MDE and Ticket Use Heads Up

[Goofy DVC]

I just thought I would post an issue we avoided with MDE to help others with the same situation.
We are scheduled to head to DW in July so I linked some 6 day park hopper tickets to our MDE account. We then decided based on our planning to go to the parks for a total of 7 days so obviously when we went to book the fast passes on MDE we were a day short. I then linked some non-expiring tickets that I had to cover the final day at the parks. That resolved the issue. Well after doing this and making all the fast pass selections, I started to think, will the MDE system be smart enough to use the 6 day park hopper tickets that expire in 14 days first and then use the non-expiring tickets? The answer is NO. I called MS and a very helpful CM informed me that the system will not necessarily make the decision on ticket use that is in your best interest, even if you linked the fast pass selections to the expiring ticket first. I was instructed that before we enter the park on the first day of our visit, to go to Guest Relations and instruct them on the order you want the tickets used. I was told that this can not be done online or through Member Services, it must be done in person at Guest Relations.
Hope this helps others.

 

[Splashboat]

I have a similar situation and had multiple responses from different people over the 3 calls I made trying to find someone who could definitively tell me what to do.
One thing I was told different then you was that I should NOT enter the parks to get to guest relations to resolve the issue. I was told once I scan the MB it is too late.
The lady told me BEFORE scanning I should request to speak to one of those people walking around near the turnstiles with IPADS and explain to them so they can link the correct ticket before anything is activated.
She said if I scan the band and go to guest relations it will be too late for them to change it.
I don't know what is correct. The only consistent answer I had among the different people I talked to is that linking multiple tickets is a 'grey area' with MDE that they are still trying to work out.

 

[Ellwood970]

I have decided it is better for me to not link my tickets to the magic band, rather I use the actual ticket. This way I know which ticket is being used. I have the same situation as you with multiple tickets. Also they exchanged my old non expiring tickets to new media tickets no problems.

 

[nalajms]

Perhaps a better way is to just use the actual tickets to get into the park rather than the MB? You'd still be able to use the FP+ associated with the MB, but you'd be guaranteed which tickets are actually used.

 

[Ellwood970]

Perhaps a better way is to just use the actual tickets to get into the park rather than the MB? You'd still be able to use the FP+ associated with the MB, but you'd be guaranteed which tickets are actually used.

i agree. This is what I did. My AP is linked along with various park tickets to the MB, but I use the actual ticket to get in. Both the MB and the ticket have fastpass linked to them. They are interchangeable.

 

[Splashboat]

Perhaps a better way is to just use the actual tickets to get into the park rather than the MB? You'd still be able to use the FP+ associated with the MB, but you'd be guaranteed which tickets are actually used.

You are correct if we only linked 1 set of tickets they could be used for FP+ and we could have waited on the other set we want to use later.
The problem for us is we already linked the all the tickets and they cannot be un-linked so we are stuck.

 

[nalajms]

You are correct if we only linked 1 set of tickets they could be used for FP+ and we could have waited on the other set we want to use later.
The problem for us is we already linked the all the tickets and they cannot be un-linked so we are stuck.

I'm not saying to unlink the tickets. Instead of scanning your MB to get into a park, use the ticket to get into the park. Your MB is linked only to your MDE, not the tickets. MDE will have your multiple tickets, but no one knows which will be used when you scan your MB. However, if you scan the actual 6day ticket to get in, rather than your non-exp ones, then your 6day tickets will be used.
FP+/MB won't care which ticket was used so nothing there will changed.

 

[Goofy DVC]

I'm not saying to unlink the tickets. Instead of scanning your MB to get into a park, use the ticket to get into the park. Your MB is linked only to your MDE, not the tickets. MDE will have your multiple tickets, but no one knows which will be used when you scan your MB. However, if you scan the actual 6day ticket to get in, rather than your non-exp ones, then your 6day tickets will be used.
FP+/MB won't care which ticket was used so nothing there will changed.

I asked MS about doing this exact thing and I was told that if I did not use my MB to enter the park then none of the FP would work since the band wasn't used for park admission. I was also told to NOT enter the park until your order of use is resolved. Once you enter it is too late. Go to Guest Relations at the entrance of the park not inside.

 

[Ellwood970]

I asked MS about doing this exact thing and I was told that if I did not use my MB to enter the park then none of the FP would work since the band wasn't used for park admission. I was also told to NOT enter the park until your order of use is resolved. Once you enter it is too late. Go to Guest Relations at the entrance of the park not inside.

this is not accurate. I just got back. Used my ticket to enter the park and my magicband for fastpass it all worked. The tickets have to be linked to the MB but the MB does not have to be used to enter the park. I used my ticket each day.

 

[Goofy DVC]

this is not accurate. I just got back. Used my ticket to enter the park and my magicband for fastpass it all worked. The tickets have to be linked to the MB but the MB does not have to be used to enter the park. I used my ticket each day.

Thanks! You just solved my problem. I will use the hard ticket each day to enter the park and the MB for fast pass.

 

[SUSIEQ]

this is not accurate. I just got back. Used my ticket to enter the park and my magicband for fastpass it all worked. The tickets have to be linked to the MB but the MB does not have to be used to enter the park. I used my ticket each day.

Thanks for this info.

