Please help! Completely confused about options for tickets

[nicole0992]

Hi,

I have read the ticketing sticky at the top of this forum but still am not sure what to do in my situation. I will try to explain what is going on.

I have a trip booked for this July this is paid in full and includes 8 day park hopper pass. Yesterday everything fell into place unexpectedly for me to take another trip this August for free dining. I haven't booked the August trip yet because I have no idea what to do about the ticketing. I have never been fortunate enough to get to go to WDW twice in one year so the park hoppers is all I usually get.

Would it be better for me to upgrade my 8 day July pass before I leave to an annual pass? Is the minimum ticket for a free dining package 2 days? Would that expire if I don't use it? Could that ticket be used at Disneyland?

What would you do if you were in my situation? Should I just get the 2 8- day park hoppers (both trips are 7 nights)?

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. I have to book the trip immediately and need to figure out the ticketing issue before I do so.

THANK YOU!
Nicole

 

[laceemouse]

I can answer some of this.
NO, you can not use WDW tickets at DL.

Yes, you do have to buy at least some tickets to get the free food (I am not sure how many days, but they would expire for sure.)

If it were me I would not pay for hopping, there is no need to hop around when you have 14+ days to do the parks. No need at all!

I could not do two trips that close together, even if my dh could get off work, that would be too much for me. Plus, it will be HOT both times.

 

[DISHoppy]

Hi,

I have read the ticketing sticky at the top of this forum but still am not sure what to do in my situation. I will try to explain what is going on.

I have a trip booked for this July (14-21) this is paid in full and includes 8 day park hopper pass. Yesterday everything fell into place unexpectedly for me to take another trip this August (18-25) for free dining. I haven't booked the August trip yet because I have no idea what to do about the ticketing. I have never been fortunate enough to get to go to WDW twice in one year so the park hoppers is all I usually get.

Would it be better for me to upgrade my 8 day July pass before I leave to an annual pass? Is the minimum ticket for a free dining package 2 days? Would that expire if I don't use it? Could that ticket be used at Disneyland?

What would you do if you were in my situation? Should I just get the 2 8- day park hoppers (both trips are 7 nights)?

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. I have to book the trip immediately and need to figure out the ticketing issue before I do so.

THANK YOU!
Nicole

My $.02....

1. If the park tix were purchased through Di$ney, I would upgrade to APs before you go. If they were through a 3rd party, wait until you get there and upgrade them @ a park after first use.

2. The minimum is a 1-day pass for the DDP.

3. WDW tix cannot be used @ Disneyland. The only passes that can be used @ both WDW and DL are the new Premium APs.

-Kevin

 

[Mickey & Minnie Mom]

I would make sure the free dining is really the best price for the August trip. Sometimes with AP or general public discounts on rooms, you do better (save more money) paying for discounted room and the dining plan.

I don't know if you have to buy a 2-day ticket or not. It was just a 1-day when we've booked packages yet had APs. You can hang on to them for the future since as long as you don't use them (activate), they'll be good forever. You can use them later to upgrade to whatever ticket you need at that time.

If you would be happy doing just 5 days in the parks each trip, you could just do a 10 day parkhopper (assuming you actually would park hop). Could then be used for both trips.

If you want to hit parks 8 days each time and do hopping, the AP is your best choice. You can also be eligible for other discounts, including rooms, dining, shopping, water sports, etc.

Good luck.

 

[DISHoppy]

If it were me I would not pay for hopping, there is no need to hop around when you have 14+ days to do the parks. No need at all!

I could not do two trips that close together, even if my dh could get off work, that would be too much for me. Plus, it will be HOT both times.

Ditto. Unless the trips would also involve different activities like KSC or Universal. Also, APs allow hopping which could be helpful for dining in Epcot, etc. while spending a day in another park.

Also, keep in mind if you buy an AP, you can also buy a Tables in Wonderland (TIW) card for $75, which provides a 20% discount on food purchases. Depending on where you choose to dine this may be better than buying the DDP. We like to dine @ the signature restaurants, so the TIW is more cost-effective than using 2 TS credits for restaurants like Artist Point, Cali Grill, Jiko, etc.

-Kevin

 

[MHSweb79]

You can't use a 10-day parkhopper for both trips, as tickets expire 14 days after the first use.

I would also check into the real value of "free" dining. You do have to pay full price for your room, so if you only have two people in the room (like us) that can cut significantly into any savings. I have also heard that they now make you buy a 2-day admission for each person, so that expense can add up too, although the tickets will not expire if they are unused.

But if I were you, I'd get the Annual Pass.

 

[DISHoppy]

You can't use a 10-day parkhopper for both trips, as tickets expire 14 days after the first use.

In which case, you would upgrade to non-expire tix.

