Linking VERY old tickets (~1989) to My Disney Experience?

[mstravelista]

We're planning an October trip to Disney World (5 adults and 2 children). One of the adults in our party has unexpired tickets from a trip to Disney in 1989.

We called Disney to link the ticket to the My Disney Experience account, but they said that any ticket issued prior to 1996 can't be added online or by phone, and must be added in person at Guest Relations.

This strikes me as a bit problematic if we want to sign up for FP reservations. (We'll be staying at a Disney resort).

Has anyone had success in adding these tickets? I read the "Everything about WDW tickets" thread, but I'm a little confused about the significance of these being pre-"Magic your Way" tickets. so I'm not sure what that means for using the tickets, converting the tickets, linking them to MDE, etc.

Any help or insight is greatly appreciated!

 

[Alesia]

The ticket can't be added to MDE online or over the phone. Fastpasses can not be booked unless there is a ticket linked.

If your friend wants to book FP in advance, he'll have to buy a new ticket.

 

[mstravelista]

The ticket can't be added to MDE online or over the phone. Fastpasses can not be booked unless there is a ticket linked.

If your friend wants to book FP in advance, he'll have to buy a new ticket.

Bummer! I have family in the Orlando area, if we mailed them the tickets, would they be able to take them to Guest Relations prior to our visit and convert them? Or does it have to be the same time as our trip?

 

[CMNJ]

So I had a similar situation last year. I have a complimentary one day park hopper ticket from the early 90's that I have never used. I tried to exchange it for a at guest services last year because I would be unable to make advance FP with it. I was told I could not exchange it as it had "no value" but it was still valid for admission and to contact Disney IT department when I wanted to use it. They would manually enter my fast passes on their end. I haven't actually tried that yet but you could try calling them and see what they say.

 

[epcotty]

'89 was actually the first year I went as a kid. I wonder how older tickets could be redeemed for admission if they can't be exchanged, since they couldn't work with the scanners.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

I have a complimentary one day park hopper ticket from the early 90's that I have never used. I tried to exchange it for a at guest services last year because I would be unable to make advance FP with it. I was told I could not exchange it as it had "no value" but it was still valid for admission.

This strikes me as quite odd, because we have a level in our ticketing system specifically for exchanging old paper comp tickets.

 

[Alesia]

So I had a similar situation last year. I have a complimentary one day park hopper ticket from the early 90's that I have never used. I tried to exchange it for a at guest services last year because I would be unable to make advance FP with it. I was told I could not exchange it as it had "no value" but it was still valid for admission and to contact Disney IT department when I wanted to use it. They would manually enter my fast passes on their end. I haven't actually tried that yet but you could try calling them and see what they say.

It sounds like you got someone who didn't know what they were talking about. It can definitely be exchanged.

 

[CMNJ]

Really? So do you think if I went to a guest services ticket window and tried again on my upcoming vacation I would be able to exchange it? I only tried once at MK guest services inside the park. I was upgrading to a DVC AP from a park hopper which they took care of but they said they could not exchange the complimentary paper ticket for a plastic rfid ticket. She specifically said it was because it was a complimentary ticket so I didn't try again. That's great-glad I posted my experience so that I could find out I was given incorrect info lol.

 

[CMNJ]

This strikes me as quite odd, because we have a level in our ticketing system specifically for exchanging old paper comp tickets.

Should I go to a ticketing window or guest services?

 

[Alesia]

Really? So do you think if I went to a guest services ticket window and tried again on my upcoming vacation I would be able to exchange it? I only tried once at MK guest services inside the park. I was upgrading to a DVC AP from a park hopper which they took care of but they said they could not exchange the complimentary paper ticket for a plastic rfid ticket. She specifically said it was because it was a complimentary ticket so I didn't try again. That's great-glad I posted my experience so that I could find out I was given incorrect info lol.

How would a person without a magic band get into a park if they didn't exchange the ticket?

FWIW, you will not be able to enter AK with that ticket.

 

[Ensusieasm]

Bummer! I have family in the Orlando area, if we mailed them the tickets, would they be able to take them to Guest Relations prior to our visit and convert them? Or does it have to be the same time as our trip?

That might work. There's a guest relations at Disney Springs.

 

[CMNJ]

How would a person without a magic band get into a park if they didn't exchange the ticket?

FWIW, you will not be able to enter AK with that ticket.

Maybe you misunderstood my original post. I was told I would be able to exchange it for admission on the day I chose to redeem it (at guest relations outside of the park). I could not however exchange it in advance which is what I was trying to do so that I could link it to MDE to make advance fast passes when I did decide to use it. At that point the lady at guest relations said I could contact Disney IT in advance when I do want to use it. I would give them my info and the date I wanted to use it and they would manually enter in my fast pass selections so I would be able to obtain advance fast passes.

As far as AK it is my least favorite park so no worries there
Honestly I haven't used it yet because we usually go for a like a week and the price difference between days is so low that I have hung onto it all these years. It's like those savings bonds you get as a kid that double in value over 25 years lol

 

[supersnoop]

FWIW, you will not be able to enter AK with that ticket.

Please stop spreading this rumor. It is simply not true. Sure, the park didn't exist when the ticket was issued. But it's a park now. And any park ticket is valid admission.

 

[Alesia]

Please stop spreading this rumor. It is simply not true. Sure, the park didn't exist when the ticket was issued. But it's a park now. And any park ticket is valid admission.

That didn't use to be the case.

 

[supersnoop]

That didn't use to be the case.

I don't believe that to be true. It's been a rumor ever since the park opened.

 

[krm222]

My FIL had some pre-AK tix that he used to enter AK. You can use the tix for any current park.

 

[mstravelista]

This strikes me as quite odd, because we have a level in our ticketing system specifically for exchanging old paper comp tickets.

Does the exchange have to be done at the same time as the visit, or can it be done in advance so that we can link it and make FP reservations? (We don't have a comp ticket, just an old regular ticket).

 

[tinka-belle]

I took a couple of older partially used tickets with me last year that I was not intending to use, and did not use during that trip. Exchanged at a Guest Services window for new ticket media with the chip, exact same entitlements that are left on the ticket, and has a number on the back I can use to link to MDE whenever I choose to do so.

Make sure when the exchange is done that the CM writes the name or initials on it with a sharpie so you know who it belongs to since it's partially used and still tied to that person. I also put a strip of clear tape on the back and write on it how many days are left on each ticket so I know which one I want to use for a short trip before I load them into MDE.

Can use this new ticket with or without a MB since it has a chip that will scan.

 

[mstravelista]

I took a couple of older partially used tickets with me last year that I was not intending to use, and did not use during that trip. Exchanged at a Guest Services window for new ticket media with the chip, exact same entitlements that are left on the ticket, and has a number on the back I can use to link to MDE whenever I choose to do so.

Perfect! Just what I was looking for. Thanks!

 

[Addy09]

I took a couple of older partially used tickets with me last year that I was not intending to use, and did not use during that trip. Exchanged at a Guest Services window for new ticket media with the chip, exact same entitlements that are left on the ticket, and has a number on the back I can use to link to MDE whenever I choose to do so.

Make sure when the exchange is done that the CM writes the name or initials on it with a sharpie so you know who it belongs to since it's partially used and still tied to that person. I also put a strip of clear tape on the back and write on it how many days are left on each ticket so I know which one I want to use for a short trip before I load them into MDE.

Can use this new ticket with or without a MB since it has a chip that will scan.

Write the initials on the old tickets? I have old tickets too but I don't know if they are linked to anyone