No More Early Ticket Pickup?

[Amy&Dan]

It's not a changing of policy, but of practice. It's enforcing a policy that was already in place. It was only to be allowed in certain instances, and was abused.

I'm sorry, maybe I am dense but how was/is this abuse? It is abusive to check into Disney early, paying for a room as an onsite guest to increase your stay at Disney, and wanting your tickets early so you can go to THEIR park and spend YOUR money?

I come to Disney for say 10 days. 8 of those days are on a free dining package and the first two are not. My wanting to simply pick up my park tickets early, head to the parks and pay out of pocket for food and souveneirs is abusive to some Disney system?

The scenario I gave earlier in this thread means Disney lets my friends (a group of 9) pick up their tickets early and then do two full serve meals plus at least two cs meals in the parks, paying out of pocket over two days. I guestimate that will be at least $700 they will spend at Disney if only Disney will let these three families pick up their park tickets early. If they don't, then Sea World will make some nice money instead.

To me this is not abuse. Things like back in the day when child credits on the DDP were not separated and you had people pay OOP for kids meals to use their kids credits for full serve adult meals was abuse. Pool hopping and bringing your mug from 2004 to reuse in 2011 is abuse. I just don't see how this early pick up is?

Frankly I feel Disney started this whole thing with their discount system. You buy your airfare for your travel dates, book your stay and then three months before you leave, Disney releases discounts at long last and you are left to scramble. I realize they do release some discounts pretty early in the game but that is only for some guests. Many people on this thread have only weeks between the release of a discount and the start of their vacation. They don't have the luxury now of tweaking their dates.

Why should Disney be anything but thrilled that people want to spend all of their vacation days with them when there are other theme parks, beaches and God knows what else very close by?

 

[mom2rtk]

It is quite disingenuous of Disney to take our money for the extra days but now have a problem with us picking them up early.

If they only want them using them for your package, then they need to sell them for no more days than your package plus departure day....... like the old length of stay tickets.

 

[DisneyRookie2007]

It is quite disingenuous of Disney to take our money for the extra days but now have a problem with us picking them up early.

If they only want them using them for your package, then they need to sell them for no more days than your package plus departure day....... like the old length of stay tickets.

I called in our reservation 2 nights ago (Room Only Feb 29 - Mar 4) and MYW Free Dining Mar 4-9) and when I told them I wanted 7 day MYW tickets, the CM asked me why? I told her about the conversation going on with this forum - she was familiar with it - and I told her depsite what the CM's are telling us, that it actually has been done - and that Guest Relations is the place to do it.

She only said that she can't control what is actually being done, but that they are told that it cannot. She did allow me to purchase the 7 day tickets.

At the end of the conversation, I told her it only cost me an additional $34 to upgrade from 5 day to 7 day tickets - so it is worth the gamble for me if I can pick them up a couple days early.

 

[Sandisw]

I'm sorry, maybe I am dense but how was/is this abuse? It is abusive to check into Disney early, paying for a room as an onsite guest to increase your stay at Disney, and wanting your tickets early so you can go to THEIR park and spend YOUR money?

I come to Disney for say 10 days. 8 of those days are on a free dining package and the first two are not. My wanting to simply pick up my park tickets early, head to the parks and pay out of pocket for food and souveneirs is abusive to some Disney system?

To me this is not abuse. Things like back in the day when child credits on the DDP were not separated and you had people pay OOP for kids meals to use their kids credits for full serve meals was abuse. Brining your mug from 2004 to reuse in 2011 is abuse. I just don't see how this early pick up is?

Frankly I feel Disney started this whole thing with their discount system. You buy your airfare for your travel dates, book your stay and then three months before you leave, Disney releases discounts at long last and you are left to scramble. I realize they do release some discounts pretty early in the game but that is only for some guests. Many people on this thread have only weeks between the release of a discount and the start of their vacation. They don't have the luxury now of tweaking their dates.

Why should Disney be anything but thrilled that people want to spend all of their vacation days with them when there are other theme parks, beaches and God knows what else very close by?

Just to play the other side of the coin. Your tickets are a component of the package, just like the free dining credits are. So, in essence, you are really asking them to let you start using pieces of your package prior to it's official start date.

I can see Disney's side of it. You are buying a ticket with a package to start that ticket on your check in day--really, no different than the requirement that your dining credits don't start until your check in day.

