Upgrading to Annual Pass / Hints Please

[Mama Bear Me2]

We want to upgrade our 5 Day Park Hopper pass to a Deluxe Annual Pass when we get to Disneyland.

We would really appreciate some hints to make the process as quick and efficient as possible.

Background:

1) Thinking of using some of the days on our 5 day Park Hopper prior to upgrading to the Deluxe Annual Pass. Not really concerned about the 10% discount on food & merchandise. Planning on snack kiosks which don't take the discount and we can always wait to shop after our discount kicks in. We may or may not take advantage of the 1 time early entry magic hour but highly doubt it. Our 1st week in town we are staying with relatives off site so don't really expect we can get to the parks early.

2) Planning on upgrading on a "June Saturday" which is a Deluxe Annual Pass "Black Out" day. This date "might" also be the "last" day of our 5 Day Park Hopper but again, understand so long as we upgrade before the "end" of the day "before" the park & ticket booths close, we can still do our upgrade.

Understand that this is NOT a problem as posters on this site advised that we would get some special kind of ticket which would allow us to enter the parks on a "Black Out" day since we are upgrading on a "Black Out" day.

In this case, Deluxe Annual Passholders are not required to purchase a "Black Out" day ticket to enter the parks.

Please confirm: With this special ticket, we'd not only be able to enter the parks on a "Black Out" day BUT we can also "Park Hop"?

Please correct me if any of my understanding shown above is incorrect. Thanks!

QUESTIONS:

1) What time should we get to the park and line up at the ticket booth to upgrade to the Deluxe Annual Pass?

2) Is the morning better spent getting into the park with our regular 5 Day Park Hopper and do the rides that tend to get busy and wait to do our upgrades later in the day?

3) Are the line ups at the ticket booths really long? Hoping that most visitors already have their tickets. Can you please advise?

4) Is there any ticket booth we should use which "might" have shorter line ups?

5) Understand that we need to have our photo taken for our Deluxe Annual Pass. How long does this take?

6) Is there anything else we should know re: the procedure for upgrading to Deluxe Annual Pass? Any special ID? Will be leaving our passports back at our rental so other than driver's license we won't have any other ID.

For my kid, we will have a "photocopy" of her passport for a photo ID. Again, leaving passports at our rental.

6) How long does the entire process take?

7) Any extra tips?

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!!

 

[Gisele]

We want to upgrade our 5 Day Park Hopper pass to a Deluxe Annual Pass when we get to Disneyland.

We would really appreciate some hints to make the process as quick and efficient as possible.

Background:

1) Thinking of using some of the days on our 5 day Park Hopper prior to upgrading to the Deluxe Annual Pass. Not really concerned about the 10% discount on food & merchandise. Planning on snack kiosks which don't take the discount and we can always wait to shop after our discount kicks in. We may or may not take advantage of the 1 time early entry magic hour but highly doubt it. Our 1st week in town we are staying with relatives off site so don't really expect we can get to the parks early.

2) Planning on upgrading on a "June Saturday" which is a Deluxe Annual Pass "Black Out" day. This date "might" also be the "last" day of our 5 Day Park Hopper but again, understand so long as we upgrade before the "end" of the day "before" the park & ticket booths close, we can still do our upgrade.

Understand that this is NOT a problem as posters on this site advised that we would get some special kind of ticket which would allow us to enter the parks on a "Black Out" day since we are upgrading on a "Black Out" day.

In this case, Deluxe Annual Passholders are not required to purchase a "Black Out" day ticket to enter the parks.

Please confirm: With this special ticket, we'd not only be able to enter the parks on a "Black Out" day BUT we can also "Park Hop"?

Please correct me if any of my understanding shown above is incorrect. Thanks!

QUESTIONS:

1) What time should we get to the park and line up at the ticket booth to upgrade to the Deluxe Annual Pass?

2) Is the morning better spent getting into the park with our regular 5 Day Park Hopper and do the rides that tend to get busy and wait to do our upgrades later in the day?

