Buying Park Tickets Online

[BarbaraMB]

How long does it take before you get your tickets when you order them online? Any risks? When you do get your tickets are you then ready to go or do you have to make another stop to validate the tickets?

 

[daannzzz]

I bought my Universal tickets online from the Universal website. They came in less than two weeks and were ready to go upon arrival. No validating needed.

 

[BarbaraMB]

Thanks for the info. It seems the best deal (and possibly the easiest) is online. I think it might be the way to go.

 

[dzneprincess]

SAVE ON shipping and use the will call feature..

 

[TraderAsh]

Im going to buy my tickets online soon... im getting the five consecutive day pass which is supposivly cheaper than buying a 2 day pass or whatever... I think I read that you have to validate them though.... how do you go about doing that and is it a hassle? Information on this would be great

 

[ksdave]

We bought our preferred annual passes via the internet in January and used the new ceTicket. This worked really well. They gave us a code which we brought with us in February. As soon as we arrived at the parks, we went to the ATM-like machines right outside the gates, put in our code, swiped the credit card we used (a check card), and there were our tickets. It was really easy. Once through the turnstiles at IOA, we went to the CS office to the left and had our permanent passes within a few minutes.
Best investment I've made in the last 12 months!!

 

[luvaladdin]

We just returned and used the ceticket system too. I kept my printout with the confirmation number and brought that, along with the same credit card I had used online, and I had them in a minute. No lines at the machine. We bought the five days passes for $95 inc. tax and thought it was a great bargain. Oh, how I wish Disney would do a promotion like that one!

 

[theycallmewinnie]

I'm heading to USF in just over a month. If I order in the next two days, it sounds like the tickets will come in plenty of time. Anyone have words of encouragement or warning on this? The five day pass seems like the best option.

 

[dzneprincess]

luvalladin...time to change your countdown ! LOL I hope you had a great trip

 

[BarbaraMB]

I would also like to know when is the best time to order them online and do you have to validate them when you get them before you can use them?

 

[prncess674]

Buy online and use the will call feature to save on shipping. Using the machine at the gates to dispense tickets was painless. If you are buying regular tickets (not AP's) the machines dispenses the actual tickets no need to stand in additional lines. If you buy AP's online you will need to get a permanent plastic card with your picture on it taken.

 

[BarbaraMB]

I must be dense. What is will call feature? When I purchase the tickets online do I receive vouchers in the mail that I have to bring with me and then insert those into a machine and then get my tickets? I hope that I am the only one that isn't confused about this.

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by BarbaraMB
I must be dense. What is will call feature? When I purchase the tickets online do I receive vouchers in the mail that I have to bring with me and then insert those into a machine and then get my tickets? I hope that I am the only one that isn't confused about this.

if you use the will call feature you will NOT receive anything in the mail. When you purchase online you will be given a confirmation #. You will approach the eticket machines near the gates (they look sorta like an ATM or airline eticket machine) and insert your credit card. It will then ask you for the confirmation number. Enter confirmation number. Tickets will be spit out from the machine. These are your park tickets. Proceed to turnstiles and enjoy the park. No need to speak to humans. Very quick efficient process. There were plenty of eticket machines. Lines for "human" service were quite lengthy.

I like this way better because I don't have to worry about forgetting the tickets at home a thousand miles away.

 

[BarbaraMB]

Sounds easy but I am not sure I like the idea of prepaying online for 6 park tickets and have nothing but a number (that I better not forget) to show for it. Maybe I just think that something will go wrong for me when I go to the machine and it doesn't work.

 

[prncess674]

Originally posted by BarbaraMB
Sounds easy but I am not sure I like the idea of prepaying online for 6 park tickets and have nothing but a number (that I better not forget) to show for it. Maybe I just think that something will go wrong for me when I go to the machine and it doesn't work.

Well things could go wrong with anything. if the tickets are lost in the mail that is a hassle too, probably more of a hassle. Even if you loose the confirmation number you can always go to guest services and they can look up your transaction. I am not telling you to do it either way I am just letting you know that the eticket machine is painless and worked like a charm. The shipping charges were the kicker for me. I don't like paying them, so I used the eticket will call option, but if you feel the need to pay them it is a free country. Pretty soon I think this will be like the airlines where paper tickets are pretty much a thing of the past. Think of the park tickets like your airline confirmation number. You don't have a paper ticket for your flight and you still trust that the airline is going to get you to Orlando even though you don't hold a paper ticket.

 

[BarbaraMB]

I really don't know anything about airline tickets. I was just wondering what the risks where. And what my options are. If I don't buy them online then I will pay more money and have to stand on line at the gate, correct? Can you buy tickets at the resort? Why do you need your credit card at the ticket machine?

 

[BarryHom]

You need a credit card because the machine needs to verify your purchase. It doesn't charge you anything for any pre-purchased ticket.

 

[nicolep91]

BarbaraMD,

You can wait and buy your tickets when you get there, but yes, I believe they are more expensive that way and the lines can be long. Also, if you want the 5-day consecutive pass, those are only available online.

 

[tazz]

We just got our tickets via 2-day UPS. If you purchase 4 5-day passes with a mastercard, you get the 5th pass free. Since we have 5 in our family this worked well for us. DH didn't feel comfortable with the e-ticket either--he wanted the tickets in hand.

 

[TraderAsh]

So wait... your saying that every time I enter a park im oing to have to sow a photo ID and sign a paper... Or are you saying ill have to show an ID and sign something before I enter. I thought that only the person who bought the ticket would have to show an ID. Im really confused and worried about all this... last time we bought two day passes and we were able to come and go as we please.. this was in 2001... can anyone clarify the whole process in detail?