New Ticket Upgrade Policy?

[txwdwmom]

And now Allears has this on their website (Sorry if I missed it already being posted):

"Last week, after the All Ears Newsletter had been mailed, we became aware of an unannounced change in Disney's policy regarding tickets that were purchased from non-Disney sources. Several guests reported that when they attempted to add a day to their Magic your Way ticket that was purchased from a non-Disney source, they were refused and told that they would have to spend more than $100 for a single day ticket. Several tried at both their resort concierge and at a guest relations window and were told the same thing.

We called the Disney Ticketing office and and spoke to a supervisor. We were told that commencing with last week's price increase "3rd party tickets can no longer be upgraded to passes at a pro-rated rate, have days added, or have options added at a discount." A different call to a second Disney source confirmed it but added that this does not affect AAA.

On the basis of that, we changed our ticket FAQ to reflect the new policy. More refinement of the policy will likely become known as time passes. We will keep watching the situation and listening to our readers' comments about any problems or successes they have had in this area. - March 3, 2014"

http://allears.net/pl/ticket.htm#credpass

Again - clear as mud. This all makes no sense even from a business stand point of Disney. If correct we'll head somewhere else rather than pay for a new ticket.

Right - clear as mud. That site's credibility has gone from bad to worse for me.

 

[txwdwmom]

Had she already used the tickets at least once?

Yes, she used one day and was told again at Epcot (after MK) they could not be upgraded. This is a mess!

 

[txwdwmom]

As the saying goes, I think you are "biting your nose to spite your face"! The tickets from resellers are discounted, so use them as is - especially those bought before one or more price increases. I bought a 10-day non-expiring park hopper in July 2009 @ $481.95 from UCT. The new gate price of that ticket is $803.01! I used to upgrade those to APs until the price of the 10-day non-expiring hopper was more than the price of an AP - with no change given. Now I will save that ticket for shorter visits to WDW. In the future, I will buy what I need for an upcoming trip from a discounter like UCT.

I also bought two 5-day MYW tickets from UCT in August 2013 @ $280.09 each. My daughter used one last December, and I will probably use the other this December without adding park hopping. I still have a 7-day Universal park hopper that I bought in 2010 @ $99, so I will spend time there as well.

The savings just aren't worth the aggravation to me. No one is giving a straight answer to people asking. Some people are reporting being able to upgrade at the parks today while others cannot. Not good business at all.

 

[cigar95]

At some point it will have to be there. If this actually is the new policy (regardless of whether it's being implemented yet) you would think they'd update the databases to give the appropriate credit.

If it's not already part of the ticket records, adding it now to the database *and getting it right* for all the possible ticket combinations out there would be a big task. (In principle straightforward, but there are so many unusual circumstances that would also have to be handled properly.)

I've pondered aloud if this data is *already* part of the ticket records, but that we just don't know. (We know that the *sale price* is part of the record, and I think it's likely that the *original* sale date is included, but it' far less certain that they would track the "rack rate" at the time of sale as well.)

 

[DavidNYC]

And now Allears has this on their website (Sorry if I missed it already being posted):

"Last week, after the All Ears Newsletter had been mailed, we became aware of an unannounced change in Disney's policy regarding tickets that were purchased from non-Disney sources. Several guests reported that when they attempted to add a day to their Magic your Way ticket that was purchased from a non-Disney source, they were refused and told that they would have to spend more than $100 for a single day ticket. Several tried at both their resort concierge and at a guest relations window and were told the same thing.

We called the Disney Ticketing office and and spoke to a supervisor. We were told that commencing with last week's price increase "3rd party tickets can no longer be upgraded to passes at a pro-rated rate, have days added, or have options added at a discount." A different call to a second Disney source confirmed it but added that this does not affect AAA.

On the basis of that, we changed our ticket FAQ to reflect the new policy. More refinement of the policy will likely become known as time passes. We will keep watching the situation and listening to our readers' comments about any problems or successes they have had in this area. - March 3, 2014"

http://allears.net/pl/ticket.htm#credpass

Again - clear as mud. This all makes no sense even from a business stand point of Disney. If correct we'll head somewhere else rather than pay for a new ticket.

