Upgrading to AP's after buying Park Hoppers?

[SunsetsOnTheBeach]

I'm trying to figure out how to make this work. We are interested in getting AP's this year. We are taking a trip NYE weekend, and even with the Deluxe pass, we'd be blocked out on 12/31. So my plan is to buy park hoppers, and then (hopefully, if I can convince DH, hahaha) upgrade to AP's at the end of our trip.

Can someone tell me how this works? Is there a way to save money, by buying a different park hopper? (We are getting 2 days) What's the best way to do this? I've had an AP before, it was one of the SoCal selects, but I didn't really use it much and it expired. We are So Cal residents though.

 

[sonnyjane]

You can update your parkhoppers to an AP at any point during your trip, but it has to be before the end of your last day (in other words you can't use both days on your hopper then come back on the next day and hope to upgrade).

You will pay the difference between what you paid for the parkhopper and what the AP costs - not the value of the parkhopper, just what you paid. I don't think this will be a problem since you're 2-day hoppers, as they aren't discounted online, but for people that buy 3-day and longer hoppers online for a discount, you will lose any discount once you upgrade.

Just take your tickets to any ticket booth and they will be able to perform the upgrade.

ETA: If you aren't staying on-site and you would like to get a Magic Morning entry, you might want to buy a 3-day parkhopper, which will allow you one Magic Morning entry during your trip. If you are pretty sure you'll be upgrading to an AP anyway, then it won't matter if you're buying an extra day you won't be using.

 

[SunsetsOnTheBeach]

Oh ok. See I was hoping maybe if we bought 6 day hoppers, it would make the upgrade a little cheaper. But I guess that's out the window! Thanks for the info!

 

[pixiewings71]

Oh ok. See I was hoping maybe if we bought 6 day hoppers, it would make the upgrade a little cheaper. But I guess that's out the window! Thanks for the info!

If you bought 6 day hoppers you'd have that money to put towards your AP upgrade. We did this in April, we got 3 day hoppers from AAA (because unknown to me the AAA office did not have 4 day hoppers, you have to buy those online), we added day 4 for $10 or so, then we added day 5 for another $5 or so, then on day 5 we took our hoppers to the AP processing center (not there anymore) and upgraded to APs. We received the money we had paid for the 5 day hoppers (AAA gives a small discount so we did lose that when we added our single days) towards the APs. So if you paid $300 for 6 day park hoppers and you upgraded to APs you would pay the difference. So this example is totally off numbers wise but you will get the general idea......your hoppers cost you $300, an AP is $400, you pay the difference of $100. I hope that makes sense. Also, remember, if you upgrade to APs you have to buy APs that are more expensive than the tickets you hold, so if your 6 day hoppers were $300 and you wanted the So Cal Deluxe pass and it was $297 you could NOT do this because you paid more for your hoppers, you can only upgrade by paying more. Also, as a CA resident you qualify for monthly payments, just put something down and pay monthly on the pass you want. Another thing....if you are a So Cal resident and will be driving to the park(s) it's a good idea to add the $99 parking pass to one of your APs, that way you get free parking on all days your AP is good.

 

[fidoprincess]

After you use your early entry up from the park hoppers and are sure there are no block out days, it's a good idea to upgrade so you can get the AP discounts throughout the rest of your trip.

 

[mel3073]

If you bought 6 day hoppers you'd have that money to put towards your AP upgrade. We did this in April, we got 3 day hoppers from AAA (because unknown to me the AAA office did not have 4 day hoppers, you have to buy those online), we added day 4 for $10 or so, then we added day 5 for another $5 or so, then on day 5 we took our hoppers to the AP processing center (not there anymore) and upgraded to APs. We received the money we had paid for the 5 day hoppers (AAA gives a small discount so we did lose that when we added our single days) towards the APs. So if you paid $300 for 6 day park hoppers and you upgraded to APs you would pay the difference. So this example is totally off numbers wise but you will get the general idea......your hoppers cost you $300, an AP is $400, you pay the difference of $100. I hope that makes sense. Also, remember, if you upgrade to APs you have to buy APs that are more expensive than the tickets you hold, so if your 6 day hoppers were $300 and you wanted the So Cal Deluxe pass and it was $297 you could NOT do this because you paid more for your hoppers, you can only upgrade by paying more. Also, as a CA resident you qualify for monthly payments, just put something down and pay monthly on the pass you want. Another thing....if you are a So Cal resident and will be driving to the park(s) it's a good idea to add the $99 parking pass to one of your APs, that way you get free parking on all days your AP is good.

