Upgrading Tickets/Price Bridging Confusion

[siskaren]

If possible try to find out what your original ticket cost was so you have the numbers before upgrading.

It doesn't matter what the ticket originally cost. All that matters is what the ticket costs now because you should only be paying the difference between the current gate price of what you have and the current gate price of what you want.

 

[Robo]

It doesn't matter what the ticket originally cost. All that matters is what the ticket costs now because you should only be paying the difference between the current gate price of what you have and the current gate price of what you want.

Correct.

Unless the guest was unlucky enough (!) to have purchased his/her ticket directly from WDW (not part of a resort package.)
Those tickets purchased at the WDW gates or ordered from WDW by phone or website (not part of a resort package)
are not subject to "price bridging."

It is in those few cases stated above that knowing what was paid for the tickets, originally, comes into play.

(Confusing, ain't it?)

 

[tebookie]

Thanks for the assistance! I will be going in March and report my experience then.

 

[pharaoh]

The amount of knowledge and experience you all have is amazing! I just upgraded my 3-Day MYW to a Florida Resident Seasonal Pass on Thursday. I didn't have any of this info. I just walked up to a ticket counter at Epcot and asked to do it. I was prepared to pay quite a bit because I thought only the price of one ticket would go towards the value of the pass, but he applied the price of all three tickets, so the upgrade only ended up being $50.

No fuss, no muss. I'm glad I know this for the future, though!

 

[siskaren]

The amount of knowledge and experience you all have is amazing! I just upgraded my 3-Day MYW to a Florida Resident Seasonal Pass on Thursday. I didn't have any of this info. I just walked up to a ticket counter at Epcot and asked to do it. I was prepared to pay quite a bit because I thought only the price of one ticket would go towards the value of the pass, but he applied the price of all three tickets, so the upgrade only ended up being $50.

No fuss, no muss. I'm glad I know this for the future, though!

You only had one ticket - it had three days on it. If you had three one-day tickets, then you would've only been able to use one ticket towards the upgrade.

 

[pharaoh]

You only had one ticket - it had three days on it. If you had three one-day tickets, then you would've only been able to use one ticket towards the upgrade.

Got it. Thanks for clarifying.

 

[vicki_c]

Historically, I've frequently been a a participant on theses ticket threads, but haven't been on the DIS much lately.

There is one new complication with all this recently, which has most likely been discussed elsewhere, but just thought I would throw it in. It currently applies to my tickets so that's why I am aware of it.

With FP+ and MDE, you can only make reservations for the number of ticket days you have. So for me, we purchased 5 day tickets from UT last year and plan on upgrading to APs when we visit in April. Unfortunately, I will only be able to book 5 days worth of FP+ prior to our trip, even though we will be there for 9 or 10 days. The balance of days I will have to book after our upgrade. So not the end of the world, but some thing some folks may want to consider before they decide where to purchase tickets. What's more important to you, the savings or the FP+ advance bookings.

My TA friends and others have said they had no issues booking popular FP+ reservations on the day of or shortly before a visit, so I hope we will have the same luck even though we are going the week before Easter.

 

[MamaBear58]

Correct.

Unless the guest was unlucky enough (!) to have purchased his/her ticket directly from WDW (not part of a resort package.)
Those tickets purchased at the WDW gates or ordered from WDW by phone or website (not part of a resort package)
are not subject to "price bridging."

It is in those few cases stated above that knowing what was paid for the tickets, originally, comes into play.

(Confusing, ain't it?)

I have a Room Only reservation for Nov (4 people). Didn't get a package because I have no interest in a dining plan and wanted to preserve the ability to buy only 3 tickets and 1 AP for the room discount (deluxe) and TIW card.

But it sounds like I should have Dreams Unlimited convert me to a package to add 4 tickets before any price increase (which is usually in June but I realize there's no guarantees)? I should NOT simply have it buy me 4 tickets or 3 tickets/1 AP, because by converting to the package I get the benefit of bridging if there's an AP discount AND haven't bought an AP only to find out later that they never offered the AP discount, correct?

Any disadvantage to having a package, other than paying in full 45 days in advance and the $200 cancellation charge? I can't say they bother me because I'd get travel insurance anyway.

Thanks in advance. This is a little confusing to a newbie....

 

[Robo]

I have a Room Only reservation for Nov (4 people). Didn't get a package because I have no interest in a dining plan and wanted to preserve the ability to buy only 3 tickets and 1 AP for the room discount (deluxe) and TIW card.

But it sounds like I should have Dreams Unlimited convert me to a package to add 4 tickets before any price increase (which is usually in June but I realize there's no guarantees)? I should NOT simply have it buy me 4 tickets or 3 tickets/1 AP, because by converting to the package I get the benefit of bridging if there's an AP discount AND haven't bought an AP only to find out later that they never offered the AP discount, correct?

Any disadvantage to having a package, other than paying in full 45 days in advance and the $200 cancellation charge? I can't say they bother me because I'd get travel insurance anyway.

Thanks in advance. This is a little confusing to a newbie....

You could buy your tickets from a discounter like www.undercovertourist.com
and save some money, and connect those tickets to your MyDisneyExperience to make advance FP+ reservations.

 

[MamaBear58]

You could buy your tickets from a discounter like www.undercovertourist.com
and save some money, and connect those tickets to your MyDisneyExperience to make advance FP+ reservations.

Except that I am already using a travel agent and I want her to get the benefit of a larger commission by buying the tickets through Disney. So the question is whether they are bought separately or as part of a package. It sounds as though for bridging purposes a package is best. I am just trying to confirm that and to make sure there aren't any disadvantages to a package that I am missing. Thanks.

 

[PolyLover]

I have re-calculated the ticket prices based on the increased ticket price and with buying the tickets through undercover tourist (thru the mousesavers link) I'm saving even more!

