Split Stay Swan/CR w/pkg disc ???

[fitzperry]

We are planning a trip for the week after Thanksgiving. Originally planned to arrive Sat. Nov. 30 and stay at the Contemporary until the following Saturday. Now we're thinking about flying down on Thanksgiving and staying somewhere else for the first couple of nights. At this point my first choice would be the Swan, but I have some concerns about packages and discounts, etc. So here are my questions for the experts . . .

1. How does a split stay from the Swan or Dolphin to a Disney owned resort work? Will they move our bags just as if we were moving from the Poly to CR, for example, or would we be responsible for making that happen?
2. Last time we traveled during this time period, discounts became available the Sat. after T-giving, and it appears pin codes have gone out for those dates this year. No one in our group has received a pin but we're crossing our fingers for that or a public discount. We would prefer a room discount at the CR (which I don't think would raise any issues with the split stay), but if that's not available and free dining is, can we book a package at the CR that starts on Sat. but get our park tickets on Thurs.?
3. I think we would lose Magical Express coming in but would be able to use it leaving the CR, correct?
4. Any other glitch in this plan I haven't considered?

TIA!

 

[purple figment]

1. How does a split stay from the Swan or Dolphin to a Disney owned resort work? Will they move our bags just as if we were moving from the Poly to CR, for example, or would we be responsible for making that happen? I've not done this, but there have been threads where people said the Swan/Dolphin will transfer your luggage. If they don't you can take a taxi with your luggage over to CR because you cannot bring luggage onto the Disney buses.
   
2. Last time we traveled during this time period, discounts became available the Sat. after T-giving, and it appears pin codes have gone out for those dates this year. No one in our group has received a pin but we're crossing our fingers for that or a public discount. We would prefer a room discount at the CR (which I don't think would raise any issues with the split stay), but if that's not available and free dining is, can we book a package at the CR that starts on Sat. but get our park tickets on Thurs.? Yes, you can pick up your park tickets up to 3 days early. Take a look at Post 15-I on the Ticket sticky at the top of the Touring Plans and Strategies board. If you have a package with the dining plan, you won't be able to access your dining credits until you check in at the CR on Saturday.
   
3. I think we would lose Magical Express coming in but would be able to use it leaving the CR, correct? Correct. You can ride DME back to MCO because you'll be staying at CR. You will need to reserve in advance. Swan/Dolphin don't participate so you won't be able to use it on your arrival.
   
4. Any other glitch in this plan I haven't considered?

TIA!

My answers in red.

 

[fitzperry]

Thanks purple figment. That helps a lot!

 

[brunelldara]

My answers in red.

We are arriving on November 26th and are leaving on December 7th, 2013. We just received a pin for free dining for a portion of our stay at POP. We broke down our reservation into two pieces November 26th we check into the hotel and then check out on the 30th. We check right back into the hotel on the 30th to the 7th. We did this because the first 4 days of our trip are blacked out and we could not get the free dining for them. But with checking in and out we are now eligible during the second half for the free dining so at least 8 of the 12 days are covered.

The first set of reservations we just booked the straight room and no tickets planning to just use tickets from the second set of reservations that we booked our free dining with. (In order to use the pin we needed 2 days worth of tickets which kind of uprooted our plans of upgrading to season passes as soon as we arrive. We now plan to do this when we check in for the second set of reservations.)

The question I have is how soon when we get there can we get the tickets in advance of our reservation. Our family has a tradition started that when we go to Disney we book the earliest reservation we can get to Crystal Palace in Magic Kingdom. For this trip it would be on the 27th.
We love to walk down Main St. first thing in the morning before it is open to the public. We went for the first time a year and a half ago to Disney since my sisters and I were children. For my boyfriend and then 3 year old it was their first time to Disney. It was amazing watching their faces light up taking everything in on Main St. It is amazing when it is empty and just you and the others going to the reservations are there. My son's eyes grew so big the closer he got to Cinderella's Castle. This trip my sisters boyfriend (hopefully fiancé by the time we come home from WDW) is coming with us. It will be his first trip and we want him to experience it for the first time the way we all did.
Our concern is for that morning. The 27th is technically our first full day there but it is also 3 days out from when our reservations start with the Magic Your Way Package with hopper tickets. How early can we pick up the tickets that morning at Guest Relations since we need them in order to enter the park for the character breakfast? Is there enough time to get them and then get to the front gate to get in early before the reservation and they open the park to the public? Does everyone in our party need to be present to pick up the tickets or can we send one or two adults to get them (there are 6 adults and 1 child)?
We would really love to be able to continue our tradition but do not want to get stuck and miss our reservation completely! Also we really do not want to have to pay for tickets for the day just to enter the park when we have this other option. Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated!
Thank you from the bottom of our hearts,
Dara Brunell and family

 

[dansdad]

The question I have is how soon when we get there can we get the tickets in advance of our reservation.

Up to 3 days prior to your package starting.

 

[brunelldara]

Up to 3 days prior to your package starting.

