Package Tickets before check-in date.

[Robo]

This question is currently in the Ticket Sticky, but I didn't want it to get lost:

Question. Family of 3 (2A, 1 child - 10yo). Currently have a free dining pkg but are considering arriving 1 day earlier.

If they are unable to add 1 night to their current pkg and choose to book a 1 night room only reservation, can they use their current tickets (6 day tickets with PH+) on their arrival day (room only day) or, would the need to add the flex option to do this?

I understand that the current PACKAGE tickets cannot be used before the check-in date,
but would the guests be REQUIRED (or is it even possible) to make the "Free Dining" PACKAGE tickets "flexible" ($$$) for use on the day before package check-in?

 

[hiroMYhero]

This question is currently in the Ticket Sticky, but I didn't want it to get lost:


I understand that the current PACKAGE tickets cannot be used before the check-in date,
but would the guests be REQUIRED (or is it even possible) to make the "Free Dining" PACKAGE tickets "flexible" ($$$) for use on the day before package check-in?

Even when there were MYW tickets “packaged” with the room reservation, the actual check-in date was the day the inherently “flexible” tickets became activated.

 

[Robo]

Even when there were MYW tickets “packaged” with the room reservation, the actual check-in date was the day the inherently “flexible” tickets became activated.

But for years before the "new tickets," after arrival, a guest could activate the MYW package tickets up to 10 days in advance, and upgrade if needed.

Disney has now, currently, really made these kind of "flexibility" things (which should be easy) nearly cost-prohibitive.

 

[scrappinginontario]

But for years before the "new tickets," after arrival, a guest could activate the MYW package tickets up to 10 days in advance, and upgrade if needed.

Disney has now, currently, really made these kind of "flexibility" things (which should be easy) nearly cost-prohibitive.

We looked at adding the 'flexibility' option to their tickets and it would cost almost $500! Umm...nope! Not paying that to enter the parks 1 day early.

They're currently looking at different options of things they can do their arrival day rather than go to a park, but still interested to find out if others have been successful in entering a park the day before the tickets linked to their package without adding the 'flexible' option?

 

[hiroMYhero]

Tagging @rteetz because I believe changing the start date up to 2 days early, upon arrival, has been allowed without the need for Modifying tickets to “Flexible.”

 

[rteetz]

Tagging @rteetz because I believe changing the start date up to 2 days early, upon arrival, has been allowed without the need for Modifying tickets to “Flexible.”

I want to say this is correct. This stuff is always tricky because Disney doesn't give clear and concise answers for these types of questions. I don't think anything would change with a free dining package as the tickets are just a requirement to get the free dining they aren't restricted to the dining days really.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Thanks everyone! Appreciate all your help!

 

[lanejudy]

I'm pretty sure I have read a couple of reports lately that someone was able to activate date-specific package tickets a day early, with an upgrade to add-on a day. But unfortunately my search terms are failing me at the moment and I can't find it. I'll keep looking.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[jklmrm]

I just returned from from a trip at POR with the same scenario. Free dining (with required ticket purchase) didn't start until July 5th, but we wanted to arrive a few days earlier to start our trip, as we had to return by the 13th but wanted 10 days there, so we added 3 room-only nights to the beginning. Because Disney had been so vague in whether or not it allowed the package tickets to be activated early, I sent the following email to ticket inquiries asking for clarification, so I'd have something in writing:

"Hello, I was wondering if I will be able to start using my Park tickets, purchased as part of a MYW package, a few days prior to my resort check in date. For example, we may be arriving in Florida a few days before our package reservation begins on July 5th, and was wondering if I might be able to start using my park admission tickets starting on July 3rd. Thank you. "

Here's the response I got:

Dear Jeff, Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort! It is possible to pick up your package tickets up to 10 days before your check-in date. We recommend that you stop by Guest Relations offices at the Theme Parks and Disney Springs® area to pick up your tickets. A Cast Member will be happy to assist you. Please note, that you will not be able to make FastPass+ selections prior to your package arrival date. Once you pick up your tickets you will be able to begin making selections. We look forward to seeing you soon! If you have any other questions or challenges, please do not hesitate to contact us by calling us at 407-W-DISNEY (407-934-7639) or by chatting with us in the Help Center of the Walt Disney World® website. Cast Members will be happy to assist you further. Sincerely, eCommerce Sales and Service Team

