Early package ticket pick-up

[jandlsnorks]

I have a 7 night free dining package booked at GF with 8 day park hopper tickets from 10/25/15-11/1/15. I was recently able to get some days off of prior to the start of the trip. Free dining doesn't start until 10/25, so I booked a Return to the Magic offer (Room only 30% off UOC) in same room category also at GF from 10/22/15-10/25/15. I am hoping that we can stay in our same room for both reservations. I asked the CM when I booked about using my package tickets early and he said no, that I would have to add tickets to my room only reservation. This would be a huge amount of $$! I took a chance and changed my package tickets to a 10 day park hopper, as I have read in the past that people have been able to ask for Early Ticket Pickup (up to 3 days) at Guest Relations. Is this still a valid procedure? Has anyone had success recently doing this? Most of the posts I can find relating to this are several years old and before introduction of MagicBands. Thanks!!

 

[Robo]

I have a 7 night free dining package booked at GF with 8 day park hopper tickets from 10/25/15-11/1/15. I was recently able to get some days off of prior to the start of the trip. Free dining doesn't start until 10/25, so I booked a Return to the Magic offer (Room only 30% off UOC) in same room category also at GF from 10/22/15-10/25/15. I am hoping that we can stay in our same room for both reservations.

1. I asked the CM when I booked about using my package tickets early and he said no, that I would have to add tickets to my room only reservation.
2. This would be a huge amount of $$!
3. I took a chance and changed my package tickets to a 10 day park hopper, as
4. I have read in the past that people have been able to ask for Early Ticket Pickup (up to 3 days) at Guest Relations. Is this still a valid procedure?
5. Has anyone had success recently doing this? Most of the posts I can find relating to this are several years old and before introduction of MagicBands. Thanks!!

1. The Phone CMs are told that they MUST say that. (Even though it's simply not true.)
2. Yup.
3. Good deal!
4. Yes. It still can be done.
5. A-OK for up to 3 days before resort package check-in.

 

[JustCallMeMommy]

1. The Phone CMs are told that they MUST say that. (Even though it's simply not true.)
2. Yup.
3. Good deal!
4. Yes. It still can be done.
5. A-OK for up to 3 days before resort package check-in.

This thread is very timely for me; I'm glad you posted, @jandlsnorks.

Last time I did this, the CM seemed confused. I was insistent that it could be done, and she found a manager who was able to do it. Here is my question this time - ONE person on my package will be arriving a day early. Can he pick up just his tickets or does he have to pick them all up? Also, if his CM is confused, are there any "magic words" that would help the CM figure it out?

 

[Robo]

ONE person on my package will be arriving a day early.

1. Can he pick up just his tickets or does he have to pick them all up?

Also,
2. if his CM is confused, are there any "magic words" that would help the CM figure it out?

As long as nobody wants to activate tickets earlier than 3 days before check-in...
1. Since everyone will actually be using MagicBands and not plastic tickets, it doesn't matter one way or the other.

2. No magic words that I know of.

 

[JAA'smom]

I just thought of this, we also have a 7 day free dining package and a 1 day room only reservation for the day before the package starts. Would we get 2 Magic Bands? For the magic band with the tickets on it would we just use that one on the day of the room only package to get into the parks, even though we would not have officially checked in with that Magic Band yet? Thanks

 

[bumbershoot]

I just thought of this, we also have a 7 day free dining package and a 1 day room only reservation for the day before the package starts. Would we get 2 Magic Bands? For the magic band with the tickets on it would we just use that one on the day of the room only package to get into the parks, even though we would not have officially checked in with that Magic Band yet? Thanks

You will have to do the above process to "get" the tickets early. Otherwise they won't start until the FD package starts. So pick up the tickets and then they'll be available. After that...

You have the option to customize MBs for every seperate reservation number you have. So for your plans you'll see two sets in MDE to customize. You will be able to use either one of them for either part of the stay. Unless something glitches (and you cannot plan for a glitch or do things to prevent a true glitch from happening so it's not worth worrying about) both sets will work for the whole stay (and future stays, until the batteries run out).

There is no ticket ON any MB. The tickets are on the MDE account/profiles, and the bands are on the MDE, and the bands link to MDE to retrieve the info each time they are scanned. So the tickets will be accessible by both sets of bands.

I have something like 9 bands on my account now, and they all work for tickets (when I have tickets on my account) and opening my resort doors, etc.

 

[schriverl]

I was just thinking about this today! Must be great minds think alike. Thanks for all the very helpful answers!!!

 

[Mainemama]

My travel agent is also saying no to early pick up... Different scenario for us, they are conference tickets. Should this matter? I will definitely add a day on to our tickets if we can pick up even a day before package check in!

 

[Robo]

My travel agent is also saying no to early pick up... Different scenario for us, they are conference tickets. Should this matter? I will definitely add a day on to our tickets if we can pick up even a day before package check in!

Not knowing anything about your convention or your tickets, I can't give you any information.

 

[LATJLP]

How about the dining package...don't want to start it a day before or anything, but we'll be in one hotel for a conference and the next day we start our Free Dining. Since we have to check out of the conference hotel (Swan) at 11am we'd love to do Cape May breakfast on the dining plan before then without having to take a bus to the new hotel (Coronado) to check in and get our dining working. If we do the online check in will the dining simply kick in that morning even before we get our room assignment? We've already verified with Swan that they'll arrange for our bags to get to Coronado, so we wanted to do breakfast and then hit EPCOT until late afternoon (meaning we'll probably also want a CS for lunch to work) and then we'll head over to Coronado to settle into our room. Will it work, or should I plan on paying for our meals that first day and we'll just have extras at the end (sigh).

