Park Hopper vs. Annual Pass - HELP!!!!

[joviacdan]

Hi all.

In kind of a bind. I'm leaving for Disney in September for 8 days. I purchased a 7 day park hopper plus ticket. These sell for $342. I've decided to go back in March of 2005. Obviously, I could save a bundle if I buy an annual pass. Those sell for about $399.

Can I return my hopper ticket at a Disney Store and buy an annual pass? Do I need to call Disney?

Or, am I just screwed?

 

[wannabeBelle]

You are definitely not out of luck here!!!! Go to Guest Relations at any park or Downtown Disney and tell them you want to upgrade your pass to an Annual Pass. You MUST do this within 7 days of the first use of the pass though in order to have the dollar amount properly transfer!!! Hope this helps!!! Belle

 

[joviacdan]

You are definitely not out of luck here!!!! Go to Guest Relations at any park or Downtown Disney and tell them you want to upgrade your pass to an Annual Pass. You MUST do this within 7 days of the first use of the pass though in order to have the dollar amount properly transfer!!! Hope this helps!!! Belle

Really????????????

So, in other words, we're leaving September 2. We're going to Epcot the 2nd day we're there. I just go to Guest Relations, and they'll upgrade me to an annual pass there for the price difference, just like that?

Do they just go by whatever the current prices are for both passes???

This sounds awesome!!!! Thanks Alot!!!!!

 

[bhg469]

im never going without an annual pass ever again, we usually get at least one in our party because of the discounts on the room and food you always at least break even plus your covered if you go back later that year

 

[wannabeBelle]

Really????????????

So, in other words, we're leaving September 2. We're going to Epcot the 2nd day we're there. I just go to Guest Relations, and they'll upgrade me to an annual pass there for the price difference, just like that?

Do they just go by whatever the current prices are for both passes???

This sounds awesome!!!! Thanks Alot!!!!!

Yep that would be pretty much correct!!!!! They take the amount of the current pass and apply it to the annual pass. I know you arent doing it, but they will never downgrade only upgrade in terms of passes.
You are very welcome!!!!!! Also my sister was told incorrect info regarding this when we went 2 years ago. If you get told you cant do this DEFINITELY ask for a manager. Have a wonderful time!!! Belle

 

[joviacdan]

Yep that would be pretty much correct!!!!! They take the amount of the current pass and apply it to the annual pass. I know you arent doing it, but they will never downgrade only upgrade in terms of passes.
You are very welcome!!!!!! Also my sister was told incorrect info regarding this when we went 2 years ago. If you get told you cant do this DEFINITELY ask for a manager. Have a wonderful time!!! Belle

Thank you so much!!!!

That sounds awesome.

Now, I may have to change the dates for the 2nd trip. I was looking at March, but it appears as if that would be Peak Season. If I go a few weeks earlier in February, I can save myself a bundle more on the hotel. And probably more on the flight.

Again - Thanks so much!

 

[nicholas]

Belle is correct.

Earlier this year I had a 5 day PH and on my last day I stopped by guest relations and had it upgraded to an AP for the price difference. Very quick. Very painless. And very liberating to know I can go whenever I want. And it pays itself off after 7.5 (i think) visits, so I'm already getting free admission which is so nice.

 

[Buzz Lightyear]

Be sure and try to get an AP discount on your room and you can actually pay for the difference in your upgrade. Especially if you are staying for at least a week. Last trip, I saved over $250 on my room alone, not to mention discounts on food in the parks and shopping at DTD.

 

[joviacdan]

I just thought of something though.

OK, I bought a 7 day park hopper plus. Those are $342.

What happens though, if on the first day, I use 2 of the PLUS options, going to Blizzard Beach and Pleasure Island? Will that devalue my pass, or will they make me pay to make up for going there? I'm not going to buy a PREMIUM Annual Pass, just a theme park annual pass.

 

[wannabeBelle]

That I am not 100% sure about and I see your point. I am not sure if they just apply the dollar amount or what. If you want, call Disney 1-407 WDISNEY ( 1-407-934-7639) and ask them to transfer you to the Annual Pass ticket area. They were really good the last time I had occasion to speak with them. Very helpful and friendly!!!
As others have mentioned, once you get your AP, make sure you keep up on the room discounts which are usually 35-40% off regular rates!!! It is a good deal!!! Belle

 

[joviacdan]

That I am not 100% sure about and I see your point. I am not sure if they just apply the dollar amount or what. If you want, call Disney 1-407 WDISNEY ( 1-407-934-7639) and ask them to transfer you to the Annual Pass ticket area. They were really good the last time I had occasion to speak with them. Very helpful and friendly!!!
As others have mentioned, once you get your AP, make sure you keep up on the room discounts which are usually 35-40% off regular rates!!! It is a good deal!!! Belle

I will definitely do that.

And that's excellent to hear about the room rate discount. That would be incredibly helpful. I could probably then go in March like I originally planned, and it wouldn't cost a fortune.