Personally, this doesn't affect me, as I am DVC, and I think for Disney allowing the ticket pick up early is a nice perk, but I can also understand why they may be getting burned and have decided to not allow any package components to be available until you check in for that package.

Let's be honest. The only reason people do the whole room only/package split stay is to make themselves eligible for promotions like free dining. If Disney just changed their policy and applied package promotions the way they do room only (you get it only for eligible dates and not ones that are blacked out), this would not be an issue. So, if your trip has 3 out of 7 days blacked out, then you pay for dining for 3 days and get 4 days for free.

 

[mom2rtk]

At the end of the conversation, I told her it only cost me an additional $34 to upgrade from 5 day to 7 day tickets - so it is worth the gamble for me if I can pick them up a couple days early.

But why should you have to take a gamble even on $34? Once uncertainty has been entered into this situation, it makes it almost worthless that they do it sometimes. Who wants to show up at a park only to MAYBE be told no?

Just to play the other side of the coin. Your tickets are a component of the package, just like the free dining credits are. So, in essence, you are really asking them to let you start using pieces of your package prior to it's official start date.

I can see Disney's side of it. You are buying a ticket with a package to start that ticket on your check in day--really, no different than the requirement that your dining credits don't start until your check in day.

Personally, this doesn't affect me, as I am DVC, and I think for Disney allowing the ticket pick up early is a nice perk, but I can also understand why they may be getting burned and have decided to not allow any package components to be available until you check in for that package.

Let's be honest. The only reason people do the whole room only/package split stay is to make themselves eligible for promotions like free dining. If Disney just changed their policy and applied package promotions the way they do room only (you get it only for eligible dates and not ones that are blacked out), this would not be an issue. So, if your trip has 3 out of 7 days blacked out, then you pay for dining for 3 days and get 4 days for free.

Then I go back to my prior statement. Why on earth do they even sell tickets for more than the length of stay plus departure, which coincidentally would be the same number of days you could use dining credits on the dining plan?

They are being wishy washy. And even if I decide to take a chance at this point and show up at the park hoping to go in and spend money out of pocket on dinner, the uncertainty almost certainly negates any feelings of good will I might have from them allowing this in the first place.

 

[skier_pete]

I called in our reservation 2 nights ago (Room Only Feb 29 - Mar 4) and MYW Free Dining Mar 4-9) and when I told them I wanted 7 day MYW tickets, the CM asked me why? I told her about the conversation going on with this forum - she was familiar with it - and I told her depsite what the CM's are telling us, that it actually has been done - and that Guest Relations is the place to do it.

She only said that she can't control what is actually being done, but that they are told that it cannot. She did allow me to purchase the 7 day tickets.

At the end of the conversation, I told her it only cost me an additional $34 to upgrade from 5 day to 7 day tickets - so it is worth the gamble for me if I can pick them up a couple days early.

You do realize you could buy the 5-day ticket, and then when you get to the park and actually get your tickets in-hand, then upgrade them to the 7-day ticket. That way, you won't be out ANYTHING if they don't allow it.

I think for Disney allowing the ticket pick up early is a nice perk, but I can also understand why they may be getting burned and have decided to not allow any package components to be available until you check in for that package.

OK..I keep seeing "Disney losing out, and Disney getting burned" How exactly does Disney lose out in this? I am only allowed to do it if have already checked into a hotel on Disney property, and already have a paid-for package, and I'm within 3-days of it. How is Disney losing out here? Because I am not buying full-price tickets for those extra days? Who in the world would do THAT anyways? Someone give me one scenario where Disney loses out because of This?...cause I can only come up with ones where Disney loses out by not allowing it.

Look - I am fine with Disney saying "We aren't going to do it." But this *****-footing around it - having one group say "No" while another says "yes" while another says "well, yes now, but eventually no, but we don't when." It more seems like corporate confusion than any kind of master plan.

 

[mom2rtk]

OK..I keep seeing "Disney losing out, and Disney getting burned" How exactly does Disney lose out in this? I am only allowed to do it if have already checked into a hotel on Disney property, and already have a paid-for package, and I'm within 3-days of it. How is Disney losing out here? Because I am not buying full-price tickets for those extra days? Who in the world would do THAT anyways? Someone give me one scenario where Disney loses out because of This?...cause I can only come up with ones where Disney loses out by not allowing it.

Look - I am fine with Disney saying "We aren't going to do it." But this *****-footing around it - having one group say "No" while another says "yes" while another says "well, yes now, but eventually no, but we don't when." It more seems like corporate confusion than any kind of master plan.

