Sell Unused, but linked ticket

[brentm77]

My wife couldn't make our dream vacation to Disney World at the last minute due to an ongoing health problem. I ended up taking my two daughters on my own. Now we have her "4-Day Magic Your Way Ticket with Park Hopper" ticket, which was previously linked to her profile on My Disney Experience. There is zero possibility that we will be back to Disney World prior to the ticket's expiration date.

I spoke with customer service and they said I can't "resell" the ticket, but I could "gift" it to someone listed as a family/friend on my account. I did a test account with a throwaway email and it is certainly easy to transfer. When I bought the tickets over the phone, I did not agree that they were non-transferable, so I have no legal (I am an attorney) or moral concerns about reselling the ticket, so long as I can properly transfer it. Of course, whoever buys it will need to accept my invitation as a friend on the website. But it looks like they can still control their reservations and even block me from seeing certain information.

I plan to list the ticket on eBay with the notice about adding me as a friend in the eBay listing. Does anyone see any issues with this?

Has anyone has any luck getting Disney to refund a ticket for health reasons like this?

 

[Robo]

"4-Day Magic Your Way Ticket with Park Hopper" ticket, which was previously linked...

1. I spoke with customer service and they said I can't "resell" the ticket, but I could "gift" it to someone listed as a family/friend on my account.
2. I did a test account with a throwaway email and it is certainly easy to transfer.
3. When I bought the tickets over the phone, I did not agree that they were non-transferable, so I have no legal (I am an attorney) or moral concerns about reselling the ticket, so long as I can properly transfer it.
4. Of course, whoever buys it will need to accept my invitation as a friend on the website. But it looks like they can still control their reservations and even block me from seeing certain information.
5. I plan to list the ticket on eBay with the notice about adding me as a friend in the eBay listing. Does anyone see any issues with this?

6. Has anyone has any luck getting Disney to refund a ticket for health reasons like this?

1. That is incorrect info. (Which is no surprise coming from a phone call to "Disney.")
2. Agreed.
3. Tickets for Forida theme parks are non-transferable as per Florida state law, even independent of WDW rules.
HOWEVER... That only applies to tickets that have started to be USED by one guest.
Not for new, unused tickets.
4. Yup. Or, if you are there in-person, you can go to a ticket booth and have a plastic stand-alone ticket issued, and then sell THAT.
5. Only that there are so, so many SCAMS perpetrated on eBay regarding tickets, you may have trouble getting someone to believe you.
6. Many similar things have happened if the CM in question decides to give the guest some extra "pixie dust." But, that is entirely a "luck-of-the-draw" kind of thing.

 

[wilkeliza]

I'll let Robo handle this one but I would proceed with caution especially throwing around I'm an attorney. You don't have to verbally agree to the ticket terms and conditions at time of purchase they are just there. They've been taken to court and won before. It is the reason why magic bands say non-transferable on them.

 

[DisneyOma]

My wife couldn't make our dream vacation to Disney World at the last minute due to an ongoing health problem. I ended up taking my two daughters on my own. Now we have her "4-Day Magic Your Way Ticket with Park Hopper" ticket, which was previously linked to her profile on My Disney Experience. There is zero possibility that we will be back to Disney World prior to the ticket's expiration date.

I spoke with customer service and they said I can't "resell" the ticket, but I could "gift" it to someone listed as a family/friend on my account. I did a test account with a throwaway email and it is certainly easy to transfer. When I bought the tickets over the phone, I did not agree that they were non-transferable, so I have no legal (I am an attorney) or moral concerns about reselling the ticket, so long as I can properly transfer it. Of course, whoever buys it will need to accept my invitation as a friend on the website. But it looks like they can still control their reservations and even block me from seeing certain information.

I plan to list the ticket on eBay with the notice about adding me as a friend in the eBay listing. Does anyone see any issues with this?

Has anyone has any luck getting Disney to refund a ticket for health reasons like this?

You agreed when you bought the ticket to the purchase agreement. Even this non-lawyer knows that.

 

[Amelia :)]

Did you have insurance? You could claim to money for the ticket that way.

 

[BrianL]

There is zero possibility that we will be back to Disney World prior to the ticket's expiration date.

