Switching out old tickets and making late FP+ reservations

[opus_00]

Our family of 5 is going to WDW in August (yay!). We will have 4 park days. We have some unused days on some very old non-expiring tickets (two tickets with 1 day left, and two tickets with 2 days left) from when our 2 teenagers were little that we have finally decided to use. We had to purchase two new 3-day tickets and two new 2-day tickets to supplement the old passes, and we had to buy a new 4-day ticket for our 5 year-old.

Since we have to switch out the old passes for new ticket media when we arrive at WDW, I know that we can only make advance FP+ reservations before we leave with the NEW tickets we purchased. This means that we can only make FP+ reservations for all 4 days for our 5 year-old since he has a completely new ticket. Two of us can reserve FP+ for 3 days, and two of us for only 2 days. What is the best way to go about this? Should we reserve FP+ for the maximum number of days each person can make (4, 3, 3, 2, and 2), and hope that we can get last-minute reservations for the remaining days (1, 1, 2, and 2) that match up with the others so we can experience most attractions together? Would a CM be able to help sort this out at all? Or would it be best to only reserve FP+ in advance for the 2 days that we ALL have new admission media for, then reserve FP+ for the remaining 2 days for all of us once we switch out the old passes for new media?

 

[Lesley Wake]

It wouldn’t hurt to have the maximum amount of FPs booked for each person. You can always change the booked ones to another time that works for everyone, but it is easier to find overlapping times for smaller groups of 1-2 people.

You can also try going to guest services at the park and explaining the whole thing, but I wouldn’t count on them being able/willing to do anything about it. But if you are nice and find a CM in a good mood they may be able to give you some matching FPS for the missing people.

 

[Hardline]

Are you sure that you can't add the no-expiration tickets to your account before you go? I had a couple of very old tickets from years ago and they were able to put them in my account well before we went so I could book Fastpasses. In MDE (on the website) in the reservations and tickets section there's a button to link old tickets. It also says this: "Is the purchase date printed on your ticket prior to 2010? Please call (407) 939-4357 for information on how you can use pre-2010 tickets."

 

[opus_00]

Are you sure that you can't add the no-expiration tickets to your account before you go? I had a couple of very old tickets from years ago and they were able to put them in my account well before we went so I could book Fastpasses. In MDE (on the website) in the reservations and tickets section there's a button to link old tickets. It also says this: "Is the purchase date printed on your ticket prior to 2010? Please call (407) 939-4357 for information on how you can use pre-2010 tickets."

I had emailed copies of the old tickets to the appropriate department to verify the number of remaining days, and I actually asked this question. Unfortunately, I was told that there is no way those tickets could be added to our MDE account until they are switched out for current media (I think they are from 2003).

 

[Hardline]

I had emailed copies of the old tickets to the appropriate department to verify the number of remaining days, and I actually asked this question. Unfortunately, I was told that there is no way those tickets could be added to our MDE account until they are switched out for current media (I think they are from 2003).

Our situation in 2014 was very similar. I believe our tickets were from 2002. We were told that Disney could add them, though. They had a problem getting the tickets in our account, so when our Fastpass+ window opened up and it still wasn't resolved, the CM issued us 'non-inventory' Fastpasses. These were anytime, any attraction FPs that you could decide to use when you wanted (we only went one day and park hopped). Sometime within the 30-day FP window the situation was resolved and I booked some regular FPs, too. It was Fastpass-palooza. Maybe if you called the number? It seems that often times you get a different CM with a different answer. If nothing else, maybe they could help with the FP situation? I still had to go to a guest relations window in person to switch the tickets for RFID ones. FWIW, I did that at Disney Springs before the day we were going to the parks so I wouldn't have to waste time in the morning prior to RD trying to get it done.

I kind of hate when people don't just answer the freaking question that's asked, and then I went ahead and did just that. Doh! To answer your original inquiry, I would definitely book all of the FPs that I could. It's much easier to try to match, or kind of match an existing FP with a new one (ex. make a 7DMT FP for 3:15pm now, get another that day that overlaps the time, say at 4:00pm). You can always adjust you reservations while you're there. Refreshing the app is key! And depending on how big your 5 year-old is, don't forget about rider switch. That's another Fastpass-palooza!

