Tickets and Annual Pass Questions - Please add your ticket questions to this thread

[Robo]

Can someone educate me on the AP Renewal options?
I had bought an out of state, I think that was called a platinum pass January 2020. I took the cancel refund option when it was available last summer.
What are the options for renewing? I have heard about legacy pass holders, but I don't know many details.
I don't actually have a trip planned at the moment, but will probably come up with something eventually and would like to have the AP again.

"Out-of-state" APs came in various types with various names.
As for getting another at this time... no guarantees.
Call Disney, explain your situation and ask nicely for what you'd like.

 

[CarolynFH]

Can someone educate me on the AP Renewal options?
I had bought an out of state, I think that was called a platinum pass January 2020. I took the cancel refund option when it was available last summer.
What are the options for renewing? I have heard about legacy pass holders, but I don't know many details.
I don't actually have a trip planned at the moment, but will probably come up with something eventually and would like to have the AP again.

The last few pages of this thread may be helpful: https://www.disboards.com/threads/ap-only-info-thread-reservation-system-extensions-refunds.3798147/
It seems that people who cancelled their APs during the closure are being allowed to buy new ones (at “new” price, not renewal) but have until 12/31/30 to activate them. I believe you need to call the VIPassholder phone number and get your name on a list and wait several weeks for a callback as to whether you’re eligible or not.

 

[poohs_hunny]

Perhaps a silly question: can an adult ticket be used by a child? I have two adult tickets from a canceled trip last May assigned to my in laws. We have a trip planned this September, but not with the in laws. I know the tickets can be reassigned, but can an adult ticket be reassigned to my DD (3 yo)? I know children's tickets are a bit cheaper, but I would rather use the tickets we already have before purchasing new ones. My DH and I have DVC gold APs (not activated yet) and my mom will use the other adult ticket. Thank you!

 

[bluecastle]

I am planning a trip with the tentative dates of 2/1/22-2/7/22
My questions:
1. Should/can I buy tickets now? I am thinking of a 4 day hopper since we will be spending a couple of days just at the resort. Do not have resort res yet because AKL is not available right now.
2. If I buy my tickets from a third-part seller, like Undercover Tourist, and we end up postponing our trip, will Disney honor those?
3. Do I make the changes, if I postpone, by phone or on MDE?
4. I'm assuming the No Expiration date option is no longer available. What if we can't go until 2023? How do I apply expired unused tickets for a later trip? Will Disney apply credit from unused tickets to new ones and will they do that if I didn't buy them from Disney?
5. Should I buy tickets now even though I am uncertain about a few details of our trip, other then it won't be in 2021? Isn't there usually a price increase around this time of year?
Thanks in advance! I am sorry to ask such basic questions, but my planning is usually more organized and certain, and right now I am not certain about anything except wanting to invest in tickets that I can use in the future before any price increases. I used to do that all the time before they changed to date based with expiration dates. Thanks again!

 

[Robo]

I am planning a trip with the tentative dates of 2/1/22-2/7/22
My questions:
1. Should/can I buy tickets now? I am thinking of a 4 day hopper since we will be spending a couple of days just at the resort. Do not have resort res yet because AKL is not available right now.
2. If I buy my tickets from a third-part seller, like ******************, and we end up postponing our trip, will Disney honor those?
3. Do I make the changes, if I postpone, by phone or on MDE?
4a. I'm assuming the No Expiration date option is no longer available.
What if we can't go until 2023?
4b. How do I apply expired unused tickets for a later trip?
4c. Will Disney apply credit from unused tickets to new ones and
4d. will they do that if I didn't buy them from Disney?
5. Should I buy tickets now even though I am uncertain about a few details of our trip, other then it won't be in 2021?
6. Isn't there usually a price increase around this time of year?
Thanks in advance! I am sorry to ask such basic questions, but my planning is usually more organized and certain, and right now I am not certain about anything except
7. wanting to invest in tickets that I can use in the future before any price increases. I used to do that all the time before they changed to date based with expiration dates. Thanks again!

