Ticket Modification Prices if original ticket was bought at a Discount

[Purduevian]

I am getting ready to buy my tickets for 3 park days. Our current plan is to park hop on 2 of the days, but since we are going with a 20-month-old, the reality is we might not make it to a second park either day. Originally my plan was to just buy the base ticket, but upgrade day of if everything is going well... However, I don't know what Disney will charge me if I buy my ticket through Undercover tourist.

If I buy tickets through Undercover Tourist, I can buy 3-day base for $468, or 3-day park hopper for $557 ($89 more)
If I buy direct through Disney, 3-day base is $493 or 3-day hopper is $583 ($90 more)

So if I buy the UT ticket at $468 then modify up to a park hopper, will I pay $115 ($583-$468) or $90 ($583-$493).

Basically, am I taking a $1 risk per ticket or a $26 per ticket?

 

[Rob562]

In general, the key to upgrading WDW tickets bought at a discount is to use the ticket to enter a park first, and then upgrade it. Doing that "locks in" the current gate price for that ticket.

My one caveat is that I haven't upgraded a ticket since 2018 or 2019, so there's a slight chance policies have changed, but I haven't heard anywhere that they have.

-Rob

 

[Purduevian]

In general, the key to upgrading WDW tickets bought at a discount is to use the ticket to enter a park first, and then upgrade it. Doing that "locks in" the current gate price for that ticket.

My one caveat is that I haven't upgraded a ticket since 2018 or 2019, so there's a slight chance policies have changed, but I haven't heard anywhere that they have.

-Rob

Thanks, so basically once I start to use the ticket, that ticket is "worth" what the gate price would be.

 

[Rob562]

Thanks, so basically once I start to use the ticket, that ticket is "worth" what the gate price would be.

Yes

-Rob

 

[Tigger&Pooh]

The upcharge to add a park-hopper to a 3-day base ticket is $80 + tax. You should retain the discount whether you use the ticket first or not. Years ago that mattered for "bridging" to current price but not anymore. The credit towards upgrade is the price that WDW sold the same ticket on the date you bought from UT; not necessarily "gate price." If WDW has increased ticket prices since you purchased from UT, you may get hit with the increase. (Maybe not just to add PH but definitely if adding an extra day.)

 

[Dory71]

Along these lines, if I buy a 3 day base ticket and want to hop on my last day, would I be charged for 3 days of hopping or 1?

 

[Purduevian]

Along these lines, if I buy a 3 day base ticket and want to hop on my last day, would I be charged for 3 days of hopping or 1?

I know the answer to this one. The whole ticket gets upgraded to the park hopper price, even if you already used some of the days.

 

[nickys]

The upcharge to add a park-hopper to a 3-day base ticket is $80 + tax. You should retain the discount whether you use the ticket first or not. Years ago that mattered for "bridging" to current price but not anymore. The credit towards upgrade is the price that WDW sold the same ticket on the date you bought from UT; not necessarily "gate price." If WDW has increased ticket prices since you purchased from UT, you may get hit with the increase. (Maybe not just to add PH but definitely if adding an extra day.)

But how do they know what day you bought from UT or another authorised dealer? Is that info held on MDE when you link it?

I’ve not noticed the purchase date on MDE before, app or website. But there again, I wasn’t consciously looking for it.

 

[Dory71]

I know the answer to this one. The whole ticket gets upgraded to the park hopper price, even if you already used some of the days.

Thanks for the response. I figured as much $$

 

[Tigger&Pooh]

But how do they know what day you bought from UT or another authorised dealer? Is that info held on MDE when you link it?

I’ve not noticed the purchase date on MDE before, app or website. But there again, I wasn’t consciously looking for it.

It's somehow coded into the ticket. Whether that means a batch of ticket #s that were sold to the authorized dealer or otherwise recognized by WDW's ticket system, it's not visible to the guest only on the back-end.

 

[yensid1967]

My best advice...CALL UCT and ask them or CALL DISNEY!

 

[Takeitforgranite]

I’ve been wondering about this. I got a great discount on 10-day passes through Shades of Green. I intended on upgrading to APs before the start of the trip, but I have read a lot of conflicting info about whether or not I get to “keep” the discount. In the past, we have upgraded UT at the park and kept the savings. That was probably 5 years ago, though.

I’ll call, but using the tickets once still seems like my best chance. These tickets aren’t dated, either. I wonder if that is a factor at all.