 

[opus_00]

Our situation in 2014 was very similar. I believe our tickets were from 2002. We were told that Disney could add them, though. They had a problem getting the tickets in our account, so when our Fastpass+ window opened up and it still wasn't resolved, the CM issued us 'non-inventory' Fastpasses. These were anytime, any attraction FPs that you could decide to use when you wanted (we only went one day and park hopped). Sometime within the 30-day FP window the situation was resolved and I booked some regular FPs, too. It was Fastpass-palooza. Maybe if you called the number? It seems that often times you get a different CM with a different answer. If nothing else, maybe they could help with the FP situation? I still had to go to a guest relations window in person to switch the tickets for RFID ones. FWIW, I did that at Disney Springs before the day we were going to the parks so I wouldn't have to waste time in the morning prior to RD trying to get it done.

I kind of hate when people don't just answer the freaking question that's asked, and then I went ahead and did just that. Doh! To answer your original inquiry, I would definitely book all of the FPs that I could. It's much easier to try to match, or kind of match an existing FP with a new one (ex. make a 7DMT FP for 3:15pm now, get another that day that overlaps the time, say at 4:00pm). You can always adjust you reservations while you're there. Refreshing the app is key! And depending on how big your 5 year-old is, don't forget about rider switch. That's another Fastpass-palooza!

Thanks for your response. Interesting that some people have had success getting those old tickets added to their accounts, and others had no such luck. I did inquire about having our tickets added with two different people (the CM who I spoke with when calling the specified number, and the person who answered my email inquiry about the number of days available on the tickets). I guess it never hurts to keep trying, though!

Yes, try to get overlapping FPs is exactly what I plan to do.

 

[opus_00]

Our situation in 2014 was very similar. I believe our tickets were from 2002. We were told that Disney could add them, though. They had a problem getting the tickets in our account, so when our Fastpass+ window opened up and it still wasn't resolved, the CM issued us 'non-inventory' Fastpasses. These were anytime, any attraction FPs that you could decide to use when you wanted (we only went one day and park hopped). Sometime within the 30-day FP window the situation was resolved and I booked some regular FPs, too. It was Fastpass-palooza. Maybe if you called the number? It seems that often times you get a different CM with a different answer. If nothing else, maybe they could help with the FP situation? I still had to go to a guest relations window in person to switch the tickets for RFID ones. FWIW, I did that at Disney Springs before the day we were going to the parks so I wouldn't have to waste time in the morning prior to RD trying to get it done.

I kind of hate when people don't just answer the freaking question that's asked, and then I went ahead and did just that. Doh! To answer your original inquiry, I would definitely book all of the FPs that I could. It's much easier to try to match, or kind of match an existing FP with a new one (ex. make a 7DMT FP for 3:15pm now, get another that day that overlaps the time, say at 4:00pm). You can always adjust you reservations while you're there. Refreshing the app is key! And depending on how big your 5 year-old is, don't forget about rider switch. That's another Fastpass-palooza!

I also wanted to add that we do plan to switch out the tickets to the newer RFID tickets at Disney Springs before our first park day just as you did. Do all family members using the tickets need to be there in order to do that? I know my teenage son will need to be with me since his ticket was a child's ticket, and it will have to be upgraded to an adult ticket. But do the others have to be there? Do they simply switch out each old ticket for an RFID one, or do they associate each ticket with a person at that time via finger scan or some other method, requiring each person to be present?

 

[Robo]

I also wanted to add that we do plan to switch out the tickets to the newer RFID tickets at Disney Springs before our first park day just as you did. Do all family members using the tickets need to be there in order to do that?
1. I know my teenage son will need to be with me since his ticket was a child's ticket, and it will have to be upgraded to an adult ticket.
2. But do the others have to be there?
3. Do they simply switch out each old ticket for an RFID one,
4. or do they associate each ticket with a person at that time via finger scan or some other method...

(Since you have sort of a duplicated question, I'll sorta duplicate my answers.)
1. Good plan.
2. Not generally required, but it couldn't hurt. (Might speed things... you never know with some CMs.)
3. Yup.
4. Nope. That will be done "automatically" when you actually USE the new tickets at the park gate.
With older tickets like that, it really doesn't matter exactly to whom which ticket belonged back then.

 

[opus_00]

(Since you have sort of a duplicated question, I'll sorta duplicate my answers.)
1. Good plan.
2. Not generally required, but it couldn't hurt. (Might speed things... you never know with some CMs.)
3. Yup.
4. Nope. That will be done "automatically" when you actually USE the new tickets at the park gate.
With older tickets like that, it really doesn't matter exactly to whom which ticket belonged back then.

