ticket/resort cautionary tale

[ilovebassets]

I booked a room only reservation at Fort Wilderness Cabins for 7 days several months ago. I then purchased a 4 day ticket separately but through disney. (I don't usually do packages because of the more severe cancellation penalties compare to a room only reservation.) About a week before fast pass plus eligibility, we decided to increase the room reservation to 9 days. I figured I would increase the number of days on our tickets once we got to WDW.

When I went to book my fastpass plus reservations, I was only able to do so for 4 days of our 9 day trip because of the ticket length I had originally bought. I called disney to see if I could add days to our ticket and was told no. All upgrades had to be done in person at WDW meaning I would be unable to book fastpass plus for half of our trip. I was rather upset about this as I feel that spending $300 (after discounts) a night on a room and buying undiscounted tickets directly from disney should give the customer some freedom in changing the tickets when one of the major perks disney advertises for staying on site is prebooking of FP+ (and now I can't book it for half my trip.) Here I am, giving disney more of my vacation dollars and time by lengthening my resort stay, and they won't even let me pay more money to them for a longer ticket! The CM I spoke to suggested I just buy a new 3 day ticket which would obviously be far more expensive than adding days to the original ticket.

After talking (very calmly) to two more cast members, one of them gave me a phone number for ticket inquiries to see if someone else could help me out. I called and spoke to a very nice and understanding lady who ultimately added more days to my tickets at the appropriate price.

So moral of story, maybe a package is better because you can change it and add more days more readily than with room only and buying tickets separately. Alternatively, if you buy tickets separately and booking FP+ in advance is important, err on the side of buying tickets with more days.

In general though, I think it's crazy you can't upgrade tickets over the phone if the tickets are basically electronic and never issued in paper anyway. I hate to sound like the entitled disney customer and in general, this is the first major issue I've ever had with disney. But when you spend over $10k a year between WDW and disney cruising, have the disney credit card, buy all the stuff and movies, etc, it feels like disney could at least help you out a bit when something isn't exactly right (which, to disney's credit, they ultimately did).

 

[fla4fun]

Personally, I feel that if you have an on property reservation, you should be allowed to book FP+ for each day of your reservation, regardless of whether you have a ticket linked to your account. There can be many reasons why you might not want to buy tickets in advance, or why you might need to change the number of days on a ticket when you arrive, or you might even be planning to upgrade to an AP. If it's going to be advertised as an on property perk to book FP+ in advance then it should be tied to your stay, not your tickets.

However, I'm not the one in charge, so I have to do it their way . . . .

 

[ilovebassets]

If it's going to be advertised as an on property perk to book FP+ in advance then it should be tied to your stay, not your tickets.

That's exactly how I feel and quite frankly, how I thought things were until I ran into the above problem. It almost feels like false advertising.

 

[totallytigger]

Personally, I feel that if you have an on property reservation, you should be allowed to book FP+ for each day of your reservation, regardless of whether you have a ticket linked to your account. There can be many reasons why you might not want to buy tickets in advance, or why you might need to change the number of days on a ticket when you arrive, or you might even be planning to upgrade to an AP. If it's going to be advertised as an on property perk to book FP+ in advance then it should be tied to your stay, not your tickets. However, I'm not the one in charge, so I have to do it their way . . . .

Why do you think that it would be fair for someone to theoretically tie up FP+ ressies that they will not use? The OP stated that their original tickets were only four day passes for a seven day stay--meaning that they would not be going to a park for three of their days. If Disney did what your suggesting--the OP would potentially tie up nine FP+ ressies/person and not use them. It can already be difficult to get FP+ ressies for the most popular rides at busy times. Trust me--I have not heard of anyone dieing an early death d/t not being able to make FP+ selections ahead of time or even not being able to ride a particular ride. Life is too short to stress over such things!!

Please no neg responses about WDW being too expensive to loose out on such things as FP+ selections or rides. If you're just looking to ride rides--go to Six Flags or elsewhere. WDW is sooooo much more than just rides!!

 

[POOHsie]

So moral of story, maybe a package is better because you can change it and add more days more readily than with room only and buying tickets separately. Alternatively, if you buy tickets separately and booking FP+ in advance is important, err on the side of buying tickets with more days.