Amen to ALL of that. Nobody has put forth a plausible theory yet on how Disney is losing out. NOT A SINGLE person is going to follow through and pay full price for that additional ticket.

I still contend they are not liking some of us "tweaking" the free dining dates with a room only for a couple nights. Who the heck cares? It's not like we're getting the free dining then anyway! Or any discount at ALL so far on that one night. Do they really think if they get tough with this that people will book Sunday through the following Monday to have the same number of days? I'm currently booked Saturday through Sunday to minimize days out of school for my DD. If this didn't work, I wouldn't just add change to Saturday through Monday. I probably would have dropped off Saturday and arrived Sunday, leaving them out my full rack rate room for 1 night plus full price dining. It really makes no sense at all.

 

[Sandisw]

But why should you have to take a gamble even on $34? Once uncertainty has been entered into this situation, it makes it almost worthless that they do it sometimes. Who wants to show up at a park only to MAYBE be told no?



Then I go back to my prior statement. Why on earth do they even sell tickets for more than the length of stay plus departure, which coincidentally would be the same number of days you could use dining credits on the dining plan?

They are being wishy washy. And even if I decide to take a chance at this point and show up at the park hoping to go in and spend money out of pocket on dinner, the uncertainty almost certainly negates any feelings of good will I might have from them allowing this in the first place.

Because while tickets are required for the purchase of the package, WHICH tickets one buys is up to the guest. You can do hoppers, or not--you can do water park, or not--you can do as many days as you want--you can add the no expiration if you want. The essence of a Magic Your Way ticket is to allow guests to pick and choose how many park days they want. Years ago, they only offered length of stay tickets and you had no choice.

Basically, what you buy doesn't matter--its a matter of when you buy it and it sounds like Disney is enforcing the policy that you really have not bought the tickets until you check in for the package. Not saying I agree with the policy, just that I can understand it.

 

[mom2rtk]

Because while tickets are required for the purchase of the package, WHICH tickets one buys is up to the guest. You can do hoppers, or not--you can do water park, or not--you can do as many days as you want--you can add the no expiration if you want. The essence of a Magic Your Way ticket is to allow guests to pick and choose how many park days they want. Years ago, they only offered length of stay tickets and you had no choice.

Basically, what you buy doesn't matter--its a matter of when you buy it and it sounds like Disney is enforcing the policy that you really have not bought the tickets until you check in for the package. Not saying I agree with the policy, just that I can understand it.

But I'm just saying........ if they won't assure you that you can pick up the tickets early, then why sell you tickets for those days? Sure you can use them after the package ends. But I can't see why the would have a problem with using them early, but not late. Fair's fair. Let's treat both issues with the same set of standards. Adding hoppers etc doesn't affect the number of days. I'm just saying they need to not sell more days than they will assure you that you can pick up and use under their policy. They can sell fewer days, but they shouldn't sell more.

 

[javamommy]

I'm sorry, maybe I am dense but how was/is this abuse? It is abusive to check into Disney early, paying for a room as an onsite guest to increase your stay at Disney, and wanting your tickets early so you can go to THEIR park and spend YOUR money?

I come to Disney for say 10 days. 8 of those days are on a free dining package and the first two are not. My wanting to simply pick up my park tickets early, head to the parks and pay out of pocket for food and souveneirs is abusive to some Disney system?

The scenario I gave earlier in this thread means Disney lets my friends (a group of 9) pick up their tickets early and then do two full serve meals plus at least two cs meals in the parks, paying out of pocket over two days. I guestimate that will be at least $700 they will spend at Disney if only Disney will let these three families pick up their park tickets early. If they don't, then Sea World will make some nice money instead.

To me this is not abuse. Things like back in the day when child credits on the DDP were not separated and you had people pay OOP for kids meals to use their kids credits for full serve adult meals was abuse. Pool hopping and bringing your mug from 2004 to reuse in 2011 is abuse. I just don't see how this early pick up is?

Frankly I feel Disney started this whole thing with their discount system. You buy your airfare for your travel dates, book your stay and then three months before you leave, Disney releases discounts at long last and you are left to scramble. I realize they do release some discounts pretty early in the game but that is only for some guests. Many people on this thread have only weeks between the release of a discount and the start of their vacation. They don't have the luxury now of tweaking their dates.

