My incrediably lucky night!! Now what to do...

[Bugdozer]

Hi,
What an unbeliveable night I had. :flower: My local school does a fund raiser once a year. You buy raffle tickets for 2 for $1.00. Then there are about 130 prizes and you decide which ones you want to try for. You can put as many tickets in as you want. Well I was shocked to see that one of the prizes was 4 one day park hopper tickets for Disneyworld. :earseek: I check it and they were real tickets donated by Disney-Was nice of them to donate tickets to a school in NH. Well I bought $50.00 worth of tickets. I like to try for lots of prizes but those Disney passes were calling to me. I put about $5.00 worth of tickets in for the pass drawing. They waited all most to the end to draw the winner since it was considered a big prize. As you can guess...
I WON :jumping1: I was shocked! I never win anything.
Now the delima. The tickets expire in March 2006. We are going in Oct but we have annual passes that are good until December. When I put in for them I just assumed they were tickets that did not expire :rolleyes2 I could keep them and hope we can possibly squeeze a trip in during Feb. vacation. But if we don't they will expire and be wasted. :sad: I looked on Ebay and the tickets are selling for around $350 for 4 one day hoppers. These tickets do not require any finger scan so anyone can use them. I'm thinking that if I sell them I can pay for lots of character meals, photos and any other goodies for our trip. We are 2 moms( 2 families ) that go with 2 12 year old boys-dads are sick of Disney. I would take the money and pay for both famlies to do the above things. Is this very wrong for me to do this? :scratchin I am torn as what to do.
Thanks all,
Cheryl

:disrocks:

[2princesses1pea]

sell them on e-bay... :jumping1:

[jlcbshaw]

Not sure what you should/could do, but wanted to say congratulations.

Hi,
I looked on Ebay and the tickets are selling for around $350 for 4 one day hoppers. :disrocks:

Are tickets selling for that much on Ebay? Why, is'nt 4 adult 1 day tickets somewhere around $250 through Disney? I just don't get some of the people who shop on Ebay and pay prices (along with inflated shipping) that are more than eslewhere.

I like Ebay and have sold and bought, but....

Again congratulations. Maybe a charity can use your tickets to in turn raise some money for their orgnization and you'll have a small tax write off.

[Bugdozer]

Hi,
I checked Disney's website. An adult one day ticket with hopper feature is $97.45 before tax :sad2: The hopper feature is what makes them exspensive.
Cheryl

[debbiedoo]

Congrats!!

i would sell them on ebay to help fund the upcoming trip for those GREAT extras.

Good luck. . . .

[4fordisney]

I'd do it!!! I see nothing wrong in selling them. The prize is yours to do with what you want. Some contests allow you to take money in the amount the prize is worth instead of the prize. You are still using the tickets for your Disney trip...just not for entrance. Disney still gets the money they were hoping to get by offering the tickets. ;)

[Bugdozer]

Hi,
I just figured out that if I do sell them I could pay for the 4 of us to do the following:
Chef Mickey Character breakfast
Liberty Tree Tavern the Night we go to MNSSHP
Donalds Breafastosaurs
The New Cinderella Character Lunch

Extra would be used for group pictures of the 4 of us.
Cheryl

[Tink&SquirtsMom]

Congratulations! I think eBay might be your best bet but if you wanted another option... Won't Disney allow you to upgrade them to tickets with the no expiration option? I believe you can usually trade in tickets (before they expire) as long as you are trading up for something more expensive. Might be worth a call to ask. And you could just get it done during your October trip. It would cost you a little bit, but would still come out way ahead on the ticket cost in the end.

[Bugdozer]

Hi,
I never thought of that. The back of the tickets do say complmentary so I wonder if we can do that. I checked Disneys web site and if you try to buy a 1 day ticket with no expiration it says NA to one day tickets. Hmmmm :rolleyes2

Cheryl

[robsmom]

I would think that one day no expiration isn't really an option from Disney because normally there would be no scenario like yours. I think most people are buying one day tickets the day the plan to use them. As long as the tickets don't say you can't sell them I would ebay them. Think of it this way, if you do squeeze the trip in are you going to go from nh to fla for one day. probably not os you will end up buying park hoppers anyway. with the new pricing having the one day won't save you much money. But, for somone who really only needs on day, this are great tickets so they would have more value on ebay. alternatively, i would call disney and see if you can upgrade to a non-expiring longer ticket or just a longer ticket (if you can go before it expires).

[funhouse8]

Sell them on Ebay and put them to great use. Look at everything you won....

