How does Disney assign a mix of tickets to park reservations?

[mdurette]

I have a mixed bag of tickets assigned to me in my MDE - these were all military offerings.
1 Salatue to Military hoppers that expires on 12/16
1 1 day MYW Seasonal base that expires on 12/16
1 2 day MYW base that I'm not sure when it expires, I think the end of the year.

On 11/15: I want to use the Salute ticket so I can hop.
On 11/16: I want to use the Seasonal Base
On 12/27 and 12/28 I want to use the MYM base 2 day.

How do I associate a certain ticket with the park reservation so it ensures the above?

 

[Atlantix2000]

I'm not certain but I think I've read that by default the system uses the tickets in the order they expire. With 2 expiring on the same day, I'm not sure what would happen. I would call/chat and ask if there's a way to prioritize which ones get used first. Then, even if they say you're setup, be prepared to stop by guest relations and check which ticket was actually used on the first day before you try to hop.

 

[lanejudy]

The theme park reservation is not actually tied to any specific ticket. You should stop at a ticket window or Guest Relations to have your tickets prioritized. Do not depend on the system automatically grabbing the “right” ticket unless there is zero overlap in validity.

 

[DonnaPeach]

Don't stop at a ticket window or Guest Relations, that will take a lot of time. Just get in line to get into your first park, BUT DO NOT use your ticket once you get to the front. Ask the person to call a supervisor over first. Somebody will walk over, you tell them which you want to use that day, and they will change it on the spot.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

The theme park reservation is not actually tied to any specific ticket. You should stop at a ticket window or Guest Relations to have your tickets prioritized. Do not depend on the system automatically grabbing the “right” ticket unless there is zero overlap in validity.

This. Never assume.
We have AP and at one point had a ticket also.
One would assume the system would always use the AP, right?
Nope. It grabbed and used a ticket entitlement on one entry for DH.
When I was getting it straight I mentioned to the CM at GS that I wrongly assumed that it would always use the AP and he actually told me that nope, there would be times when someone would want to use a ticket over their valid AP. I looked at him like he had 3 heads but didn't say anything. I mean, sure, maybe if you had a black out AP, that would make perfect sense, seeing how the AP wouldn't have even worked on the day you tried to enter but if the AP was valid? Why on earth would anyone want to use a ticket over a valid AP?
So yeah, moral of the story, never assume.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

One option you have, if you don't want to mess with anyone or anything when entering
Make 2 versions of yourself in MDE and reassign tickets you don't want to use
Original version of you keeps the ticket you want to use that day.
Back up version of you, name it whatever alter ego name you fancy, holds the other 2 tickets for safe keeping.
Each day, move the ticket you want to use back to the original version of yourself.

Note - this will only work as long as all ticket media is totally unused. Partially used in any way tickets can't be reassigned. But it sounds like what you have is unused.

 

[mdurette]

Thanks All - I'm glad I thought ahead enough to avoid a messy/timely fix this after the fact!

I haven't assigned any of the tickets yet, I actually still haven't even input them, so I could great the dummy profiles, but that will probably make my head spin more having to associate MBs and the such. So, will do the GS option if line not long, if deal with it at entry/supervisor (oh the people behind me will love that).

 

[mrsswat]

In a recent situation this past September I stopped at the resort guest services day before I went to the parks. Worked for me.

 

[mdurette]

In a recent situation this past September I stopped at the resort guest services day before I went to the parks. Worked for me.

That is what I was thinking, I will be in the area before park days. I could go to springs - but I'm really not a fan of that place. Any other GS places?

 

[CKCruising]

That is what I was thinking, I will be in the area before park days. I could go to springs - but I'm really not a fan of that place. Any other GS places?

Any of the GS for the parks are actually outside the parks. We usually choose Epcot WS as that is generally quiet during the middle of the day.

 

[Nabas]

FYI, this is called getting your tickets "stacked". Your ticket stacking determines the order in which they are used, assuming 2 or more tickets are valid on the same day.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

Thanks All - I'm glad I thought ahead enough to avoid a messy/timely fix this after the fact!

I haven't assigned any of the tickets yet, I actually still haven't even input them, so I could great the dummy profiles, but that will probably make my head spin more having to associate MBs and the such. So, will do the GS option if line not long, if deal with it at entry/supervisor (oh the people behind me will love that).

