Warning: I was NOT allowed to upgrade MYW tickets with dining plan!

[frannn]

We did this at Guest Relations in DTD. It definetly took a bit of time, but there were no issues or problems. There was no mention that you couldn't do this.

 

[Acklander]

The thing about the passes is it seems, the MYW tickets and annual passes use 2 different computer systems. That's probably why you can buy the MYW tickets anywhere, but you have to be at the parks to get the annual passes, you can't get buy them at the hotels, the computers can't do it - they can put the MYW passes on the room keys but they can't put the annual/seasonal passes on the room keys. Those are always a seperate ticket; the packages with the free dining must contain at least 1 day MYW ticket for the package to work - All the different rules point to 2 different systems being used. My guess is that when you upgrade your package pass to an annual pass the 1 day park ticket remains on your room key as well, that way the package will still work. Maybe that's the loophole they're trying to close???

 

[ExPirateShopGirl]

So.... if a person has a MYW package with dining (free or paid) their best bet would be to purchase tickets for the length of their stay (instead of one day tickets) and at the end of the trip upgrade those to APs? I don't know how Disney works it, but I assume they would apply the purchase price of all those days to the AP... wouldn't they?

Interesting...

 

[disney momma]

we upgraded to FL res seasonal passes no problem with our 1 day MYW base ticket that we had to buy to get free dining at the end of august. no questions asked they upgraded us at AK. later that day our inlaws upgraded at MK doing the same thing. i think it just depends on the cm...

 

[Mariposa]

Actually, it seems as though people are only running into this at Epcot and with a female CM (?)- it may just be a case of one or two CMs who encountered a stiuation where free-dining was accidently wiped from a room when they tried to do the switch to APs and now they're afraid this will happen again. By the stories being relayed it doesn't so much sound like the CM is saying that this is something not allowed (why would they gladly let you do it AFTER your stay- as the CM noted- if it's not allowed at all) but more a problem with the CM being afraid that this glitch will occur again.

And while MYW tix and APs are entirely different animals I've never really known Disney to refuse to allow people to trade up $$wise on any kind of ticket, including going from one to the other as long as they originally purchased enough of whatever type to satisfy package requirements.

 

[ReallyFunMom]

And while MYW tix and APs are entirely different animals I've never really known Disney to refuse to allow people to trade up $$wise on any kind of ticket, including going from one to the other as long as they originally purchased enough of whatever type to satisfy package requirements.

Yeah, I plan on upgrading and wouldn't even have problems with them making a notation in the MYW package deals going forward that you cannot upgrade to APs. It just needs to be clear because when I booked I even asked about upgrading and was told it would not be a problem. Rules can change they just need to be applied prospectively. I feel awful for the OP who got a fraction of the trip planned b/c of a CM's interpretation of the rules. I have upgraded single day tickets (not MYW) to annual passes before and so have many others. If there is to be some sort of change in allowing MYW passes to be upgraded to APs, it needs to be clearly communicated as a change.

 

[karrit2000]

I had a similar encounter at EPCOT on Sept. 4. I went to the regular ticket window and told them what I wanted to do. The CM told me I would need to go to guest relations because she couldn't do it without cancelling out my room key. I had no problem at guest relations other that the CM stamped void on my room card & was going to keep it. When I told him it was my room card he washed the stamp off & gave it back to me. I had no trouble using the card during my trip. My AP was going to expire the day after I arrives so I just wanted to use the one day ticket toward my renewal. I have never heard of anyone not being able to apply old tickets toward the purchase of a new ticket of any type including APs. Of course the CM when I checked in said we were cheating by buying the one day ticket. Since I was using the money toward another ticket that costs much more $$$ I see nothing wrong with only buying a 1 day ticket.

 

[Bowen9475]

We were in WDW in late August on free dining. We had purchased 4 day MYW tickets intending to only visit each park for one day. We had previously had APs but were not planning to return for a while after this trip. Right before we went on the trip we found out that the company my husband is a franchisee for is having their annual convention there early next August. On our first day there we went to DTD and at Guest Relations we were able to put the value of our 4 day tickets toward APs. We are also DVC members and were able to get our discount on the APs. It took a while but there was never any indication that it couldn't be done. We were given the paper-type APs and kept the plastic cards as our keys and for the dining plan credits. (Now that we have APs again I have already bought plane tickets to take the 3 kids down over February vacation - alone - Yikes!)

 

[bicker]

This is one of the ramifications of us taking some cool experience that some guests enjoy and translating it in our minds into an assurance that every guest will be able to do it, in perpetuity. Unless Disney says some service offering is good forever, without reservation (and if they DO -- get it in writing!), folks shouldn't interpret anyone's pixie dust (including their own) and a guarantee that said pixie dust will fly again at some later date.

 

[Lady V]

It seems like they people with AP's should be able to buy the Dining Plan. I own at DVC and we can now buy the plan. I think anyone staying on property should be able to buy it.

 

[SueEllen]

I just had to comment on this as well because I ran into this issue with a guest services CM at MGM studios. He told me that pulling the passes off of the reservation (to have a separate ticket admission ticket and room key) would void the package (which is NOT true.) He left me waiting in line forever while he spoke with a supervisor, and 25 minutes later came out and said they just could not do it.
I was able to finally get a CM to take care of it (at another park) but it was a real pain. I think someone decided during "free dining" to implement a plan to prevent people from using passes on another time or upgrading the passes to another type of pass.
I was really irritated by the amount of time wasted trying to do something simple (that can usually be done anytime) and being given an excuse on why it could not be done.
I was glad that the CM at the other park took care of it for me, but feel bad for others who do not realize that they are being given bad information when being told it cannot be done.
Sue Ellen

 

[thelionqueen]

Unfortunately, purchasing an Annual Pass is not an upgrade. (There have been a lot of "what can I do with my ticket" threads, and that's been made clear many times.)

