Please help me figure out ticket purchase:)

[Surgie2]

If I buy from a broker site like Undercover Tourist, the price is cheaper but does not include the Magic Bands so must exchange ticket at Will-Call if we want bands, which I think we do.

If I buy online from Disney I assume Magic Bands are included or at least available for purchase?

I am trying to make this vacation as hassle-free as possible but don't want to do something dumb when I could've easily saved some $$. It seems easiest to just get tickets and bands from Disney to begin with...through perhaps as a separate transaction and not part of a package with onsite hotel in case there is a hotel price drop? Oh my gosh, I am glad I started thinking and planning 20 months before our trip LOL! And thankful for everyone's help!

Also, if we KNOW we are going in 2018, does it make sense to go ahead and buy park tickets now...they will only go up in price and we could have that expense out of the way. Assume I could resell if for some reason we didn't go? Help - I know so little!!!

 

[Robo]

If I buy from a broker site like Undercover Tourist, the price is cheaper but does not include the Magic Bands so must exchange ticket at Will-Call if we want bands, which I think we do.

1. If I buy online from Disney I assume Magic Bands are included
2. or at least available for purchase?

I am trying to make this vacation as hassle-free as possible but don't want to do something dumb when I could've easily saved some $$.

3. It seems easiest to just get tickets and bands from Disney to begin with...through perhaps as a separate transaction and
4. not part of a package with onsite hotel in case there is a hotel price drop? Oh my gosh, I am glad I started thinking and planning 20 months before our trip LOL! And thankful for everyone's help!

Also,
5. if we KNOW we are going in 2018, does it make sense to go ahead and buy park tickets now...
6. they will only go up in price and we could have that expense out of the way.
7. Assume I could resell if for some reason we didn't go? Help - I know so little!!!

Ticket purchases never include MagicBands.

1. Nope.
2. MagicBands are ALWAYS available for purchase and use with ANY WDW tickets, from any source.
3. To save money you should buy from a discounter like undercovertourist.com or Parksavers.com
4. THAT'S how you get "free" MagicBands... by staying at a WDW Resort.
The MBs are included in your resort room fee.
5. Yes.
6. Yes.
7. Well, that's not usually the choice (keeping the tickets for a future trip is usually the choice)
But, it is legal to sell new, never-used WDW tickets... it's just that many folks are leery
of buying tickets from individuals, as they have no easy way of knowing if the tickets are
valid.

 

[dkfajr1]

If you are staying onsite you will automatically get magic bands, even if you buy from undercover tourist. If you are staying off site you will have to purchase bands when you arrive.

 

[Surgie2]

Thank you so much Robo - makes sense now!

 

[figment74]

I am trying to make this vacation as hassle-free as possible but don't want to do something dumb when I could've easily saved some $$. It seems easiest to just get tickets and bands from Disney to begin with...through perhaps as a separate transaction and not part of a package with onsite hotel in case there is a hotel price drop? Oh my gosh, I am glad I started thinking and planning 20 months before our trip LOL! And thankful for everyone's help!

Also, if we KNOW we are going in 2018, does it make sense to go ahead and buy park tickets now...they will only go up in price and we could have that expense out of the way. Assume I could resell if for some reason we didn't go? Help - I know so little!!!

I am using Disney Gift cards that I prchased from Bj's for about %5 off the price. Then I'll use those cards to buy an AP, I use the AP to get a discount on the room and of course my room included Magic Bands. Got mine last week.
IMHO the most hassle free option is to book on-site at a Disney Hotel. You get Magical Express to the Hotel (no need for a rental) ME picks up your luggage and sends it to the room. Tickets, Room Key, and CC can all be linked to your (included) Magic Band.

Hope this helps.

 

[Surgie2]

Yes, that helps! I agree, we are going to stay on site - probably Poly, to make it most convenient for those with little ones to return to the hotel as needed. I just don't know about buying an AP. We truly won't be making another trip to Disney after this one within the same 12 months. We're just too far away!

 

[Charmagne]

If I buy from a broker site like Undercover Tourist, the price is cheaper but does not include the Magic Bands so must exchange ticket at Will-Call if we want bands, which I think we do.

If I buy online from Disney I assume Magic Bands are included or at least available for purchase?

I am trying to make this vacation as hassle-free as possible but don't want to do something dumb when I could've easily saved some $$. It seems easiest to just get tickets and bands from Disney to begin with...through perhaps as a separate transaction and not part of a package with onsite hotel in case there is a hotel price drop? Oh my gosh, I am glad I started thinking and planning 20 months before our trip LOL! And thankful for everyone's help!

Also, if we KNOW we are going in 2018, does it make sense to go ahead and buy park tickets now...they will only go up in price and we could have that expense out of the way. Assume I could resell if for some reason we didn't go? Help - I know so little!!!

First of all, breathe! You're going to Disney World!
I empathize with all your concerns! Coming from someone who booked her Disneymoon two months before and is only a few weeks before the big trip, I was still able to get all my ADRs but one, FP options sorted, and get a decent rate for my hotel. Don't feel pressured to book right away to save a few dollars, because like you said, Disney might introduce better hotel promos later on, or the price of the tickets may go up. It's a toss up either way.

I'd recommend that you wait until you feel comfortable putting a large down payment into your trip. That's what we did! Yes, you may save some money using a broker site, and I haven't done much research on using a third party, but I will tell you, if you book everything yourself, bundling it altogether will give you more value! I calculated the cost of buying tickets and hotel separately and compared that to bundling. It comes out to several dollars difference, per person. And the benefit of bundling is that it's less hassle plus you get a bunch of discounts and free tickets to play golf at their golf course! Even if you're not interested in golf, the discounts at select places is a great value if you're planning to buy souvenirs. Also, if you buy from the disney site, the price DOES include the magic bands, for sure.