3) Are the line ups at the ticket booths really long? Hoping that most visitors already have their tickets. Can you please advise?

4) Is there any ticket booth we should use which "might" have shorter line ups?

5) Understand that we need to have our photo taken for our Deluxe Annual Pass. How long does this take?

6) Is there anything else we should know re: the procedure for upgrading to Deluxe Annual Pass? Any special ID? Will be leaving our passports back at our rental so other than driver's license we won't have any other ID.

For my kid, we will have a "photocopy" of her passport for a photo ID. Again, leaving passports at our rental.

6) How long does the entire process take?

7) Any extra tips?

THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!!

Ok.....just came to.....


Annual Passport Member Services

(714) 781-PASS

(714) 781-7277

Hours to Call:

Monday through Friday: 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Saturdays and Sundays: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Holiday hours may vary between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Hours are P.S.T.


https://disneyland.disney.go.com/help/phone/

 

[cagirl4life]

We want to upgrade our 5 Day Park Hopper pass to a Deluxe Annual Pass when we get to Disneyland. We would really appreciate some hints to make the process as quick and efficient as possible. Background: 1) Thinking of using some of the days on our 5 day Park Hopper prior to upgrading to the Deluxe Annual Pass. Not really concerned about the 10% discount on food & merchandise. Planning on snack kiosks which don't take the discount and we can always wait to shop after our discount kicks in. We may or may not take advantage of the 1 time early entry magic hour but highly doubt it. Our 1st week in town we are staying with relatives off site so don't really expect we can get to the parks early. 2) Planning on upgrading on a "June Saturday" which is a Deluxe Annual Pass "Black Out" day. This date "might" also be the "last" day of our 5 Day Park Hopper but again, understand so long as we upgrade before the "end" of the day "before" the park & ticket booths close, we can still do our upgrade. Understand that this is NOT a problem as posters on this site advised that we would get some special kind of ticket which would allow us to enter the parks on a "Black Out" day since we are upgrading on a "Black Out" day. In this case, Deluxe Annual Passholders are not required to purchase a "Black Out" day ticket to enter the parks. Please confirm: With this special ticket, we'd not only be able to enter the parks on a "Black Out" day BUT we can also "Park Hop"? Please correct me if any of my understanding shown above is incorrect. Thanks! QUESTIONS: 1) What time should we get to the park and line up at the ticket booth to upgrade to the Deluxe Annual Pass? 2) Is the morning better spent getting into the park with our regular 5 Day Park Hopper and do the rides that tend to get busy and wait to do our upgrades later in the day? 3) Are the line ups at the ticket booths really long? Hoping that most visitors already have their tickets. Can you please advise? 4) Is there any ticket booth we should use which "might" have shorter line ups? 5) Understand that we need to have our photo taken for our Deluxe Annual Pass. How long does this take? 6) Is there anything else we should know re: the procedure for upgrading to Deluxe Annual Pass? Any special ID? Will be leaving our passports back at our rental so other than driver's license we won't have any other ID. For my kid, we will have a "photocopy" of her passport for a photo ID. Again, leaving passports at our rental. 6) How long does the entire process take? 7) Any extra tips? THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR HELP!!

Yes your thinking is right. No matter blackouts your AP is valid the day of purchase so if their is a blackout during your trip get it that day or after. As long as you still have time to enter the parks you can upgrade. Just note the start day of your AP is your first day you entered on the ticket.

I would wait till the afternoon. Morning lots of people are getting their tickets and the lines can be long. After lunch is better I would think but you can wait till night. We have bought tickets while leaving the park for the night. The photos take 1 minute per person. It's like getting your picture for your license at the DMV. What takes the longest is getting all your info. I think the whole process took us under 20 minutes and we didn't wait in a line to do so. I remember showing my drivers license for my 2nd pass. I don't remember my 1st but I know my mom showed hers but i think it might have been for the credit card. I was over 18 so I think that's why they needed my id your kids should not but I would call that number or email the PP posted for the id question. My assumption would be that you only need id. I can't imagine Disney making you bring a passport. If you park when you go I would look into getting one ticket with parking. Save your parking tickets because technically they can only deduct for the day you upgrade but we got some magic (asked nicely) and they discounted for the whole trip. Not saying it will happen but it can sometimes.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

Pack your patience. It takes longer than any of us would like. I did mine on an evening when there was no line at the ticket booths, but it still took nearly 10 minutes.

