How to get tickets *before* free dining package starts

[grgich]

I'm wondering if anyone had this situation in the last two years that free dining was offered......

We will be checking into Pop on 8/24 with room-only reservations. On 8/26, we will be re-checking into Pop for our free dining package which includes our tickets.

Has anyone been successful in getting their tickets prior to the start of their MYW package? If you were successful, how did you do it?

Any first-hand experience you would be willing to share would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[safetymom]

Some have reported success with this but most have not been able to do this. Some CM's seem to be able to do this but I wouldn't plan on it.

 

[CanadianGuy]

there was post on this kinda thing earlier..

Basically a bunch of wonky stuff happens when you separate your tickets from your room keys ahead of your reservation.

The big summary is:

- If you do this, the tickets portion of your package gets voided from your hotel room keys and this causes something in the computer to mean that your room keys can't be replaced. So if you lose your key ... whoever finds it could (in theory at least) access your room or make charges against the room.

For the most part, this is an ill advised thing that *can* be done.. but most CM's refuse to do it because it could end up being far more trouble than it's worth.

Knox

 

[Cindy B]

there was post on this kinda thing earlier..

Basically a bunch of wonky stuff happens when you separate your tickets from your room keys ahead of your reservation.

The big summary is:

- If you do this, the tickets portion of your package gets voided from your hotel room keys and this causes something in the computer to mean that your room keys can't be replaced. So if you lose your key ... whoever finds it could (in theory at least) access your room or make charges against the room.

For the most part, this is an ill advised thing that *can* be done.. but most CM's refuse to do it because it could end up being far more trouble than it's worth.

Knox

So, if you have only a one day ticket on your room keys and you don't put charging priviledges on your cards.. can it be done?

We are doing something similiar to the OP. We will be at Riverside with room only and then starting free dining at Riverside.

 

[CanadianGuy]

Same deal applies..

If you lose your room key (with the dining package on it) it cannot be replaced and someone else could use your dining credits.

I really don't recommend this. But if you choose to do it, you must realize that your room keys cannot be re-issued for any reason.

Knox

 

[BroadwayGirl]

People should also keep in mind if the tickets are part of a WDTC package reservation then Disney POLICY states they cannot be issued until you check-in/preregister for your package ON THE DAY the package begins.

As some have mentioned, there may be ways for CMs to work around this but generally this is ONLY done if there was an error on Disney's part, not just because the special offer didn't fall in line with a guest's preferred travel dates. There are many wonderful activities to do at WDW without visiting the theme parks, maybe your first days can be spent enjoying some of those. Here are just a few suggestions:

Richard Petty Driving Experience
Bass Fishing Excursion
Miniature Golf
Shopping at DtD
Campfire Sing-A-Long and Movie at Fort Wilderness
Water Sports and Parasailing at Sammy Duvall's at the Contemporary
Cirque du Soleil La Nouba
Horseback Trail Rides at Fort Wilderness
Catching a movie at the AMC at DtD
Enjoying the amenities at your resort

 

[square pond]

I'm wondering if anyone had this situation in the last two years that free dining was offered......

We will be checking into Pop on 8/24 with room-only reservations. On 8/26, we will be re-checking into Pop for our free dining package which includes our tickets.

Has anyone been successful in getting their tickets prior to the start of their MYW package? If you were successful, how did you do it?

Any first-hand experience you would be willing to share would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

I have posted on this before and I know people on the boards will caution you that this might not work or will cause problems but we did it this past August with not one bit of trouble. We were not even staying on disney property until the following week. We were at Orange Lake the first week with a 7 day package with 10 day tix and free dining at the WL the next week. We wanted our tix early so we could go to the parks while staying at orange lake. We went to the guest relations at epcot (but any customer relations should do) and they pulled the tix off our package no problem...it took 10 min! When we checked in at the lodge they noted we already had our tix and never said a word about our room keys being nonreplaceable??(is that a word ) anyway we had been told by AAA, DU and in an actual email from Disney that this could not be done. But then I read something on Deb's site in the section on tix that described just your situation of an continuing stay and that it was not widely known but tix could be seperated and you just needed to get someone who could do it...(guest services) I always go by the old advise...Never take a no from someone who can't give you a yes in the first place!! Good Luck

I found the info...This is what I read that made me inquire about getting my tickets early.........Question....(I booked a package with Disney that includes multiday MYW tickets but I will be there several days before my check in date, staying offsite. Is there anyway I can use those tickets before I arrive at the Disney resort?)..........

Answer (Yes there is. In the past, package tickets were tied solely to your check in date and could only be encoded onto your resort ID. Not so now. Your MYW tickets can be obtained up to 5 days prior to your check in date at Guest Relations or up to 3 days prior at your resort's Lobby Concierge. You must have continuing reservations (example: a seven day trip with a three day reservation not on the package followed immediately by a four day reservation on the package AT THE SAME RESORT ONLY) to do this. You will only be able to receive paper tickets when doing this and they cannot be transferred to your resort ID at any time.

But a word of warning on this: the procedure to do this is not widely known by all CMs and does entail a little extra effort on their part. It's very time consuming and complicated to do. Don't be surprised if you are told no. Ask the CM to check with their supervisor if they say they cannot do it. Currently, this is a case of some CMs can and will do it while others can't/won't.

P.S. It was not time consuming at all and we did not have continuing ressies we were at orange lake and we still got them.

 

[jobie61]

I'm wondering if anyone had this situation in the last two years that free dining was offered......

We will be checking into Pop on 8/24 with room-only reservations. On 8/26, we will be re-checking into Pop for our free dining package which includes our tickets.

Has anyone been successful in getting their tickets prior to the start of their MYW package? If you were successful, how did you do it?

Any first-hand experience you would be willing to share would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

I'm in the exact same boat. Same check in date and all. I'll just be doing Universal on the 25th instead and be picking up my disney park tickets on the morning of the 26th.

 

[DISNEYNY]

I also arrive on 8/24 room only and Free dining package starting on 8/26. I was told there was no way to get the tickets early. Sounds like some people have done it, but I am not going to hassle with it. We arrive in the evening on 8/24 and are planning a relaxation and pool day on 8/25. We need to rest up for the marathon at the parks during the following eight days. Have fun!!