APs are coming

[erionm]

Hope this is ok to ask here...How do we dvc members buy our passes,?online? my disney experience? call member services?

Starting 9/8, you will definitely be able to purchase by calling MS. All of the prior passes available to DVC Members could also be purchased by logging onto disneyworld.com and going to the Annual Pass purchase page.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Well, I renewed all of our Platinum APs this morning without issue. MS assured me that all rights and privileges would be maintained thru the life of the ticket (Aug 2022). It let me make park reservations so that's a good sign. I guess I bought another year to decide whether I like the direction things are going.

 

[Sandisw]

Along the same lines, we are assuming that rolling renewals (true renewals) do not have to be tapped before the 8th, right? I mean, I Can and would run down there before Wednesday, but it certainly isn't in the plans.

That seems to be the big question. It sounds like no, they will be the new ones, but with Photopass added for no charge since Gold had it.

The big issue really is the black out dates for those who bought expecting to use it for Thanksgiving weekend.

I read somewhere that someone called ticketing, and they actually were able to activate it officially over the phone so it shows active, but with the new start date.

When I renewed in January at the park, the CM did that vs the certificate so when I went in March, I didn’t have to stop at GS.

Maybe it’s worth a call?

ETA: see you already did!

 

[arrrroooooo]

Starting 9/8, you will definitely be able to purchase by calling MS. All of the prior passes available to DVC Members could also be purchased by logging onto disneyworld.com and going to the Annual Pass purchase page.

I called MS yesterday & they confirmed that they can sell new passes. Upgrades from existing park tickets will need to be handled by the main ticketing line.

FWIW, MS did sound optimistically hopeful that IT might actually have both AP sales for DVC members and ticket->AP upgrades working online by September 8. But obviously no guarantees.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

That seems to be the big question. It sounds like no, they will be the new ones, but with Photopass added for no charge since Gold had it.

The big issue really is the black out dates for those who bought expecting to use it for Thanksgiving weekend.

I read somewhere that someone called ticketing, and they actually were able to activate it officially over the phone so it shows active, but with the new start date.

When I renewed in January at the park, the CM did that vs the certificate so when I went in March, I didn’t have to stop at GS.

Maybe it’s worth a call?

ETA: see you already did!

It is worthy to note that I opted to renew Plat to Plat instead of downgrading as I originally would have, to Gold. What you're saying further clarifies my original fear and makes sense. Sept 8, they are going to convert all existing to current levels, and Gold (Sorcerer) would have left me holding an empty bag at Thanksgiving. I bet that is exactly what they're going to do. I'm glad it's not me, but it's going to be interesting watching the fallout from that for people holding Golds with Thanksgiving bookings that have no idea what's going on.

 

[jade1]

Sorry if discussed but appreciate any help.

Can we "upgrade" a DVC Gold AP before Sept 8 to the Platinum?

We might now go at XMAS, and was told at the time not to worry, just upgrade later for like $150.

 

[LoveMickey]

I have a question regarding someone stating the following:
"The big issue really is the black out dates for those who bought expecting to use it for Thanksgiving weekend."

Is there a link to the new black out dates for the Sorcerer Pass? My DH has the gold pass and we are going to WDW the first week in December. I've already made my park reservations using the AP with no issues.

 

[jade1]

I have a question regarding someone stating the following:
"The big issue really is the black out dates for those who bought expecting to use it for Thanksgiving weekend."

Same. Wondering if our Gold gets shut out at Thanksgiving.

 

[Marionnette]

I have a question regarding someone stating the following:
"The big issue really is the black out dates for those who bought expecting to use it for Thanksgiving weekend."

Is there a link to the new black out dates for the Sorcerer Pass? My DH has the gold pass and we are going to WDW the first week in December. I've already made my park reservations using the AP with no issues.

Scroll down to Sorcerer. Click read more and then scroll a little more to see a link for a block out date calendar in .pdf form.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/passholder-program/active-passholders/#drawer-card-drawerSP

 

[LoveMickey]

Thank you. It looks like the block out dates are Thanksgiving week and December 18 through the end of the year. No Blockout dates listed for the rest of 2022

 

[quinnc19]

Sorry if discussed but appreciate any help.

Can we "upgrade" a DVC Gold AP before Sept 8 to the Platinum?

We might now go at XMAS, and was told at the time not to worry, just upgrade later for like $150.

I was not able to and someone else confirmed that to be the case. I am greatly disappointed and it impacts my December plans.

 

[quinnc19]

If they switch my Gold to Sorcerer's, that might actually help me as January 1st is blocked out on Gold but not on Sorcerer's.

 

[Disneykate605]

I called Disney to upgrade the Gold renewal certificates I purchased (our current passes expire the end of November) to a platinum so that when they convert to a to the new system on September 8th they work for us (we have traveled thanksgiving every year so the sorcerer's pass won't work for us next Thanksgiving) and they said they couldn't do that. I argued why I didn't think that was fair and after multiple transfers I was still unsuccessful. I told them I was not happy and would be writing an email and going on Twitter to let people know how Disney was treating the customers who visited the parks and supported them throughout the pandemic when no one else would come!
They did call back the next day with a solution! They are still converting my pass but when it comes time to make my Thanksgiving plans they will give us complimentary tickets to cover our trip.

