Week After Turkey Day Shenanigans

[Iowamomof4]

Thanks! I think it would be worth it if we can really commit to coming back again within 13 months. So when you upgrade, do you pay the difference between your tickets and the AP? For instance, I paid $398 for our 6-day PHs through undercover tourist. So would I owe $749-$398=$351 per ticket? That AP price doesn't include tax. With tax, I think the AP is almost $800, so I'd owe more like $400 per ticket I think.

Do you have to do it before you use your tickets to enter the park on your first park day? Or if you decide on day 5 can you still do the upgrade?

My understanding is that, through something called price-bridging, Disney will give you the full value of those 6-day park hoppers. So go to Disney's website and see how much it would cost for a 6-day ph just to buy it directly from them, then subtract that amount from the cost of the AP and that will give you your price.

EDIT: So I get $451.xx w/ tax, subtract that from the $800 (incl. tax) AP and you get a total of about $350 to purchase your AP, if I'm understanding the process correctly.

 

[JamieOak]

My understanding is that, through something called price-bridging, Disney will give you the full value of those 6-day park hoppers. So go to Disney's website and see how much it would cost for a 6-day ph just to buy it directly from them, then subtract that amount from the cost of the AP and that will give you your price.

EDIT: So I get $451.xx w/ tax, subtract that from the $800 (incl. tax) AP and you get a total of about $350 to purchase your AP, if I'm understanding the process correctly.

That would be pretty awesome if that's how it works! Especially because I can count on at least a $300 savings over 2 trips on Memory Maker alone. I already purchased MM for this trip, but I read somewhere that they would refund that if I upgraded to AP at guest services. I wonder if this is worth a call to disney to confirm how this works. No rush, I have 50 days to figure it out.

I ended up buying my tickets first out of everything for this trip because I heard of the impending price increase at both USO and WDW. Little did I know how out of order I really was doing things. But it all worked out!

 

[kellyjeanie]

Hello my peeps! I've been AWOL bc of some health concerns for the entire month of September. I had my very first mammogram the first week of September and it came back suspicious (calcifications). I had a diagnostic mammogram the next week, and then needed to go back on the 27th for a biopsy. That also happened to be my FP day. Needless to say, I didn't really care what FP I got that day, but I did manage to get everything we wanted.

The best news: my biopsy finally came back as benign.

We will truly have something to celebrate this year.

Such great news!! I'm glad you're back and you can celebrate at Disney!

 

[twoolle]

After our 2014 trip, we said we were waiting at least 5 years. And then we went back in 2015...and now 2016...we have only missed one year since 2010. We have finally accepted that we will probably be going back every year. We just can't help ourselves

Yes! I think I have come to think that too...we just might have to do it every year, but we also like to do other trips and the money that goes to disney should really be going to retirement. So we will see! We own our own business so our income can be very unpredictable. But God has been very gracious to us so far.

I used a PIN code to book this coming trip. If I got another one, it would be pretty hard to pass up the AP!

My countdown says just a mere 50 days until the trip. I should be excited, but I feel I need more time!

I have that same nervousness. I think it's because it is so much packing. But reality is if you told me we had to leave tomorrow I could get everything together today! It really is all in my mind.

That would be pretty awesome if that's how it works! Especially because I can count on at least a $300 savings over 2 trips on Memory Maker alone. I already purchased MM for this trip, but I read somewhere that they would refund that if I upgraded to AP at guest services. I wonder if this is worth a call to disney to confirm how this works. No rush, I have 50 days to figure it out.

I ended up buying my tickets first out of everything for this trip because I heard of the impending price increase at both USO and WDW. Little did I know how out of order I really was doing things. But it all worked out!

Chances are if you call u will get an incorrect answer. There is a "bridging " thread on here and it has lots of info and experiences. I would read that and know ahead of time exactly how much you should owe when going to guest services. If they give you a different number you should question it.

Wdwprepschool.com has a great chart for showing the breakeven point for AP's.

@Iowamomof4 you should really look into upgrading the 10 day PH to AP. It would make for a very reasonable return trip cost!

In 2014 my parents paid for our trip and we had 9 day PH's. I had no idea you could upgrade...and we went back less than 13 months later and bought 6 day PH's. Had we known it would have saved so much!

Re: memory maker. What is the early purchase discount and how early do we need to purchase? Thx!

