Free Dining MYW tickets towards AP renewal?

[Carolina26]

Hi All, We are current APs and booked a package with free dining (FD) that begins December 21 (the last day we could arrive for FD). This will be our 4th year going during the Christmas-NYE holiday, so yes, we know what we're getting ourselves into. LOL.

Anyway, FD never works for us when there is an AP room discount in play, but as you know, those don't exist during the peak holiday season. Our stay will be 12/21-1/2. I booked us at POP but upgraded to the regular DDP so we could do character meals. So out of the gate we're paying for that upgrade and of course, tips at meals, so the only way this makes sense (financially) is by applying the amount we are spending on the 2-day park hoppers we were required to buy (but obviously don't "need" b/c we have APs) to get the FD promotion.

When I called Disney, I got varying answers on if/how we could "bank" the value of these tickets for later use on our AP renewals. We've also been to WDW since booking this package, and went to guest services at both MK and Epcot to ask how this would work, and while I was told in both locations it would work, there wasn't much confidence on HOW it would work.

Namely, (1) how do we make sure these tickets aren't "used" by our magic bands? (2) what is the value of the tickets? *Since we can't see itemized costs for the package - would the value just be gate prices for 2-day park hoppers from the day the package was booked?

Have others actually done this (not just heard of it) since the magic bands have been around?? Specifically, are you an AP who booked a FD package and then "banked" the value of the MYW tickets and successfully used that value towards AP renewal?

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience on this!!

 

[DebbieB]

Hi All, We are current APs and booked a package with free dining (FD) that begins December 21 (the last day we could arrive for FD). This will be our 4th year going during the Christmas-NYE holiday, so yes, we know what we're getting ourselves into. LOL.

Anyway, FD never works for us when there is an AP room discount in play, but as you know, those don't exist during the peak holiday season. Our stay will be 12/21-1/2. I booked us at POP but upgraded to the regular DDP so we could do character meals. So out of the gate we're paying for that upgrade and of course, tips at meals, so the only way this makes sense (financially) is by applying the amount we are spending on the 2-day park hoppers we were required to buy (but obviously don't "need" b/c we have APs) to get the FD promotion.

When I called Disney, I got varying answers on if/how we could "bank" the value of these tickets for later use on our AP renewals. We've also been to WDW since booking this package, and went to guest services at both MK and Epcot to ask how this would work, and while I was told in both locations it would work, there wasn't much confidence on HOW it would work.

Namely, (1) how do we make sure these tickets aren't "used" by our magic bands? (2) what is the value of the tickets? *Since we can't see itemized costs for the package - would the value just be gate prices for 2-day park hoppers from the day the package was booked?

Have others actually done this (not just heard of it) since the magic bands have been around?? Specifically, are you an AP who booked a FD package and then "banked" the value of the MYW tickets and successfully used that value towards AP renewal?

Thanks in advance for sharing your experience on this!!

You would have to be at WDW between 60 days before the renewal date and 30 days after so that you could renew in person and apply the credit. The credit would be the current price of the ticket.

Or you could hold them and buy a new annual pass after the expiration date.

 

[Robo]

Just to be clear, the introduction of MagicBands has not changed anything in regard to how tickets can be saved, updated, "banked," or used to help pay for APs, new or renewals.

 

[Carolina26]

Just to be clear, the introduction of MagicBands has not changed anything in regard to how tickets can be saved, updated, "banked," or used to help pay for APs, new or renewals.

Ok thanks - I've read some threads discussing "pulling tickets off your account" and others say you can have guest services "prioritize" your APs - but this seems like a nightmare waiting to happen with a technical glitch...I mean, would you have to do that every time you entered the park? I'm not aware that magic bands "display" what type of ticket (or AP) is being used to enter the park, so I would be constantly worried we'd be using up these tickets before we intended to.

 

[Robo]

1. I've read some threads discussing "pulling tickets off your account"
2. and others say you can have guest services "prioritize" your APs -
3. but this seems like a nightmare waiting to happen with a technical glitch...
4. I mean, would you have to do that every time you entered the park?
5. I'm not aware that magic bands "display" what type of ticket (or AP) is being used to enter the park,
6. so I would be constantly worried we'd be using up these tickets before we intended to.[/QUOTE]

1. Can be done. Not necessary, and can actually not "solve" anything.
2. Yes. This.
3. It has the potential for tech problems, yes.
4. No.
5. The display on the touch-point can display the kind of ticket, but
there is often not a CM nearby to read it.
6. Again, it has the potential for tech problems.

But, again, the use of MagicBands has not changed anything in regard to ticket upgrades, etc.
BTW, if you DON'T have or use a MB, all of these same issues can be in place if you only use
a flat plastic ticket.

 

[Robo]

If you want to REALLY "save" and "hold for safekeeping" any never-used tickets, in your MyDisneyExperience account,
create a new and non-existent "person" (I call her "Betty Boop") in your Friends and Family listing,
and put any (never-used) tickets in "her account."

That way "Betty" will never be in the park, so she won't accidentally use "her" ticket at the gates.

Later, when you are actually READY to use (or upgrade, etc) "Betty Boop's" tickets,
you can transfer them back to any REAL guests in your MDE account.

 

[WelshDH@98CPAlum]

If you want to REALLY "save" and "hold for safekeeping" any never-used tickets, in your MyDisneyExperience account,
create a new and non-existent "person" (I call her "Betty Boop") in your Friends and Family listing,
and put any (never-used) tickets in "her account."

That way "Betty" will never be in the park, so she won't accidentally use "her" ticket at the gates.

Later, when you are actually READY to use (or upgrade, etc) "Betty Boop's" tickets,
you can transfer them back to any REAL guests in your MDE account.

Robo - can you do this with tickets acquired via a package? Do they show up at Check in or before - (basically just hoping I could do this before going to a park day during the free dining package stay since I have an AP). And, then, since they are unused tickets - they could be passed along to anyone in my MDE?

Thanks!

 

[Robo]

Robo -
1. can you do this with tickets acquired via a package?
2. Do they show up at Check in or before -
3. (basically just hoping I could do this before going to a park day during the free dining package stay since I have an AP).
4. And, then, since they are unused tickets - they could be passed along to anyone in my MDE?

Thanks!

1. Yes.
2. They become available/active on date of check-in.
3. Yes.
3. Yes.