Free dining package and holding tickets?

[B.Mary]

I know this was discussed the first time the free dining package was announced, but can't seem to find a definitive answer:

If I book a package with the free dining, and for the package I buy 8-day tickets WITHOUT the no-expiring option, if we never use the tickets, will they be good on a trip next year?

Thanks for your help.

 

[OhMari]

I buy 8-day tickets WITHOUT the no-expiring option, if we never use the tickets, will they be good on a trip next year?

Thanks for your help.

You have 2 negative words. If you buy tickets that will not expire, than you can have tickets for future use. if you buy tickets that will expire, then they will expire the day you leave. So lets say you have 5 day tickets. You only go to the park 4 days, yup you loose out on that 5th day. You can always take that one day left over ticket to CS and turn it into a non-expired day, but you have to do it before you leave, otherwise you loose out.

 

[TeresaMc]

I think that if you NEVER use the tickets they will not expire until 14 days from their first day of use...even if that day is a year or two after you recieve them.

 

[Karel]

I have heard that as long as you don't activate the tickets, as in go to a park, they will still be good next year.

On the other hand, I would call Disney since this is an important question.

 

[abouna]

I specifically asked a couple of Disney reps about this and they said as long as you do not use the "keys" for anything (e.g. meals, room or admissions) then you can use them later. Once you activate them for anything, including things other than park admission, then they are acitvated and will expire two weeks after first use. We are buying one for our 2 year old and will use it in February when he turns 3 for our trip next year. We will just put it away when we go now.

 

[Joan1]

I specifically asked a couple of Disney reps about this and they said as long as you do not use the "keys" for anything (e.g. meals, room or admissions) then you can use them later. Once you activate them for anything, including things other than park admission, then they are acitvated and will expire two weeks after first use. We are buying one for our 2 year old and will use it in February when he turns 3 for our trip next year. We will just put it away when we go now.

Since both the meals and the tickets are on your room key it seems that the answer is that you cannot save the tickets unless you purchase the no expiration options

 

[lonegungirl]

I just called the reservation line and the CM I spoke with said that the tickets will not begin expiring until they are activated, and they will only be activated if used to enter the park. I asked her specifically as well about the dining and the room usage, and she said that that would not activate it.

Soo...I don't know. I suppose everyone will have to verify for themselves. I had originally booked non-expiring passes, and then switched to non-expiring passes (I have an AP) after I read on here that they wouldn't expire until used. Since the non-expiration option was something like $100/person additional, I think I'll keep my non-expiring tickets, and then check it out when I get there. If they do turn out to be activated I can just add the non-expiring option then, at the same price it would cost now.

Another possible option would be something I read (maybe Mouseavers?) that said that non-used tickets that expire can still be traded in for their purchase value towards other tickets. I didn't verify that, so you may want to take it with a grain of salt...

 

[aubriee]

I specifically asked a couple of Disney reps about this and they said as long as you do not use the "keys" for anything (e.g. meals, room or admissions) then you can use them later. Once you activate them for anything, including things other than park admission, then they are acitvated and will expire two weeks after first use. We are buying one for our 2 year old and will use it in February when he turns 3 for our trip next year. We will just put it away when we go now.

I have an AP, but bought 7 day MYW tickets with the plus options. I was told that as long as I didn't put them into a turnstile they would not be activated and I could use them next year after my AP expires with no problem. I specifically asked about using them for the free dining, as that is the only reason I paid rack rate for the room and the CM said no problem, that the ticket would not be activated unless I used it for a park admission (either one of the main parks or a water park). She said it was the putting them through the turnstile that activated them. She even recommended that once I got down there, to upgrade the ticket to a 10 day ticket as it would only cost me $11.00 more and that way I would have the three extra days in case the ticket prices increased next year before I get back. From what I've read quite a few AP holders are doing the same thing, in order to get the free dining. We were specifically told that we did not need the nonexpiring option to use the free dining as long as we didn't put the ticket through a turnstile.