I have a question about the PhotoPass option with the annual pass. (I'm sorry if this has been answered, I searched and didn't find anything)

My husband and I will be in WDW for 8 days in November, and will then be taking our nephew back for a trip in April, I have done all of the math and before any dining discounts, we will save $250 when including the cost for Memory Maker which we want. When it comes to Memory Maker, if I do a ticket upgrade when we arrive in November, will we need to wait the 3 days that others have to wait if they don't purchase Memory Maker in advance, or will pictures be available from our first day?
 
I have a question about the PhotoPass option with the annual pass. (I'm sorry if this has been answered, I searched and didn't find anything)

My husband and I will be in WDW for 8 days in November, and will then be taking our nephew back for a trip in April, I have done all of the math and before any dining discounts, we will save $250 when including the cost for Memory Maker which we want. When it comes to Memory Maker, if I do a ticket upgrade when we arrive in November, will we need to wait the 3 days that others have to wait if they don't purchase Memory Maker in advance, or will pictures be available from our first day?

No waiting.
You'll get ALL photos taken from the start, and all photos will be available for a full year.
 
I have read through most of this thread and haven't seen this question asked. We are debating 2 trips in 2018. One in July with me and dd and then one in late November/early December with me, dh, ds1 and ds2. If I purchase a package, can I upgrade, just my ticket to an annual pass? Would this interfere with the later trip if we plan to purchase a package? Would I have to purchase tickets with the package?
 


I have read through most of this thread and haven't seen this question asked. We are debating 2 trips in 2018. One in July with me and dd and then one in late November/early December with me, dh, ds1 and ds2.
1. If I purchase a package, can I upgrade, just my ticket to an annual pass?
2. Would this interfere with the later trip if we plan to purchase a package?
3. Would I have to purchase tickets with the package?

1. Yes. AFTER you have arrived at WDW and checked in.
2. No.
3. All guests as part of the SAME package on any given trip need to buy the same kind of tickets. But, AFTER ARRIVAL, each ticket can be dealt with individually.
Is there a reason that you WANT to buy "packages" rather than simply make room-only reservations and buy tickets separately?
 
We have done the packages in the past and I like that everything is paid for before we get there. If I can get a better deal, then I am open to doing that. We have typically gone in the past during free dining. I am not counting on that for either of these trips. I was just thinking that we could use the AP discounts for the later trip.
 
We have done the packages in the past and I like that everything is paid for before we get there. If I can get a better deal, then I am open to doing that. We have typically gone in the past during free dining. I am not counting on that for either of these trips. I was just thinking that we could use the AP discounts for the later trip.

Yup.
If you WANT to buy a "package" and some guests have APs and some don't, those with APs can simply
HOLD their package tickets until a future trip when they can use/upgrade the tickets or
use their value to help pay for a new or renewal AP.
 


Yup.
If you WANT to buy a "package" and some guests have APs and some don't, those with APs can simply
HOLD their package tickets until a future trip when they can use/upgrade the tickets or
use their value to help pay for a new or renewal AP.


Thank you!
 
Upgrading Tickets

An "upgrade" is defined by WDW as adding one or more days to any base ticket,
and/or adding one or both of the other options, Park Hopper or Water Park Fun & More (WPF&M) to an existing ticket.
Or, upgrading a standard ticket to an Annual Pass (AP) is other popular option.

The basic rule for the cost of upgrading a ticket is to
subtract the cost of the ticket that you HAVE from the cost of the ticket that you WANT.
That difference in cost is how much the upgrade will cost (plus 6.5% tax on that difference amount.)


A ticket can be upgraded more than once, if needed,
even during the time the guest is using the ticket's assets, with no restrictions,
except for the maximum number of days allowed per ticket
and the "14 days from first use rule."

Note that in order to qualify as an "upgrade" the transaction requires a payment (not a refund,)
and can only be done on a one-to-one basis.
Guests cannot combine the value of more than one ticket.
In other words, if you own two different tickets (say, a 3-day ticket -and- a 1-day ticket,)
you could not add the value of both tickets to end up with a single new ticket of four or more days.

Where to do the Upgrade
An upgrade can be done at any WDW theme park or water park ticket window or Guest Relations, or at the Disney Springs Guest Relations office.