FYI, even if the ticket does expire (I'm assuming you purchased it after the recent changes), you would still be entitled to the value that you paid for it toward a new ticket. If you do plan on a future trip, you could keep the ticket and not be out any money, you'd just have to pay any difference in it and applicable price increases.

 

[hiroMYhero]

But it looks like they can still control their reservations and even block me from seeing certain information

If the ticket is now in your "Throwaway MDE," as soon as you reassign the ticket to the buyer, Delete the buyer from the Throwaway account.

The buyer needs to have a MB linked to the Profile or will need to have a plastic ticket issued to him and linked to his MDE Profile.

 

[brentm77]

I'll let Robo handle this one but I would proceed with caution especially throwing around I'm an attorney. You don't have to verbally agree to the ticket terms and conditions at time of purchase they are just there. They've been taken to court and won before. It is the reason why magic bands say non-transferable on them.

You agreed when you bought the ticket to the purchase agreement. Even this non-lawyer knows that.

I only mention being an attorney because I know more about my legal rights than the average Joe. Disney is not an all powerful entity that magically transcends contract law. As stated by another poster, there is Florida state law limiting resell of partially used tickets. Outside of that, this is a contractual issue between Disney and me.

Contracts aren't "just there" as Wilkeliza claims. And just buying something over the phone doesn't mean you agreed to a purchase agreement as the above poster claims everyone knows. Thank goodness contract law doesn't allow companies to unilateral form contracts like that.

There must be agreement by both parties (a "meeting of the minds," in legal jargon). As I did not agree to a contract stating I wouldn't resell the ticket, that contract term isn't part of my contract with Disney. Nor can some arbitrary purchase agreement be placed on me without my consent. Disney would have had to have said on the call, "by buying the tickets, you agree to Disney's terms of use, available at www.disneywillscrewyou.com." Then, my purchase of the tickets would have been my agreement to the terms. Nothing like that was disclosed to me. Thus, there was no agreement on my part to additional terms and the additional terms aren't part of my contract with Disney. The only contract we formed was that they would sell me the tickets and I would pay for them.

By using the ticket, I may be agreeing to certain terms (if the ticket says something on it like, "by using this ticket you agree to terms XYZ"). Disney could also deny the purchaser the right to use a ticket sold contrary to stated terms written on the tickets themselves (void if transferred, for example). That is my only concern; that whomever I sell the tickets to can use them. But I could always refund the money if there was an issue. I would disclose enough details in my eBay listing to let the purchaser make an informed decision.

But, I am not concerned about a claim from Disney against me for selling an unused ticket that I never agreed I wouldn't resell. In addition, there is fairly significant legal protection for reselling goods once they are purchased. It is called the "first sale doctrine" or the "exhaustion doctrine." Though admittedly, it is debatable whether it applies to tickets.

Thanks to Robo and Hiro above for the helpful information and idea! Thanks to Brian for the info I didn't know about future trips too. We had a great time at Disney World, but we are much closer to Disneyland and this was almost certainly a one time trip for us.

Also - thanks for the insurance tip. I did not purchase insurance, but I think my credit card has some sort of automatic travel insurance. I will look into it.

 

[cigar95]

Unless I've missed something, I don't think there *are* any issues with transferring unused tickets, as far as the purchase agreement matters, either inside our outside of Florida. It's just the mechanics of getting it to work smoothly.

 

[mikepdc]

Has anyone has any luck getting Disney to refund a ticket for health reasons like this?

6. Many similar things have happened if the CM in question decides to give the guest some extra "pixie dust." But, that is entirely a "luck-of-the-draw" kind of thing.

Not the same purchase circumstances, but I thought I'd share...
I had to cancel a vacation package due to family illness. The cancellation was supposed to be subject to a $200 (I think) fee. When I called to cancel, I said I was aware of the cancellation fee and wondered whether Disney ever considered waiving the fee, what information might I need to provide, to whom, etc. The CM put me on hold, consulted Guest Services, and came back to tell me the fee had been waived. So, YMMV, but asking nicely doesn't hurt.

 

[elaine amj]

Oh boy, I had understood that the transfer of UNUSED tickets was pretty easy. I gambled and bought a few tickets (No expiry date) that I don't plan to use for a few years. However, DH was in remission from cancer and we have just been told it has come back. So our circumstances are completely up in the air and there is a possibility we may have to sell the tickets at some point.