-Kevin

 

[BrettS]

Looking at the numbers, an 8 day ticket with the hopper option is $307.79 (including tax), so you'd be looking at $615.58 in tickets for both trips. An annual pass would be $520.79, so you'd definitely save money that way. You can upgrade your 8 day ticket to an AP during your trip if you decide to go that route.

The current free dining promotion does require a purchase of at least a 2 day park ticket. However, unused tickets never expire, so you can save that ticket and use it on another trip (and upgrade it to whatever you need for that trip) or even use it toward your AP renewal next year if you decide to renew your AP. You can use WDW tickets at DL, however, I'm not sure it really makes sense to do this. The 2 day ticket is worth $166.14 and I believe that a 2 day ticket at DL is much less than that (and since you're a CA resident, you can probably get an even better deal).

As a PP suggested, you might want to look into getting an AP discount on your hotel stay and paying for dining in August... it may wind up being cheaper, or close to the same price and then you wouldn't have that extra ticket to worry about. You can book a room at the AP rate without having your AP in hand... they just need to see it at the hotel when you check in (or the next day if you still need to purchase an AP). So you might even be able to get a better deal for your July trip with the AP rate as well.

Finally, since you do live in CA and apparently go to DL at times, you might want to consider the new Premire Annual pass... it's good at both WDW and DL and would be $722.75... only about $200 more than the WDW AP... if you make one or two trips to DL in the next year in addition to your WDW trips you could definitely save money that way.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Hi,

I have read the ticketing sticky at the top of this forum but still am not sure what to do in my situation. I will try to explain what is going on.

I have a trip booked for this July (14-21) this is paid in full and includes 8 day park hopper pass. Yesterday everything fell into place unexpectedly for me to take another trip this August (18-25) for free dining. I haven't booked the August trip yet because I have no idea what to do about the ticketing. I have never been fortunate enough to get to go to WDW twice in one year so the park hoppers is all I usually get.

Would it be better for me to upgrade my 8 day July pass before I leave to an annual pass? Is the minimum ticket for a free dining package 2 days? Would that expire if I don't use it? Could that ticket be used at Disneyland?

What would you do if you were in my situation? Should I just get the 2 8- day park hoppers (both trips are 7 nights)?

Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. I have to book the trip immediately and need to figure out the ticketing issue before I do so.

THANK YOU!
Nicole

I don't know the answer to if WDW can be used at DL... but...

You could definitely upgrade your July tickets to AP's withing 14 days of their first use.

You must buy at least a 2-day base ticket for everyone in order to get Free Dining in August. THIS TICKET WILL NOT EXPIRE AS LONG AS YOU DON'T USE IT! I've read that you can even have the park tickets extracted from your KTTW card at the resort - this may require a manager's help.

You need to decide what's best for you. If you can find a later use for the 2-day base tickets (could be upgraded at any later time), and you don't mind having your money tied-up/invested in unused 2-day base tickets, then an AP would probably be the cheaper way to go this year.

Have fun! I've been trying to talk myself into upgrading my tickets to an AP this August and taking another trip before they expire.

 

[nicole0992]

Thanks for all the replies so far. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to help me. The first trip is totally paid for and is a package including 8 day park hopper. It is too late to upgrade that to an annual pass at this time, correct? Also, would I be able to just upgrade mine and not my daughter who is also traveling with me in July?

The second trip I would never be going so close together and both in summer if it wasn't special circumstances. We have just found out that my cousins who live in Italy will be in WDW for 2 weeks in August. I haven't seen some of them in over 10 years. It really is important for me to go and see them while they will be here in the US. They also have never been to Disney World so I would like to go and help them around which is why I would need the ability to park hop. Hope this makes sense.

So, if I were to upgrade to an annual pass I would save $89 or so over the price of 2 - 8 day park hoppers. I am still trying to figure this all out.

Thanks for all your help and replies. I really appreciate it.
Nicole

 

[tpsh007]

Ditto about the free dining. You are going in August. Have you checked the 40% discounts at deluxe resorts (less at the other ones). It could be cheaper to get a room that way and pay cash for dining (depending on number of persons, where you stay etc). This and upgrading the first pass to AP will solve all problems.

 

[It'sWDW4me]

Thanks for all the replies so far. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to help me. The first trip is totally paid for and is a package including 8 day park hopper. It is too late to upgrade that to an annual pass at this time, correct? Also, would I be able to just upgrade mine and not my daughter who is also traveling with me in July?

The second trip I would never be going so close together and both in summer if it wasn't special circumstances. We have just found out that my cousins who live in Italy will be in WDW for 2 weeks in August. I haven't seen some of them in over 10 years. It really is important for me to go and see them while they will be here in the US. They also have never been to Disney World so I would like to go and help them around which is why I would need the ability to park hop. Hope this makes sense.