 

[twoolle]

We stayed at BC last year. The carousel is absolutely amazing. The smell in the lobby is to die for. I wasn't planning on doing a Cape May bfast last year. It just so happened that DD woke up early (8a ) so I snuck us out of the room. I figured either way we would find some food somewhere. I was surprised when I asked the host at Cape May if there was any chance of getting in. He said as long as I was wiling to wait about 10-15 minutes he could get me in. DD just stared at the carousel for our wait time. The food was good. Breakfast buffet. There was enough variety to satisfy anyone. I had to special order gluten free Mickey waffles. They were on our table by time we got back from getting buffet food. It is only Minnie, Goofy and Donald. They are in beach attire. They spent a good amount of time at each table. It was expensive but on par with all character meals at WDW.
I haven't been to 'Ohana. Breakfast is hard for us because it is "the most important meal of the day". Staying at BC, getting up, getting dressed, taking bus to MK & then monorail/boat the Poly would take to long. You would think DD has hypoglycemia. "Mommy, I'm just so hungry." DH would just be plain hangry.
I think either one you would love. Have you set a TP alert for Cape May?

No TP alert yet. I have exceeded my limit already.

Thanks for the info. I think I will do some more research and give the final decision to DH. The "busyness" of the Poly can be stressful to him. (And me) hahs

 

[Astryd]

Thanks! I think it would be worth it if we can really commit to coming back again within 13 months. So when you upgrade, do you pay the difference between your tickets and the AP? For instance, I paid $398 for our 6-day PHs through undercover tourist. So would I owe $749-$398=$351 per ticket? That AP price doesn't include tax. With tax, I think the AP is almost $800, so I'd owe more like $400 per ticket I think.

Do you have to do it before you use your tickets to enter the park on your first park day? Or if you decide on day 5 can you still do the upgrade?

Here is a post about Price Bridging discounted tickets.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/bridging-parksavers-tickets-to-ap-is-this-correct.3522763/

 

[JamieOak]

I have that same nervousness. I think it's because it is so much packing. But reality is if you told me we had to leave tomorrow I could get everything together today! It really is all in my mind.

Yes, you get it! My DH didn't get it when I said "I need more time!" If I had to leave tomorrow I wouldn't know what to do with all these extra ADRs I've been holding on to for 3 out of 7 of my days. I might mistakenly not cancel any and owe $100 in cancellation fees.

Chances are if you call u will get an incorrect answer. There is a "bridging " thread on here and it has lots of info and experiences. I would read that and know ahead of time exactly how much you should owe when going to guest services. If they give you a different number you should question it.

Thanks, good point that I might get a wrong answer. I'll go read the thread.

Re: memory maker. What is the early purchase discount and how early do we need to purchase? Thx!

$149 is the advance price. Must purchase at least 3 days prior to use for discount price.

Here is a post about Price Bridging discounted tickets.

http://www.disboards.com/threads/bridging-parksavers-tickets-to-ap-is-this-correct.3522763/

Thanks so much! You saved me a possibly time consuming search. I haven't been having much luck with the forum search feature lately.

 

[BDFmom]

@Iowamomof4 We have 10PH tickets and MM. When you figure out the price for the AP let me know. This whole thing is very confusing to me.


I'm seriously debating taking the kids to Uni on 12/5 for the day. I figured it would cost around $500 for the excursion (tickets, transportation and food. I told the kids if we did that we would have to cancel the dessert party for MK and no do the Star Wars one. DS was very very sad at the thought of not doing the SW party. Decisions.... decisions....

 

[JamieOak]

I'm seriously debating taking the kids to Uni on 12/5 for the day. I figured it would cost around $500 for the excursion (tickets, transportation and food. I told the kids if we did that we would have to cancel the dessert party for MK and no do the Star Wars one. DS was very very sad at the thought of not doing the SW party. Decisions.... decisions....

I would think a day at Universal is a better expense than the dessert parties. The parties are a convenience for sure, but you are likely going to see the fireworks anyway in either situation without the dessert party.

 

[pigletgirl]

@Iowamomof4 We have 10PH tickets and MM. When you figure out the price for the AP let me know. This whole thing is very confusing to me.


I'm seriously debating taking the kids to Uni on 12/5 for the day. I figured it would cost around $500 for the excursion (tickets, transportation and food. I told the kids if we did that we would have to cancel the dessert party for MK and no do the Star Wars one. DS was very very sad at the thought of not doing the SW party. Decisions.... decisions....

Are your kids big into thrill rides? Maybe have them watch some of the rides on YouTube and then decide!

