, DS's and I might be able to sneak another quick trip to DL before Dec.

 

[Pirate-Emery]

I still don't understand this.

If I have a 4-day Hopper Pass, is there a specific day I have to apply for AP in order to use my "credit"?

 

[tracer]

I still don't understand this.

If I have a 4-day Hopper Pass, is there a specific day I have to apply for AP in order to use my "credit"?

You can upgrade your 4-day ticket all the way up to the last day of its use to an AP.

 

[Califgirl]

To answer your original question, no you cannot use your Dad's ticket to get DH an AP. Tickets are non-transferable.

To upgrade a ticket you must upgrade it while the original ticket is still active (ie you used it to get in the park) You can do this all the way up until the last day the ticket is valid, but not after. Once it is expired, it is too late. When you upgrade to an AP, the AP holder will have their picture taken and it is put on the AP, which is a hard plastic card. This is different from WDW where they only have names listed, on paper like tickets.

I have the Deluxe AP and I like it. Be sure to check the blackout dates for your trip - just to make sure that it will be the best value for you. If you are there during a blackout date, I believe it is $30 for the day (parkhopping is allowed!)

Enjoy your trips! It sounds like fun.