HELP! Trying to stay at the Dolphin 1 night before our YC stay and Disney is making it difficult...

[adventures_in_magic]

I thought I would post this here because it's about resorts, but please let me know if this is off topic!

I need some advice and/or confirmation that this is actually true. So we just canceled our trip for the 4TH time (supposed to go in 2 weeks but have now switched to the end of April). In an effort to save some money we thought we could do what we always do, on arrival day check into the Dolphin with our points since we will arrive in the afternoon and hate to pay the hefty price tag for a Disney hotel for just half a day, stay for one night, and then check into the YC for the remaining 6 nights of our stay. I booked a 5 night/7 day park hopper package hoping I could just select the start day for my tickets after linking my dolphin reservation. After 3 hours on the phone I was told that this is no longer possible and my tickets have to start on the day of my check in to a Disney Resort. Of course they offered to book me another night at the YC for a whopping $855/room (we have 2 rooms), which I declined. Is this really true? Is there no way I can have my park hoppers start on the day that I arrive at Walt Disney World since I'm arriving at a non Disney hotel? I asked them to rebook my room as a room only package but they seemed to skirt over that as well. They also told me I could just buy another one day park pass which for 5 people would add another $720 to my total price....I'm at a loss.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[starry_solo]

@Robo might have some tips.

it’s because you’ve booked it as a package…

 

[karma459]

Yep- because you booked as a package, the tickets start same day as the first hotel night....
I have a non-package, first day at Swan, and have no issue with having my passes start before I check into my "official" WDW property.

Now, you *can* have them rebook your package with Day 1 at Dolphin and then days 2+ at YC - Disney can book packages at S&D (they can't book room-only).

If you want to keep them separate, then your best bet would be to switch your current reservation to "room only" then use the full ticket credit to buy tickets as a separate transaction - I'm not aware of any current package discounts at the moment, so it should come out as a wash for cost overall, assuming the per day ticket prices are the same.

Good Luck!

 

[Mrs.AMC]

Just don't book as a package. Cancel it, book room only. Buy your own tickets, discounted if you are staying several days.

 

[lanejudy]

Book a room-only or basic package (no tickets). Buy your tickets separately. Since going to the date-based tickets, tickets purchase with a package cannot start prior to check-in, but do get extended use through check-out if purchasing a shorter ticket.

 

[Marthasor]

Book a room-only or basic package (no tickets). Buy your tickets separately. Since going to the date-based tickets, tickets purchase with a package cannot start prior to check-in, but do get extended use through check-out if purchasing a shorter ticket.

^^This.

OP, if you don't want to deal with canceling and re-booking as a room-only, call WDW back and tell them you want to modify your existing reservation to a "basic package". If the CM you speak with doesn't know how to do this, ask to speak with someone in guest services. Once the package is modified, you will need to purchase your tickets separately, but you will have to pay in full and they are non-refundable.