Really complicated ticket decisions

[Amyshubby]

I read these boards all the time and really need help with this one.

Here is the situation (it plays like a logic game):

Going to Disney in February. We used to go for 5 or 6 days but now that the boys are older (11 and 13) and into Harry Potter we decided to start adding Universal into our itinerary. We are only hitting Disney for two days this time and I anticipate returning every year or so and going for two or three days at a time.

This obviously lends itself to purchasing the 10 day no expiration pass (and probably adding the Water Park and more option so we get 10 no expiration visits to those as well).

Here is the main wrinkle. I have $500 in Disney points (due to the Disney Visa card) that was transferred to a card that expires at the end of December. You can't buy the no expiration ticket direct from Disney on the internet.

My plan was to buy four two day passes with the credit, then upgrade to the ten day no expiration passes after we use the first day (I've been reading the DIS section on "ticket bridging"). By then I'll also have another $150 in Disney credit so that's an additional bonus (these tickets are really pricey but would definitely benefit us in the long run).

However, I see that Undercover Tourist is a lot cheaper then buying direct. I was considering buying three ten day no expiration passes from them and using the $500 credit to buy the fourth ticket from Disney, then upgrading the fourth ticket when I get to Disney in February.

Would that plan work?

Most importantly, how would it impact getting the Magic Bands and Fastpasses? We have bands from this past February when we stayed onsite but this time we are staying off premises. We were hoping to get another set of bands. I know you can make Fastpass reservations 30 days out but how does Disney even know when the 30 day period is- i.e.- when you are going to use your tickets? If I buy my tix from UT can I still reserve Fastpasses or get more bands?

Basically, I'm trying to get the lowest price possible on the tickets while still using my $500 credit and still being able to upgrade in February and reserve Fastpasses. Whew!

Thanks for any advice on how best to handle this situation!

 

[Reddog1134]

Does the Disney Visa rewards expire? If not, I would buy all the tickets from UT then use the rewards card to upgrade them (after using them once) to non-expiring.

Disney doesn't know when you're going to use your ticket. As along as you have a valid ticket, you can do FP+ at 30 days. You can link your ticket to MDE, which links them to your bands. You can also but new bands at the park.

 

[bumbershoot]

You get bands by buying them or having an onsite stay. Even if you buy the tickets from Disney you won't get free bands unless you are staying onsite. You can use your old bands.

You could use the $500 buying a non expire ticket by phone. That's another option.

 

[IamGroot]

Why don't you just call and use the rewards credit to buy the non-expiring tickets over the phone?

 

[CarolynFH]

Re making FP+ for an off site stay, you make them one day at a time, 30 days from each specific day. You don't get to make them all at the same time for your entire length of stay, unless you wait until 30 days from the last day before making any.

 

[robinb]

This obviously lends itself to purchasing the 10 day no expiration pass (and probably adding the Water Park and more option so we get 10 no expiration visits to those as well).

Here is the main wrinkle. I have $500 in Disney points (due to the Disney Visa card) that was transferred to a card that expires at the end of December. You can't buy the no expiration ticket direct from Disney on the internet.

My plan was to buy four two day passes with the credit, then upgrade to the ten day no expiration passes after we use the first day (I've been reading the DIS section on "ticket bridging"). By then I'll also have another $150 in Disney credit so that's an additional bonus (these tickets are really pricey but would definitely benefit us in the long run).

However, I see that Undercover Tourist is a lot cheaper then buying direct. I was considering buying three ten day no expiration passes from them and using the $500 credit to buy the fourth ticket from Disney, then upgrading the fourth ticket when I get to Disney in February.

I would buy 1 ticket over the phone that most effectively uses up your $500 in rewards. Since the park-hopping and water parks are cheaper when purchased together, I would get a ticket with both on it from the get-go. That would probably be a 4-day non-expiry ticket for $511 which you can upgrade to a 10-day ticket for about $320 when you get to WDW. Be aware that the last price increase was in Feb of 2014 so I would expect to see another one next Feb.

