Used my 1day passes towards AP renewal, here's how it worked!

[NCardella]

For all of you AP's toying around with purchasing 1day passes so you can enjoy the free DDP offered this coming year, here's how I did it.

see related thread: http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1150711

Back story: We are seasonal passholders. purchased 1day passes for each family member, booked minimum 3night stay, paid rack rate, so we could rec'v the free DDP over Labor Day weekend last year. Were curious to see how much of a hassle it would be to upgrade/put towards our renewal when the time came. Well, the time finally came, our passes are due for renewal tomorrow. Went to guest services at the Kingdom last night and I have to say it was a very easy transaction.

I had contacted Disney several times, via phone and email, before I booked to make absolutely sure we could do this, because I wasn't going to purchase the 1day passes if I couldn't. I was assured yes, so we booked. HOWEVER, I was advised that it would be considered an upgrade, not a renewal, so I figured I would miss out on the discounted renewal rate. But it still was a good deal so we went for it.

Not only was I able to use them towards the purchase of the new AP's, but they honored the discounted renewal rate, which for adult passes is a $29.82 discount and for the child's passes is a $25.56!

So here's the breakdown:
Seasonal AP's for a family of 4 (2 adults, 2 kids) is $894.62.
Discounted renewal rate (within 30day window) is $783.86.
1day passes (purchased 9/2006, 2 adult, 2kids) totaled: $244.96
Total paid for renewal, using credit from 1day passes: $538.90

The only thing that I found a little of a nuisance is that I had to visit guest services to do this. If I didn't live so close, they said I could mail them in, but I didn't feel comfortable doing that. I wanted to do it in person.

I know this was a long way to tell a short story, but wanted to post our experience because we've (annual passholders) all talked about how we do this but no one has ever posted the results when they finally go to renew.

Hope this helps anyone out there who may be thinking about doing this. I think Disney has been very helpful and has helped enhance our enjoyment, giving families like us the ability to eat at places we'd never visit on our tight budget.

 

[mrslur]

Thanks so much for this info. This is exactly what we're planning to do. We are headed to WDW in 1 week and will buy APs and have already booked free dining with a one day pass hoping to use them towards renewing APs next May. Glad it worked for you.

 

[NCardella]

Glad the info helped...but I'm curious...why pay extra for park hopping you are not going to use? Base ticket is enough to get the ddp.

 

[mrslur]

hoping not hopping.

 

[NCardella]

Thanks for clearing that up...I was like "1day parkhoppers...why, oh, why???"

 

[Mickey & Minnie Mom]

Thanks for the post. We'll be using our 1-day passes purchased last year to buy APs this year. I appreciate the breakdown so I now know exactly what we'll have to pay out for the APs.

 

[NCardella]

Use it only as a guideline...1day passes increased in price this year, as did annual passes.

glad it helped.

 

[lillygator]

thanks - we are planning to do this as well!

 

[kamanda]

Question for the OP - Did you just use the room keys with the 1 day passes on them or did you need to exchange those keys for an actual ticket before you checked out last year?

 

[NCardella]

We just held onto our room keys, kept them in a safe place, and when it was time to use them towards renewal, they scanned them at guest services to confirm that the one day passes were indeed still valid.

 

[mickeyx3]

Another question for the op. I too am purchasing the 1 day pass for the free dining this August. For our trip this year our plan is to just go to water parks so we need to purchase annual passes for the water parks only. Can I use my one day passes towards the purchase of water park annual passes or do I need to hold on to them until next year when we purchase annual passes?

 

[NCardella]

Mickey, I do not believe you are able to use park tickets towards water park passes. (correct me if I'm wrong, anyone out there!)

In fact, I tried to use the guest services desk at Typhoon Lagoon a few weeks ago just to do my annual pass transaction (described above) and they told me they couldn't even access park pass info, that the system wasn't even the same (I thought that was kind of strange, isn't any guest services desk as good as any other??). That's why we made a special trip back to the Kingdom a week later.

My guess would be no, but it never hurts to ask!

Let us know your outcome, and have a great time!

 

[magsnden]

Hey NCardella!

I just thought I'd check that this works, on this thread!

Thanks for all the info!

 

[beroh2253]

At the present time we do not have the AP. We are planning a trip for my sons graduation (hopefully the first week in June for the trip) and taking him DS21 and DD19 on our final family Disney trip before he enters the working world.
My question if we all get the 6 day MYW tickets (because we want to also get the DDP) can ME and DW take our tickets and upgrade our tickets to AP at guest services? I've heard the best way is to use 1 day then upgrade but not sure if this is true.
ME and DW are also booked in Sept. bounce back free DDP and purchaced a I day MYW park ticket which we can then use towards next years AP renewal.
This may all seem cheep on on our part but we love to got to Disney and this may be the only way for us to do multipul trips.
Can't wait till June and Sept.

magsnden thanks for the bump. I was looking for a thread like this to ask this question

 

[magsnden]

Hey no problem, beroh 2253! By the way, NCardella is my sister and I was talking to her about this topic yesterday so she sent the link.

Also, I can't help but notice it says you love POR. I'm staying there in 3 weeks, can you help get me psyched about the hotel?!! Not that I need that much help - it's DISNEY! Thanks!

 

[NCardella]

beroh...re: your first question...I believe any tickets you buy are eligible to be upgraded, whether it's a 1day or multiple day. but I think the credit given for multiple days has something to do with how many days you've used so far. I would call disney on that one.

 

[beroh2253]

Also, I can't help but notice it says you love POR. I'm staying there in 3 weeks, can you help get me psyched about the hotel?!! Not that I need that much help - it's DISNEY! Thanks!

Even though the last few time we went to WDW ME and DW stayed at either All Stars Music or POP. That is because the 2 shown in the picture are both now in college at the same time and not much money left over for vacations. (Old picture but lots of memories).
But we do go over to POR several times each trip just to walk around or have breakfast and even do a TS at Boatwright's. You can get on the boat to go to DTD much better then doing that by bus. The place in my opinion is just beautiful. There is the Alligator Bayou rustic places lodges and in the woods that we prefer or the Mansions which would be like living on and expensive estsate. Some day when our 2 are both out of college wwe will be staying there again.

 

[magsnden]

Thanks, beroh2253. I've looked in the resorts threads and seen so many beautiful pictures of POR. I really can't wait to get there!

I'm sure you'll be back there sooner than you know - people are always reminding me that the years go so quick (my kids are 3 and 1). some days feel pretty long though!!

And sorry NCardella for talking about POR on your thread!!