Can a US citizen buy passes &/or hotels through Disney's foreign websites?

[Mle8308]

So if you wanted to buy a few tickets for December of next year, you could just put down a deposit if you chose too and pay them off during the year? This sounds almost too good to be true. Is there a catch or any risk involved

Yes, if they are selling tickets for that far in advance. The downside is if you put down a deposit and change your mind, you would lose the deposit, you have to put down about $30 USD per ticket. Otherwise, you have to pay for them in full 6 weeks prior to the start date of the ticket and they arrive via email. They also offer insurance in case you need to cancel. I am not sure what they would do if you needed to alter the dates. I've used them as recently as this past September for my trip and had no issues.

 

[jennab]

So if you wanted to buy a few tickets for December of next year, you could just put down a deposit if you chose too and pay them off during the year? This sounds almost too good to be true. Is there a catch or any risk involved?

I believe so. I only made a deposit because of card issues, then paid in full the next day. The person helping me said she had a customer she called weekly at the same time to take payment because her card wouldn’t work online and the person wanted to pay in increments. I believe it says on the website when the full amount has to be paid. You also can’t link to your MDE until paid in full. I did purchase the extra protection plan just in case. That way I could be refunded if something changes rather than be out that much $.

 

[SL6827]

I believe so. I only made a deposit because of card issues, then paid in full the next day. The person helping me said she had a customer she called weekly at the same time to take payment because her card wouldn’t work online and the person wanted to pay in increments. I believe it says on the website when the full amount has to be paid. You also can’t link to your MDE until paid in full. I did purchase the extra protection plan just in case. That way I could be refunded if something changes rather than be out that much $.

Man it's temping not to book three tickets for say December 1st and just pay a $75 deposit. But I still have the too good to be true mind set because these are not intended for use by USA residents.

 

[jennab]

Man it's temping not to book three tickets for say December 1st and just pay a $75 deposit. But I still have the too good to be true mind set because these are not intended for use by USA residents.

I hear ya. This is my first time buying so I haven’t used my tickets yet. I did read quite a few reviews to the point that I felt comfortable giving it a shot.

 

[Mle8308]

Man it's temping not to book three tickets for say December 1st and just pay a $75 deposit. But I still have the too good to be true mind set because these are not intended for use by USA residents.

I know, I was nervous at first, but I PM'd with a couple of people on the boards and they had assured me all was fine. I bought tickets twice now and have not had any problems beyond having to link them once on the UK version of MDE. Once I did that, they showed up on the US version. I just tapped my MagicBand on my first park day and all was fine! Water park and memory maker, too. Got free MagicBands as well at the Planet Hollywood gift shop with the voucher (old version and in the teal color only). Not sure that is included this time. And I do know of another poster who used them with no problems on a trip this past month. I entered my US address when buying them, so I am not trying to hide anything and the person who called me knew I was in the US. They had no hesitation about helping me order the tickets.

 

[SL6827]

It would be a $75 "risk" for a deposit, which I could deal with, and full payment would be required like around the end of October for tickets that would start on a December 1st date, right?

 

[jennab]

I entered my US address when buying them, so I am not trying to hide anything and the person who called me knew I was in the US. They had no hesitation about helping me order the tickets.

exactly this! The person who sold them to me knew I was in the US and I didn’t see anywhere that said I could not buy them.

 

[Mle8308]

It would be a $75 "risk" for a deposit, which I could deal with, and full payment would be required like around the end of October for tickets that would start on a December 1st date, right?

I just checked my confirmation from them, and the remaining balance is due 6 weeks prior to the start of the ticket. So probably mid-October for a December 1st start. And remember, you don't have to start the tickets on your arrival date since they are good for 18 days from the start date. Look to see if a few days prior to your arrival are cheaper and if your trip encompasses those days, buy it to start earlier. That is what I do. We go for 12 - 14 days and I always look at the calendar to see what day is the least expensive to start the tickets. Doesn't mean you have to start using them on that day. And the tickets I just ordered are for September of 2025, so if there are any increases in ticket prices, I am locked in and got the 15% Black Friday discount. They will offer specials at later dates, but the BF one is usually the best.

 

[SL6827]

Would buying the $20 insurance per ticket be wise? What if you would be waiting to pay for the entire total of them six weeks before the trip date? Would it still be wise or not?

 

[focusondisney]

Man it's temping not to book three tickets for say December 1st and just pay a $75 deposit. But I still have the too good to be true mind set because these are not intended for use by USA residents.

I’ve read before that tickets sold in EU countries can not be restricted based on location. These tickets are sold in Ireland which is part of the EU. This is a post from today, not related to those 14 day tickets but confirms what I’ve read several times. Many posters have used this site for tickets, I used them for our September trip. The biggest issue was getting my CC company to process the charge. Once I got that thru, I had the tickets emailed & linked with absolutely no issues to MDE. Booked LLs on schedule. Tapped into the parks normally & was never questioned at all.

https://www.disboards.com/threads/disneyland-paris-trip.3957693/post-65847430

 

[disneyfan123]

Man it's temping not to book three tickets for say December 1st and just pay a $75 deposit. But I still have the too good to be true mind set because these are not intended for use by USA residents.