Why should Disney be anything but thrilled that people want to spend all of their vacation days with them when there are other theme parks, beaches and God knows what else very close by?

Couldn't agree more!!!! Love you

 

[javamommy]

Let's be honest. The only reason people do the whole room only/package split stay is to make themselves eligible for promotions like free dining. If Disney just changed their policy and applied package promotions the way they do room only (you get it only for eligible dates and not ones that are blacked out), this would not be an issue. So, if your trip has 3 out of 7 days blacked out, then you pay for dining for 3 days and get 4 days for free.[/QUOTE]

Yes if that was the policy, it would make sense and be fair to everyone especially those who are staying longer and spending more money at their parks! I hope this is the policy they replace early park ticket pick up with!

 

[wish*i*was*in*the*vi]

I'm sorry, maybe I am dense but how was/is this abuse? It is abusive to check into Disney early, paying for a room as an onsite guest to increase your stay at Disney, and wanting your tickets early so you can go to THEIR park and spend YOUR money?

I come to Disney for say 10 days. 8 of those days are on a free dining package and the first two are not. My wanting to simply pick up my park tickets early, head to the parks and pay out of pocket for food and souveneirs is abusive to some Disney system?

The scenario I gave earlier in this thread means Disney lets my friends (a group of 9) pick up their tickets early and then do two full serve meals plus at least two cs meals in the parks, paying out of pocket over two days. I guestimate that will be at least $700 they will spend at Disney if only Disney will let these three families pick up their park tickets early. If they don't, then Sea World will make some nice money instead.

To me this is not abuse. Things like back in the day when child credits on the DDP were not separated and you had people pay OOP for kids meals to use their kids credits for full serve adult meals was abuse. Pool hopping and bringing your mug from 2004 to reuse in 2011 is abuse. I just don't see how this early pick up is?

Frankly I feel Disney started this whole thing with their discount system. You buy your airfare for your travel dates, book your stay and then three months before you leave, Disney releases discounts at long last and you are left to scramble. I realize they do release some discounts pretty early in the game but that is only for some guests. Many people on this thread have only weeks between the release of a discount and the start of their vacation. They don't have the luxury now of tweaking their dates.

Why should Disney be anything but thrilled that people want to spend all of their vacation days with them when there are other theme parks, beaches and God knows what else very close by?

I think what she meant by abuse it that apparently some people were picking their tickets up early, which are issued as paper tickets,and then when they check into their hotel additional tickets were issued on the KTTW card because the front desk staff didn't realize the tickets had already been issued and guests haven't been speaking up and saying they already have a set of tickets. So, guests are getting 2 sets of tickets when only paying for one. Atleast, that's what I've read.

 

[Sandisw]

But I'm just saying........ if they won't assure you that you can pick up the tickets early, then why sell you tickets for those days? Sure you can use them after the package ends. But I can't see why the would have a problem with using them early, but not late. Fair's fair. Let's treat both issues with the same set of standards. Adding hoppers etc doesn't affect the number of days. I'm just saying they need to not sell more days than they will assure you that you can pick up and use under their policy. They can sell fewer days, but they shouldn't sell more.

But they are not really selling you them for the days prior to your stay. Try to think of them the same way you do the dining credits. Dining credits activate when you check in, not before. Its the same with the tickets that are purchased as part of a package. They activate when you check in and not before.

And, there are people who have a reason to use tickets after they check out--maybe they are staying in the area. If you add the no expiration option, then those extra days you buy are valid forever. There are really a lot of situations where someone might want more days than the nights they book. And, I do think using them after the stay is different because by that point, you have technically bought them.

I think it just comes down to understanding that the tickets, when purchased part of a package--and that is what makes them different--don't need to coincide with the number of nights one stays but are restricted in terms of when you can start using them.

The only component of a package that has ever been available prior to it starting has been tickets. None of the other pieces--vouchers, dining credits, etc. have been. What it sounds like is Disney is simply treating all pieces more equally now. You can't start dining credits early--paid or not--you can't use your vouchers for free things early--paid or not--and now they are saying that we are not going to let you pick up your tickets early--paid or not.

 

[mom2rtk]

But they are not really selling you them for the days prior to your stay. Try to think of them the same way you do the dining credits. Dining credits activate when you check in, not before. Its the same with the tickets that are purchased as part of a package. They activate when you check in and not before.