 

[PhilharMagician]

Well, I believe it goes like this. If you use a plus option on your hopper pass the only AP upgrade you can do is a Premium AP. So do not use the plus options. If you planned on going to the water parks maybe the way to do it is just pay for the one day at a water park.

Have fun!

 

[joviacdan]

Well, I believe it goes like this. If you use a plus option on your hopper pass the only AP upgrade you can do is a Premium AP. So do not use the plus options. If you planned on going to the water parks maybe the way to do it is just pay for the one day at a water park.

Have fun!

I actually just talked to someone at Disney. Almost sounds too good to be true.

She told me (very friendly of course) that when you have a 7 day park hopper PLUS, you can upgrade to just a Theme Park Annual Pass for the price difference. Not only that, but you get to KEEP the plus features. So, if I have only 2 left when I upgrade, I get to keep those 2. Now that is a great deal!!!

 

[LadyDarling]

I actually just talked to someone at Disney. Almost sounds too good to be true.

She told me (very friendly of course) that when you have a 7 day park hopper PLUS, you can upgrade to just a Theme Park Annual Pass for the price difference. Not only that, but you get to KEEP the plus features. So, if I have only 2 left when I upgrade, I get to keep those 2. Now that is a great deal!!!

I am SOOOOO glad you asked this question and got the answers! I hadn't thought about the hopper plus option. My hubby and I are planning on going in December 2005 and we were going to get an AP, but were debating on what kind to get! Though I still think we'll go for a premiem, what a great deal!

 

[wannabeBelle]

Hey There!!!!!!!! See Disney Magic strikes again!!! I love my AP it is probably the BEST purchase I have ever done. I find it very liberating knowing I can go to any park as often as I want in one year!!! Much nicer than having to worry about how many days you have left on your pass!!!!!!!! Have a wonderful time and keep an eye out on these boards for the room discounts for the Annual Pass holders. I usually put up something or our Travel Rep Pam from Kingdom Konsultant does. Have a great time and enjoy your new pass!!! Belle

 

[Dwarful]

Don't forget to take advantage of the meal discounts. We saved a bundle in Germany 3 times over the 12 days, and at Norway as well. We had 12 in our group so the extra 10% was a big help!

 

[M:SpilotISTC12]

Be sure and try to get an AP discount on your room and you can actually pay for the difference in your upgrade. Especially if you are staying for at least a week. Last trip, I saved over $250 on my room alone, not to mention discounts on food in the parks and shopping at DTD.

That is why I love Annual Passes.

 

[PhilharMagician]

I actually just talked to someone at Disney. Almost sounds too good to be true.

She told me (very friendly of course) that when you have a 7 day park hopper PLUS, you can upgrade to just a Theme Park Annual Pass for the price difference. Not only that, but you get to KEEP the plus features. So, if I have only 2 left when I upgrade, I get to keep those 2. Now that is a great deal!!!

I knew I read this somewhere. It was on Allearsnet. It was in planning/annual passes then scroll down.



I have heard that I can upgrade my park hopper pass to an AP or PAP and get full credit for the original purchase price even after I have used a few days admission. Is this true?

Yes it is. If you decide within 7 days of first using a hopper pass that you want to upgrade it to an AP/PAP, you will get full credit for the price of the hopper pass towards the AP/PAP. The AP/PAP will be backdated to the date the hopper pass was first used. But beware: If you get a hopper plus pass and use one of the plus admissions before doing this, you will only be allowed to upgrade to a PAP.

I would recommend calling back and speaking with someone else just to check. You do not want to use the plus options and then go to upgrade and find out you can't. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I hope I am wrong.

I would like to know how all of this works out so I know for the future. :wave:

 

[joviacdan]

I knew I read this somewhere. It was on Allearsnet. It was in planning/annual passes then scroll down.



I have heard that I can upgrade my park hopper pass to an AP or PAP and get full credit for the original purchase price even after I have used a few days admission. Is this true?

Yes it is. If you decide within 7 days of first using a hopper pass that you want to upgrade it to an AP/PAP, you will get full credit for the price of the hopper pass towards the AP/PAP. The AP/PAP will be backdated to the date the hopper pass was first used. But beware: If you get a hopper plus pass and use one of the plus admissions before doing this, you will only be allowed to upgrade to a PAP.

I would recommend calling back and speaking with someone else just to check. You do not want to use the plus options and then go to upgrade and find out you can't. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, but I hope I am wrong.

I would like to know how all of this works out so I know for the future. :wave:

What is a PAP? I am assuming this is a Theme Parks Annual Pass. If this is true, I'm fine with that. As long as it's a hopper, I'm all set. With any luck, they'll still have that Pleasure Island deal going on. If not, I'll just drop $40 for 2 nights at Pleasure Island. That's fine with me.

 

[nicholas]

AP is the Theme Park ONLY Annual Pass. PAP is the Premium Annual Pass which includes Pleasure Island, both water parks, and DisneyQuest