The tickets are leftover from before the price increase. So here it goes:

3 adult and 1 child 6 Day MYW Parkhopper Water Park Fun Visits and More with No expiration.

Undercover Tourist total (544.25 x 3 and 543.25): $ 2,157
Disney Price of same tickets (649.65 x 3 and 628.35): $ 2,577.30

Cost of annual passes for 4 people (675.21 x 4): $ 2,700.84

So when upgrading my undercover tourist tickets to the annual pass I figure I will owe an additional $ 123.54.

All totaled I will have spent $2,280.54, which is a savings of $420.30!!
Does this make sense? Thanks!

 

[jtowntoflorida]

Except that I am already using a travel agent and I want her to get the benefit of a larger commission by buying the tickets through Disney. So the question is whether they are bought separately or as part of a package. It sounds as though for bridging purposes a package is best. I am just trying to confirm that and to make sure there aren't any disadvantages to a package that I am missing. Thanks.

There is a post somewhere in the ticket sticky that says that price bridging doesn't apply to tickets purchased from Disney. So if you want your TA to get a commission for your tickets, you're going to forgo the price advantage for yourself. My TA is a friend and while I love her, I like cash in my pocket better.

 

[twinklebug]

I upgraded my ticket I bought from Official Ticket Center to an AP. My advice so take it or leave it. Know your numbers & what you should be paying. Ask the person helping you if they know what price bridging is--if they give you a blank look or say it's not possible then walk away. Don't feel bad getting another CM to assist you. I finlly did get my AP at the proper price, but it took 2 times & having to get a refund from Disney after realizing I had been overcharged. And it took a lot of sticking to my guns & patiently explaining myself repeatedly. Make sure you dedicate at least an hour just to be safe when you go to do this--don't be in a hurry or rush.

Ditto what all others are saying but wanted to stress the bolded part of your post.

Know your numbers, be pleasant, give yourself and the CM time to make the exchange work.

I also had gone to international gateway to bridge my UT tickets to APs a couple of years back. At that time there were two booths there, I believe one was guest services, the other was ticket sales. I got in line for the ticket sales booth and the CM did the work to upgrade our passes. She took a ~very~ long time which worried me, and when she quoted me the price it was far too high. As I questioned the numbers and asked if she bridged the pass she started in with an attitude insisting that it absolutely, positively, 100% could not done that way. At that point I thanked her for her efforts and told her I could not upgrade just then. Note, as I was stepping away she pointed to the other booth and told me "he" could help me.... Which "he" did, very fast and accurately too, all with a fantastic personality

 

[afm1229]

Does anyone know the current value of a 4 day park hopper with no expiration?? Looking to upgrade to an AP but can't find the value since the no expiration isn't offered online???

 

[Dan Murphy]

Does anyone know the current value of a 4 day park hopper with no expiration?? Looking to upgrade to an AP but can't find the value since the no expiration isn't offered online???

http://allears.net/pl/ticketchart.htm

$ 483.51

 

[jimandami]

Does anyone know the current value of a 4 day park hopper with no expiration?? Looking to upgrade to an AP but can't find the value since the no expiration isn't offered online???

All ears lists it as $483.51

 

[PolyLover]

OMG I just read on allearsnet.net that Disney won't upgrade third party bought tickets anymore! And I just bought my 4 tickets from undercover tourist. This is becoming so complicated, might be time to discover a tropical island for vacations instead of WDW!

 

[Robo]

OMG I just read on allearsnet.net that Disney won't upgrade third party bought tickets anymore! And I just bought my 4 tickets from undercover tourist. This is becoming so complicated, might be time to discover a tropical island for vacations instead of WDW!

Relax.

That is bad info.

 

[PolyLover]

I hope so. I will call disney in the morning. I saw this on allearsnet, very reliable source.
I just hope I didn't buy tickets I didn't really want (6 day park hopper + water park + fun pass no expiration).
I was planning on loading these tickets on my magic bands (from previous trip) so how could Disney know where I bought the tickets once loaded on magic bands? Trying to keep this stress free- it IS a vacation after all

 

[Robo]

I hope so.

1. I will call disney in the morning.

2. I saw this on allearsnet, very reliable source.
I just hope I didn't buy tickets I didn't really want (6 day park hopper + water park + fun pass no expiration).

3. I was planning on loading these tickets on my magic bands (from previous trip) so how could Disney know where I bought the tickets once loaded on magic bands?

1. Don't expect to get a definitive answer by calling Disney.
Sorry to say that you can get random different answers from random different CM's.

2. This situation has been much discussed on these boards this week.
Click HERE for a huge thread about this.

allears. really dropped the ball and created unnecessary stress with this "announcement."
Bottom line: Tickets from discounters CAN be upgraded.


3. Disney knows exactly from whom you bought your tickets.
That info transfers into your MDE account.

Just to keep things as clear as possible-

There is no reservation info, or ticket info, or credit card info,
or FP+ info "put onto" a MagicBand.

The MagicBands just contain a unique serial number that is used
to access the information that is stored in your MyDisneyExperience computer file.

So, even if you were to lose a MagicBand, the info stays locked in your file.
Disney can just set up a new band (different serial number)
to access the info in your MDE file.
Disney can also issue ADDITIONAL MB's to a guest and each
additional band can be used for the same purposes as the first band.
So, yes, there can be multiple MB's per person, and each fo them can be used by that person.

The MagicBand works like the combination to a locked safe, or a key to a locked door.

Why does this distinction matter?
Because there is so much fear about losing bands and,
in turn, losing all of a guest's information thought to be on the band.

The MB, itself, is not the file of info or the container of the info.
The MB just unlocks the file of info, allowing it to be accessed when needed.