 

[Robo]

Oh boy, I had understood that the transfer of UNUSED tickets was pretty easy. I gambled and bought a few tickets (No expiry date) that I don't plan to use for a few years. However, DH was in remission from cancer and we have just been told it has come back. So our circumstances are completely up in the air and there is a possibility we may have to sell the tickets at some point.

It IS possible to transfer and sell unused tickets.
Did you get a different impression from this thread?

So sorry to hear about your husband's health issues.

 

[IrishNYC]

As was said above, my biggest concern here would be finding someone to purchase it via eBay. A random Disney ticket for sale on eBay is one of those things that many people wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole. I know I wouldn't. You may be better off keeping your ears open in your circle of friends and offering it for sale to them if they have a trip planned.

 

[deedubb]

As was said above, my biggest concern here would be finding someone to purchase it via eBay. A random Disney ticket for sale on eBay is one of those things that many people wouldn't touch with a 10 foot pole. I know I wouldn't. You may be better off keeping your ears open in your circle of friends and offering it for sale to them if they have a trip planned.

I agree with this. You will have a very difficult time selling this ticket and the cheaper you are willing to sell it (just to get rid of it), the more questionable it will be. Your best chance is family or friends.

 

[elaine amj]

It IS possible to transfer and sell unused tickets.
Did you get a different impression from this thread?

So sorry to hear about your husband's health issues.

Thanks!

And yes, I was getting the impression here that transferring tickets is very difficult. Glad to her it's pretty doable by simply adding the buyer to the MDE. I plan to link these tickets to a dummy MDE (been delaying the linking as long as possible).

 

[wilkeliza]

Thanks!

And yes, I was getting the impression here that transferring tickets is very difficult. Glad to her it's pretty doable by simply adding the buyer to the MDE. I plan to link these tickets to a dummy MDE (been delaying the linking as long as possible).

If you haven't linked them and have no trip planned in the next 60-30 days don't link them. It is much easier to sell unlinked tickets.

 

[elaine amj]

If you haven't linked them and have no trip planned in the next 60-30 days don't link them. It is much easier to sell unlinked tickets.

Mine are Cdn discounted tickets. Since I will be in WDW in August (with different tickets), I figure I will just exchange the vouchers then for actual tickets. I will likely have to link them then.

Another Cdn just reported that guest services explained that they can be transferred after.

Oh well, will see how it all goes. Likely I am worrying for nothing but I like to know all my options and understand the various possible scenarios.

 

[wilkeliza]

Mine are Cdn discounted tickets. Since I will be in WDW in August (with different tickets), I figure I will just exchange the vouchers then for actual tickets.

For CDN just make sure you note that when you sell. They may ask for proof of reaisency for that doscount (they do for FL resident but not sure for other countries).

 

[TinkLoverSam]

For CDN just make sure you note that when you sell. They may ask for proof of reaisency for that doscount (they do for FL resident but not sure for other countries).

You do need to show proof of residency to activate the tickets for the Canadian Resident offer

 

[brentm77]

Just an update for everyone - I called Disney this morning (ticketing office). The women on the phone was super nice and said that she understands that emergencies happen and that she could refund the one ticket (she could see that I used 3 of the 4).

The way I approached the Disney representative was to be super nice and explain how it was a last minute emergency with my wife's illness. I said that I knew tickets were non-refundable, but I wondered if Disney would be willing to make an exception. I think it was important to let the representative know that I knew the policy and was asking for the exception as a favor. I have learned from experience that people like to do favors vs. responding to a demand from an angry customer. By explaining that I fully knew the policy too, I avoided a potential knee-jerk reaction that some in customer service have, which puts them on the defensive and makes them fall back on a hard-line stance of following the policy.

I know the approach is important, because the women yesterday just said I couldn't resell the tickets. When I said I was disappointed because I couldn't use the ticket and was out the money, she was unsympathetic and just said "well, they don't expire for a long time." She didn't even mention my wife's illness, whereas the women today said how sorry she was and that she hoped my wife got better soon.

This was a good move by Disney. We spent a small fortune in its parks this last week between tickets, food, and souvenirs. By making this small exception, Disney lost a little money in the short term but gained some additional loyalty from me. I am very happy with Disney right now.