The Concierge staff at WDW resorts can do many standard ticket upgrade transactions,
but they cannot do any transactions regarding Annual Passes.

Upgrading BEFORE arriving at WDW.
•If you bought tickets as part of a WDW Resort package, you can usually call WDW and have your package tickets upgraded before you arrive.

However, in many cases, it is not possible to upgrade a stand-alone ticket (one NOT purchased as part of a WDW resort package.)
•If you bought tickets from one of the many authorized WDW ticket resellers/discounters
those tickets cannot be upgraded by Disney until you arrive at WDW.
It is occasionally possible to contact the original authorized reseller and that seller
MIGHT be able to take back the tickets in exchange for longer/larger tickets.

•If you bought stand-alone tickets directly from WDW, on-line or over the phone,
those tickets can sometimes be upgraded in advance of your trip by Disney via a phone call.
Call (407) 939-7523 in the US.
Call 0800 16 90 730 in the UK.

Any MYW ticket must be upgraded within 14 days of first use.
If the first day of use is a Sunday, the last time an upgrade or modification may be done before close-of-business of the second Saturday which follows.
Also, tickets cannot be upgraded after out-of-town guests have retuned home.

If you use up all of your entitlements on a ticket,
the LATEST that you can do any sort of upgrade or modification
is before close-of-business on the day that you use that ticket's last asset.
This means that if you had (as example) a four day ticket and your fourth day of use was a Friday,
from Saturday onward you cannot do any upgrade, even though it is within the 14 day period.
Note this does not apply to Florida Resident Tickets, in which case the Guest name is preprinted on the ticket...
and they may add days after the last entitlement is used
as long as they have a photo ID that matches the name preprinted on the ticket.

Note that you can add major theme park days and/or the WPF&M option
to any ticket even after all of the original major theme park days have been used,
provided it meets the requirements of the previous paragraph.
You can not exceed the maximum of ten days of total major theme park entitlements.
-----------------------------------

Cost to Upgrade
:

"Price bridging" for Upgrading Tickets has changed in some cases.
As it stands now, tickets purchased from stock issued before the
price increase of Feb. 12, 2017 (this is NOT necessarily related to the date that YOU purchased your tickets)
will be bridged only to the pre-increase price that Disney sold these tickets to the public.


That means:
There are currently two different ticket upgrade scenarios:

1. To upgrade an "Old Price" Ticket:
If the ticket that you have, and want to upgrade, was purchased from an authorized ticket reseller from "old stock" or "leftover tickets" (a ticket minted BEFORE the Feb. 12 price increase,) THAT ticket will be price-bridged up to the full WDW gate price that was in place BEFORE Feb. 12, 2017. Even if you actually purchased your tickets after Feb. 12, if you bought
"leftover tickets" from the resellers older stock of tickets, they are considered to be tickets
minted before Feb. 12.

The price at which Disney sold these tickets to the public "before Feb. 12" will be the price subtracted from the CURRENT gate price of the new ticket to which you are upgrading.
That difference price will be the cost to upgrade.


2. To upgrade a "New Price" Ticket:
If the ticket that you have, and want to upgrade, was purchased from an authorized ticket reseller from "current stock" (a ticket minted AFTER the Feb. 12 price increase,) THAT ticket will be price-bridged up to the full CURRENT WDW gate price.
That "current price" of your original ticket will be subtracted from the CURRENT gate price of the new ticket to which you are upgrading.
That difference price will be the cost to upgrade.
---------------------------------------------------------------

Ticket PRICES-CURRENT-Since Feb. 12, 2017 can be found on the WDW website HERE.

Ticket PRICES-PREVIOUS to Feb. 12, 2017
from an archived Allears page HERE.

For the transaction of a ticket upgrade: a ticketing CM can manually raise the price of a guest's ticket that was purchased at a discount (or purchased before a WDW price increase) up to the current (that day) gate price of that same kind of ticket.
This procedure is often called "Price Bridging" on these boards.
Price bridging allows guests to upgrade a ticket and still "keep the savings" that they got when they bought a discounted ticket.

Price bridging is NOT done for tickets purchased "directly from Disney" (at the gates, by mail, on line, on the phone.)

