When to buy annual pass

[momtwoboys]

hoping the upgrade from a 7 day hopper to an AP isnt difficult and can be done without wasting too much time. best place to do this? guest services? which one?

 

[johnsgrl]

We just upgraded 7 day parkhoppers this weekend. Had bought the tickets from Park Savers at a great discount before they last price increase and planned on upgrading. Stayed at SOG this weekend and have at least 4 trips planned for their coming year. If I find a better deal on a hotel with them AP discount, I may change the hotel for a couple of them. The passes do cry out to be used though. We actually booked another quick stay before we left, so now it's 5!

 

[momtwoboys]

was it easy to upgrade? current parksavers price is about 389 and difference between an ap is a good deal

 

[Accident]

was it easy to upgrade? current parksavers price is about 389 and difference between an ap is a good deal

use the ticket to enter the park, then head to guest relations and upgrade. takes a few minutes + whatever the line is. everyone needs to be there that your upgrading, and anyone 18+ must also have their photo id with them.

(entering the park price bridges the ticket to the same value that disney sells them for that day for the best upgrade price). a CM technically can do this in their system but many aren't the best and it's safer to just enter the park and then do the upgrade.

Pro Tip: If your rope dropping and early, use your ticket and then exit and head tot he guest relations outside of the park (every park has one). you should be done before rope drop happens.

 

[momtwoboys]

got it! so any guest relations at any parks is fine. one isnt better than the other? staying at akl but first park day will be april 18th mk. so ap would expire april 18 2018

 

[NancyIL]

was it easy to upgrade? current parksavers price is about 389 and difference between an ap is a good deal

Be sure you write down the current gate price of the ticket you are upgrading, and know exactly how much more you should be paying for the AP. The cast members I encountered at Guest Services didn't know how to properly bridge the ticket, and it sometimes required getting a supervisor involved.

 

[johnsgrl]

I had looked at current prices and knew what I would need to pay, so I put that amount on a Disney gift card. We entered a park, went immediately to guest services (and there was no line!) and asked to upgrade. The price turned out to be almost exactly what I expected and I gave them the gift card. All was done within 5 minutes! It was super-easy. We did the upgrade at EPCOT guest services and it was within 15 minutes of park opening. On our way out I noticed a long line there , so I was glad we did it while everyone was rushing to get in that first ride at RD.

 

[DizDaD7]

Price hike was mentioned in a Previous post. We purchased our APs with the DVC discount and that was a real deal compared to the cost of renewal these days. I don't think I will renew when mine expires in June. However, I have used it on those "pocket Burning" trips (more than I ever intended) and loved every minute of it.

True...^^^^^ This.

I remember our first DVC AP, was $299 back in 2012...Then the DVC PAP special was $429 in 2014, and now it's 5 & change for the gold... So yes Price has gone up..Or rather The deals have gone down..Is more like it.

 

[DizDaD7]

got it! so any guest relations at any parks is fine. one isnt better than the other? staying at akl but first park day will be april 18th mk. so ap would expire april 18 2018

Yes....
& Ive only done it at MK, so that's the one I know & use..

 

[momtwoboys]

perfect we will be entering MK that first day on april 18th. my concern is that I am getting differing answers on what day it actually expires. Some CM's have posted and I believe them that it ends April 18th 2018, if first used April 18th 2017, but I have also heard about a plus one and it would expire APril 19th 2018.

 

[DizDaD7]

perfect we will be entering MK that first day on april 18th. my concern is that I am getting differing answers on what day it actually expires. Some CM's have posted and I believe them that it ends April 18th 2018, if first used April 18th 2017, but I have also heard about a plus one and it would expire APril 19th 2018.

I've never heard the latter.... I could be wrong, but either way, It's only a day...That won't make or break your decision I'm guessing right?

 

[momtwoboys]

wont make or break no but with the dates we have it would mean the last 2 days of the 2018 trip the APs would be expired. last day is fine we dont do parks on last day we check out and take an early flight home! make sense?

 

[DizDaD7]

wont make or break no but with the dates we have it would mean the last 2 days of the 2018 trip the APs would be expired. last day is fine we dont do parks on last day we check out and take an early flight home! make sense?

Gotcha... But even a Resort day on that day is better than being at home..LoL

 

[momtwoboys]

so true!!!!!!

 

[MommaBerd]

Be sure you write down the current gate price of the ticket you are upgrading, and know exactly how much more you should be paying for the AP. The cast members I encountered at Guest Services didn't know how to properly bridge the ticket, and it sometimes required getting a supervisor involved.

Seriously this ^^^ Several years ago I decided to bridge, but wasn't 100% confident in what I was supposed to pay OR when the AP officially started. Not all CMs are well-versed in bridging, either. So, I ended up being charged more AND they tried to back-date my AP to when it was purchased from UT (actually thought they had fixed that at the park, but realized the system had still had it wrong). I got it all straightened out once I got home, but I wish I had been fully confident and had my numbers ready to go...

 

[momtwoboys]

so I will write down the current 7 day park hopper price and the current AP price and make sure the cost to upgrade is correct and that they date the year from the day I upgrade the tix from hoppers to an AP, which should be APril 18th 2017, making them valid until April 18th 2018 at midnight right?!

 

[NancyIL]

so I will write down the current 7 day park hopper price and the current AP price and make sure the cost to upgrade is correct and that they date the year from the day I upgrade the tix from hoppers to an AP, which should be APril 18th 2017, making them valid until April 18th 2018 at midnight right?!

The APs will expire one year from the date you first USE your current tickets. You could upgrade your tickets several days later, but the AP will be backdated to one year from first date of use.

**Ticket prices will most likely increase by next April, so make sure you check current prices just before you leave home.

 

[MommaBerd]

so I will write down the current 7 day park hopper price and the current AP price and make sure the cost to upgrade is correct and that they date the year from the day I upgrade the tix from hoppers to an AP, which should be APril 18th 2017, making them valid until April 18th 2018 at midnight right?!

And don't forget tax!

 

[momtwoboys]

right so even though we check in april 17th we wont hit a park till the 18th and then upgrade....each day counts as the following year our dates are firm 13-20th and wont be valid the 19th and 20th... dont want to upgrade any earlier as it dictates how many park days we will have in 2018's trip.

I will get the total accurate pricing on a 7 day hopper tax included and an AP tax included. Thanks everyone for their help!

 

[momtwoboys]

anyone else buying from parksavers? they have a coupon for 2.00 off each ticket. Parksavers2