 

[BDFmom]

Are your kids big into thrill rides? Maybe have them watch some of the rides on YouTube and then decide!

DD17 (almost) ..... huge huge huge HP fan. I read her the first book when she was 5 and she has since read and read read the books several times. DS is 14.

I really was to do for DD.... just for the HP stuff.

 

[JamieOak]

DD17 (almost) ..... huge huge huge HP fan. I read her the first book when she was 5 and she has since read and read read the books several times. DS is 14.

I really was to do for DD.... just for the HP stuff.

I'm 31 and my DH is 29 and we are doing it mainly for the HP stuff!!

 

[kellyjeanie]

DD17 (almost) ..... huge huge huge HP fan. I read her the first book when she was 5 and she has since read and read read the books several times. DS is 14.

I really was to do for DD.... just for the HP stuff.

It's probably going to be more than $500 unless you have some sort of coupon - it cost over $300 just for tickets for my DH and DS11 to get 1 day park-to-park tickets, which you'd really need to hit all the HP stuff. They both love HP so it should be worth it!

 

[Astryd]

@JamieOak no problem, I had posted a question in it, so it was easy for me to find. The search on this board has always been awful.

 

[Iowamomof4]

@Iowamomof4 We have 10PH tickets and MM. When you figure out the price for the AP let me know. This whole thing is very confusing to me.


I'm seriously debating taking the kids to Uni on 12/5 for the day. I figured it would cost around $500 for the excursion (tickets, transportation and food. I told the kids if we did that we would have to cancel the dessert party for MK and no do the Star Wars one. DS was very very sad at the thought of not doing the SW party. Decisions.... decisions....

Well, you can really only take the cost of MM off one of the AP's so that's only somewhat of a discount. By my calculations yesterday, it would only cost me about $300 each to upgrade our adult 10-day hoppers to AP's. The MM is $150, so one of the AP's essentially costs $150 and the others are $300.

 

[Meeko5]

Everyone going to Uni is making me crazy jealous!! My kids are too small to really make it worth the 1 day expense but gah. I want to go sooooo badly!!

 

[Jgeauxmo]

You guys inspired me to trudge to the dollar store and get myself in trouble I found Mickey glow sticks, Star Wars tissues, Minnie hand sanitizer, and tons of stickers and activity books that I bring to throw in my park bag to keep my toddler entertained.

 

[Meeko5]

Also I'm reallllllly debating MM this trip. I'm sort of a photography snob and most of the pics they took of us last year weren't super thrilling for me.

That said, I have one really great pic of the family in front of the castle (taken on my DSLR by a PP photographer once I set it all up) that I love. And the rest of the family pics I have are all selfies on my iPhone haha.

We are planning a few M&G this year in hopes my youngest isn't as terrified as he was last year. And my oldest loved looking at the ride pics/videos too (before they expired and I never bought any. Oops!).

Sooo...Wwyd? I'm still taking my good camera and have no problem asking them to take pics with it. Skip MM and buy a few later if we love them? Or get it and make the most out of the package??

 

[ElenaofAvalor]

Also I'm reallllllly debating MM this trip. I'm sort of a photography snob and most of the pics they took of us last year weren't super thrilling for me.

That said, I have one really great pic of the family in front of the castle (taken on my DSLR by a PP photographer once I set it all up) that I love. And the rest of the family pics I have are all selfies on my iPhone haha.

We are planning a few M&G this year in hopes my youngest isn't as terrified as he was last year. And my oldest loved looking at the ride pics/videos too (before they expired and I never bought any. Oops!).

Sooo...Wwyd? I'm still taking my good camera and have no problem asking them to take pics with it. Skip MM and buy a few later if we love them? Or get it and make the most out of the package??

Hmmmm... I guess it depends on how many pictures you would want. If they mostly all good, would you want many, or would you still just want a couple? How much would it be to buy those? Do you want any ride pics? I personally love the ride pics, and just don't want to stress of having to pick the ones I want (yes, that is stressful for me, lol). If you don't want ride pics, and are really only looking for a couple of great group pics, I would probably have them take pics with your camera, and then buy one if theirs are way better than the ones on your camera.

 

[Iowamomof4]

I'm just seeing MM as part of the cost of our package. I don't really think of it separately, if I did that I probably wouldn't get it! lol I didn't get to do much with ours last time because we were with a big group and I didn't have direct access to our photos. I was able to get them, but never could do any editing on the MM page or anything. I'm looking forward to that after our trip!