 

[nickys]

I’ve been wondering about this. I got a great discount on 10-day passes through Shades of Green. I intended on upgrading to APs before the start of the trip, but I have read a lot of conflicting info about whether or not I get to “keep” the discount. In the past, we have upgraded UT at the park and kept the savings. That was probably 5 years ago, though.

I’ll call, but using the tickets once still seems like my best chance. These tickets aren’t dated, either. I wonder if that is a factor at all.

Definitely call.

If these are special military tickets, Disney may not allow them to be upgraded into APs. Recently they have reportedly stopped the UK tickets from being upgraded, although there are mixed reports on this.

Also, if they say yes, remember to check black-out dates for any AP you are eligible to o purchase. If you use a ticket on a blackout day, you cannot upgrade it to an AP with that day as a blackout day.

 

[Tigger&Pooh]

I’ve been wondering about this. I got a great discount on 10-day passes through Shades of Green. I intended on upgrading to APs before the start of the trip, but I have read a lot of conflicting info about whether or not I get to “keep” the discount.

Good question now that they have new tickets!
You do NOT keep the discount when upgrading military Salute tickets, nor the previous MYW discount tickets. The reason being that there hasn't been a "WDW value" to bridge to for a credit.
Now that SoG is selling regular date-based "theme park tickets" you should be able to upgrade those and bridge to the WDW online price.


**Edited to add: I just re-read and see you have non-date-based tickets so that would be the MYW military tickets. Unfortunately you cannot upgrade those to AP, whether you use them first or not. BE SURE TO MAKE YOUR THEME PARK RESERVATIONS with the non-dated tickets.

 

[Takeitforgranite]

I contacted SoG, and they said they cannot sell APs until further notice. I recall, when I purchsed my tickets in February, that there was an option to buy APs then. It is no longer there. I also noticed that the MYW tickets are no longer priced by day. I guess this is what Tigger is referring to.

I called Disney. After explaining the situation, I was put on hold for about 10 minutes. She informed my that since my tickets were tax exempt and not date-based, I would have to wait until my day of first use and then upgrade at guest relations.

 

[Tigger&Pooh]

I also noticed that the MYW tickets are no longer priced by day. I guess this is what Tigger is referring to.

Correct. What SoG (and bases) used to sell was the old Magic Your Way (MYW) tickets that were a set price based on the number of days in the park, use before mid-December, valid for 14 days from first use. A theme park reservation has been required for each day you plan to enter a park.

For a couple of months now the non-Salute discounted military tickets are the same type of ticket WDW has been selling for several years now. It has a designated start date and price varies based on date and length of ticket, use-window is max of 14 days but dependent on length of ticket. These are considered "date-based" tickets and no longer require a theme park reservation.

You definitely cannot upgrade the MYW ticket prior to arrival (but you can on-site prior to 1st use). Like the Salute tickets the MYW tickets don't "bridge" to any current ticket in the WDW system thus you "lose" the discount and your credit towards upgrade is likely only the cost of the ticket. Though you may get a slight break in that it will be assumed you had paid tax on that original amount. You will owe tax on the upgrade cost.

 

[Takeitforgranite]

I figured I would check back in with an update. Our first day at WDW was Sunday. We entered MK and circled back to guest relations about midday to upgrade our tickets to APs. The cast member had to refer to a supervisor who told us that our tickets weren’t eligible to be upgraded to APs. He said that, because it was discounted, we couldn’t get passes. He really didn’t provide a valid reason or state a policy.

The next day, I pulled up our tickets on the app, and there was an offer to upgrade to APs. The credit was the actual amount I paid. I could get all the way to the “purchase” button, and it would give an error.

So, I go into guest relations at EPCOT and explain the whole situation. Her response was “I don’t see why not!” We walked out with APs.

 

[nickys]

I figured I would check back in with an update. Our first day at WDW was Sunday. We entered MK and circled back to guest relations about midday to upgrade our tickets to APs. The cast member had to refer to a supervisor who told us that our tickets weren’t eligible to be upgraded to APs. He said that, because it was discounted, we couldn’t get passes. He really didn’t provide a valid reason or state a policy.

The next day, I pulled up our tickets on the app, and there was an offer to upgrade to APs. The credit was the actual amount I paid. I could get all the way to the “purchase” button, and it would give an error.

So, I go into guest relations at EPCOT and explain the whole situation. Her response was “I don’t see why not!” We walked out with APs.

Great result!