 

[AtlantaDisneyDreamer]

1. The Phone CMs are told that they MUST say that. (Even though it's simply not true.)
2. Yup.
3. Good deal!
4. Yes. It still can be done.
5. A-OK for up to 3 days before resort package check-in.

Any idea why the phone CMs are instructed to give out false information? To discourage people from doing this? If this is something Disney discourages, why do they even allow people to do it?

I worry that they will decide to stop allowing people to do this and I will be out $400 for tickets I can't use (we are AP holders with a FD package coming up in September).

 

[Robo]

How about the dining package...don't want to start it a day before or anything, but we'll be in one hotel for a conference and the next day we start our Free Dining. Since we have to check out of the conference hotel (Swan) at 11am we'd love to do Cape May breakfast on the dining plan before then without having to take a bus to the new hotel (Coronado) to check in and get our dining working. If we do the online check in will the dining simply kick in that morning even before we get our room assignment? We've already verified with Swan that they'll arrange for our bags to get to Coronado, so we wanted to do breakfast and then hit EPCOT until late afternoon (meaning we'll probably also want a CS for lunch to work) and then we'll head over to Coronado to settle into our room. Will it work, or should I plan on paying for our meals that first day and we'll just have extras at the end (sigh).

Tickets only.

 

[Robo]

1. Any idea why the phone CMs are instructed to give out false information?
2. To discourage people from doing this? If this is something Disney discourages,
3. why do they even allow people to do it?

4. I worry that they will decide to stop allowing people to do this and I will be out $400 for tickets I can't use (we are AP holders with a FD package coming up in September).

1. Yes.
2. Internal "politics."
3. Because it increases business at the WDW property (which is where the practice is allowed.)
4. While anything is possible, just know that this "dual message" is nothing new.
It has been happening for well over a decade.

 

[TinkLoverSam]

Tickets only.

However in OP's case it is their checkin day at the new resort... I don't do the dining plan but I believe if they do online checkin and state an early arrival they should be able to use the dining plan as long as they are U.S. Residents who got their magic bands mailed to them.

 

[Robo]

How about the dining package...don't want to start it a day before or anything, but we'll be in one hotel for a conference and the next day we start our Free Dining. Since we have to check out of the conference hotel (Swan) at 11am we'd love to do Cape May breakfast on the dining plan before then without having to take a bus to the new hotel (Coronado) to check in and get our dining working. If we do the online check in will the dining simply kick in that morning even before we get our room assignment? We've already verified with Swan that they'll arrange for our bags to get to Coronado, so we wanted to do breakfast and then hit EPCOT until late afternoon (meaning we'll probably also want a CS for lunch to work) and then we'll head over to Coronado to settle into our room. Will it work, or should I plan on paying for our meals that first day and we'll just have extras at the end (sigh).

The discussion about early-activation in this thread does not relate to anything but Package TICKETS.

But, as TinkLoverSam stated, on-line check-in WILL allow you to activate park tickets and the Dining Plan early on the DAY-OF your resort check-in.
When filling out your on-line check-in info, put down that you will be at WDW at, say, 7AM on check-in day.
That way your Package tickets and dining plan will activate early in the morning of your check-in date, with no trip to your resort check-in desk required.

And, it needs to be said that early pick-up (activation) of Package tickets at a park Guest Relations can only be done up to 3 days BEFORE check-in, and cannot be done on the same day AS check-in.

 

[GrumpyDad1974]

I was thinking about doing a split stay early ticket pickup, same resort to try and salvage free dinning in December and I think I understand the concept. 1 night, then 5 nights w/6 days tickets as a package. Can anyone tell me why you have to go to guest services to activate tickets early? Do you actually get a ticket? When we have a regular vacation package I never actually see a ticket, why is this even necessary with magic bands? I would think there should be an easier way.

 

[Robo]

I was thinking about doing a split stay early ticket pickup, same resort to try and salvage free dinning in December and I think I understand the concept. 1 night, then 5 nights w/6 days tickets as a package. Can anyone tell me why you have to go to guest services to activate tickets early? Do you actually get a ticket? When we have a regular vacation package I never actually see a ticket, why is this even necessary with magic bands? I would think there should be an easier way.

If (IF) you are staying at the SAME RESORT for both parts of your split stay, it is POSSIBLE that the resort concierge can activate your package tickets up to 3 days before your package check-in.

No guarantees that the concierge knows how or will be willing to do so.

The reason you have to get your resort package tickets activated, is that the tickets
do not become active for park entry until the date of your package check-in.
The activation happens for the package either by physically going to the resort check-in desk
on the day of, or by using ON-LINE check-in.
But, the on-line check-in activation will only take place on the date of your package check-in.

A park Guest Relations CM can activate your package tickets up to 3 days before your check-in date. They can issue you hard plastic tickets and/or simply activate the tickets in your MDE account which can be accessed via your MagicBands.

 

[GrumpyDad1974]

Thanks Robo, I was just thinking with MB and technology there should be a way too just make FP, go right to the gate and start your vacation early... wishful thinking.

 

[disneymayz]

I was told on the phone by a CM that since the tickets are on the MB then they are available early without doing anything. We arrive a day before our package and I wanted to use one of our Fun and More options to do Disney Quest that night. What I am reading here is that I have to go to a park guest relations to do this and I was told wrong?

 

[Robo]

Thanks Robo, I was just thinking with MB and technology there should be a way too just make FP, go right to the gate and start your vacation early... wishful thinking.

No. There IS a way to do this.

Don't buy your tickets as part of a resort package.
I know the reason why guests DO buy package tickets (as in booking "free dining" and such)
but otherwise, if you buy stand-alone tickets or APs, you can simply use them (via a MB or otherwise)
at any time independent of your resort check-in.