Price bridging IS done for upgrading tickets purchased from authorized WDW ticket resellers (discounters,)
Price bridging IS done for upgrading tickets purchased as part of a WDW Resort package (room -and- tickets,)
Price bridging IS done for upgrading tickets purchased at any retail Disney Store.

The best way that a guest is sure to get the correct price when upgrading a ticket
that qualifies the the "price bridge" is first "do the math" and KNOW exactly how much the ticket upgrade should cost BEFORE going to the booth to get the upgrade.


Current Ticket PRICES can be found on the WDW website HERE.

If the ticket CM offers an unexpected (incorrect) upgrade price, the guest can nicely ask the CM to "check again, please, as the price should be lower on these kind of tickets."
If that doesn't net the correct price, nicely ask to speak with a ticket supervisor.
If that doesn't net the correct price, nicely decline the upgrade, i.e., "I've decided not to do this."
Then, the guest can go to another ticket/Guest Relations booth (at a different park or other WDW ticketing location) and/or try the upgrade at a different time of day.

There is no "best location/worst location" to get a correct ticket upgrade transaction, as the skill-level, training-level, experience-level of any CMs at any particular location can change with the date, the time, and any other scheduling situation.
"Luck-of-the-draw" is fully in play, here.

-----------------------------------------------
Which discounted ticket to buy for use in an Upgrade.

Don't worry about the LENGTH of the discounted ticket intended for upgrade.
You want to do the math to see which of the tickets offer the best SAVINGS over the full-gate cost.

That way, when you do the upgrade the price-bridge will allow you to "keep the savings"
while getting to buy the AP.

The other side of this is that if the advance-purchased intended-for-upgrade discount ticket is the only ticket that you have in your MDE account, you will only be able to advance-book FP+ for the number of days on your ticket, even if your trip will be longer than that.

-----------------------------------------------

More upgrading details:

If you originally purchased stand-alone tickets directly from the WDW website or via a phone call to WDW,
or at a WDW ticket or Guest Relations window:

If you want to upgrade,
you must pay the difference between what you originally paid Disney for the original ticket,
and the current gate price of the ticket to which you are upgrading,
plus 6.5% tax on the difference price.

If you originally purchased stand-alone tickets from an Authorized Retailer (reseller) of WDW tickets (this DOES include purchase from The Disney Store)
If you want to upgrade, your cost will be the difference between the current gate price of the original ticket that you HAVE,
and the current gate price of the ticket that you WANT (the ticket to which you are upgrading,)
plus 6.5% tax on the difference price.

If you originally purchased WDW Resort Package tickets
(as part of a "room -and- tickets" reservation)

If you want to upgrade, your cost will be the difference between the current gate price of the original ticket that you HAVE,
and the current gate price of the ticket that you WANT (the ticket to which you are upgrading,)
plus 6.5% tax on the difference price.

(Just below is a rare situation when 2 tickets can be combined for an upgrade.)
At the Water Parks and Disney Quest only,
if you have a 1-day water park or 1-day Disney Quest ticket that is unused (or has been used that same day)
you can combine that ticket with a MYW ticket to add the WPF&M option to the MYW ticket,
and just pay the difference between what was paid for the water park or Disney Quest ticket
and the current price of the MYW option (plus 6.5% tax on the difference price.)
This will not generally work if the MYW ticket is already a Hopper, as the cost to upgrade would be less than the price of a one day water park or DQ ticket, because, officially, WDW does not give refunds on tickets.
======================================

Upgrading to an Annual Pass (AP)
An upgrade to any level of Annual Pass follows basically the same rules as any other upgrade of MYW tickets.
You cannot combine the value of more than one ticket in order to upgrade to a singe new ticket or AP.

The notable exception to this is if you have both a MYW ticket and a used water park or Disney Quest ticket,
these can be combined, along with additional money, for upgrading to a Platinum Plus AP.

If the current gate value of the ticket from which you want to upgrade is higher than the full price of the AP,
"officially," you would not be able to do an upgrade.
(If an exception is made, "officially," you will not receive a refund of the difference price.)

Any upgrade must be done at WDW at a location with access to the Automated Ticketing System (ATS).
Basically this is any park (including water park) ticket window or Guest Relations location,
or at the Disney Springs Guest Relations.
The Concierge staff at the resorts are not able to handle any type of AP transaction.

