DL tickets for Backstage Magic.... UPDATE 9/23/2010

[Princessofthehouse]

Hi,

I have a question for those of you who have done the Backstage Magic trip. I read on the ABD site that you do not have park access on your last day (checkout day). I thought I heard someone say on the podcast that you did and I also read that one group received 4 day park hoppers. Can someone clarify for me?

*Do you get 3 or 4 day park hoppers

*If you want to stick around DL on your last day can you still use the park ticket that you got through the tour.

Thanks so much!
Susan

 

[DisneyCruisin']

We did the BSM trip on 8/8/10. We received 4 day park hopper passes that were non-upgradable. We went Tuesday night (after dinner), Wednesday all day and Thursday all day with ABD. We did breakfast with the group on Friday (as folks were heading out) and then went by ourselves to Disneyland the last day. We had no issues using the passes.

Make a call to ABD to verify - but when we booked we were told they were 4 day hoppers and that is what we received.

 

[corky441]

As the OP said, you do get four day park hopper passes. We did the podcast trip in April and on that last day, after breakfast, we went to both parks for the day and evening

 

[battenburg]

For 2011, 3-Day Park Hopper Tickets will be offered. In the past 4-Day Park Tickets were offered, however this will be discontinued for 2011, since the last day is considered the departure day.

 

[corky441]

That really stinks

 

[DisneyKevin]

According to ABD (just called), Backstage Magic guests will receive a 4 day park hopper ticket in 2011.

ETA:

The above is incorrect

Just received word that ABD has changed this to a three day ticket.

If you have been told that you will be receiving a 4 day park hopper ticket, I would definitely call ABD and let them know that you feel you have been given mis-information.

 

[Miss SD]

That does stink. It was bad enough that you can't upgrade those tickets to APs after all you spend for these trips, but this is ridiculous. It might end up costing Disney money anyway. I know we stayed an extra night at the GCH to take advantage of a full fourth day in the parks.

 

[jacksparrowfan]

According to ABD (just called), Backstage Magic guests will receive a 4 day park hopper ticket in 2011.

ETA:

The above is incorrect

Just received word that ABD has changed this to a three day ticket.

If you have been told that you will be receiving a 4 day park hopper ticket, I would definitely call ABD and let them know that you feel you have been given mis-information.

Kevin, if someone adds one more Grand hotel night to the end of the tour, will they offer up a 4-day park hopper?

 

[DisneyKevin]

Kevin, if someone adds one more Grand hotel night to the end of the tour, will they offer up a 4-day park hopper?

I called ABD three times and got the same answer..."yes, everyone gets a 4 day hopper".

The last time was a supervisor and I suggested that I was going to quote her by name on the Dis Boards.

She then told me that she had to call someone else.

I was called back with the information that you would indeed be receiving a 3 day ticket.

I wont know anything until Monday...but I will keep you posted.

 

[DisneyCruisin']

It was nice to have the 4th day when we went. We actually added to nights to the end of our trip and it was great to have that one day at Disney to do the things we didn't get to do in the previous days.

 

[Princessofthehouse]

Thanks Kevin for inquiring about this! We are considering going on the August 7-12 trip and this was one of our questions. Can I ask you another one?

My husband and I are teachers. Our schedule is not out for next school year yet. I can't imagine that we would start before Aug. 15th, but if for some reason we did would the travel insurance cover something like that?

Thanks again for all you do!

Susan

 

[sayhello]

Thanks Kevin for inquiring about this! We are considering going on the August 7-12 trip and this was one of our questions. Can I ask you another one?

My husband and I are teachers. Our schedule is not out for next school year yet. I can't imagine that we would start before Aug. 15th, but if for some reason we did would the travel insurance cover something like that?

Thanks again for all you do!

Susan

Susan, hope you don't mind me jumping in here. Unless you purchase insurance from an outside company (like from insuremytrip.com), and get the "cancel for any reason" coverage (which costs extra, and can only be bought within 2-3 weeks of your first deposit) then something like school dates changing or not being what you expected is generally NOT covered. Trip insurance is generally for things like medical issues, damage to your home that you have to deal with, etc. I don't think I've ever seen a policy that covered "school dates changed". But if you go to insuremytrip.com and click on any of the prices that show up when you compare policies, it will bring up a copy of the actual policy. That will tell you exactly what the policy does cover.