Who ever explained this to them either did not understand whatever the new policy was or whoever wrote this didn't understand what the person was saying. The sentence is just nonsense. Even with bridging you weren't "pro rating" tickets or "adding at a discount. You always paid the difference in price between what you had and what you want. That's just normal - that's not special policy. If the price to add hopping is $60, and I pay $60 that's not a discount. If what they mean is that if you want to alter a discounted ticket you first have to pay the difference in price, then just say that.

But I agree from a business point of view, this is just stupid. The amount they get is a rounding error in terms of disney income. There is no reason if two people have the same ticket that one should be charged more than the other to add the same option. At least most other Disney changes there are plausible rationales for why it's done a certain way. But I can't think of any other reason than greed if they have authorized other people to sell their tickets that they don't treat all those tickets the same. This is even all the more true because the system they created to wring more money from people doesn't even work. Would be a really easy system to just charge the different in current price for any upgrade. Very simple, uniform, no confusion.

 

[SUSIEQ]

Yes, she used one day and was told again at Epcot (after MK) they could not be upgraded. This is a mess!

That's really bad! Maybe they can help her at DTD. (Although, she shouldn't have to jump through these hoops.)

 

[damo]

That's really bad! Maybe they can help her at DTD. (Although, she shouldn't have to jump through these hoops.)

Exactly! I mean, how difficult is this, really?

 

[SUSIEQ]

The savings just aren't worth the aggravation to me. No one is giving a straight answer to people asking. Some people are reporting being able to upgrade at the parks today while others cannot. Not good business at all.

That's exactly the way I feel. The small, small savings through UT is not worth the potential aggravation at WDW. Again, I will not use UT anymore, & I will definately not recommend them anymore.

 

[Princess_Belle]

What does all this mean for will call tickets? I have 5 day tickets I purchased through Orbitz this weekend after the price increase. I want to upgrade them to $7 day tickets. I have figured it would be about $22 per ticket with tax. My tickets came from Orbitz but have a wdw Will Call number. I even have paper work that says I'm able to upgrade upon arrival.

To the poster who's friend was denied earlier today, when were these tickets purchased? Didn't I read that older tickets were unable to be upgraded?

 

[Missyrose]

What does all this mean for will call tickets? I have 5 day tickets I purchased through Orbitz this weekend after the price increase. I want to upgrade them to $7 day tickets. I have figured it would be about $22 per ticket with tax. My tickets came from Orbitz but have a wdw Will Call number. I even have paper work that says I'm able to upgrade upon arrival.

To the poster who's friend was denied earlier today, when were these tickets purchased? Didn't I read that older tickets were unable to be upgraded?

You should be able to upgrade the tickets. Though according to the new policy, if the Orbitz ticket is pre-price increase, your upgrade will be a few dollars more per person.

 

[michelle06]

The most recent increase was for all tickets, not just one day. Here is a chart of prices for single days...

http://allears.net/tix/tixincrease.htm

I'll try to find one for multi days and post it.

ETA: Does this one help? Looks like the most recent price increase is not listed, though.

http://allears.net/tix/MYWhistory.htm

Thanks. The page I went to on Allears was much different and more confusing so I appreciate this link. However, according to this chart, Allears is even using the $289 price as "to present" while the WDW site shows a higher price which I assume was the February increase?

 

[UnderCoverTourist]

Hi There,

Disney wants you to be able to upgrade. We get our tickets from Disney, there are no differences between a real ticket from us and a real ticket from the gate.

You can upgrade. The policy is correct.

We have always taken care of our customers and we suggest you try and buy the ticket you need, if you don't know exactly - be reassured that you can upgrade. If there happens to be a price rise between purchase and upgrade just be aware that you still lock in your savings but you won't receive the new gate price as a credit.

We move our stock quickly, honestly nobody wants to hold onto stock.

For the other possible wrinkles mentioned, we always take care of our customers

Thank you

Undercover Tourist

 

[michelle06]

Hi There,

Disney wants you to be able to upgrade. We get our tickets from Disney, there are no differences between a real ticket from us and a real ticket from the gate.

You can upgrade. The policy is correct.

We have always taken care of our customers and we suggest you try and buy the ticket you need, if you don't know exactly - be reassured that you can upgrade. If there happens to be a price rise between purchase and upgrade just be aware that you still lock in your savings but you won't receive the new gate price as a credit.