It was your mistake to buy 4 day tickets for a 7 day trip. Waiting until closer to your trip to buy your tickets might have been better, since you later decided to increase the length of your visit. As an experienced Disney visitor, you should know Disney ticket sales are non-refundable. A nice CM gave you some pixie dust, but if you aren't going to get a resort stay package with tickets that can be added to, you have painted yourself into a corner, not Disney.

 

[canadiandisneyfamof4]

Even if OP only had 4 day tickets who is to say that they wanted to use all 4 days in a row, maybe they wanted to take a mid week break and then go back, I think its fair for Disney to say that you have 4 days of tickets therefore you can make 4 days worth of FP+, but not to dictate that they have to be for the first 4 days.

 

[MamaBear58]

Why do you think that it would be fair for someone to theoretically tie up FP+ ressies that they will not use? The OP stated that their original tickets were only four day passes for a seven day stay--meaning that they would not be going to a park for three of their days. If Disney did what your suggesting--the OP would potentially tie up nine FP+ ressies/person and not use them. It can already be difficult to get FP+ ressies for the most popular rides at busy times. Trust me--I have not heard of anyone dieing an early death d/t not being able to make FP+ selections ahead of time or even not being able to ride a particular ride. Life is too short to stress over such things!!

Please no neg responses about WDW being too expensive to loose out on such things as FP+ selections or rides. If you're just looking to ride rides--go to Six Flags or elsewhere. WDW is sooooo much more than just rides!!

This. The early booking is a perk available to onsite guests. But FP+ is allegedly tied to the ticket, so if someone has not committed to the ticket he should not be able to tie up reservations. I say allegedly because if you have 2 tickets for the day--your regular ticket and a hard ticket for a party-- I understand that the system won't let you pre-book 6 reservations in a day. I think that is wrong. I also think she should have been able to upgrade over the phone.

 

[MamaBear58]

Even if OP only had 4 day tickets who is to say that they wanted to use all 4 days in a row, maybe they wanted to take a mid week break and then go back, I think its fair for Disney to say that you have 4 days of tickets therefore you can make 4 days worth of FP+, but not to dictate that they have to be for the first 4 days.

I do not see where the OP claims that Disney dictated that it be the first 4 days.

 

[DisneyDude71]

Even if OP only had 4 day tickets who is to say that they wanted to use all 4 days in a row, maybe they wanted to take a mid week break and then go back, I think its fair for Disney to say that you have 4 days of tickets therefore you can make 4 days worth of FP+, but not to dictate that they have to be for the first 4 days.

Not the case Disney does not tell you what days you have to go to the park or what days you have to use your fastpass+ selections. You can only make selections based on how many days of tickets you have. You have 5 days of tickets you can make five days of fastpass+ selections not six

 

[DisneyDude71]

Personally, I feel that if you have an on property reservation, you should be allowed to book FP+ for each day of your reservation, regardless of whether you have a ticket linked to your account. There can be many reasons why you might not want to buy tickets in advance, or why you might need to change the number of days on a ticket when you arrive, or you might even be planning to upgrade to an AP. If it's going to be advertised as an on property perk to book FP+ in advance then it should be tied to your stay, not your tickets. However, I'm not the one in charge, so I have to do it their way . . . .

So I am staying at Disney for a week and only have a two day ticket, but I can make fastpass selections for a whole week. TIC, So with this logic, you will be okay with a credit card hold for your fastpass+ selections.

 

[Robo]

This. The early booking is a perk available to onsite guests. But FP+ is allegedly tied to the ticket, so if someone has not committed to the ticket he should not be able to tie up reservations. I say allegedly because if you have 2 tickets for the day--your regular ticket and a hard ticket for a party-- I understand that the system won't let you pre-book 6 reservations in a day. I think that is wrong. I also think she should have been able to upgrade over the phone.

Hard ticket events (MNSSHP & MVMCP) don't offer FP+during the event, so there's no reason for a hard event tickets to offer any FP+.

 

[MamaBear58]

Hard ticket events (MNSSHP & MVMCP) don't offer FP+during the event, so there's no reason for a hard event tickets to offer any FP+.

They offer them from 4 to 7. So they should be available to everyone who bought the ticket. Not just those who did not also use a park ticket that day.