Chef Mickey Character breakfast
Liberty Tree Tavern the Night we go to MNSSHP
Donalds Breafastosaurs
The New Cinderella Character Lunch

Extra would be used for group pictures of the 4 of us

You can't beat that. Congrats! Go Enjoy and have a wonderful time.
:jumping1: :jumping1: :jumping1:

[renessa]

I think I would definately ebay the ticket, but not tell anyone locally. It might rub someone the wrong way. Just let everyone think you will use it on one of your trips and you'll be fine. I would think hard about even letting the other mom in on your plan, but you have to decide if you can really trust her with this little "secret". She may be wondering why you are paying for so much all of a sudden. Have a great time whatever you decide!!!!!!!!

[Bugdozer]

I think I would definately ebay the ticket, but not tell anyone locally. It might rub someone the wrong way. Just let everyone think you will use it on one of your trips and you'll be fine. I would think hard about even letting the other mom in on your plan, but you have to decide if you can really trust her with this little "secret". She may be wondering why you are paying for so much all of a sudden. Have a great time whatever you decide!!!!!!!!

Hi Everyone!
Thanks for all the great advise. I am going to talk to my friend today. We go together with the 2 boys at least once per year. She would not say anything about me selling them. After all they were not donated by someone locally they were donated by Disney. She is a single mom trying to raise her son on 1 income. I know it is hard for her to come up with the money to go. I have a great husband that just shakes his head at my addiction to Disney. He no longer goes but drives and picks us up from the airport. He thinks it is great that I have a traveling companion and it gets him off the hook. I would love to share my good foutune by paying for a few things she may not be able to afforade. Last trip I surprised them with a wishes cruise and thanks to StaceyA on the boards here I surprised them with an illuminations cruise that was shared by StaceyA.
I'll see what she says but I think I am leaning towards selling them. After all if they would benifit someone else who wants a one day why not. It might help them and in turn they help 2 families do a couple of extra things. Any more opinions greatly appreciated.
Cherl

[Alice Sr.]

Just throwing out another possibility. Maybe you could use them to upgrade your AP's to PAP's so you can use the water parks and Disney Quest. I bet the boys would love that. That is very nice that you are sharing your good fortune.

[InstImpres]

If you are going to renew your Ap's check the back of your one day tickets and see if there is a cost on them. I used tickets in a similiar situation toward my renewal cost.

[Bugdozer]

Just throwing out another possibility. Maybe you could use them to upgrade your AP's to PAP's so you can use the water parks and Disney Quest. I bet the boys would love that. That is very nice that you are sharing your good fortune.

Hi,
We actually each have 2 pluses left on our old hopper passes from 2 years ago. But that was a great idea. You all are so helpful! :flower:
Cheryl ::yes::

[aka-mad4themouse]

Just throwing out another possibility. Maybe you could use them to upgrade your AP's to PAP's so you can use the water parks and Disney Quest. I bet the boys would love that. That is very nice that you are sharing your good fortune.
That cannot be done. You can use the value of most park passes to apply towards the purchase of new passes but you cannot apply them towards thee upgrade of another existing pass.

If these passes are "complimentary" passes, you cannot upgrade them to passes with more days or non-expiring passes. It just one of those Disney rules.

My advise would be to sell them on eBay or the DISAuctions. I don't think that I would plan a future vacation based on the fact that I have single-day tickets that would expire (unless I was going solo and spending 4 days by myself). Hmmm. Now there's a thought worth entertaining! Congratulations on your win!

[Suz D]

I would either sell on e-bay or check w/ Disney to see if you could upgrade them to a 7-10 day MYW w/ park hopping (which would make that ticket a little more than 1/2 price) for you and your friends' trip NEXT YEAR.

I know that people have said you can't use a complimentary ticket to upgrade, but perhaps that policy has changed with the MYW program. It's worth the cost of a call. I'd think that Disney would rather have you stay 7 days than 1 day especially if you are paying the difference.

[MAC3]

Cheryl,

Just wanted to say congrats on your good luck!

[bettyann29]

I think you should sell them on Ebay and put that money to use.. You won them and that would be a good investment on your $50.. ::MinnieMo ::MickeyMo

[Bugdozer]

Cheryl,

Just wanted to say congrats on your good luck!

Thanks!
Cheryl :earsgirl:

[Bugdozer]

That cannot be done. You can use the value of most park passes to apply towards the purchase of new passes but you cannot apply them towards thee upgrade of another existing pass.

If these passes are "complimentary" passes, you cannot upgrade them to passes with more days or non-expiring passes. It just one of those Disney rules.

My advise would be to sell them on eBay or the DISAuctions. I don't think that I would plan a future vacation based on the fact that I have single-day tickets that would expire (unless I was going solo and spending 4 days by myself). Hmmm. Now there's a thought worth entertaining! Congratulations on your win!

