Disney Store ?--Can you return a ticket?

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Here's the deal--my MIL, bless her heart, got it into her head to buy DD(almost)8 a WDW park pass for her birthday. So MIL went to the Disney Store and purchased a 6-day park-hopper (possibly non-expiring), for DD to use on our trip this summer. The problem is, I have no idea why MIL did this--I had already purchased 10-day passes for our family of 6 for this trip. So, leaving aside my concerns about MIL's faculties, she is now in possesion of a 6-day child's ticket that we have no use for.

MIL saved the receipt, and went back to the store today, to try to see if she could exchange it for a gift card or Disney Dollars, to give to DD for her birthday. The employee refused to exchange the ticket. Is this right? The ticket hasn't left New Hampshire, never been "activated" (neither have the 10-day ones, they're in my trip file). I can't believe they wouldn't exchange an unused pass. The CM told MIL to try doing it at the parks (?). I think the CM was jus tlazy--and she was the only one in the store at the time, so MIL coudln't appeal to anyone else.

I suggested MIL try again at another time, with another employee. But, does anyone know their policy on this? We only go to WDW every other year--DD will need an adult ticket next time, and we never get park hoppers. However, we coudl potentially get some use out of the ticket in 2 years for DS5.

Any input greatly appreciated. And no, I'm NOT giving away the ticket--worst case, we'll save it, or MIL will donate it to a charity auction.

 

[lisajl]

I don't believe you can return it.

 

[Marionnette]

Here's the deal--my MIL, bless her heart, got it into her head to buy DD(almost)8 a WDW park pass for her birthday. So MIL went to the Disney Store and purchased a 6-day park-hopper (possibly non-expiring), for DD to use on our trip this summer. The problem is, I have no idea why MIL did this--I had already purchased 10-day passes for our family of 6 for this trip. So, leaving aside my concerns about MIL's faculties, she is now in possesion of a 6-day child's ticket that we have no use for.

MIL saved the receipt, and went back to the store today, to try to see if she could exchange it for a gift card or Disney Dollars, to give to DD for her birthday. The employee refused to exchange the ticket. Is this right? The ticket hasn't left New Hampshire, never been "activated" (neither have the 10-day ones, they're in my trip file). I can't believe they wouldn't exchange an unused pass. The CM told MIL to try doing it at the parks (?). I think the CM was jus tlazy--and she was the only one in the store at the time, so MIL coudln't appeal to anyone else.

I suggested MIL try again at another time, with another employee. But, does anyone know their policy on this? We only go to WDW every other year--DD will need an adult ticket next time, and we never get park hoppers. However, we coudl potentially get some use out of the ticket in 2 years for DS5.

Any input greatly appreciated. And no, I'm NOT giving away the ticket--worst case, we'll save it, or MIL will donate it to a charity auction.

Tickets are non-refundable. There's no way for the store to be able to tell if the ticket is unused. The store CM was sticking to the rules. I wouldn't try to push it with another store CM. They aren't allowed to refund tickets.

You can try to sell it to a friend or family member. Or you can save it for another trip. There should be no problem with upgrading it to an adult ticket for your daughter if she is 10 or older on your next trip as long as it is unused.

 

[GoofyMomInOhio]

Here's the deal--my MIL, bless her heart, got it into her head to buy DD(almost)8 a WDW park pass for her birthday. So MIL went to the Disney Store and purchased a 6-day park-hopper (possibly non-expiring), for DD to use on our trip this summer. The problem is, I have no idea why MIL did this--I had already purchased 10-day passes for our family of 6 for this trip. So, leaving aside my concerns about MIL's faculties, she is now in possesion of a 6-day child's ticket that we have no use for.

MIL saved the receipt, and went back to the store today, to try to see if she could exchange it for a gift card or Disney Dollars, to give to DD for her birthday. The employee refused to exchange the ticket. Is this right? The ticket hasn't left New Hampshire, never been "activated" (neither have the 10-day ones, they're in my trip file). I can't believe they wouldn't exchange an unused pass. The CM told MIL to try doing it at the parks (?). I think the CM was jus tlazy--and she was the only one in the store at the time, so MIL coudln't appeal to anyone else.

I suggested MIL try again at another time, with another employee. But, does anyone know their policy on this? We only go to WDW every other year--DD will need an adult ticket next time, and we never get park hoppers. However, we coudl potentially get some use out of the ticket in 2 years for DS5.

