Is this really true?

[cnorth]

My family is staying at AKL next week $ nights, that's all the time we have because the first night we get to orlando we will stay with friends. I originally got a 4 day waterparks,park hopper, then thought to add a day. (?Only $8 difference, so I thought if we made it over there the first night, great, if not, not a big deal . Then I thought to call to see how we might actually get the tickets for that day, since the rest will be attached to our hotel card. Should have thought of that first, but I'll just say I had too much other Disney planning to think about...
Anyway, they told me that I wouldn't be able to use my tickets til AFTER we checked in to AKL, regardless. That there was no way to go the day before. I know that you can get tickets without hotel res, so is this possible? Have I just completely wasted $8? I realize it's not much, but I'm kind of kicking myself at this point....

 

[stopher1]

The park admissions are not actual "tickets" but rather "swipes" on your Key To The World card, which is also your room key. If you were to have the Dining Plan for your trip too, then the KTTW card would also be your meal "vouchers" - again via swipes of the card. That's why they told you you won't get the tix until after you check-in.

 

[Mme. Leota]

I think the reason is that you bought a "vacation package" rather than buying your room and tickets separately. Once they are purchased together, I don't know that they can be separated. You might try talking to a manager to explain the misunderstanding, but I don't really know if it would do any good. When you buy a package, your room key is your ticket as previously posted, but if you buy extra days that don't expire, you could go back and still have that original "room key" be your ticket, and have a new room key for your new room. Or you could have purchased your room and tickets separately, etc. . .so the two are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Yeah, since you are so close to your trip, they won't refund you without penalty fees.

If giving up day bothers you, you could consider upgrading your tickets to ten day no expire tickets. Depending on how you tour, they can be a great value. Disney is sure to revise their ticketing in the future, and the price of tickets is not likely to go down in the future, so this might be a great option.

Plus, "But honey, we already have park tickets already!" is a great excuse for a return trip!

 

[cnorth]

Thanks everyone. I know it's not a lot, and we most probably wouldn't have made it there that day anyway. I'm just wishing I would have thought of all of this ahead of time.