Split Stays With New Tickets???

[HeadlessLegoMom]

How will split stays work with the new tickets? On the Disney site, it says that my tickets are only valid during the dates of my package. Does that mean we can't add a room only reservation before our package & use park days?

For our fall trip this year, they added After Hours dates, so we decided to come down two days earlier & stay at a different resort. This also enabled us to book our FP two days earlier. Is that no longer the case?

 

[dansdad]

How will split stays work with the new tickets? On the Disney site, it says that my tickets are only valid during the dates of my package. Does that mean we can't add a room only reservation before our package & use park days?

For our fall trip this year, they added After Hours dates, so we decided to come down two days earlier & stay at a different resort. This also enabled us to book our FP two days earlier. Is that no longer the case?

You used to be able to activate Tickets associated with a package up to 10 days early, but alas that is no longer possible.

 

[HeadlessLegoMom]

You used to be able to activate Tickets associated with a package up to 10 days early, but alas that is no longer possible.

So you can no longer do a split stay unless you're an AP? That's a real bummer as we like to stay at multiple resorts during our trip.

 

[dansdad]

So you can no longer do a split stay unless you're an AP? That's a real bummer as we like to stay at multiple resorts during our trip.

You can do splits stays if you make 2 room only reservations and then buy tickets separately that cover both stays.

 

[HeadlessLegoMom]

You can do splits stays if you make 2 room only reservations and then buy tickets separately.

But then you can't get the Dining Plan, right?

 

[dansdad]

But then you can't get the Dining Plan, right?

Sure you can. You would have to book a ticketless package. It is what guests who have an AP have to do in order to get the Dining Plan.

 

[HeadlessLegoMom]

It's so weird, because the website will still let you purchase a package with a 10 day ticket on a 3 night trip...

 

[dansdad]

It's so weird, because the website will still let you purchase a package with a 10 day ticket on a 3 night trip...

Why is that weird?

 

[Hopefully]

It's so weird, because the website will still let you purchase a package with a 10 day ticket on a 3 night trip...

Of course. You don’t need to be a Resort guest to have tickets

 

[HeadlessLegoMom]

Because that would be a package, but you are saying that we couldn't activate the tickets before the 3 night stay, so we couldn't use them.

 

[dansdad]

Because that would be a package, but you are saying that we couldn't activate the tickets before the 3 night stay, so we couldn't use them.

But you could have a package booked with 10 day tickets, 3 nights at a WDW resort then move off site or move to another WDW resort and still have 7 days worth of tickets to use. People do that all the time.

The only thing about split stays that these new tickets have messed with is booking a room only BEFORE your package as you can't use those tickets before your package starts. But if you do it the other way around, there's no issues.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

As dansdad pointed out, it's best to configure your stay in one of two ways:

1) Book two room-only reservations (or "ticketless package" reservations if you would like room plus dining) and buy your tickets separately.

or

2) Book your first reservation with tickets for length of stay and your second reservation as room-only or a "ticketless package". Do pay attention, however, to the new expiration dates for the length of ticket you buy as they do not automatically have a 14-day-after-first-use expiration anymore (all but a 10-day ticket have shorter time frames)

Either of these scenarios will ensure your tickets will be good for the length of your entire stay. The only thing that won't work anymore is activating tickets early, so having tickets purchased with a second reservation in a split stay scenario will not be to your advantage.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Tricky subject involving new approaches given the recent ticket changes, for which you’ve been given some excellent and helpful DISer advice above.

Hope you find a way to make it work for you OP.

 

[HeadlessLegoMom]

Thanks Everyone

As dansdad pointed out, it's best to configure your stay in one of two ways:

1) Book two room-only reservations (or "ticketless package" reservations if you would like room plus dining) and buy your tickets separately.

or

2) Book your first reservation with tickets for length of stay and your second reservation as room-only or a "ticketless package". Do pay attention, however, to the new expiration dates for the length of ticket you buy as they do not automatically have a 14-day-after-first-use expiration anymore (all but a 10-day ticket have shorter time frames)

Either of these scenarios will ensure your tickets will be good for the length of your entire stay. The only thing that won't work anymore is activating tickets early, so having tickets purchased with a second reservation in a split stay scenario will not be to your advantage.

If you buy just tickets from Disney like a 5 or 7 day PH, how long do you have to use them before they expire? You have to choose your dates now when buying tickets, right?

 

[dansdad]

Thanks Everyone
If you buy just tickets from Disney like a 5 or 7 day PH, how long do you have to use them before they expire?

I believe it's 10 days. I know with a 10 day Ticket you have 14 days.

You have to choose your dates now when buying tickets, right?

You only have to choose the start date.

 

[HeadlessLegoMom]

Thanks again. Last question:

What about the package that we booked before the ticket changes? Will that adhere to the old rules still?

 

[lanejudy]

You can still do a split stay with a package, but you would need to "package" the tickets with the first part of your stay. Unless you add the "flexible" feature to the tickets, you can no longer pick-up/activate package tickets prior to check-in date. Also, you will need to make sure your tickets are valid for as long as you need if you move offsite and have non-park days planned in the middle of your trip.

Thanks Everyone



If you buy just tickets from Disney like a 5 or 7 day PH, how long do you have to use them before they expire? You have to choose your dates now when buying tickets, right?

Tickets are valid for something like 2-4 days “more” than the number of ticket days purchased. I believe a 5-day ticket is good for any 8 days after the start date; a 7-day ticket is good for 10 days after the start date. You will choose your start date when purchasing the tickets, and unless you add the "flexible" option the tickets will only be good for the specified length.

Tickets purchased with a package will be good for the length of your package reservation OR the valid length of the ticket -- whichever is longer. So you can buy a 10-day ticket as part of a 3-night package and use it after you move offsite or to your second onsite reservation. But if you tack on an extra night or two before your package, you won't have tickets to use unless you purchase the "flexible" option.

Split stays are going to take a lot more planning.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[lanejudy]

Thanks again. Last question:

What about the package that we booked before the ticket changes? Will that adhere to the old rules still?

As long as you make no changes, packages booked prior to the ticket change on Oct. 16th will remain with the "old" rules.

Enjoy your vacation!

 

[HeadlessLegoMom]

You can still do a split stay with a package, but you would need to "package" the tickets with the first part of your stay. Unless you add the "flexible" feature to the tickets, you can no longer pick-up/activate package tickets prior to check-in date. Also, you will need to make sure your tickets are valid for as long as you need if you move offsite and have non-park days planned in the middle of your trip.



Tickets are valid for something like 2-4 days “more” than the number of ticket days purchased. I believe a 5-day ticket is good for any 8 days after the start date; a 7-day ticket is good for 10 days after the start date. You will choose your start date when purchasing the tickets, and unless you add the "flexible" option the tickets will only be good for the specified length.

Tickets purchased with a package will be good for the length of your package reservation OR the valid length of the ticket -- whichever is longer. So you can buy a 10-day ticket as part of a 3-night package and use it after you move offsite or to your second onsite reservation. But if you tack on an extra night or two before your package, you won't have tickets to use unless you purchase the "flexible" option.

Split stays are going to take a lot more planning.

Enjoy your vacation!

Thanks. I have 3 reservations booked for different time periods. (Technically 6 because we get 2 rooms) One is a BB and the 2nd was booked before the ticket changes. I didn't see an option for flexible days when I was booking the final package. Is that only an option when you book tickets alone?

 

[dansdad]

Is that only an option when you book tickets alone?

Yes.