We move our stock quickly, honestly nobody wants to hold onto stock.

For the other possible wrinkles mentioned, we always take care of our customers

Thank you

Undercover Tourist

Thank you for posting this. This is why you stand out and why I like to buy tickets from you! My tickets that I posted about were purchased from you last June trying to beat the price increase. While I may have to pay the difference in price increase to add a day, I know that you have done right by your customers. I just wish that I actually had beat the price increase! Since we bought them so long ago, we now want to add a day. Looks like it will be a lot more than I thought!

 

[rt2dz]

As the saying goes, I think you are "biting your nose to spite your face"! The tickets from resellers are discounted, so use them as is - especially those bought before one or more price increases. I bought a 10-day non-expiring park hopper in July 2009 @ $481.95 from UCT. The new gate price of that ticket is $803.01! I used to upgrade those to APs until the price of the 10-day non-expiring hopper was more than the price of an AP - with no change given. Now I will save that ticket for shorter visits to WDW. In the future, I will buy what I need for an upcoming trip from a discounter like UCT.

I also bought two 5-day MYW tickets from UCT in August 2013 @ $280.09 each. My daughter used one last December, and I will probably use the other this December without adding park hopping. I still have a 7-day Universal park hopper that I bought in 2010 @ $99, so I will spend time there as well.

It's hardly biting off my noise to spite my face. It's to protect myself.

I don't always take the exact same trip. Right now I'm sitting on 4 tickets. Actually 8, but 4 are lost and most likely gone for good. Of the 4 I have, they are not the same. Not one of them fits my next trip. I can either waste half a ticket, thereby throwing away a lot of money, or I can upgrade all the tickets, but possibly take a hit because I don't know what the gate value when they were sold was. I won't take the chance of more changes and buy in advance. What if Disney suddenly decides no Maori upgrades at all? Or no price bridging so I can pay the markup twice? It's a gamble, and not one I'm willing to take any longer. Disney is a business, but Disney used to be more than a business. Those of us who have been going every year for decades can see the pit disney is falling into.

 

[cigar95]

Hi There,

Disney wants you to be able to upgrade. We get our tickets from Disney, there are no differences between a real ticket from us and a real ticket from the gate.

You can upgrade. The policy is correct.

UCT, your efforts are much appreciated.

There's one REALLY important thing that needs to be done, and that is for Disney to *communicate* this policy to the front-line Cast Members. The uncertainty and inconsistency across property has been the biggest complaint in this discussion - and rightly so.

As you are a VERY interested party to ticket issues, perhaps you can communicate this need to your business partner (WDW, that is) in a way that the general public cannot.

 

[damo]

UCT, your efforts are much appreciated.

There's one REALLY important thing that needs to be done, and that is for Disney to *communicate* this policy to the front-line Cast Members. The uncertainty and inconsistency across property has been the biggest complaint in this discussion - and rightly so.

As you are a VERY interested party to ticket issues, perhaps you can communicate this need to your business partner (WDW, that is) in a way that the general public cannot.

Exactly. Each time another customer has difficulty upgrading (like today), there's another huge group of people who get too scared to purchase from a 3rd party seller.

 

[SUSIEQ]

Yes, she used one day and was told again at Epcot (after MK) they could not be upgraded. This is a mess!

If she hasn't already gotten it straightened out today, after being denied at both MK & EP, maybe she can contact UT to help her?

 

[SUSIEQ]

UCT, your efforts are much appreciated.

There's one REALLY important thing that needs to be done, and that is for Disney to *communicate* this policy to the front-line Cast Members. The uncertainty and inconsistency across property has been the biggest complaint in this discussion - and rightly so.

As you are a VERY interested party to ticket issues, perhaps you can communicate this need to your business partner (WDW, that is) in a way that the general public cannot.

I think this has been the best post all day!

 

[cigar95]

I think this has been the best post all day!

Followed closely by any other posts I have made today! (And I've been more chatty than usual.)

 

[chloelovesdisney]

Thank you UCT for the update. There was the possibility we would add on a day to the tickets we ordered from you and have saved for future trips, now we'll just hang by the pool instead. I'm very happy with your service, Disney's not so much.