I paid a deposit on our tickets and paid the balance off over a few months (I'm Canadian, fwiw). It's not too good to be true, just really good!

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

Due to the EU laws about freedom of movement of goods and services between member countries, prices, deals offers etc can not be location based. They can be marketed to different countries but any country can buy them. Its not too good to be true, its not a scam or risky, its just part of EU law.

Also European online payments have stricter security control than American payments. We have the Instant Payment Regulation which became EU Law in March 2024 and Multi Factor Authentication, which means online payments need to be approved either through the bank App or through text message. That's why your large payments are not being accepted and its only the small deposits, as the UK / EU payment systems recognize that the American bank does not have the same high security controls.

Ive had it the opposite way, that my Irish bank wont allow payments on some American websites, as they dont have the high security checks that by law are required in UK / EU.

 

[Lewisc]

Due to the EU laws about freedom of movement of goods and services between member countries, prices, deals offers etc can not be location based. They can be marketed to different countries but any country can buy them. Its not too good to be true, its not a scam or risky, its just part of EU law.

People are buying tickets from a UK agency.. UK is not part of the EU. The United States is not part if the EU. Is the single market concept applicable to ticket sales made to guests outside the EU? I think any country applies to any country in the EU.

It's a loophole. It's "lightly" closed. You can't purchase if you identify yourself as from the US.

At some time Disney may crack down. Future sales, to US residents, may stop. Once issued the tickets aren't restricted. The grey area might be US customers who only paid a deposit and don't have the tickets.

 

[Bad Pink Tink 2.0]

People are buying tickets from a UK agency.. UK is not part of the EU. The United States is not part if the EU.

While the UK is not now part of EU, the majority of their laws mirror EU laws and just have a different name.

Is the single market concept applicable to ticket sales made to guests outside the EU? I think any country applies to any country in the EU.

Yes, the single market concept is applicable to ticket sales made to guests outside the EU.

It's a loophole. It's "lightly" closed. You can't purchase if you identify yourself as from the US.

No thats not correct. The only issue is the international banking security systems. EU /UK systems have higher security controls than American. So transitions wont go through if a lower security system is detected.

At some time Disney may crack down. Future sales, to US residents, may stop. Once issued the tickets aren't restricted. The grey area might be US customers who only paid a deposit and don't have the tickets.

Disney can not stop it, as its EU law. All companys and business trading with EU must comply with EU law. As long as Disneyland Paris is in operation, Disney has to comply with the single market law for ticket sales and hotel room bookings.

Disney can only location restrict within USA. Just like with the GDPR privacy laws,. They stopped international membership of D23 as they didnt want to comply with EU privacy laws.

 

[jennab]

People are buying tickets from a UK agency.. UK is not part of the EU. The United States is not part if the EU. Is the single market concept applicable to ticket sales made to guests outside the EU? I think any country applies to any country in the EU.

It's a loophole. It's "lightly" closed. You can't purchase if you identify yourself as from the US.

At some time Disney may crack down. Future sales, to US residents, may stop. Once issued the tickets aren't restricted. The grey area might be US customers who only paid a deposit and don't have the tickets.

The person who sold them to me knew I was in the US. I had to put my address at checkout and she called me to take payment since it wouldn’t work correctly online. At least from attraction tickets anyway. Not sure about the other websites.

 

[Lewisc]

Years ago Disney issued physical tickets. Third party sellers, particularly international sold vouchers which had to be exchanged at Disney. Guests with 14 day tickets had to show their passport.

JMO there aren't enough US guests buying these tickets to be worth Disney's attention.

 

[jennab]

Years ago Disney issued physical tickets. Third party sellers, particularly international sold vouchers which had to be exchanged at Disney. Guests with 14 day tickets had to show their passport.

JMO there aren't enough US guests buying these tickets to be worth Disney's attention.

Yes, probably not enough people to care about. These are e-tickets and can be linked in MDE. I’ve heard the Canadian tickets you do need to prove residency to activate them. So maybe it is different rules for different countries?

 

[focusondisney]

You can't purchase if you identify yourself as from the US.

Not true at all.

 

[focusondisney]

Yes, probably not enough people to care about. These are e-tickets and can be linked in MDE. I’ve heard the Canadian tickets you do need to prove residency to activate them. So maybe it is different rules for different countries?

Canada doesn’t follow the EU residency rules. So Disney can make those restrictions.

 

[Mle8308]

People are buying tickets from a UK agency.. UK is not part of the EU. The United States is not part if the EU. Is the single market concept applicable to ticket sales made to guests outside the EU? I think any country applies to any country in the EU.

It's a loophole. It's "lightly" closed. You can't purchase if you identify yourself as from the US.

At some time Disney may crack down. Future sales, to US residents, may stop. Once issued the tickets aren't restricted. The grey area might be US customers who only paid a deposit and don't have the tickets.

I have bought these tickets for a few trips (and used them with no problem) and used my US address for billing, it is part of the purchase process. I had to have their customer service assist me last week and they called me, with a US number, knowing full well where I lived. The person who helped me even joked about my accent. There were no issues buying the tickets or using them at the parks. You can buy them when identifying as an American living in the US. As many of us have done.