I'd also highly advice if you were considering offsite choices, that you stay at an onsite hotel. You get the convenience of Disney's Magical Express if you're flying, using the bus system to and from the parks, and if you're driving/using a rental car you get free parking at the parks for the rest of your stay. Not only can staying at an onsite hotel guarantee you'll be immersed in Disney for the length of your stay, you also have access to Extra Magic Hours on different days in the different parks. I know I sound like an ad for hotels, but this all just sounds so great!

If you do buy the package deal, and learn you can't go, Disney will refund your money FULLY, up to 31 days before the first day of your trip. from 30 days to 2 days, you'll get charged a fine for cancelling on short notice.
Hope this helps!

 

[Surgie2]

Yes, Charmagne that is very helpful! We are definitely staying on site - probably Poly. I am hoping we don't need rental cars at all. Planning to use DME from airport. With 4 kids in the group under the age of 6 it is just TOO much dealing with rental cars and hauling car seats. I am happy to visit parks and hang at the resort. If the parents want a half day at Universal they can Uber and Nana and Papa will be happy at the pool with the little ones.

 

[Robo]

Also, if you buy from the disney site, the price DOES include the magic bands, for sure.

Sorry, but that's just not the case.
Buying tickets from Disney does not include MagicBands.

MagicBands are supplied as one off the perks of staying at a WDW resort.

 

[Charmagne]

Sorry, but that's just not the case.
Buying tickets from Disney does not include MagicBands.

MagicBands are supplied as one off the perks of staying at a WDW resort.

Nope. Didn't say buying tickets alone would, but i was referring to bundling tickets and onsite hotel.

 

[Hopefully]

To further what @Robo said, you don't need to bundle tickets with a resort stay to get Magic Bands. The resort reservation alone gets Magic Bands. You can buy tickets from anywhere at anytime and it has no affect on Magic Bands.

 

[figment74]

I agree with this. I booked a room for 2 next week at CS, with no tickets. I wasn't even planning on going to the parks, but the MB is automatic since it'll be my room key as well as CC, and if I had tickets to the parks, that as well.

 

[bumbershoot]

I will tell you, if you book everything yourself, bundling it altogether will give you more value! I calculated the cost of buying tickets and hotel separately and compared that to bundling. It comes out to several dollars difference, per person. And the benefit of bundling is that it's less hassle plus you get a bunch of discounts and free tickets to play golf at their golf course!

It may have been the case for your situation that a package worked better, but it is by no means always the case. And seeing such a difference as you did I would have to go back and find out where my error was.


Given the first post it's important that we go back and carefully explain MBs and where they come from, etc, and not possibly confuse her by talking about buying packages being the way to get MBs, because ANY onsite hotel reservation, reserved ANY way, is what gets those.

 

[figment74]

100% agree with this, I was very surprised that My Room only resi resulted in 2 MBs. I even got to customize them. (add my name and her name on the bottom)

 

[Surgie2]

Ok so to be sure I am not confused - LOL! - I can book an onsite hotel - 3 rooms for 9 people + and infant - and I will be sent in the mail (I live is USA) 9 MBs that are customized with names. I can buy park tickets at the time I make the hotel reservation or I can buy park tickets in the future from Disney or a discount site and I can add the ticket info to the magic bands via MDE as soon as I have the tickets in hand (or via email). Did I get that right? Oh my gosh, I need Disney School - I guess that's what these forums are!

 

[caliope]

Ok so to be sure I am not confused - LOL! - I can book an onsite hotel - 3 rooms for 9 people + and infant - and I will be sent in the mail (I live is USA) 9 MBs that are customized with names. I can buy park tickets at the time I make the hotel reservation or I can buy park tickets in the future from Disney or a discount site and I can add the ticket info to the magic bands via MDE as soon as I have the tickets in hand (or via email). Did I get that right? Oh my gosh, I need Disney School - I guess that's what these forums are!

That sounds right. I think you'll also get a Magic Band for the infant, though he/she won't "need" it. We had a room only reservation (no tickets) at POR in 2015 and my then 2 year old (Disney "infant") got his own Magic Band too.

 

[Robo]

That sounds right. I think you'll also get a Magic Band for the infant, though he/she won't "need" it.

Correct.

 

[Robo]

Ok so to be sure I am not confused - LOL! -

1. I can book an onsite hotel - 3 rooms for 9 people + and infant - and I will be sent in the mail (I live is USA) 9 MBs that are customized with names.

2. I can buy park tickets at the time I make the hotel reservation or I can buy park tickets in the future from Disney or a discount site and I can add the ticket info to the magic bands via MDE as soon as I have the tickets in hand (or via email).

1. You'll get 10 MagicBands at no extra charge.
2. Yes.

 

[figment74]

Ok so to be sure I am not confused - LOL! - I can book an onsite hotel - 3 rooms for 9 people + and infant - and I will be sent in the mail (I live is USA) 9 MBs that are customized with names. I can buy park tickets at the time I make the hotel reservation or I can buy park tickets in the future from Disney or a discount site and I can add the ticket info to the magic bands via MDE as soon as I have the tickets in hand (or via email). Did I get that right? Oh my gosh, I need Disney School - I guess that's what these forums are!

I just want to make sure that when you say "On Site Hotel" that you are referring to a Disney Hotel and not a Hotel on Property Like the Hilton Hotel.

If you are staying at Disney resort you should get magic bands when you book.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/resorts/

 

[Robo]

Have a great trip!