 

[bumbershoot]

3) Are the line ups at the ticket booths really long? Hoping that most visitors already have their tickets. Can you please advise?

Sadly, many people do not already have tickets. I've said for years that it's like each and every person is trying to broker a deal for world peace when at the ticket counters.

So go early-early or go late. I'd probably shoot for the ticket booths on the side near downtown disney, as many people coming from that way are onsite and hopefully got tickets already or at their resort.

I think your drivers licenses should be fine. My son didn't need an ID.

Taking the picture means you ask a photopass person to take it. Just find one who isn't busy and have the pictures taken.

 

[sleepymouse]

Adults just need driver's licenses and kids do not need id. It is a long slow process as others have mentioned. After you receive the APs, you will need to get a Photopass photographer to take your photos. It took us a couple of days before we did this because we kept forgetting, so we just needed to show id when entering the parks until the photos were taken and uploaded. No big deal.

If you have not purchased your PHs yet, look into purchasing them through Orbitz. You can buy 4day ones with the 5th day free and get ebates cash back. We did this and luckily the price difference/savings was bridged when upgrading to APs. We ended up saving approx. $50 per AP.

 

[bumbershoot]

We did this and luckily the price difference/savings was bridged when upgrading to APs.

That isn't Disneyland's normal way of doing things, so the OP shouldn't expect that. Normally with Disneyland you lose the discount when you upgrade.

Doesn't take away any cash back you might have earned if you clicked to Orbitz through your fave cashback website, though!

 

[sleepymouse]

That isn't Disneyland's normal way of doing things, so the OP shouldn't expect that. Normally with Disneyland you lose the discount when you upgrade. Doesn't take away any cash back you might have earned if you clicked to Orbitz through your fave cashback website, though!

I know it can go either way. That is why I said "luckily". I probably should have been more clear. All I did was hand over my PHs to upgrade and that is how it worked for me.

 

[dragonflycurls]

Ok.....just came to.....


Annual Passport Member Services

(714) 781-PASS

(714) 781-7277

Hours to Call:

Monday through Friday: 7:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Saturdays and Sundays: 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Holiday hours may vary between 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

Hours are P.S.T.


https://disneyland.disney.go.com/help/phone/

The OP asked us, I would assume that they do in fact have access to this very same information but wanted to get help from people who have personally gone through the process. Perhaps I'm reading your tone incorrectly on the internet, but this came across a bit rude.

 

[Gisele]

The OP asked us, I would assume that they do in fact have access to this very same information but wanted to get help from people who have personally gone through the process. Perhaps I'm reading your tone incorrectly on the internet, but this came across a bit rude.

Thank you for your opinion.
Is there anything that I have posted that you actually like? Agree with?
I answered the best way I saw fit (And still do)
Thank you again though for your opinion and perspective.

 

[Mama Bear Me2]

Hi Everyone,

THANK YOU for all your information. Really appreciate you taking time to share your knowledge.

SORRY ... I know that my post is very long. However, the info mentioned in my original post re: blackout date policy, discounts, early entry etc. took me awhile to research. Spent a lot of time reading blogs etc. on the internet before a kind Dis'er recommended the Disboards. I am grateful to that kind Dis'er as most of what I've learned has been through Disboards.

Therefore, since I was posting some questions, I thought it would be a good idea to summarize some of what I've learned re: upgrading to an Annual Pass in the hopes that someone else would benefit from my "little bit" of knowledge.

Anyway, thanks again for so generously helping me out!

Please keep your tips and/or personal experiences coming!! Any and all information is gratefully accepted!