Interestingly, when I got to the resort to activate the tickets, they tried but were unable to do so in their computer after all. So the Front Desk Manager just ended up giving us all complimentary 2 day park hoppers to make us whole, so it worked out. But I'd recommend emailing as well so you'll have something in writing.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I just returned from from a trip at POR with the same scenario. Free dining (with required ticket purchase) didn't start until July 5th, but we wanted to arrive a few days earlier to start our trip, as we had to return by the 13th but wanted 10 days there, so we added 3 room-only nights to the beginning. Because Disney had been so vague in whether or not it allowed the package tickets to be activated early, I sent the following email to ticket inquiries asking for clarification, so I'd have something in writing:

"Hello, I was wondering if I will be able to start using my Park tickets, purchased as part of a MYW package, a few days prior to my resort check in date. For example, we may be arriving in Florida a few days before our package reservation begins on July 5th, and was wondering if I might be able to start using my park admission tickets starting on July 3rd. Thank you. "

Here's the response I got:

Dear Jeff, Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort! It is possible to pick up your package tickets up to 10 days before your check-in date. We recommend that you stop by Guest Relations offices at the Theme Parks and Disney Springs® area to pick up your tickets. A Cast Member will be happy to assist you. Please note, that you will not be able to make FastPass+ selections prior to your package arrival date. Once you pick up your tickets you will be able to begin making selections. We look forward to seeing you soon! If you have any other questions or challenges, please do not hesitate to contact us by calling us at 407-W-DISNEY (407-934-7639) or by chatting with us in the Help Center of the Walt Disney World® website. Cast Members will be happy to assist you further. Sincerely, eCommerce Sales and Service Team

Interestingly, when I got to the resort to activate the tickets, they tried but were unable to do so in their computer after all. So the Front Desk Manager just ended up giving us all complimentary 2 day park hoppers to make us whole, so it worked out. But I'd recommend emailing as well so you'll have something in writing.

Thanks so much! This is really helpful!!

I’m guessing the challenge you may have encountered with your tickets and Guest Services was that you were at your resort and not a park or DS as identified in the email.

As a Canadian, I know from first hand experience that we need to prove our residency at Guest Services located at a park or DS to activate our tickets. We also tried to do it at our resort but then when we got to the park Mickey turned blue and we had to show our passports again at Guest Services. Thankfully we had them with us as we knew this might happen, I was just trying to avoid the long lineup at Guest Services our first morning. We were about 20 mins in line at Guest Services which wasn’t bad but did eliminate our chances to ride SDMT before park opening with our BoG reservation.

I was pleasantly surprised when we were eating brekkie at BoG to receive an email from the Guest Services team. They were aware we’d had challenges getting in, wanted to ensure everything was okay and...offered us an anytime FP! We were able to ride SDMT after all!

All this to say, there are certain things that we need to do specifically at a park or DS Guest Services that we cannot do at a resort Guest Services.

 

[Robo]

I just returned from from a trip at POR with the same scenario. Free dining (with required ticket purchase) didn't start until July 5th, but we wanted to arrive a few days earlier to start our trip, as we had to return by the 13th but wanted 10 days there, so we added 3 room-only nights to the beginning. Because Disney had been so vague in whether or not it allowed the package tickets to be activated early, I sent the following email to ticket inquiries asking for clarification, so I'd have something in writing:

"Hello, I was wondering if I will be able to start using my Park tickets, purchased as part of a MYW package, a few days prior to my resort check in date. For example, we may be arriving in Florida a few days before our package reservation begins on July 5th, and was wondering if I might be able to start using my park admission tickets starting on July 3rd. Thank you. "

Here's the response I got:

Dear Jeff, Thank you for contacting the Walt Disney World® Resort! It is possible to pick up your package tickets up to 10 days before your check-in date. We recommend that you stop by Guest Relations offices at the Theme Parks and Disney Springs® area to pick up your tickets. A Cast Member will be happy to assist you. Please note, that you will not be able to make FastPass+ selections prior to your package arrival date. Once you pick up your tickets you will be able to begin making selections. We look forward to seeing you soon! If you have any other questions or challenges, please do not hesitate to contact us by calling us at 407-W-DISNEY (407-934-7639) or by chatting with us in the Help Center of the Walt Disney World® website. Cast Members will be happy to assist you further. Sincerely, eCommerce Sales and Service Team

Interestingly, when I got to the resort to activate the tickets, they tried but were unable to do so in their computer after all. So the Front Desk Manager just ended up giving us all complimentary 2 day park hoppers to make us whole, so it worked out. But I'd recommend emailing as well so you'll have something in writing.