No one has reported any problem with extending the length of a MYW pass -- as long as it remains a MYW pass. Annual Passes are a different animal, and always have been. What has to happen is that your MYW pass has to be converted to a cash value, and then that cash value applied to the purchase of the Annual Pass. That's not an upgrade.

I must disagree with this post. We personally upgraded our 1 day tickets from the free dining promo last year to annual passes, without any problem at all.

My cousin and her family just returned yesterday and were also able to upgrade to annual passes with no trouble at all.

I also called MS 3X today and talked to 3 different CM's they all completely supported these claims. They said that ANY ticket purchased with a package can be upgraded to ANY other ticket including Annual passes, or even water park annual passes. I told each one about the conflicting information on this thread, each one disagreed with the notion that your package tickets cannot be upgraded.

Just my .02

 

[bicker]

What you did was exchanged your 1 day tickets for an Annual Pass, applying the cash-value of the ticket to the purchase of the Annual Pass. That's not an upgrade according to Disney's systems. The question, in this thread, is why are some (not all) CMs now only allowing upgrades (and not allowing cash-value exchanges).

 

[n2mm]

What you did was exchanged your 1 day tickets for an Annual Pass, applying the cash-value of the ticket to the purchase of the Annual Pass. That's not an upgrade according to Disney's systems. The question, in this thread, is why are some (not all) CMs now only allowing upgrades (and not allowing cash-value exchanges).

I agree....an upgraded ticket would be on your room card and an AP would be on a separate AP card with your name. For an AP, the CM just takes the cash value off of your room card and applies it to the purchase of the AP. Maybe that is where some of the confusion lies, when a CM thinks a person wants the AP put on the room card -- which can't be done. This really looks like a couple of isolated incidents, but unfortunate for the folks involved.

 

[ReallyFunMom]

Of course the CM when I checked in said we were cheating by buying the one day ticket. Since I was using the money toward another ticket that costs much more $$$ I see nothing wrong with only buying a 1 day ticket.

WOW, I think that line of thinking is contrary to Disney execs. Disney's AP is more expensive than the competetors. By committing to coming back, you are in the parks spending money and likely filling onsite rooms and possibly paying for dining package next time. I think they would much prefer you upgrading to AP and committing to Disney than saying this was your all enclusive Disney trip, next time is Universal.

 

[ReallyFunMom]

The question, in this thread, is why are some (not all) CMs now only allowing upgrades (and not allowing cash-value exchanges).

Exactly. But since its clear what people are trying to do and has been done in the past and no-where states a change in policy about it.... we probably shouldn't sweat that some will refer to this as 'upgrading to AP' even if not the correct way to phrase it. Some of us even asked when purchasing the package and told by a CM the upgrade would not be a problem. I think it is different from expecting Pixie Dust. If they want to change the rules during the next free dining promotion or on all MYW packages regarding moving up to AP, it should be highlighted in the next package details.

I had planned to ask for the MYW ticket to be seperated from hotel key but that seems to be a chore for the CM. Can I just hold onto my hotel key for a year and upgrade later with that since the MYW ticket is on that? Since I didn't plan on upgrading during the trip I'm guessing its not a problem, as long as the one day doesn't expire after 14 days as part of package.

 

[bicker]

I'm sure it'll become clear over the next few weeks whether this are coincidental anecdotes, or the beginning of the implementation of a new policy. "Stay tuned."

 

[bicker]

we probably shouldn't sweat that some will refer to this as 'upgrading to AP' even if not the correct way to phrase it.

Indeed, all that matters is what Disney's systems and staff consider it. In that case, "upgrades" refers to adding days to MYW tickets up to a maximum of ten, adding water park and similar options, adding non-expiry and adding park hopping.

Some of us even asked when purchasing the package and told by a CM the upgrade would not be a problem.

If you plan to rely on anything like that, always get it in writing on Disney letterhead. Each CM can only tell you whether they personally would allow something (or try to allow it).

I think it is different from expecting Pixie Dust. If they want to change the rules during the next free dining promotion or on all MYW packages regarding moving up to AP, it should be highlighted in the next package details.

Defintely do not count on that. Always understand that when package details are released they describe everything that is allowed. If something is not listed, plan on it not being available/offered, and be delighted if you are granted a request for it. This is the way Disney, and most companies, work. It is never a good idea to expect more than is explicitly promised. You're just setting yourself for disappointment if you do.

 

[Lewisc]

I'm sure it'll become clear over the next few weeks whether this are coincidental anecdotes, or the beginning of the implementation of a new policy. "Stay tuned."

Unless a policy is set in stone I'd expect many CMs will work with a guest that wants to give Disney money for an AP. Maybe a guest will have to first use the one day pass to enter a park. The CM won't have to cancel out the pass on the room key since it was already used.

 

[ReallyFunMom]

If you plan to rely on anything like that, always get it in writing on Disney letterhead. Each CM can only tell you whether they personally would allow something (or try to allow it).

Sorry, I disagree. Customers should be able to call Disney and rely on information given, especially with relatively simple questions commonly asked.