Please Help Me Help a Friend Plan a Trip

[antmaril]

I have a friend who is planning a trip for her family (herself, husband, three year old son and 15 month old daughter) for five nights beginning September 5th. She wants to take advantage of the free dining.

She and her husband have old park hoppers with three days left on them. We know that she would have to buy one day park tickets for her, her husband and her son.

They may not use the one day tickets on this trip. They may just use the old hoppers and go to Sea World one day. She was told by a CM today that the one day ticket would expire at the end of their stay. I thought that ticket would expire 14 days after use. If she doesn't use it, it won't expire.

Also, (since her son doesn't have a hopper) she would like to upgrade his ticket at check-in. She was told she can't do that. I thought they would be able to buy his one day ticket (along with theirs) and then upgrade his ticket to a hopper when they arrive. The CM she spoke to today said nope can't do it.

Anyone have any thoughts on this? I'd appreciate it. She thinks I am the Queen of Disney and I'm trying to give her proper guidance

The CM she had today was not nice to her at all. I told that when that happens you call back and get someone else. She wants me to be on the call with her this afternoon and I need your expertise!!

Thanks.

 

[sunny_stace]

to her son's admission she should be able to upgrade the ticket at any guest relations spot in her resort (if on-site), or in any of the 4 main parks! I've been told by in-park CMs that sometimes the ones in the DCR office don't know all the facts ( which I find a little off-putting ). The tickets will expire within 14 days of their first use unless the no-expiry option is purchased for the ticket. If you have any other questions feel free to PM me or email me! Hope I could help.

 

[Wendy1953]

I believe they would have to use the one day park tickets, since that is why you have to buy at least one to get the dining plan....I would tell her to use the one day tickets, and then use the park hoppers from previous trip since they are non-expiring!

Also, I believe the CM she spoke to was not well informed...I've heard many times that people can upgrade their tickets upon arrival at the hotel and/or the parks. she should speak with another CM and say she made a mistake when she ordered the ticket and now needs to have it fixed to a park hopper one!

 

[puddleduck]

You can upgrade your passes once you get there. That's what my dh and plan to do when we get there in Sept. When I booked the package I got 3 day base tickets. When we get there I will upgrade the tickets to 7 day non-expiring park hoppers because we are going back with the kids in Nov. I asked the cm when I booked the package and she said that would be no problem.

 

[antmaril]

Thanks very much for your replies. I know they can upgrade their tickets when they get there, but they only need to upgrade their son's ticket, since he is the only one without a hopper. Do you think they can just upgrade his ticket (independent of their tickets)?

Thanks again!

 

[missmun52]

 

[missmun52]

Thanks very much for your replies. I know they can upgrade their tickets when they get there, but they only need to upgrade their son's ticket, since he is the only one without a hopper. Do you think they can just upgrade his ticket (independent of their tickets)?

Thanks again!

No, they cant if they are in a package. ( actually yes they can but not on the phone, at the park)

 

[antmaril]

Okay - what about this? Use his one day base ticket and buy him a two-day park hopper? Can they use his one day ticket, without using theirs?

 

[missmun52]

Okay - what about this? Use his one day base ticket and buy him a two-day park hopper? Can they use his one day ticket, without using theirs?

No need to do this stick with the original plan

 

[missmun52]

Okay - what about this? Use his one day base ticket and buy him a two-day park hopper? Can they use his one day ticket, without using theirs?

yes, i do believe so

 

[missmun52]

you know what, i did a little looking and in response to your original question, yes you can buy the one day passes for all and upgrade the childs when you get to disney at one of the park gates. So no need to buy an extra two day ticket.

 

[antmaril]

you know what, i did a little looking and in response to your original question, yes you can buy the one day passes for all and upgrade the childs when you get to disney at one of the park gates. So no need to buy an extra two day ticket.

Can you tell me where you found that because the CMs are telling her she cannot do it. Everyone on the package has to have the same ticket. However, it seemed to me that once you get there and check-in, you could have his ticket upgraded at Guest Services. Actually, I called WDW last week and asked this question and was told it could be done. However, she has talked to different CMs this week and was told no.

I hate when you get conflicting information.

Thanks for your help.

 

[missmun52]

Can you tell me where you found that because the CMs are telling her she cannot do it. Everyone on the package has to have the same ticket. However, it seemed to me that once you get there and check-in, you could have his ticket upgraded at Guest Services. Actually, I called WDW last week and asked this question and was told it could be done. However, she has talked to different CMs this week and was told no.

I hate when you get conflicting information.

Thanks for your help.

Technically you can. Disney does not allow it though, so they are not going to tell you that it is allowed. There are loop holes in thier system. I would say buy the one day tickets then when she gets there she upgrades just the childs. If they tell you no you cant do that then she can just buy an extra 2 day childs ticket and save the two adult ones for a future trip. When you make your reservations you have to put everyone on the same plan but once you get there you can upgrade the individual tickets as you please.

Personally, i was planning on putting my 2 year old on the dining plan but saying he was 3, paying for a one day ticket for him then upgrading the two adults when we got there ( he has several food allergies cant share with anyone). I am debating this very thing myself because i dont want them to fix the loop holes and then i end up paying for a 7 day ticket for him. In your case there is nothing to relly lose, only to gain. If they tell you that it is not possible upon arrival then you just leave it as is and buy the 2 day pass for him.

Worse case: you end up using the two adult tickets for the child: the value of $126, if they were to upgrade the childs ticket to a 3 day pass it would cost an extra $ 97 dollars. If you were to just buy an extra 2 day ticket it would cost $103 extra. In the very worst case (using the adult tickets) you stand to lose only $29 dollars, buying the extra 2 day ticket is only 6 dollars extra, not much at all. So i say if they feel unsafe just go ahead and buy an extra 2 day ticket, at least this will give them peace of mind and 6 dollars is like pennies.
These prices are based on base tickets- for hopper just add $41 dollars to each price given.

Also if they want 4 day tickets then it becomes more trickey because its the 4 day mark when the price per day drops and you start saving.

Hope that helped, i know its a long explenantion, hope not too confusing.

 

[antmaril]

Thanks very much for taking the time to answer. I'm going to print it off and study it for a minute!

I appreciate the help.

 

[missmun52]

Thanks very much for taking the time to answer. I'm going to print it off and study it for a minute!

I appreciate the help.

let me know how it all works out.