Park hoppers from ebay?

[eeyoresmom]

Does anyone know if you can check before buying to make sure they're legit?

 

[DianeV]

Unfortunately no...having said that we have purchased passes/tickets on ebay alot and been lucky they were all good. BUT we only bought from people with good feedback. Also something to note if you are buying a one day one park ticket or an employee one day hopper those get exchanged when they are used so if they have one its most likely legit.

 

[DianeV]

Oh and another thing..we have actually had instances where the passes we purchased actually had more days left then the seller thought! So definitely check at Guest Relations before you use them, you may be surprised (in a good way)

 

[CarolMN]

Personally, I would not purchase a partially used WDW ticket from ebay - too risky for me. If the ticket is not as represented, you will likely just be out the money. You will definitely have no recourse from Disney. The back of PH and PHP tickets all state that they are nontransferrable.

While some people (like DianeV) have had good luck doing this, there are just as many who have not. Also, FWIW, it is illegal to sell partially used WDW tickets. Ebay should not be allowing these sales and I believe they will cancel the auction if they notice it.

 

[JenniferW]

I have looked into myself also and have not seen that they have been good deals. Just make sure you know how much you can buy them on your own before considering.

Jenn

 

[eeyoresmom]

Thanks. They really aren't good deals unless you need a one or two day hopper.

 

[MICOL]

I notice people bid more than it would cost them in the park. People sell one day tickets for more than $50. Someone paid 900 for 4 ,4 day hoppers, they actually cost about $800. People need to do research before bidding.

 

[Eric Julie and Hailey]

It is illegal to re-sell Disney park passes or to buy a used pass.

How do I know? I spent twelve hours in the Orlando city jail for buying a used ticket! I'm not kidding. Cost me $100 + court costs, too.

 

[MICOL]

Wow thanks for that update. We use ebay alot, not for tickets but hard to find things and some deals. Still people pay more on EBAY than they would as the Disney ticket booth.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by Eric, Julie and Hailey
It is illegal to re-sell Disney park passes or to buy a used pass.

How do I know? I spent twelve hours in the Orlando city jail for buying a used ticket! I'm not kidding. Cost me $100 + court costs, too.

WOW! I knew it was illegal to sell partially used tickets, but I did not realize it was also illegal to buy them.

This is the first I've heard of a buyer actually getting arrested and fined. Usually, they just seem to be out the money because the tickets were not what the sellar said they were. Sorry you had to learn the hard way. I sure hope that the seller got caught and his/her fine was more than yours.

It's absolutely none of my business, but I'd love to hear more details if you are not adverse to sharing. You weren't the victim of a police "sting operation" were you?

 

[Eric Julie and Hailey]

Yes, it was a police sting. It's been many years (1993 or 4), but the statutes remain the same.

 

[alvernon90]

The law on buying partially used WDW tickets is a Florida law. If you bought them from somebody standing near the ticket booths, you could get stung. But if neither the buyer nor the seller are from Florida, the transaction is not illegal.

Now Disney has a rule that the tickets are not transferable, but that is a company policy rather than a law. And it would be mighty hard to enforce on Park Hoppers, because there is nothing to link the first user to the ticket (they don't scan fingerprints or make you sign anything).

It's true that buying tickets on eBay is generally only a good deal if you want to park hop for three days or less, because Disney doesn't sell those tickets. However, make sure the seller has a good feedback rating. Better yet, if you can afford to invest the cash up front, buy the legit tickets and sell the unused days yourself. You will almost certainly end up paying less per day than you would being the buyer.

 

[BethR]

Originally posted by alvernon90
The law on buying partially used WDW tickets is a Florida law... if neither the buyer nor the seller are from Florida, the transaction is not illegal.

Does that mean that if I would go over the speed limit on a Florida highway, that I could not get a ticket since I am not a Florida resident?

 

[DMRick]

Does that mean that if I would go over the speed limit on a Florida highway, that I could not get a ticket since I am not a Florida resident

Two different types of law. Compare it more to paying sales tax. If I sell on eBay, and sell to someone in NY (my state)..I need to charge and pay to the state sales tax (state Law). But if I sell to a Florida resident, I don't have to collect sales tax.

Another example would be slot machines. Some states will not allow them to be sold to people in their states, unless they only use slugs..and the states are generally listed. In the hopper case, I seldom see people who live in Fl say they can't sell to a Florida resident...but I have seen it on occasion.

This person was just stating local law on buying hoppers on line. I thought your answer was a bit sarcastic, when she was being helpful.