Cost of Upgrading to an AP:

If you originally purchased stand-alone tickets directly from the WDW website,
or via a phone call to WDW,
or at a WDW ticket or Guest Relations window:

If you want to upgrade, your cost will be the difference between what you originally paid Disney for the original ticket,
and the current gate price of the ticket that you WANT (the ticket to which you are upgrading,)
plus 6.5% tax on the difference price.

If you originally purchased stand-alone tickets from an Authorized Retailer (reseller) of WDW tickets:
If you want to upgrade, your cost will be the difference between the current gate price of the original ticket that you HAVE,
and the current gate price of the ticket that you WANT (the ticket to which you are upgrading,)
plus 6.5% tax on the difference price.

If you originally purchased WDW Resort Package tickets
(as part of a "room -and- tickets" reservation)

If you want to upgrade, your cost will be the difference between the current gate price of the original ticket that you HAVE,
and the current gate price of the ticket that you WANT (the ticket to which you are upgrading,)
plus 6.5% tax on the difference price.

If you are an Annual Passholder
and you are renewing your AP within the renewal window (up to 60 days before or 30 days after your AP anniversary date)
you may upgrade a MYW ticket to the Pass using the renewal rate.
All other upgrade rules apply, except the expiration date will be one year from the expiration date of the original AP.

If upgrading from a MYW ticket, and the MYW ticket has been partially (or fully) used,
the expiration date of the new AP will be set to one year from the date of first use of the original MYW ticket being upgraded.
If the MYW ticket has not been used, the expiration date will be one year from the date of the AP upgrade.

NOTE:
When upgrading to Annual Pass,
if the Guest's original ticket included Water Park Fun & More Option, and any part of that option was used,
then the Guest may only upgrade to the Platinum Plus AP or Premier AP.

If none of the WPF&M options were used prior to upgrading,
then the guest may choose the kind of AP (Platinum, Platinum Plus, or Premier AP)
to which the guest will be upgrading.

If the guest purchased the Memory Maker photo service, in some cases, it is possible that the Memory Maker purchase cost can be refunded -or- deducted from the cost of purchasing, or upgrading to, an AP (since APs now include the Memory Maker photo service.)

When parking at a theme park, if the guest has paid for parking and wants to purchase, or upgrade to, an AP that day,
if the guest takes the parking receipt to the booth where the AP transaction takes place, the parking cost can be refunded -or- deducted from the cost of purchasing, or upgrading to, an AP (since APs include free Theme Park parking.)

A Florida Resident who is upgrading a 3-day or 4-day ticket may do the upgrade any time within six months of the date of first use of the original ticket.
The Florida Resident will also have the option of a Weekday Select Pass or Seasonal Pass, as well as an AP, PAP or DPP.
Note that the Florida Resident six month rules do not apply if upgrading to any Annual Pass using the Monthly Payment Plan.
If the Florida Resident intends to use the Monthly Payment Plan, the upgrade may only be done within 14 days of first use.

The UK 14-day and 21-day Ultimate Tickets may be upgraded to Platinum or Platinum Plus Annual Passes.
The ATS system will give a current value in US$ which is considered the base for upgrading.
Note: If any of the minor park entries have been used, the upgrade may only be to the Platinum Plus Annual Pass.
If none of the WPF&M options were used prior to upgrading,
the guest may choose the kind of AP (Platinum or Platinum Plus Annual Pass) to which their ticket will be upgraded.
Looking to find out the best way and strategy to buy park tickets with my Disney Rewards Dollards.

We're planning a trip for end of May 2018. We're staying at Dolphin on SPG points, and in order to get 60 day fastpass window, we need to have tickets loaded in MDE by Late-mid March.

I'm looking to buy 6 day park hoppers for 2 adults and 1 child (around $1345 total). I really want to use Disney Visa Rewards Dollars to buy the tickets but probably won't get the exact/full amount to cover all 3 tickets until March timeframe. Right now I only have about $950 in rewards (and have been getting between $30-$50 added per month).