And, there are people who have a reason to use tickets after they check out--maybe they are staying in the area. If you add the no expiration option, then those extra days you buy are valid forever. There are really a lot of situations where someone might want more days than the nights they book. And, I do think using them after the stay is different because by that point, you have technically bought them.

I think it just comes down to understanding that the tickets, when purchased part of a package--and that is what makes them different--don't need to coincide with the number of nights one stays but are restricted in terms of when you can start using them.

The only component of a package that has ever been available prior to it starting has been tickets. None of the other pieces--vouchers, dining credits, etc. have been. What it sounds like is Disney is simply treating all pieces more equally now. You can't start dining credits early--paid or not--you can't use your vouchers for free things early--paid or not--and now they are saying that we are not going to let you pick up your tickets early--paid or not.

But dining credits can't be used after you check out either. And I still contend that there is no reason to treat someone staying in the area pre-package wanting their tickets is no different from someone staying in the area after their package wanting to use their tickets.

 

[Bettie]

But I'm just saying........ if they won't assure you that you can pick up the tickets early, then why sell you tickets for those days? Sure you can use them after the package ends. But I can't see why the would have a problem with using them early, but not late. Fair's fair. Let's treat both issues with the same set of standards. Adding hoppers etc doesn't affect the number of days. I'm just saying they need to not sell more days than they will assure you that you can pick up and use under their policy. They can sell fewer days, but they shouldn't sell more.

Exactly! And I don't understand the whole "people are trying to get around the free dining dates" issue. This way, Disney is getting MORE money from people than they would get if they booked entirely within the free dining window. It makes absolutely no sense to me why Disney would WANT to make this change or how it could possibly be considered "abuse."

 

[javamommy]

But dining credits can't be used after you check out either. And I still contend that there is no reason to treat someone staying in the area pre-package wanting their tickets is no different from someone staying in the area after their package wanting to use their tickets.

Agreed. I am paying for the tickets and it should be my choice if I use them 3 days before my package starts or three days after my package ends. It's still my money and my vacation!

 

[petchie]

I sure would hate if this issue caused them to go back to length of stay tickets, but fear it may just do that.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Just to play the other side of the coin. Your tickets are a component of the package, just like the free dining credits are. So, in essence, you are really asking them to let you start using pieces of your package prior to it's official start date.

I can see Disney's side of it. You are buying a ticket with a package to start that ticket on your check in day--really, no different than the requirement that your dining credits don't start until your check in day.

Personally, this doesn't affect me, as I am DVC, and I think for Disney allowing the ticket pick up early is a nice perk, but I can also understand why they may be getting burned and have decided to not allow any package components to be available until you check in for that package.

Let's be honest. The only reason people do the whole room only/package split stay is to make themselves eligible for promotions like free dining. If Disney just changed their policy and applied package promotions the way they do room only (you get it only for eligible dates and not ones that are blacked out), this would not be an issue. So, if your trip has 3 out of 7 days blacked out, then you pay for dining for 3 days and get 4 days for free.

If it doesn't affect you then consider yourself very lucky! I am sure things that do affect you that DVC does would not affect me in the slightest and therefore those hard-to-comprehend issues of DVC would be something I'd not really care about. In fact, I used to be DVC and I can remember how much DVC members would lament things DVC would do that changed the gameplan for DVC guests. Remember, when we get free dining, we pay rack rate for the room, we have a two day ticket minimum and we are only wanting to get one part of the package. The part that cost a very few dollars to add on to (the extra days worth of tickets) in most cases.

What is adding insult to injury is the conflicting reports from various cm's and the fact that very often Disney releases discounts well after some of us have booked airfare and therefore we have arrival and departure dates set.

 

[Amy&Dan]

Couldn't agree more!!!! Love you

Thank you, I love you too lol! I'll be honest this whole thing just baffles me. Why Disney does it and why anyone would think any of us who have done this are cheating some sort of system.

Paying rack rate for add'l nights and paying out of pocket for additional meals is not my idea of me pulling a fast one over Disney.

 

[marivaid]

But dining credits can't be used after you check out either. And I still contend that there is no reason to treat someone staying in the area pre-package wanting their tickets is no different from someone staying in the area after their package wanting to use their tickets.

Exactly. You also get dining credits based on how many nights you stay at the resort (whether you are paying for the DDP or not), which is not the case with tickets. Never has been.

Split stays are not necessarily linked with free dining. Some may only want the DDP for part of their stay, or spend a few days on a Premium or Platinum package without having to pay for tickets twice.