I know the feeling most people have on buying hoppers on line..however, I know people who have bought tickets on line, and I have sold them myself, and if payment is made via paypal, you can do a chargeback, if they are misrepresented (although I dont' know of anyone who has had that problem from eBay)..so although you have to use caution, that would be true with most anything sold on eBay.

 

[Eric Julie and Hailey]

I respectfully disagree that the Florida law does not apply to non-residents. I agree, it might be impossible for Disney to know what transpired -- and Florida cannot arrest you while you are in another state -- but, being a non-resident does not give you license to break the Florida law.

It's just a personal choice, I suppose.

By the way, while the seller does not have to collect sales tax from a non-resident buyer -- the buyer is technically supposed to pay sales tax to his resident state when filing his income tax return. (I can't imagine that anyone doed it, though.)

 

[DMRick]

I respectfully disagree that the Florida law does not apply to non-residents.

What are you basing this on..that Florida law would apply to other states? Maybe you are thinking that we are talking about visiting Florida while selling the tickets..scalping them maybe outside the parks and we are from other states. We are talking about selling on eBay..and it is not illegal..except apparently to sell to Fl residents,

The law would not be being broken...the law only applies to people living or spending time in Florida. The law is, that when selling on eBay (which is what was being talked about here), you cannot sell these tickets to a Florida resident (and maybe that isn't even against the law..maybe the law is just that you can't sell within the state of FL). If I don't live in Florida and buy or sell a ticket from eBay to a different state, then I'm breaking no law..how do you figure I am? If I lived in Florida, than the law would pertain to me. Just like it's illegal to eat ice cream in a small town in NY on Sunday's before 4 PM..doesn't make it the law in your town (and that's a pretty dumb, but true law!).

Yes, you are suppose to pay sales tax to your own state..I just assume people do. But if they do or do not has nothing to do with me, the seller. The law says I, as a seller, only have to collect from NY people, since I live in NY, and I do..and then I pay that collected tax to NYS, faithfully. That is the comparison I was making...as I was with the slot machines. Some states do not let you sell working slot machines to certain states..doesn't mean all the people in the other states have to follow one state's laws.

It may be illegal to sell these tickets to a Florida resident, or within Florida, but if I don't live in Florida and I want to sell them to someone in NY on eBay, it is not against the law to do that (unless NY had the same law). For those who ask why eBay allows it..this is the explanation..because it is not illegal in all states.

I would never make a personal choice to break any law..and I think you are addressing the person (not a certain person per se), and not the issue.

 

[CarolMN]

The only place WDW tickets can be used is in Florida. When you purchase WDW tickets outside of Florida, you do not pay the sales tax of the state in which you purchase the tickets. You pay the Florida tax.

I am not so sure that it is legal to sell or purchase partially used WDW tickets if you are not a Florida resident and/or not in Florida at the time. It certainly is less likely that you will get caught, though.

Legality aside, I still think that it is very risky to buy partially used tickets from a stranger when there is no way to check ahead of time that the tickets are as represented. I have read many horror stories of people being cheated by people who sell things (not necessarily tickets) on ebay. They did not get their $$ back. IMHO, it is very much a situation of "buyer beware"!

 

[DMRick]

I have read many horror stories of people being cheated by people who sell things (not necessarily tickets) on ebay.

That is why I would suggest if you buy from eBay, you do two things. Check the persons feedback, and pay via Paypal using your credit card..so you can not only do a Paypal chargeback, but if needed a credit card chargeback. I personally have had no problems buying items on eBay following these rules. I think it's a lot safer, than buying off a street corner, if you follow those rules. It's a bonus for someone who wants a one or two day hopper, which you can't get at Disney direct. But you are right..use caution, just like with any purchase on eBay. Personally, if you can afford it and you ever think you will go back, I would go for the 4-5 day hoppers and save them for the future. But not everyone can afford that.

 

[danjulia]

IMO - 99.9% of the buyers and sellers on Ebay are good honest people using a very unique way to find people interested in their stuff. We have never had a problem with any Ebay transactions - Disney related or not.

 

[Eric Julie and Hailey]

I did not intend to get into a heated debate on this subject. It is a personal choice -- and, I'm just saying I wouldn't do it.

I also note that, contractually, a transfer exposes the seller and buyer to civil liability. The ticket says "non-transferable" -- all parties are on notice of that when the "transfer" occurs.

Criminally or civilly, I truly believe a risk is being taken -- whether the parties will get caught is another question (but, remember, eBay transactions are easily traceable).

Good luck!