Sadly, the information you got in the email is outdated.
That USED to be the standard "10 days prior to check-in" early package ticket activation rule when
"Magic Your Way Tickets" were being sold.
That "early pick-up" very specifically changed with the introduction of the current (and vastly inferior, in my estimation) "Theme Park Tickets"

It's unfortunately not surprising that the CM(s) you encountered just simply passed on to you the old, outdated rule. Almost surely it was sitting in someone's outdated file.
(Disney is infamous for NOT keeping their CMs updated on so, so many specifics... especially ticketing rules.)

Trying to keep the ticket information here on the DIS updated and accurate has become nearly impossible.
We do the best we can, but it often seems futile.

 

[vinotinto]

According to this post in @rteetz's Date-Based Tickets FAQ, TAs were told by Disney that you could not activate package tickets early. To me, it's unclear whether you cannot activate them early at all, or if you need to purchase the flexible date option to be able to activate them early. Would like to see confirmation either way from someone who has gone to Guest Services to do this.

 

[rteetz]

According to this post in @rteetz's Date-Based Tickets FAQ, TAs were told by Disney that you could not activate package tickets early. To me, it's unclear whether you cannot activate them early at all, or if you need to purchase the flexible date option to be able to activate them early. Would like to see confirmation either way from someone who has gone to Guest Services to do this.

Yeah it’s really confusing for this part. I would say you most likely can if you are within the use window. Otherwise yes the next best option would be getting the flexible option.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Yeah it’s really confusing for this part. I would say you most likely can if you are within the use window. Otherwise yes the next best option would be getting the flexible option.

OP here....

Exactly! I’m hoping people can share their personal experience of using (trying to use) their pkg tickets before the first date of their pkg.

In our situation my cousin, his wife and son have 7 day PH+ tickets as park of a FD pkg they booked in Jan. They have since added a 1 day room only reservation to their trip so they are now arriving 1 day earlier than they originally thought. Their flight lands in the morning so they’re wondering if they can go to a park the day they arrive rather than the first day of their pkg?

Adding the flexible option is almost $500 so it’s not a cost effective option for only a few hours of fun.

We’re just hoping to find if others have been granted access the day before their pkg without the flexible option without going all the way to a park only to be told ‘no’.

 

[hiroMYhero]

A TA has posted in this thread. But with Disney not giving clear info on early activation, reports by Guests will just be anecdotal.

@lanejudy and I have seen posts by Guests who have activated their tickets at least 1 day early.

 

[rteetz]

A TA has posted in this thread. But with Disney not giving clear info on early activation, reports by Guests will just be anecdotal.

@lanejudy and I have seen posts by Guests who have activated their tickets at least 1 day early.

Yeah my guess would be 1-2 days or within that window would be allowed. I would also think that Disney wouldn’t allow you to activate say weeks early or something without buying the flex option.

Disney is more clear about if you don’t use your ticket within the window you bought vs. using it early.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

I asked about this earlier this year, and was told by a guest services CM that the new rule changes meant no early ticket activation, BUT well...when I asked for clarification on assorted ticket policies, she wasn't sure about all of the policies.

I later asked a second CM, and he gave me a complete non-answer answer, "We might be able to offer a one-time exception in some cases, but it would only be a one-time exception. We might not be able to offer that exception at all. Officially, we are not offering guests the ability to access before the start of their package dates. If we were able to make any kind of exception, it would be very limited, like one day before the start of a package."

 

[Castlequeen5]

I asked a phone CM earlier this year too. He said I could start 1-2 days earlier, but I would have to do it at Guest Relations at one of the parks. We had the free dining package, that didn't start until July 5. I had concerns about doing so, since I read conflicting information. Ultimately I dropped the package and bought APs from Sam's instead, so I didn't find out if it would've worked.