 

[wench]

I just thought I would post an issue we avoided with MDE to help others with the same situation.
We are scheduled to head to DW in July so I linked some 6 day park hopper tickets to our MDE account. We then decided based on our planning to go to the parks for a total of 7 days so obviously when we went to book the fast passes on MDE we were a day short. I then linked some non-expiring tickets that I had to cover the final day at the parks. That resolved the issue. Well after doing this and making all the fast pass selections, I started to think, will the MDE system be smart enough to use the 6 day park hopper tickets that expire in 14 days first and then use the non-expiring tickets? The answer is NO. I called MS and a very helpful CM informed me that the system will not necessarily make the decision on ticket use that is in your best interest, even if you linked the fast pass selections to the expiring ticket first. I was instructed that before we enter the park on the first day of our visit, to go to Guest Relations and instruct them on the order you want the tickets used. I was told that this can not be done online or through Member Services, it must be done in person at Guest Relations.
Hope this helps others.

I'm surprised that MDE wouldn't let you book the FP+ for your full trip w/o adding the extra ticket. Last October I was able to book FP+ ahead of time for my full 8 days, despite the fact that we only had 5 day tickets attached to our MDE account. Then a couple days into the trip I upgraded the tickets to the 8 days we needed.

 

[Ellwood970]

I had a five day ticket on my sons account. We decided at the last minute to go 6 days. Could not select fastpass for the sixth day for him. The app said there was no ticket linked for the sixth day. So I bought a 6 day ticket and linked it to his account and then i could select fastpass for the sixth day. I took his 5 day ticket and linked it back to my account. So on my account there was a AP and a 5 day ticket. I was afraid the 5 day ticket would be used off my magicband when i entered the park instead of the AP. So I used the plastic AP to enter to be sure. All fastpasses worked off of the magicbands.

 

[dismedvc]

obviously when we went to book the fast passes on MDE we were a day short. I then linked some non-expiring tickets that I had to cover the final day at the parks. That resolved the issue.

Linking the Non Expiring to make your 7th day of Fastpass+ selections was a good plan.

HOWEVER, when you actually go into the park once on your 6 day ticket, you can upgrade it to a 7 day for $10. (even if it is a discount ticket, once it is used once it has full value) You can then use that upgraded 7 day ticket for admission every day, and it sounds like your magic bands will still work for your fastpasses.

If it were me, I would definitely want to save my days on the non-expiring tickets for a trip where you only go to the parks a few days. (The way Disney now prices tickets, for trips where you go 5 days, buying two 5 day expiring tickets is now less expensive than a 10 day non-expiring. If you go longer than 5 days the expiring tickets are even more cost effective.)

 

[Goofy DVC]

Linking the Non Expiring to make your 7th day of Fastpass+ selections was a good plan.

HOWEVER, when you actually go into the park once on your 6 day ticket, you can upgrade it to a 7 day for $10. (even if it is a discount ticket, once it is used once it has full value) You can then use that upgraded 7 day ticket for admission every day, and it sounds like your magic bands will still work for your fastpasses.

If it were me, I would definitely want to save my days on the non-expiring tickets for a trip where you only go to the parks a few days. (The way Disney now prices tickets, for trips where you go 5 days, buying two 5 day expiring tickets is now less expensive than a 10 day non-expiring. If you go longer than 5 days the expiring tickets are even more cost effective.)

That is a great idea! Thank you for the feedback. This is exactly what I'll do. Saving the non-expiring tickets is the smart move. Thanks again.

 

[nalajms]

HOWEVER, when you actually go into the park once on your 6 day ticket, you can upgrade it to a 7 day for $10. (even if it is a discount ticket, once it is used once it has full value)

I don't think this is true anymore. Disney changed their upgrade policy earlier this year. If you have a 3 day ticket from 2012, and want to upgrade it to a 5 day ticket in 2014, the 3 day ticket would be valued at whatever the price they were sold for in 2012. They are cutting down on people buying discounted tickets from UT then upgrading them.

 

[dismedvc]

I don't think this is true anymore. Disney changed their upgrade policy earlier this year. If you have a 3 day ticket from 2012, and want to upgrade it to a 5 day ticket in 2014, the 3 day ticket would be valued at whatever the price they were sold for in 2012. They are cutting down on people buying discounted tickets from UT then upgrading them.

See post 22 at the bottom of the page that opens with the link below.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1452684&page=2


Cheshire Figment is the resident expert on ticket policies.
His post above from June 2013 seems to indicate you can still upgrade tickets based on there current value, not what you paid. However, maybe the policy has changes since then.

I sent him a personal message to see if he could clarify the current policy.

 

[SuperRob]

this is not accurate. I just got back. Used my ticket to enter the park and my magicband for fastpass it all worked. The tickets have to be linked to the MB but the MB does not have to be used to enter the park. I used my ticket each day.

I think you guys are talking semantics. The ticket must be used, either using the actual ticket or the MagicBand. But you do have to have valid admission in the park that day to use the assigned FP+ selections.

 

[nalajms]

Cheshire Figment is the resident expert on ticket policies. His post above from June 2013 seems to indicate you can still upgrade tickets based on there current value, not what you paid. However, maybe the policy has changes since then.

You're right. Looks like the ticket change policy going around earlier this year was a bad rumor.

 

[Ellwood970]

I think you guys are talking semantics. The ticket must be used, either using the actual ticket or the MagicBand. But you do have to have valid admission in the park that day to use the assigned FP+ selections.

this is correct. The worry is that the Magic Band will use the wrong ticket if there are multiple tickets attached.