I would then buy 2 tickets from Undercover Tourist. Make sure that you link though the Mousesaver's newsletter link. Those are the best prices. A 10-Day non-expiry PH with WP&M is $768 compared to $830 so you'll save $62 per ticket. It's a shame that you transferred all your rewards to the card. Maybe you can call to see if they will transfer the rewards back or extend the expiration date since you're losing a $62 discount on the park pass by using the rewards. I think they did it for me years ago when I made the same mistake. It's worth a try!

Most importantly, how would it impact getting the Magic Bands and Fastpasses? We have bands from this past February when we stayed onsite but this time we are staying off premises. We were hoping to get another set of bands. I know you can make Fastpass reservations 30 days out but how does Disney even know when the 30 day period is- i.e.- when you are going to use your tickets? If I buy my tix from UT can I still reserve Fastpasses or get more bands?

You can associate your new tickets with your old MBs.

 

[gabzee]

I would call Disney Visa Rewards first. It was explained to me that the rewards itself doesn't expire simply the card that the money is on. If you call they should be able to transfer the rewards and any new rewards points onto a new card with a new expiration date.

 

[lanejudy]

I would call Disney Visa Rewards first. It was explained to me that the rewards itself doesn't expire simply the card that the money is on. If you call they should be able to transfer the rewards and any new rewards points onto a new card with a new expiration date.

Rewards do expire, but I think it's like 5 years after earned. However, once rewards are transferred to a Rewards Redemption Card, they take on the expiration date of that card (which is December of the year following when it was obtained). Once rewards are on a Redemption Card, they cannot be removed or transferred to another redemption card. However, you may use the Redemption Card to purchase a Disney Gift Card and therefore extend the value of those expiring rewards.

OP -- You can purchase tickets from UT for discount. Then purchase Disney Gift Cards with your rewards (I don't know if you can purchase one $500 gift card or would need to do multiples), and use the gift card(s) on-site in February to upgrade. But I don't know if there is any limit to how many gift cards can be used, if you have to purchase more than one with the rewards.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[siskaren]

I would call Disney Visa Rewards first. It was explained to me that the rewards itself doesn't expire simply the card that the money is on. If you call they should be able to transfer the rewards and any new rewards points onto a new card with a new expiration date.

Not according to the FAQs:

"Do Disney Rewards Redemption Cards expire?

Yes, a Disney Rewards Redemption Card expires on the date printed on the front of the card. Any Disney Dream Reward Dollars remaining on the card at expiration will be permanently lost."

What you can do (in fact, I just did this because I had a card that was about to expire) is use the reward dollars to buy a gift card because gift cards don't expire.

 

[kmermaid]

At the end of any of my trips I always purchase a Disney gift card with what ever is left on the rewards card just incase I won't be using that reward card before it expires. Try that like the previous poster said then buy from UT. Or do what we did this past summer and just do UO and have a relaxing vacation.

 

[robinb]

At the end of any of my trips I always purchase a Disney gift card with what ever is left on the rewards card just incase I won't be using that reward card before it expires. Try that like the previous poster said then buy from UT. Or do what we did this past summer and just do UO and have a relaxing vacation.

In that case, I would buy 3 6-Day Non-Expiry PH with WP&M at UT for $576 each which is a $73 savings off the gate price, use them once and then bridge them to 10-day non-expiry PH with WP&M for $181 each. The bridging would use up all $500 on the gift card(s).

MAKE SURE when you go to price bridge that you know EXACTLY how much it would cost between the gate price of the 6-day and the 10-day pass so you are not charged more by someone who doesn't know how to price bridge.

 

[Amyshubby]

Thank you all for the suggestions. Based on what everyone has said, and the research I've done, it seems that the best move is to buy one ticket direct from Disney using the $500 credit, buy three 10 day no-expiration WP&M tickets from UT using the Mousesavers code (thereby earning another $21 in Disney credit ), then upgrade the first ticket to a ten day no expiration when we are in Orlando in February.

This way we can maximize our savings, have our tickets 30 days ahead of time for FP+ purposes, and link them to our bands from last year.

Thanks again for all the responses!