Any input greatly appreciated. And no, I'm NOT giving away the ticket--worst case, we'll save it, or MIL will donate it to a charity auction.

Maybe try calling the Disney Store and asking them. You could always call another location so you don't get the same CM. I'm not sure if they can be returned but the ticket can be upgraded to an adult ticket when you go the next time.

 

[bumbershoot]

Tickets can't be refunded.

DH bought DS and me one-day tickets to Disneyland, online, around 12 hours before we were going to use them. Around 6 hours before we were going to use them, stomach flu hit DS and we weren't going anywhere.

Non-returnable, non-refundable.

(and worse, with Disneyland, the tickets DO expire even without using them, though they sometimes let you have the price you paid as credit towards a new ticket, and if the price goes up between purchase and use I'll have to pay the difference...so we *have to* use them by December 31st!)

 

[mcorbo]

Yes, passes can not be returned or exchanged. Passes purchased there are activated at the register, and they have no way of knowing if the pass was already used or not.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Why would they activte a pass at the register? Isn't it activated when you first get to WDW? The ones I got (at AAA) are 10-day expiring tickets--why would they be activated in NH in April, when I'm going in July? Unless "activated" means something other than "start the clock ticking".

Good to know about possibly upgrading in the future. We never get parek hoppers, but it could put a huge dent in the cost of a ticket to make it an adult one on a future trip.

 

[Claire&TheBoys]

Why would they activte a pass at the register? Isn't it activated when you first get to WDW? The ones I got (at AAA) are 10-day expiring tickets--why would they be activated in NH in April, when I'm going in July? Unless "activated" means something other than "start the clock ticking".

Good to know about possibly upgrading in the future. We never get parek hoppers, but it could put a huge dent in the cost of a ticket to make it an adult one on a future trip.

Regular MYW tickets are "live" tickets. All you have to do is walk through the turnstyle with it to use it. There is nothing about the ticket that will look different between being unused and used. You don't have to "activate" it. There is no way to tell by looking at it whether it's been used. The "clock starts ticking" when the ticket goes through the turnstyle and it will expire 14 days after the first use.

To clarify, you may have seen that some tickets, like the Military Salute tickets, have to be "activated" at WDW. That is because they limit how many tickets can be tied to each servicemember, and proper ID must be presented to make the tickets usable. Also, any annual pass product has to be activated at WDW - your name and address are tied to those. The MYW tickets you buy at the Disney Store, or any authorized reseller, are "live" tickets that are valid exactly as they are sold.

 

[StitchandPooh'sMom]

OP, did you buy your 10-day passes as part of a package, or do you already have them in your hands (from the Disney Store or a discounter)? If the tickets are part of a package to be obtained at check-in and you are not within 45 days of your arrival, you can modify your package.

If you are not within 45 days, you can change all the tickets in your package to one day passes, then upgrade everyone's ticket except your DD's to a 10-day pass once you arrive. Then you will have one one-day pass left over to hang onto until your next trip.

You can probably upgrade your DD's ticket to a ten-day ticket when you arrive. The problem is that a 6-day hopper (with or without no-expiration) costs more than a 10-day base ticket, so I don't think they will refund the difference if you wanted to drop the hopper.

 

[ctjsowens]

They have to activate them at the store or they would be unusable when you get to the park. They are ready to be used but the clock doesnt start ticking until you use them the first time. I would just hang on to it and use it toward a future trip to Disney. One less ticket to buy next time!

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Thanks, everyone. Our tickets aren't part of a package--I bought them at AAA because there's a slight discount, and NH has no sales tax.

I will call MIL and tell her that the ticket can't be refunded. She may choose to donate it to a charity auction, or she may give it to us for a future trip. If I can apply it towards our next trip (2013), DD will be an "adult" and need a pricier ticket.

I'm still a little stunned tht MIL bought this ticket "just like you wanted!"

So, I guess "activated" at The Disney Store is kind of like putting money on a gift card--if you take a gift card from Target, it's worthless until they load it. The ticket is loaded, but the clock doesn't start until it passes through the turnstiles for the first time--correct?

 

[southern_redhead]

Wow, bless your heart OP (don't MIL's sometimes confound you? LOL) It was VERY generous of her, though, so at least you know she really wanted to get your DD something nice

I would verify with Disney that you could save the ticket to be used in 2 years and then either use it for your son or pay the upgrade for your daughter. I'd just thank MIL profusely and let her know it is going to be "priceless" for your next trip as it will save you money...

