GCH - two reservations, multi-day ticket problem

[milieu_mouse]

Hi everyone, I hope that you may have some advice regarding our upcoming visit.

We originally planned on a split stay, with an off-site hotel Dec 14-16 and GCH club level for a splurge on 16-19.
My family really doesn't love the idea of a split stay, so I moved the entire stay to GCH.
No club rooms were available, so I booked a room-only 2 night stay in Woods-Courtyard.

This makes 2 separate reservations, which I didn't think of as a big deal. Internal move, no prob.
However, we ended up moving our flights to earlier in the day on the 14th and would like to have 5-day hoppers vs 4.
Should be a fairly cheap add, yes?

Well, Disney won't let us have longer than a 4 day hopper with a 3 night reservation despite the concurrent reservations. Won't budge.
Uh. I'm really trying not to feel irritated about this.

What would you do?

 

[chezcurrie]

Can you simply buy the tickets separately from your room reservation (good hotel move, btw). There really isn’t an incentive or discount to book as a package, unless something has dramatically changed in the last 2 weeks.

 

[sophy1996]

Is this a package reservation? Can you book the rooms you want room-only and buy your tickets separately?

Honestly, I would buy a ticket for Knotts Berry Farm for the extra day. If Disney doesn’t want your money, I’m sure Knotts would be happy to take it. (We’ll be going to Knotts one day during our next trip since I refuse to pay extra for a day my pass is blocked out.)

 

[chezcurrie]

I hate to be a naysayer, but if they are staying at the GCH I would not suggest adding Knotts. If you are there for Disney you are there for Disney.

 

[sophy1996]

I hate to be a naysayer, but if they are staying at the GCH I would not suggest adding Knotts. If you are there for Disney you are there for Disney.

I know Knotts isn't Disney but it can be a nice diversion for a partial day. I'm just kind of over Disney making everything more difficult.

 

[BuzzlightHead]

You said Disney isn't budging - is that from calling? I would hope you could work that out on the phone.

If not, as someone else mentioned, if it's a package and they really can't find a way to give you a 5th day, ask them to just keep the hotel rooms and buy the tickets separately.

 

[milieu_mouse]

Can you simply buy the tickets separately from your room reservation (good hotel move, btw). There really isn’t an incentive or discount to book as a package, unless something has dramatically changed in the last 2 weeks.

You said Disney isn't budging - is that from calling? I would hope you could work that out on the phone.

If not, as someone else mentioned, if it's a package and they really can't find a way to give you a 5th day, ask them to just keep the hotel rooms and buy the tickets separately.

Hmm, great idea. We have only ever purchased packages through Disney.
I did call twice to try and explain the 2 reservations and requested that they allow us to add the 5th day. No luck.
I'll call back and see if we can change the package to hotel-only.

For 3rd party 5-day passes, I've read that the frog website (blanking on the name) or GAT have the best deals and customer service. Does that ring true for you?

I know Knotts isn't Disney but it can be a nice diversion for a partial day. I'm just kind of over Disney making everything more difficult.

I hear you. I love Disney and also, geesh!

 

[chezcurrie]

Yeah you can get a 5-day ticket easily online so something must be amiss. Truly don’t think there is any advantage booing a package these days. Let us know if you get it sorted!

 

[BuzzlightHead]

Hmm, great idea. We have only ever purchased packages through Disney.
I did call twice to try and explain the 2 reservations and requested that they allow us to add the 5th day. No luck.
I'll call back and see if we can change the package to hotel-only.

For 3rd party 5-day passes, I've read that the frog website (blanking on the name) or GAT have the best deals and customer service. Does that ring true for you?


I hear you. I love Disney and also, geesh!

That's pretty crazy that their system isn't flexible enough to accommodate this kind of scenario - you'd think it happens frequently enough with folks that have a similar thought process to you, (few nights in club level, and the rest in a normal room).

 

[twodogs]

Hmm, great idea. We have only ever purchased packages through Disney.
I did call twice to try and explain the 2 reservations and requested that they allow us to add the 5th day. No luck.
I'll call back and see if we can change the package to hotel-only.

For 3rd party 5-day passes, I've read that the frog website (blanking on the name) or GAT have the best deals and customer service. Does that ring true for you?


I hear you. I love Disney and also, geesh!

I think you are thinking of Undercover Tourist, which I think is ok to mention on here. We have bought our last several rounds of tickets from them with no issues. They email the codes immediately after payment is received, and you can scan the bar codes right into the app and make your park reservations. Before your cancel your package and turn it into room-only (which I agree is the best path forward if they won’t let you add on to your current tickets), make sure park reservations are still available, as you will lose your park reservations when you do this.

 

[maleficent55]

Is this a package reservation? Can you book the rooms you want room-only and buy your tickets separately?

Honestly, I would buy a ticket for Knotts Berry Farm for the extra day. If Disney doesn’t want your money, I’m sure Knotts would be happy to take it. (We’ll be going to Knotts one day during our next trip since I refuse to pay extra for a day my pass is blocked out.)

We are doing just this! Not based on ticket qualms, but by choice.
We are doing 4 nights at the GCH
and all Disney days except for one day at Knotts Berry Farm!

 

[Cedric Rose]

I agree with the Knott’s option. We had a 4 night stay at the GCH and did 2 days at Disney and did Knott’s on the 3rd with another Disney day after, it was great to mix it up a bit.

 

[milieu_mouse]

We are doing just this! Not based on ticket qualms, but by choice.
We are doing 4 nights at the GCH
and all Disney days except for one day at Knotts Berry Farm!

I agree with the Knott’s option. We had a 4 night stay at the GCH and did 2 days at Disney and did Knott’s on the 3rd with another Disney day after, it was great to mix it up a bit.

Thanks to you! I'm going to look into this. Our 6 year old is currently Snoopy-obsessed, so it could be an amazing time! I'm thinking we may want to look at what may be the busiest of our days and take a Disney breather then.

 

[irlandaise]

Thanks to you! I'm going to look into this. Our 6 year old is currently Snoopy-obsessed, so it could be an amazing time! I'm thinking we may want to look at what may be the busiest of our days and take a Disney breather then.

Oh well then, given your son's likings, you really should do that! I was at Knott's once several years ago and saw Snoopy. Also there's the classic Old West train ride, some other fun rides and shows, and of course Mrs. Knott's Chicken Dinner Restaurant (which is outside the park but handy if you're visiting the park).

https://www.knotts.com/entertainment/snoopy-meet-greet

 

[sophy1996]

Thanks to you! I'm going to look into this. Our 6 year old is currently Snoopy-obsessed, so it could be an amazing time! I'm thinking we may want to look at what may be the busiest of our days and take a Disney breather then.

According to the website, during the Christmas season there’s an ice show with Snoopy and the Peanuts gang. And there’s a whole Peanuts store outside the entrance.

 

[CastAStone]

Hmm, great idea. We have only ever purchased packages through Disney.
I did call twice to try and explain the 2 reservations and requested that they allow us to add the 5th day. No luck.
I'll call back and see if we can change the package to hotel-only.

For 3rd party 5-day passes, I've read that the frog website (blanking on the name) or GAT have the best deals and customer service. Does that ring true for you?


I hear you. I love Disney and also, geesh!

Undercover Tourist is a good option. Ares travel is usually cheaper depending on the exact ticket (make sure you add a two dollar per ticket fee to aRes pricing when comparing).

GetAwayToday is always more expensive.

 

[AstroBlasters]

Completely agree with getting a ticket independently from the hotel room reservation. Quick plug to check the prices at www.getawaytoday.com as well.