So, if I were to upgrade to an annual pass I would save $89 or so over the price of 2 - 8 day park hoppers. I am still trying to figure this all out.

Thanks for all your help and replies. I really appreciate it.
Nicole

Yes, until you check in, everyone on the reservation has to have the same type of ticket. Once you check in, everything's "exploded" and you can upgrade each individual ticket differently. You'll probably need to take your ticket to a guest services window to upgrade your ticket to an AP before you leave in July.

 

[nicole0992]

Finally, since you do live in CA and apparently go to DL at times, you might want to consider the new Premire Annual pass... it's good at both WDW and DL and would be $722.75... only about $200 more than the WDW AP... if you make one or two trips to DL in the next year in addition to your WDW trips you could definitely save money that way.

See, I totally forgot about that option too! Thanks for reminding me of that. I live only 45 minutes from Disneyland so I am there at least once a month. I always have an annual pass but mine for this year expires in September. This might be another route to go. Will have to look into this more.

Thanks!

 

[Robo]

1- Is the minimum ticket for a free dining package 2 days?

2- Would that expire if I don't use it?

3- Could that ticket be used at Disneyland?

1- Looks to be the case this year.

2-Nope. Stays good "forever" until it is first used to enter a theme park.

3- Yes. WDW MYW tickets CAN be used directly at DL.
If you have "two days" on a valid WDW MYW ticket, you can use those assets to visit DL on two days.
If you have not paid for the MYW ticket to be non-expiring, once you use it, the remaining assets will expire within the next 13 days. (14 days, if you count the day that you first used the ticket.)

 

[DISHoppy]

3- Yes. WDW MYW tickets CAN be used directly at DL.
If you have "two days" on a valid WDW MYW ticket, you can use those assets to visit DL on two days.

Robo, when did this change? My cousin tripped down there several years agao, and somehow ended up with DL tix that were not honored @ WDW. They were basically out $1K in tix for a party of 4, and now they won't ever go back to WDW.

-Kevin

 

[Robo]

Robo, when did this change? My cousin tripped down there several years agao, and somehow ended up with DL tix that were not honored @ WDW. They were basically out $1K in tix for a party of 4, and now they won't ever go back to WDW.

-Kevin

I didn't say that DL tickets can be used at WDW (they can't, directly.)

I said WDW MYW tickets can be used at DL.

(As to the DL tickets at WDW:
They can be traded-in at a ticket booth/Guest Relations and their VALUE used to help purchase WDW tickets.)



Be sure to read Cheshire Figment's permanent "Sticky" post (found at the top of this forum)
Everything About WDW Tickets - CLICK HERE

 

[nicole0992]

3- Yes. WDW MYW tickets CAN be used directly at DL.
If you have "two days" on a valid WDW MYW ticket, you can use those assets to visit DL on two days.
If you have not paid for the MYW ticket to be non-expiring, once you use it, the remaining assets will expire within the next 13 days. (14 days, if you count the day that you first used the ticket.)

Could this 2 day WDW MYW ticket (required for free dining) be used towards a new Disneyland annual pass? Is it transferable or just in my name? If I could do that towards my husband's new annual pass at DL that would work out for that extra 2 day ticket. If not, I always have relatives and friends coming to visit that I take to DL that could use that ticket.

So many options here. I am taking note of all of them and still trying to figure out what is best for me.

Thanks again.

 

[seashoreCM]

The unused DL ticket can be traded in by anybody (in Florida) towards a WDW ticket. No change is returned. The trade in value would be roughly what it cost when it was issued.

The unused WDW ticket can be traded in by anybody (in Anaheim) towards a DL AP too.

Annual passes are not bookable as part of a package, but you can upgrade package tickets to AP's at a park or at a Guest Relations booth at Downtown Disney..

 

[Robo]

1- Could this 2 day WDW MYW ticket (required for free dining) be used towards a new Disneyland annual pass?

2- Is it transferable or just in my name?

1- As far as I know, it can. (It's all "Disney money." ) It would have to be done at DL.

2- New, unused tickets are transferable.

 

[BrettS]

Thanks for all the replies so far. I really appreciate everyone taking the time to help me. The first trip is totally paid for and is a package including 8 day park hopper. It is too late to upgrade that to an annual pass at this time, correct? Also, would I be able to just upgrade mine and not my daughter who is also traveling with me in July?

You can't get an AP with a package anyway, so even if it wasn't already paid for and all you couldn't do it now. However, it's easy to upgrade your ticket when you get to the park... just use it once to enter a park, and then go to Guest Relations and tell them you want to upgrade it. They'll charge you the difference between the AP your want and the price of an 8 day park hopper.

It's not a problem to only upgrade your ticket and leave your daugter's as is.