When she said "just like you wanted" - did you put out the idea of giving your children gift cards to use at Disney? Perhaps she got confused and thought you meant you were using them to get INTO Disney, saw the tickets, and thought "Aha!" Or, maybe, she was just confused in general (but, still, very generous gift so I'd count myself lucky LOL)

 

[sissy_ib]

Since the ticket is already purchased I would save it for a future trip. You said your DS will still be considered a child for a few more years so he can use it.

 

[ChattaAlley]

Personally, knowing you can not get a refund I would take the ticket and place on Ebay and sell it for what MIL paid. I have bought a park hopper on Ebay before with no problems. I believe it would sell fast. You could also put on Craigslist.

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

I'll call MIL today and give her the bad news. I don't know if she'll want us to hang on to the ticket, or if she'll donate it to a charity auction she knows is coming up. That's her call.

As to the whole "what was she thinking?" question--I honestly don't know where this came from. She knew we were planning this big WDW trip for July--since there are 6 of us, we go every other year, for two weeks, rent a house, do Universal as well, etc. But, I never asked her to buy tickets or anything else for the trip. I have 4 kids, with birthdays in Feb., April, May, and June. She only bought a ticket for the May kid. Seriously, I'm dumbfounded. MIL is typically very generous with my kids--to the point where we disagree about it, sometimes--I don't see the point in giving a 4yo $200 for Christmas, for example, but she does it anyway (and I put most of the money in the bank for him). But, cash I can deal with, this ticket thing is a real head-scratcher.

P.S. MIL just turned 80, and we worried about her grip on reality before this ticket thing. But, what can you do?

 

[hsmamato2]

could be MIL just doesn't understand the ins and outs of disney ticketing,and wanted to do something nice.....
you can use the ticket for your next trip on one of the kids,or upgrade it to adult ticket on your next trip for a small fee- either way it's still useful to you-
if it's non expire ticket,and you use one day on your upcoming trip,they will upgrade it for free for your dd if she is older than 9 the next time you go-
i.e.- go in June,use one day of MIL's non expire ticket for dd- stash the ticket away- go again in June 2012,bring dd's used child ticket to guest services,tell them she 'outgrew' her pass,they reissue it for an 'adult' (over 9)

 

[wovenwonder]

I think I would personally Thank her for the ticket and let her know that her generous Birthday gift will go to good use. Why make her feel bad about it?? And just letting her know it won't work for your trip will, I imagine, make her feel bad. I would keep whatever you do with the ticket to yourself [either save or sell, etc].

 

[love2disney]

Why cant u use these tickets this trip and upgrade the other one u purchased to adults in the park.

 

[Mom2Ben02]

As someone whose MIL is horrid, I am jealous. I prob would not tell her to take it back and hurt her feelings - either save it, or sell it, and be grateful.

Is there a way you can cancel DDs AAA ticket, and simply upgrade this ticket?

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Well, if you read my OP, MIL already knows it's the wrong ticket, and tried to return it for a gift card. I was as gentle as I could be about the whole matter--clearly, she was trying to do something special, and got confused about it somehow. I know she meant well--I think for her, the icing on the cake was the clerk being very brusque about not being able to exchange it. And I feel bad that she bought this ticket, thinking she was doing us this big favor, and we can't use it, and the clerk could have been nicer (the clerk was right, I get that now, but MIL was upset).

I called MIL this morning, and explained about upgrading the ticket in the future. She feels much better about it, and will give us the ticket to upgrade or use on a future trip. She'll give DD $100 cash for her birthday, which we'll let DD spend in WDW, to pick out something special from her grandmother.

I can't help but think MIL should have gone to AAA, just because she used to travel a lot and has a good relationship with a TA there. But, you can't change that now.

P.S. My MIL may have her faults, but she's very generous to my children, and I do appreciate that. My issue with telling her about the ticket was, I didn't know you couldn't exchange it, and then DD would have gotten a "useless" birthday gift. it really is more of a gift to us, her parents. Plus, I was really caught off guard with the whole thing--I never discussed WDW tickets with MIL, just mentioned the trip generally. I didn't have the slightest clue she would go off and buy one ticket for one child. So, when she said, "I got that ticket you wanted", I had no idea what she was talking about.