What should I do?? Help me figure out the whole upgrade thing!

[Claire]

Help! I posted this at MP, but I'd also like anyone's input that I can get. Accurate info is key.

I'll be going to Disneyland July 15th-July 19th this summer. The 16th and 17th are black-out dates for DAPs.

I was thinking of buying a 3-day park hopper for $139 and upgrading to a Deluxe AP on the third day (17th), because I've read time and again that you can buy a DAP on a black-out date.

A DAP is $209.

Questions:

1. What can I expect to re-coup from my original $139 3-day park hopper when I upgrade?

2. Is it one-third of the $139 since I'm upgrading on the third day? Or way less because it's "discounted" according to Disney's way of thinking?

3. Should I just buy the PAP for $329 and not worry about it? (We'll be down again in December for 5+ days, so I'll get some use out of it, plus the discounts, but the days we'll be there in Dec. are not DAP black out days, so I don't necessarily need a PAP.)

4. Also, when you buy an AP, when is the expiration? For example, if I purchase on 7/17/05, is the expiration 7/17/06? Or a day sooner? (I'm thinking about 2006....will I want to come down next July to play? And if I do, will I want to buy single day passes when my AP expires? Ugh!)

My husband is reading over my shoulder and complaining right now.....

Help! My brain is fried.