 

[DeeBee3]

I called Disney to upgrade the Gold renewal certificates I purchased (our current passes expire the end of November) to a platinum so that when they convert to a to the new system on September 8th they work for us (we have traveled thanksgiving every year so the sorcerer's pass won't work for us next Thanksgiving) and they said they couldn't do that. I argued why I didn't think that was fair and after multiple transfers I was still unsuccessful. I told them I was not happy and would be writing an email and going on Twitter to let people know how Disney was treating the customers who visited the parks and supported them throughout the pandemic when no one else would come!
They did call back the next day with a solution! They are still converting my pass but when it comes time to make my Thanksgiving plans they will give us complimentary tickets to cover our trip.

I'm glad you were able to get a solution, but I'm also happy you spoke up. Some of these "rules" make no sense. They probably know it, but perhaps hands are tied when they use the system and then most people just "fold" and let it go. No pun intended.

It's not like you were looking for anything free!!! They can see from your history you have a pass and often travel. Glad it worked out for you.

 

[Sandisw]

I called Disney to upgrade the Gold renewal certificates I purchased (our current passes expire the end of November) to a platinum so that when they convert to a to the new system on September 8th they work for us (we have traveled thanksgiving every year so the sorcerer's pass won't work for us next Thanksgiving) and they said they couldn't do that. I argued why I didn't think that was fair and after multiple transfers I was still unsuccessful. I told them I was not happy and would be writing an email and going on Twitter to let people know how Disney was treating the customers who visited the parks and supported them throughout the pandemic when no one else would come!
They did call back the next day with a solution! They are still converting my pass but when it comes time to make my Thanksgiving plans they will give us complimentary tickets to cover our trip.

I am glad you will get it for this year for sure.

If they are going to allow you to purchase another pass that will include 2022, when that calendar isn’t out yet, then they should not block them when that calendar comes out.

 

[Disneykate605]

The past that I was trying to convert will cover next year because it won't start until the very end of November this year. My Hope after all of this came out was to be able to upgrade my gold certificate to a platinum so it would switch to an incredi-pass so next year wouldn't be a problem. They wanted to know how I bought a pass outside of my renewal window I told him I called up and I told him that my current past expired in the middle of my Thanksgiving trip and I sold it to me so I can make park reservations.
I think they should have honored the Gold pass certificates that were already purchased (that had the same gold blockouts as in the past) and picked a date in the future maybe a year out and make that the deadline for activating Gold renewal certificates or Gold recovery passes. That way would have given people a year to plan what they were going to do and use this certificates as they were before they converted them. The way they rolled out this new program was disappointing in my opinion. The gentleman I spoke to did say there was "only a small percentage of people that were caught in this position". I said it was disappointing that they decided it was okay to screw over a few and that's since it is so few why don't they just help those few people out.
I feel like in the past Disney has always either grandfathered these situations in or given plenty of notice.

 

[Disneykate605]

For what it's worth he made it sound like Disney change the policy from the day before and that's why he was able to help me out so if that's true if other people that have Thanksgiving trips that are affected call they should in theory help them out as well. I would definitely encourage people who have a trip that is affected to call.

 

[Sandisw]

The past that I was trying to convert will cover next year because it won't start until the very end of November this year. My Hope after all of this came out was to be able to upgrade my gold certificate to a platinum so it would switch to an incredi-pass so next year wouldn't be a problem. They wanted to know how I bought a pass outside of my renewal window I told him I called up and I told him that my current past expired in the middle of my Thanksgiving trip and I sold it to me so I can make park reservations.
I think they should have honored the Gold pass certificates that were already purchased (that had the same gold blockouts as in the past) and picked a date in the future maybe a year out and make that the deadline for activating Gold renewal certificates or Gold recovery passes. That way would have given people a year to plan what they were going to do and use this certificates as they were before they converted them. The way they rolled out this new program was disappointing in my opinion. The gentleman I spoke to did say there was "only a small percentage of people that were caught in this position". I said it was disappointing that they decided it was okay to screw over a few and that's since it is so few why don't they just help those few people out.
I feel like in the past Disney has always either grandfathered these situations in or given plenty of notice.

Thank you for providing the context that its the same pass covering both Thanksgiving trips. I read it that you would be allowed to renew again next year and still get it covered as a typical Tday traveler.

It does sound like they are realizing that this is an issue and now have a plan for those going! That will help a lot of people who may not be aware of it and show up only to find out they are blocked out!!!

 

[dismedvc]

They did call back the next day with a solution! They are still converting my pass but when it comes time to make my Thanksgiving plans they will give us complimentary tickets to cover our trip.

To clarify, are you saying the complementary tickets will be for Thanksgiving 2022 and when you renew at the end of Nov 2021 Disney will convert your Gold certificate to Sorcerer pass but you will not be blacked out in 2022 since you have the complementary tickets?

ETA: that assumes Thanksgiving will also be blacked out in 2022 for the Sorcerer pass.

 

[quinnc19]

I am glad the people with the Thanksgiving issue are being taken care of. I'm debating about whether I should try again today. My issue with not being able to upgrade to platinum for December seems a little different, although they could resolve it in a similar fashion by giving me 2 day passes. I don't want to waste my time...