Thanks for answering in both places When I responded to the above post about making FPs with old tickets, I thought this would be another good place to ask for maximum exposure!

 

[runwad]

My family of 5 had some old tickets from 2005. I went alone to GS at Disney Springs and got them all switched out, no problems not having other family members with me,this was in 2017.

 

[Hardline]

I also wanted to add that we do plan to switch out the tickets to the newer RFID tickets at Disney Springs before our first park day just as you did. Do all family members using the tickets need to be there in order to do that? I know my teenage son will need to be with me since his ticket was a child's ticket, and it will have to be upgraded to an adult ticket. But do the others have to be there? Do they simply switch out each old ticket for an RFID one, or do they associate each ticket with a person at that time via finger scan or some other method, requiring each person to be present?

Robo is right, naturally. I was the only one in line at Disney Springs to change the tickets. They never asked to see anyone from my family, they just happily switched up the media. My husband was wrangling our two (at the time) young kids nearby while I got it sorted out. Sorry the CMs aren't helping you with the FP issue... Either way, 'refresh' on MDE for Fastpasses is the name of the game. Persistence really pays off, in my experience (and in many others!) Good luck! See you at the parks in August! It's freaking hot, but still magical as always.

 

[ScrapYap]

My family of 5 had some old tickets from 2005. I went alone to GS at Disney Springs and got them all switched out, no problems not having other family members with me,this was in 2017.

Did you use those tickets or hold onto them? It's amazing how much people pay for non-expiring tickets on eBay.

 

[runwad]

Did you use those tickets or hold onto them? It's amazing how much people pay for non-expiring tickets on eBay.

Why I still have them of course, I'm "Thrifty" that way.

 

[opus_00]

Are you sure that you can't add the no-expiration tickets to your account before you go? I had a couple of very old tickets from years ago and they were able to put them in my account well before we went so I could book Fastpasses. In MDE (on the website) in the reservations and tickets section there's a button to link old tickets. It also says this: "Is the purchase date printed on your ticket prior to 2010? Please call (407) 939-4357 for information on how you can use pre-2010 tickets."

I tried calling again today and asking if these old PH tickets could be added to our MDE account now. The CM did spend a LONG time on the phone, going back and forth between me and the "ticketing specialists," but they were ultimately not able to do it. They said they needed to identify exactly which trip those tickets were last used on in order to find a way to link them to MDE. They asked me for information like when and where they were purchased, and the time of year they were used. I was fairly sure about when and where we purchased them, and gave my best guess as to what month we visited (this was many years ago, and we visited several times when our older kids were younger, so it was really just a guess).

The CM told me that I will indeed have to wait until we arrive in WDW and go to GS to switch them out for new RFID media, as we were originally told. But now I'm worried that if they couldn't do it over the phone without being able to identify the dates they were last used, that GS won't be able to do it either Any other thoughts on this?

 

[runwad]

opus_00, I think you'll be ok!

They asked me all those questions too on the phone and luckily I had info written down on the last park we visited and the date so they were able to add them to my mde ahead of our trip for Fp's. But then I still had to go to GS and get the RFID tickets to use for entry because we were staying off site and didn't have magic bands.

 

[opus_00]

opus_00, I think you'll be ok!

They asked me all those questions too on the phone and luckily I had info written down on the last park we visited and the date so they were able to add them to my mde ahead of our trip for Fp's. But then I still had to go to GS and get the RFID tickets to use for entry because we were staying off site and didn't have magic bands.

So did you have to provide all of that info at GS also in order to get the RFID tickets, or did they just switch them out? My tickets have magnetic strips on them, so I wonder if they can just read the strip in order to get that info if they need it.

 

[runwad]

So did you have to provide all of that info at GS also in order to get the RFID tickets, or did they just switch them out? My tickets have magnetic strips on them, so I wonder if they can just read the strip in order to get that info if they need it.

Nope I didn't provide them any info at GS. Thinking back, I believe they just swiped my tickets, like a credit card on a device connected to their register and gave me new cards, eazy peazy.You'll be fine.

 

[opus_00]

Ok, great. I could kick myself for not bringing those tickets with us last time we went to WDW to have them switched out for RFID tickets (we were on a longer trip, and it wasn't worth it to use them). Just never thought of it. All of this extra planning and worrying would not be necessary!