 

[Reddog1134]

They offer them from 4 to 7. So they should be available to everyone who bought the ticket. Not just those who did not also use a park ticket that day.

They let party goers in at 4pm to make the transition easier. As a 5 time party goer myself, I appreciate the fact that I'm getting 3 "extra" hours in the park. I'm fine without the Fastpasses.

 

[leebee]

They offer them from 4 to 7. So they should be available to everyone who bought the ticket. Not just those who did not also use a park ticket that day.

Technically the parties don't start until 7pm; they let you in early to help with transitioning large numbers of guests in different directions. I appreciate the extra 3 hours in the park but don't think that entitles me to fastpasses during that time, because Fp isn't part of MNSSHP/MVMCP. If you want the fastpasses, use a regular day's admission for a visit to MK that day; you'll be able to get FP during the hours up until 7, because those are the regular park hours and you are there with a regular park ticket. If you are only using a party ticket, you only get party "perks," and that doesn't include FP.

 

[MamaBear58]

Technically the parties don't start until 7pm; they let you in early to help with transitioning large numbers of guests in different directions. I appreciate the extra 3 hours in the park but don't think that entitles me to fastpasses during that time, because Fp isn't part of MNSSHP/MVMCP. If you want the fastpasses, use a regular day's admission for a visit to MK that day; you'll be able to get FP during the hours up until 7, because those are the regular park hours and you are there with a regular park ticket. If you are only using a party ticket, you only get party "perks," and that doesn't include FP.

It does permit 3 FP+ between 4 and 7. My point is that it should be permitted for everyone who paid extra for that ticket. Not just those who did not also use a regular park ticket and its 3 FP+ that day. If I'm already in the park and at 4 all the standby lines get long because the hard ticket guests have flooded the park and are using FP+ tied to the hard ticket, it does not seem right that I too should not get 3 tied to my hard ticket.

 

[POOHsie]

It does permit 3 FP+ between 4 and 7. My point is that it should be permitted for everyone who paid extra for that ticket. Not just those who did not also use a regular park ticket and its 3 FP+ that day. If I'm already in the park and at 4 all the standby lines get long because the hard ticket guests have flooded the park and are using FP+ tied to the hard ticket, it does not seem right that I too should not get 3 tied to my hard ticket.

I'm confused. Are you saying hard ticket guests have access to FP+ at MK between 4-7?

 

[Reddog1134]

It does permit 3 FP+ between 4 and 7. My point is that it should be permitted for everyone who paid extra for that ticket. Not just those who did not also use a regular park ticket and its 3 FP+ that day. If I'm already in the park and at 4 all the standby lines get long because the hard ticket guests have flooded the park and are using FP+ tied to the hard ticket, it does not seem right that I too should not get 3 tied to my hard ticket.

I’m confused, too. It sounds like you’re saying Hard Tickets should get FP+ because without it, they will be in the standby lines and make them longer.

But they would still be longer any way.

 

[MamaBear58]

I'm confused. Are you saying hard ticket guests have access to FP+ at MK between 4-7?

Yes. If the search function is ever back up, read about people's experiences for MNSSHP and MVMCP in 2013.

 

[MamaBear58]

I’m confused, too. It sounds like you’re saying Hard Tickets should get FP+ because without it, they will be in the standby lines and make them longer.

But they would still be longer any way.

I am saying that they DO get them, which makes standby lines longer b/t 4 and 7. If I've been in the park all day AND paid for the same hard ticket for the party, why don't I get an "extra" 3 FP+ between 4 and 7? And if I'm staying on site and buy that hard ticket months in advance, why shouldn't I be able to plan my day and pre-book those extra 3 as well?

 

[JimmyV]

If it's going to be advertised as an on property perk to book FP+ in advance then it should be tied to your stay, not your tickets.

But it's not. The pre-booking feature has been rolled out to on-site guests earlier than to off-site guests. But it is not a "perk" of staying on-site, if by perk, one means something that others cannot get. Once the roll out is complete for AP Holders, off site guests and CMs, this will become more transparent. But until then, people continue to linger under the impression that this is a "perk" like EMHs. In the end, FP+ will operate the way ADRs do. Anyone and everyone will be able to book in advance. Disney has been pretty consistent on this point.