My concerns are: if I wait until I have the full amount, will prices then rise by March, when I plan to buy them? If so, is there a way that I just buy a lower day ticket with what I have right now and "add" days to my tickets as I accrue more rewards dollars? Would this lock in my base price but then only need to add extra days at $20 per person per day? Would adding days like this pose an issue if using rewards dollars? My understanding is that the website accepts disney rewards dollars, but havent seen where you can add days without calling.. Not sure when calling if they'd accept adding days with rewards dollars.

Do any third party resellers take disney rewards dollars (assuming not, but then again some non-Disney merchants accept some disney type payments sometimes, like in DS as an example)? If so, who?

Thank you!!
 
1. if I wait until I have the full amount, will prices then rise by March, when I plan to buy them? If so,
2. is there a way that I just buy a lower day ticket with what I have right now and "add" days to my tickets as I accrue more rewards dollars? 3. Would this lock in my base price but then only need to add extra days at $20 per person per day?
4. Would adding days like this pose an issue if using rewards dollars? My understanding is that the website accepts disney rewards dollars, but
5. havent seen where you can add days without calling..
6. Not sure when calling if they'd accept adding days with rewards dollars.
7. Do any third party resellers take disney rewards dollars (assuming not, but then again some non-Disney merchants accept some disney type payments sometimes, like in DS as an example)? If so, who?

1. Better than even odds that they WILL.
2. I don't think you're going to be gaining that much by doing so.
3. Well, not really.
4. Not that I know of. Why would it?
5. You can't. But, can't you use your "rewards" over the phone? (I have no idea.)
6. If these are the "same" as gift cards, you should be OK, but see #2 above.
7. Nope.
 
Question about upgrading a ticket purchased using a CM discount. A friend works for Disney and purchased tickets for me using the CM discount. These were purchased in January 2016. I had her buy 5 day tickets because that's how many days we would be in the parks on our trip. Well, our 2016 trip ended up being cancelled and we're now headed down next month and will be in the parks 8 days. If I add days to these tickets, how will the additional cost be calculated? Based on the full undiscounted ticket cost pre-increase? Or will I end up having to pay the difference between the discounted ticket and the current non-discounted ticket? I'm thinking by upgrading these CM discount tickets I'll end up losing any savings I had. I also have some tickets purchased through Southwest Vacations pre-price increase which I know will be bridged to the pre-increase price so I could use those and save the CM discount tickets for a 5 day trip.
 
Question about upgrading a ticket purchased using a CM discount. A friend works for Disney and purchased tickets for me using the CM discount. These were purchased in January 2016. I had her buy 5 day tickets because that's how many days we would be in the parks on our trip. Well, our 2016 trip ended up being cancelled and we're now headed down next month and will be in the parks 8 days. If I add days to these tickets, how will the additional cost be calculated?

1. Based on the full undiscounted ticket cost pre-increase?
2. Or will I end up having to pay the difference between the discounted ticket and the current non-discounted ticket?
3. I'm thinking by upgrading these CM discount tickets I'll end up losing any savings I had. I also have some tickets purchased through Southwest Vacations pre-price increase which
4. I know will be bridged to the pre-increase price so
5. I could use those and save the CM discount tickets for a 5 day trip.

1. Likely.
2. & 3. However, but this is a more complex situation and the upgrade CM may have more difficulty.
4. Yup.
5. If that's an option... dilemma solved.

You COULD start by just ASKING about upgrading the CM-purchased tickets, and if the answer is correct (might take some "coaxing ")
then you'll still get to keep your discount.
 
You COULD start by just ASKING about upgrading the CM-purchased tickets, and if the answer is correct (might take some "coaxing ")
then you'll still get to keep your discount.

Thanks for the reply, Robo! I think I'll do just that.
 
Anyone have experience with a ticket with non-expiring days left on it after the person has passed away? A relative is under the impression they can use the remaining days themselves if they provide a death certificate, but any idea how this actually works? Would they re-issue to her with the same terms? (Non-expiring) Or re-issue as new ticket with an expiration? This probably isn't common but if anyone has insight I'd like to let her know what to expect!
 
Anyone have experience with a ticket with non-expiring days left on it after the person has passed away? A relative is under the impression they can use the remaining days themselves if they provide a death certificate, but any idea how this actually works? Would they re-issue to her with the same terms? (Non-expiring) Or re-issue as new ticket with an expiration? This probably isn't common but if anyone has insight I'd like to let her know what to expect!

