Rules for banked free-dining tickets

[DisMommyTX]

We currently have annual passes, so we are planning to bank the tickets purchased as part of our 'free-dining' trip this fall for use next time we want to purchase AP. We are planning to take a year off from Disney after these passes expire. As I understand it, after Dec 31 2018 the these saved tickets will no longer be valid for entry but will retain their value for use toward future ticket purchases. (Please correct me if I am wrong!)

Tonight I had a brainstorm--which can be a very dangerous thing! We are planning to bring my mother on our March trip. Our APs will still be valid, but she will need tickets. Since the free-dining tickets have never been used, can one be transferred to her for use in March? If so, is this something I would do in person at guest relations, or over the phone? What is the policy for upgrading the transferred ticket? We currently have 2day Parkhoppers with the free-dining package, but she would likely need a 4 day ticket and probably won't hop. Can I call or visit guest relations to add days to the ticket in advance while it is sitting in my MDE account unused or only after she has entered the park for the first time? Also, is it possible to 'upgrade' to a longer ticket without hopper as long as the hopper has never been used and the new ticket is more expensive?

 

[HeidiGW]

I am sure Robo will let you know, but I think the answer to all of your questions is "yes". But I am just a nerd who spends way too much time on these boards.

 

[Disney_Alli]

My understanding is as soon as you check in for your resort stay with the free dining tickets the best thing to do is to immediately transfer them to ghost profiles to prevent them from being accidentally used anyway so I'd say you can definitely transfer one or more to your mom.

@Robo or @ravenclawtrekkie are the experts though

 

[Robo]

My understanding is as soon as you check in for your resort stay with the free dining tickets the best thing to do is to immediately transfer them to ghost profiles to prevent them from being accidentally used anyway so I'd say you can definitely transfer one or more to your mom.

Correct.

 

[Robo]

1. Since the free-dining tickets have never been used, can one be transferred to her for use in March?
2. is this something I would do in person at guest relations, or over the phone?
What is the policy for upgrading the transferred ticket? We currently have 2day Parkhoppers with the free-dining package, but she would likely need a 4 day ticket and probably won't hop.
3. Can I call or visit guest relations to add days to the ticket in advance while it is sitting in my MDE account unused or only after she has entered the park for the first time?
4. Also, is it possible to 'upgrade' to a longer ticket without hopper as long as the hopper has never been used and the new ticket is more expensive?

1. Yes.
2. You can do so, yourself, in your MDE account (add your mother to that account.)
3. The ticket can be upgraded inside the MDE account after you transfer it to your mother.
However, it must be done in-person at any ticket booth or Guest Relations.
A 2-day Hopper ticket's cost is $275.84.
A 4-day Base ticket's cost is $372.75
Cost to upgrade would be $96.91. (All tax is included in these numbers.)
4. Yes.

(Ticket prices may likely increase at some point, so my exact numbers above would change accordingly.)

 

[sharonabe]

Can I call or visit guest relations to add days to the ticket in advance while it is sitting in my MDE account unused or only after she has entered the park for the first time? Also, is it possible to 'upgrade' to a longer ticket without hopper as long as the hopper has never been used and the new ticket is more expensive?

Based on Robo's answer above, I'd say you need to visit guest relations during your fall trip to get your mom's ticket ready to go for FP+ reservations next year.
So glad you had your brainstorm early!