Pixiewings, do you remember what the value of your 3-day park hoppers were from AAA? I bought 3 day hoppers for use 12/28 - 12/30 from AAA. I know I want to upgrade to an AP, but I won't know the value of the hoppers until I get in the park. No one from AAA or the Disneyland AP office could tell me. I'd like to know in advance so I can have some idea of how much I'll have to pay to upgrade to an AP.

Thank you!

 

[skiingfast]

Pixiewings, do you remember what the value of your 3-day park hoppers were from AAA? I bought 3 day hoppers for use 12/28 - 12/30 from AAA. I know I want to upgrade to an AP, but I won't know the value of the hoppers until I get in the park. No one from AAA or the Disneyland AP office could tell me. I'd like to know in advance so I can have some idea of how much I'll have to pay to upgrade to an AP.

Thank you!

The value of your PH that you want to upgrade is likely what you paid AAA for it.

 

[mel3073]

The value of your PH that you want to upgrade is likely what you paid AAA for it.

AAA can't even tell me what I paid for the hoppers. I bought them as part of a vacation package with a hotel. All they could tell me is they are a little less than the gate price, but no definite amount.

 

[skiingfast]

AAA can't even tell me what I paid for the hoppers. I bought them as part of a vacation package with a hotel. All they could tell me is they are a little less than the gate price, but no definite amount.

If I had to guess, the value will be the online price. That's often the case when your ticket is part of a bundle.

You won't know for sure until your are at the ticket booths and they look it up.

Hope that helps you with at least a ballpark figure.

 

[SunsetsOnTheBeach]

Ok, this is all great info.

So, humor me here for a second. Say we bought 2 day hoppers. At the end of the second day, could we upgrade to a pass, and still do the monthly payments? Or can you only do the $80 down and then a monthly payment?

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Yes you can upgrade and the balance will be divided into monthly payments. Just so you know, the first monthly payment is immediate or at leasy within a couple days of the upgrade.

 

[sonnyjane]

And also, in case you missed it at the bottom of my first reply, if you aren't staying at an on-site hotel and you'd like to get one Magic Morning early entry, you should buy a three-day park hopper instead of a 2-day, as it will come with that perk, if you're just planning on upgrading anyway.

 

[SunsetsOnTheBeach]

And also, in case you missed it at the bottom of my first reply, if you aren't staying at an on-site hotel and you'd like to get one Magic Morning early entry, you should buy a three-day park hopper instead of a 2-day, as it will come with that perk, if you're just planning on upgrading anyway.

Oh yes, I glossed over that bit! I'm thinking it may not be too important though. Day 1 we have a reservation for Bibbiti Bobbiti at 7:20am, getting us in to the park early without having the magic morning. And then Sunday, we'll probably have a reservation at Minnie & Friends early also (haven't booked that yet, but I'm hoping), so we can get in early!

 

[pixiewings71]

Pixiewings, do you remember what the value of your 3-day park hoppers were from AAA? I bought 3 day hoppers for use 12/28 - 12/30 from AAA. I know I want to upgrade to an AP, but I won't know the value of the hoppers until I get in the park. No one from AAA or the Disneyland AP office could tell me. I'd like to know in advance so I can have some idea of how much I'll have to pay to upgrade to an AP.

Thank you!

I'm sorry, I don't remember. I want to say it was around $150 each but it's hard to say.

Ok, this is all great info.

So, humor me here for a second. Say we bought 2 day hoppers. At the end of the second day, could we upgrade to a pass, and still do the monthly payments? Or can you only do the $80 down and then a monthly payment?

Yes, this is doable. Have fun, good luck upgrading!! DBF and I have decided no DL AP's for next year, instead we are doing our local 6 Flags for next year...not as much fun but much closer and cheaper.....for $200 we are getting passes for the whole family, along with free parking....and with the 6 Flags monthly payment deal it's under $20 a month....

 

[SunsetsOnTheBeach]

Wow that's a great deal on the 6 flags passes! We haven't been since we had kids, can't wait until they're both old enough.

We already have Sea World and San Diego Zoo annual passes, so the DL AP's are going to be a tough sell for DH, haha. I think I can hook him when he's all caught up in the Holiday time madness though

 

[pixiewings71]

We thought it was a great deal too. Also, 6 Flags is 15 min. from home, DL is 6 hours...LOL We love DL but it's nice to take a break too.