As far as the coverage that ABD sells, the policy comes from Access America. I don't have this year's policy, but in the one from 2009, I've listed the covered reasons below. (Not the exact wordings on some, because they go on & on & on) (And all of these have LOADS of specific conditions that I don't have room for here):

1. Serious injury or any unforseen medical condition
2. Your death, or death of a family member or a traveling companion
3. Natural disasters or bad weather resulting in the complete cessation of services by the airline, tour operator or cruiseline.
4. You or a Traveling companion being Hijacked or quarantined.
5. Jury duty, or being served with a court order or subpoena
6. Your Primary Residence being made uninhabitable
7. You or a Traveling companion being involved in a traffic accident en route to a departure.
8. You or a Traveling companion on Active Military Duty:
---a) having your personal leave revoked.
---b) are personally reassigned
9. You or a Traveling companion are the victim of a Felonious Assault
10. A terrorist act that results in property damage, injury or loss of life.
11. You or a Traveling companion are terminated or laid off from your job
12. Family or friends living abroad whom you were planning on staying with are unable to accommodate you for a covered reason
13. A covered Delay that causes you to miss more than 50% of the covered trip
14. Your normal pregnancy, as long as the pregnancy occurred after the effective date of the policy
15. Attending an immediate family member's childbirth as long as the pregnancy occurred after the effective date of the policy.

Sorry if this was more info than you wanted!!!

Sayhello

 

[Princessofthehouse]

Thanks for the info. I figured that, but I thought I would check just in case. I appreciate your time and effort into answering my question.

Susan

 

[princessbride6205]

I'm glad I didn't book my flight yet for the Feb 2011 DIS trip. I was going to stay to use my park ticket on the "departure" day.
I guess ABD is not that interested in booking post-night stays, since now they only offer a 3-day non-upgradeable ticket?
Kevin - I am anxiously awaiting what you hear today.
This is certainly an unwelcome change.

It looks like they updated the ABD site with this info:
What type of theme park tickets do I receive during this adventure?

You will receive a 3-Day Disneyland Resort® Park Hopper® ticket. This ticket entitles Guests admittance to both Disneyland® Resort theme parks over 3 days, including visits to both theme parks on the same day. Admission is not included on the departure day.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Just to keep you up to speed....

I called ABD 3 times this weekend and each and every person I spoke to assured me that guests would receive a 4 day park hopper pass. I even spoke with a supervisor who assured me that it was indeed a 4 day ticket.

When I suggested that I intended to quote her by name on the Dis Boards, she back pedaled and stated that she had to call management and that she would call me back. She did call back 20 minutes later with the information that it is indeed a 3 day ticket.

I have called ABD again and was told that this has been escalated to upper management.

Folks, I have booked 140 + people on this Adventure in the last year. We have 3 Dis Exclusive BSM trips booked for 2011 and I found out about this information this weekend.

None of the ABD staff that I spoke to on the phone was aware of this. I told them about it......even a Supervisor.

I have escalated this myself and I'll be happy to keep you informed, but I have a suggestion for you.

If you have not booked your travel through me.....I would call ABD and let them know that you feel that this has been misrepresented and you feel that you deserve the 4 day park hopper ticket.

When even their own staff doesnt know that a change has been made.....how are you supposed to know?

I'll keep you posted as to what I find out.

 

[Princessofthehouse]

Wow!! I did not know this would be such a "hot" question Thanks again for all you do Kevin and for checking on this.

Susan

 

[princessbride6205]

Thanks for keeping us up to speed, Kevin!

 

[SaraMc]

Thanks for looking into this Kevin You rock. I can't think they want a whole bunch of people upset. Specially for us we added a night to our trip to spend more time in dl.

 

[DisneyKevin]

Just to keep you up to date....

Several people are now involved in this discussion.

Awaiting information from Disney and ABD.

I'll let you know what I find out as soon as I know anything further.

 

[skunkvette]

Kevin,

Thanks for your efforts regarding this situation, I was not aware of possible the change until I stumbled on this thread today.

Having been on the Adventure in 2010, I assumed (yes, I know what happens when you assume) that the four day ticket would be part of the 2011 return trip we booked.

Not the end of the world, but I am interested in understanding why ABD/Disney may have made the change, since from the marketing side of this package, it would seem that having the last full day by yourself in the park would complete their full five day adventure. I really cannot count the welcoming dinner as a full day of fun.

Curious to see how it all resolves.