It has been discussed many times over the years.
A relative has generally been allowed to use the remaining assets.
No "new" expiration date or change in the original "terms" will be added.
Go to any Guest Relations outside any park or at Disney Springs.
 
It has been discussed many times over the years.
A relative has generally been allowed to use the remaining assets.
No "new" expiration date or change in the original "terms" will be added.
Go to any Guest Relations outside any park or at Disney Springs.
Thank you! She will be happy to hear that
 
I have a 14 night package with 10 day ticket. Starts 8/26

I am going to buy military mnsshp tickets for 8/25 and 9/1. I would like to book fp+ for pre party hours 3:30-6:30 (I do not currently have fp booked on those dates). To do so, I think I need to put these tickets into an MDE account

Is there any way adding these tickets can interfere with my current plans associated with the 14 day package?

When we go to park on 9/1, how do I make sure that the party ticket is used for entry as opposed to my 10 day ticket?

If I add tickets to MDE does my magic and become my ticket? So on 8/25 before my package starts, we would need the magic and for entry?
 
I have a 14 night package with 10 day ticket. Starts 8/26

I am going to buy military mnsshp tickets for 8/25 and 9/1. I would like to book fp+ for pre party hours 3:30-6:30 (I do not currently have fp booked on those dates).
1. To do so, I think I need to put these tickets into an MDE account

2. Is there any way adding these tickets can interfere with my current plans associated with the 14 day package?

3. When we go to park on 9/1, how do I make sure that the party ticket is used for entry as opposed to my 10 day ticket?

4. If I add tickets to MDE does my magic and become my ticket?
5. So on 8/25 before my package starts, we would need the magic and for entry?
1. Correct.
2. Nope.
3. Go into the gate marked for the party.
4. By "magic" I guess you mean "MagicBAND."
Once any ticket is in your MDE, it is accessible via your MagicBand(s.)
5. If you have a physical plastic "ticket" for the party,
you can use it for entry and FP+ if you don't have a MagicBand, yet.
 
Last edited:
Robo, thank you for this thread. I rarely have to upgrade. We have a ParkSavers, very slightly discounted 8 day PH+ purchased around June 2017. And an old, 2008ish WDW 8 day PH that was upgraded to 8 day PH+ in 2013 at Disney Springs. We didn't intend to, but now want to will call the ParkSavers ticket at a park ticket window, and upgrade to 2 AP platinums on 1st day (without visiting a water park).
1) Will the ParkSavers ticket be price brought up to non discounted 8 day PH+? Upgrade cost would be simply current AP Plat. - 8 day PH+, maintaining the nominal ParkSavers discount (think about $20).
2) 2013 upgrade was surprisingly cheap, think about $80's. I'm hoping CM upgraded correctly and I'd just look up the 2013 8 day PH fun and more cost and deduct from current AP Plat.?
I'm thinking about $600 upgrade cost.
 
Robo, thank you for this thread. I rarely have to upgrade. We have a ParkSavers, very slightly discounted 8 day PH+ purchased around June 2017. And an old, 2008ish WDW 8 day PH that was upgraded to 8 day PH+ in 2013 at Disney Springs.

3) We didn't intend to, but now want to will call the ParkSavers ticket at a park ticket window, and upgrade to 2 AP platinums on 1st day (without visiting a water park).
1) Will the ParkSavers ticket be price brought up to non discounted 8 day PH+? Upgrade cost would be simply current AP Plat. - 8 day PH+, maintaining the nominal ParkSavers discount (think about $20).
2) 2013 upgrade was surprisingly cheap, think about $80's. I'm hoping CM upgraded correctly and I'd just look up the 2013 8 day PH fun and more cost and deduct from current AP Plat.?
I'm thinking about $600 upgrade cost.

3) If you have the PS ticket connected to your MDE account, you won't need to actually "Will Call" it (the ticket, itself) in order to upgrade it.
You can upgrade without ever having to pick up an actual ticket (again, if this ticket is connected to an MDE account.)

1) Yes.
2) Yes. Since this ticket was purchased/upgraded directly at Disney, its gate value in 2013 (when you did the last upgrade) will be its value when subtracted from the current cost of the AP.
 
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