I assure you this is not complicated and seeing how it will not involve you waiting on anyone or holding anyone up, not inconvenient either. Nor does it take more than 2, 3 seconds
It can be done right on the MDE account or online on the website, either one.
When you create alternate versions of yourself you don't have additional MB. It's just a 2nd virtual alternate account. You only ever access the parks using the "real" version of you with your MB.
For ease of discussion in writing we'll call you Pat Smith. Create a new family member called Smith Pat (just switch your names around). You are never going to order a MB for Smith Pat, never going to assign Smith Pat to a hotel room, etc. Smith Pat is only going to be a place to put tickets for safekeeping and out of the reach of the scanners accessing them accidently.
On or before 11/15, as long as it's before you head out that day, reassign the Seasonal Base and the MYM base 2 day tickets to Smith Pat.
Enter the park with your (Pat Smith's) MB. The only ticket on your (Pat Smith's) account is the Salute ticket so that's the ticket that will be used. No going to a ticket or GS beforehand, no waiting on GS to come to the turnstile, just walk right in. Enjoy your day, hopping, etc.
After you've finished the day on 11/15 and before you head out for the day on 11/16, reassign the Seasonal Base to Pat Smith's account. Leave the MYM base 2 day on Smith Pat
At anytime after 11/16 you can reassign the MYM base 2 day back to Pat Smith so when you return on 12/27 it's ready to be used

 

[lanejudy]

At anytime after 11/16 you can reassign the MYM base 2 day back to Pat Smith so when you return on 12/27 it's ready to be used

The challenge with this is the theme park reservations which do not transfer with the tickets. Separate profiles for separate tickets works fine if someone has a decent amount of time between trips and/or it isn't a time of year when theme park reservations become scarce. I'd be a little nervous waiting until after 11/16 to book park reservations for 11/27; though I tend to lean more cautious and it could be fine.

And that doesn't even address the fact that shifting tickets between profiles won't work for the November trip when OP plans to use 2 different tickets. I really recommend OP go to Guest Relations to have tickets prioritized for the November trip. While tickets can be prioritized at the tapstiles, if it's a busy time (like rope drop) one could end up waiting and causing a delay in the line behind them.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

The challenge with this is the theme park reservations which do not transfer with the tickets. Separate profiles for separate tickets works fine if someone has a decent amount of time between trips and/or it isn't a time of year when theme park reservations become scarce. I'd be a little nervous waiting until after 11/16 to book park reservations for 11/27; though I tend to lean more cautious and it could be fine.

And that doesn't even address the fact that shifting tickets between profiles won't work for the November trip when OP plans to use 2 different tickets. I really recommend OP go to Guest Relations to have tickets prioritized for the November trip. While tickets can be prioritized at the tapstiles, if it's a busy time (like rope drop) one could end up waiting and causing a delay in the line behind them.

Oh, I just assumed they'd booked all their reservations prior to moving the tickets around. No, you shouldn't wait to do that.
And of course it will work in November when they plan to use 2 different tickets.

 

[lanejudy]

I just assumed they'd booked all their reservations prior to moving the tickets around.

While theme park reservations are not directly tied to a specific ticket, one does need to have valid ticket media to make and hold a theme park reservation. However, theme park reservations are not transferrable. So if park reservations are made, then tickets are transferred to another profile/person, that results in A) tickets on a profile without a theme park reservation, and B) theme park reservations on another profile without valid ticket media. WDW does remove "orphaned" theme park reservations at some point (I'm not sure if it's daily, weekly, or how frequently) so those park reservations would be lost.

 

[Mrs.AMC]

While theme park reservations are not directly tied to a specific ticket, one does need to have valid ticket media to make and hold a theme park reservation. However, theme park reservations are not transferrable. So if park reservations are made, then tickets are transferred to another profile/person, that results in A) tickets on a profile without a theme park reservation, and B) theme park reservations on another profile without valid ticket media. WDW does remove "orphaned" theme park reservations at some point (I'm not sure if it's daily, weekly, or how frequently) so those park reservations would be lost.

You do understand what I’m saying is about 24 and less that 48 hours in relation to moving the tickets?
I’ve done it with reservations

 

[Princess Disney Mom]

I actually had two tickets used when I went to MK. Lucky I keep track of my ticket days on MDE. It took hours to get it resolved. The way to avoid this issue is call ahead of time or go to guest services and have them prioritize a ticket. This way it will only pull from that ticket.