Can we get them before the parks open on the first day though?

 

[dansdad]

Can we get them before the parks open on the first day though?

Yup. This is from the "Everything About WDW Tickets" Stickey written by a ticketing CM that frequents the DIS.

I. Picking up Package Tickets Prior To Start Of Package

In cases where Walt Disney World Resort Guests would like to begin using their Package Tickets prior to the day of check-in (up to three days in advance), the Guests will be directed to visit any Theme Park or DTD Guest Relations location and request Early Ticket Pick-Up. (Note this cannot be done at a water park.)

It is only valid for people with packages at a Walt Disney World owned and operated Resort. You can be staying off-property at the time you pick up the tickets. Note that if you have a package which includes Dining, although you can pick up your tickets early you cannot get access to the Dining until you have actually checked in to your Resort.

Note that since August 2011 the Call Centers have been telling Guests this cannot be done. However it is still a valid procedure and can be done with no problem at Park Guest Relations Windows.

There is a possibility that if your package and the stay prior to the package are at the same Resort that you will be able to get the tickets at the Resort and not have to go to a Park Guest Relations Office.

And the tickets issued will be valid for the entire stay; they will not receive valid tickets when they actually check-in to their resort. There is a strong possibility that the tickets you have received prior to check-in cannot be added to your KTTW on or after check-in.

I would suggest you copy down the following information if you are planning to upgrade promotional tickets. If the person in the window is hesitant to upgrade these promotional tickets, ask them go go into The Hub >> WDW >> Work >> Ticketing >> Processes & Business Rules >> Early Ticket Pickup For Resort Packages where they will see the procedure.


Here is the full link.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1452684

 

[brunelldara]

Yup. This is from the "Everything About WDW Tickets" Stickey written by a ticketing CM that frequents the DIS.

I. Picking up Package Tickets Prior To Start Of Package

In cases where Walt Disney World Resort Guests would like to begin using their Package Tickets prior to the day of check-in (up to three days in advance), the Guests will be directed to visit any Theme Park or DTD Guest Relations location and request Early Ticket Pick-Up. (Note this cannot be done at a water park.)

It is only valid for people with packages at a Walt Disney World owned and operated Resort. You can be staying off-property at the time you pick up the tickets. Note that if you have a package which includes Dining, although you can pick up your tickets early you cannot get access to the Dining until you have actually checked in to your Resort.

Note that since August 2011 the Call Centers have been telling Guests this cannot be done. However it is still a valid procedure and can be done with no problem at Park Guest Relations Windows.

There is a possibility that if your package and the stay prior to the package are at the same Resort that you will be able to get the tickets at the Resort and not have to go to a Park Guest Relations Office.

And the tickets issued will be valid for the entire stay; they will not receive valid tickets when they actually check-in to their resort. There is a strong possibility that the tickets you have received prior to check-in cannot be added to your KTTW on or after check-in.

I would suggest you copy down the following information if you are planning to upgrade promotional tickets. If the person in the window is hesitant to upgrade these promotional tickets, ask them go go into The Hub >> WDW >> Work >> Ticketing >> Processes & Business Rules >> Early Ticket Pickup For Resort Packages where they will see the procedure.


Here is the full link.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1452684

My concern is if we will be able to get the tickets early enough on the morning of the third day out?

 

[purple figment]

My concern is if we will be able to get the tickets early enough on the morning of the third day out?

If both of your resort reservations are at Pop you might be able to pick up the tickets at the resort. The computer system rolls over at 6:00 AM for check in purposes, so I think you should be able to get the tickets after that time as well. However, not too many resort CMs are familiar with the process of issuing park tickets 3 days in advance so you may not be able to do it at the resort.

I know the ticket booths/Guest Relations at the parks open before the first guests can enter the park. I think it's somewhere between 30-60 minutes in advance so I would suggest heading over to the MK to pick up your tickets there. The booths/GR windows are to the right of the turnstiles. I would take a copy of the early ticket pick up procedure with you. If the CM at the window is unsure of how to do it, ask for a supervisor or lead.

 

[brunelldara]

If both of your resort reservations are at Pop you might be able to pick up the tickets at the resort. The computer system rolls over at 6:00 AM for check in purposes, so I think you should be able to get the tickets after that time as well. However, not too many resort CMs are familiar with the process of issuing park tickets 3 days in advance so you may not be able to do it at the resort.

I know the ticket booths/Guest Relations at the parks open before the first guests can enter the park. I think it's somewhere between 30-60 minutes in advance so I would suggest heading over to the MK to pick up your tickets there. The booths/GR windows are to the right of the turnstiles. I would take a copy of the early ticket pick up procedure with you. If the CM at the window is unsure of how to do it, ask for a supervisor or lead.

Thank you so much for that Kim. I was really nervous so I double booked us at Crystal Palace and at a resort breakfast till I could figure out which meal we would be able to get to. I am really happy to hear this should work ad we can keep our family tradition alive.