Hi, :wave:
Thanks to everyone and thier help. After talking it over with my friend I have decided to sell them on Ebay and put the proceeds to the 4 items I mentioned in an earlier post. It seems to be the best option.
Cheryl :wave2:

[pyrxtc]

well, wanted to say congratualations ! 2nd, I wanted to know if you knew how the school got Disney to offer the tickets ? Our school does tons of fundraisers and I'm sure these would go off big. Our PTC pays for just about everything in the school, including books, paint, playground equipment, feild trips and anything else that's needed.

[Bugdozer]

well, wanted to say congratualations ! 2nd, I wanted to know if you knew how the school got Disney to offer the tickets ? Our school does tons of fundraisers and I'm sure these would go off big. Our PTC pays for just about everything in the school, including books, paint, playground equipment, feild trips and anything else that's needed.

Hi,
Wish I knew. I wondered the same thing. I wondered if someone had connections. I was shocked to see them as a prize. We have rafflemania once a year in March and this year they raised over $5200 :earseek: in the one night :banana:
Cheryl

[texas munchkin]

I think you should ebay them and have fun with the money.

It's not like someone gave you a gift and now you are trying to make money off it. You bought the raffle tickets and won the passes fair and square. The school's object was to make money on the raffle tickets, which they did.

BTW, your thinking of your single parent friend is great. As a single parent myself, I know how much she will appreciate it.

[takemetoo]

Bugdozer,

Just wanted to say that boy of yours is a cutie! He reminds me of my brother when he was that age. Congrats on the win and good luck with your auction!

[mrsboz]

You are so lucky!!! Good for you !!. I say sell them on Ebay - Go for it. It is very nice of you to think of your friend and her son. A word to the wise . . . don't tell anyone in school. I am very involved in my childrens school and it doesn't matter how much you do . . . someone ALWAYS has something to say. You go and enjoy yourself and keep your little secret. Otherwise, someone is apt to make you feel bad.

[Bugdozer]

Bugdozer,

Just wanted to say that boy of yours is a cutie! He reminds me of my brother when he was that age. Congrats on the win and good luck with your auction!

Hi,
Thanks, that is one of my favorite :hug: pictures of him. Whem he took the bite out of the Mickey bar :mickeybar he said "look mom it looks like Mr. Potato Heads Mickey Bar. Thats when I handed him mine and took the picture!

Cheryl

[Bugdozer]

I think you should ebay them and have fun with the money.

It's not like someone gave you a gift and now you are trying to make money off it. You bought the raffle tickets and won the passes fair and square. The school's object was to make money on the raffle tickets, which they did.

BTW, your thinking of your single parent friend is great. As a single parent myself, I know how much she will appreciate it.

Hi,
Thanks,
I agree with you. No matter how you look at it Disney will still get money.

My friend is very excited :cheer2: . I know it is hard for her to come up with the money every year. We are very good at bargins yet our triops never suffer. We stay at Pop Century and share a room. Last trip we got the room for $49 a night so divided by 2 is not bad. Last trip I surprised them with a wishes cruise and thanks to stacyA on these boards I also surprised them with an illuminations cruise that Stacey laet us join her on :banana:

She's a good friend and her son is my son's best friend.
Cheryl

[lucyjuce27]

I would definitely Ebay them!
Imagine the kids faces when they see what great stuff their Moms have got them!
That would truly make a holiday of a lifetime!
If you do feel guilty about selling them on Ebay how about donating a percentage of the profit to charity?
~~LUCY~~

[Colinsmom]

Sell them on eBay and enjoy the additional activities that you are able to fund - don't feel guilty about it for a minute!

And I think that it is great that you have a traveling companion like that - I bet that the boys have a blast together on their annual trips!!

[Bugdozer]

Sell them on eBay and enjoy the additional activities that you are able to fund - don't feel guilty about it for a minute!

And I think that it is great that you have a traveling companion like that - I bet that the boys have a blast together on their annual trips!!


Hi,
Since hubby does not get the "Disney" thing it is great having somone to travel with. The boys have been best friends since they were 9 months old. I actually babysat the boy a lot when he was younger. When his parents divorced his mother got an apartment near our house so he could have as regular a life as he used to. He is basically like our 4th son.

The 2 boys are so Disney crazy... :earboy2: They are 12 yet their room is all Disney with park maps all over the walls, Disney park music playing on the computer, All they do is talk Disney. :earseek: Oh oh... I think we brain washed them :rotfl: His brothers tease him about his Disney fascination but hey I think it's better then being fascinated with guns or video games. :crazy:
Cheryl