1. Personal choice. I would not.
2. They will be considered the same as tickets bought from Disney.
3. You can try on MDE. If not working, try phone.
4a. Correct.
4b. You likely must call.
4c. Yes.
4d. Yes.
5. See #1.
6. Varies. For obvious reasons, we can't count on things being "normal."
7. I would rather risk having to pay a bit more for tickets for a trip I know I will be using than be "stuck with" owning tickets for a trip that may be curtailed or postponed.

 

[bluecastle]

1. Personal choice. I would not.
2. They will be considered the same as tickets bought from Disney.
3. You can try on MDE. If not working, try phone.
4a. Correct.
4b. You likely must call.
4c. Yes.
4d. Yes.
5. See #1.
6. Varies. For obvious reasons, we can't count on things being "normal."
7. I would rather risk having to pay a bit more for tickets for a trip I know I will be using than be "stuck with" owning tickets for a trip that may be curtailed or postponed.

Thank you!

 

[qman6975]

I’m glad to hear you folks are heading to WDW. We understand and came to the conclusion that we are waiting until things return to normal. We want the fireworks, the shows, park hoping, the whole thing. Plus we love the ”Disney bubble“ and are waiting to see what comes after ME goes away. It’s not being critical of other people’s decisions it’s just what works for us.

 

[ucf_knight]

Greetings!

My family is considering a trip (six nights) to WDW in early May 2021. This would be our 5th trip in the last twelve years. We always stay on property and use ME. I'm struggling with the fact that based on what I have priced for a package that week, I will be spending a fair amount more than I have in the past and be receiving less of a product. I know Covid is a part of the issue but I also feel like WDW is using Covid as an excuse to cut services that were a key part of a magical vacation. With no extra magic hours, no fast passes, many dining options closed, no fireworks, considerably less shows etc. I am having trouble signing on to this endeavor. This is not intended to be a whiny post even though as I read it, that's what it kind of sounds like. Trust me. I want to get excited. Am I looking at this wrong?

Many thanks!

It’s Disney lite so to speak. It’s still a great vacation product imo. The magic hours are essentially happening in every park but not being advertised as they all are opening earlier than posted times. We did rotr, mfsr, slinky, mmrr and ogas cantina in a 2.5 hour window this past January on a Saturday. We miss fast passes but if you get there early you will hit the big attractions and waits aren’t that bad. I think dining is still good. The big things they haven’t been able to account for are fireworks and shows but we never stayed up late for fireworks anyways. We did miss the shows though.

 

[Kitty & Covs Covs]

We decided to go this year because the things we normally do--rides, basically--are still mostly open. We rarely stopped for the parades, didn't really do any of the shows, and thankfully my daughter is just aging out of character meet and greets (which I sort of hated waiting in line for anyway). For us, the biggest change is that of logistics (no FP+, different hours, still not totally sure what our snack strategy is outside of TS) and I'm actually intrigued to see how that goes. With a party of 7 it might be nice to just wander to whatever rides have the shortest lines at any given time? I'm optimistic.

So, I think it's worth taking an inventory of what you do and like the most in the parks. I can't say conclusively we are making the right decision because our trip hasn't happened yet (going in a little over two weeks), but in our decision making getting out of the cold, dreary, cooped up winter to the warm, sunny, outdoor park was good enough for now. Cost is obviously a factor--we are flying Frontier on $60 roundtrip tickets with no carry ons or baggage and staying at a moderate resort in the lowest rate room. The ROI could be higher for us (in our opinion) than if you're looking at a higher price trip.

 

[mindeola]

I saw your reply that you are going. My initial response would be don't go if you need to be convinced. Since you have decided to go, I will just offer a few thoughts.

I do not know how I would feel if I was spending full price or taking a family. We get military discounts and I go with my girlfriends. Splitting a room four ways is cheap! I also fly there very inexpensively from new Orleans. That being said, I am loving COVID Disney. I went in October and December. Have a trip for March and then hubby is joining me in May.

I do several long weekends a year. That means parks from open to close. We go hard! This has really made me slow down and enjoy resorts and other Disney offerings. It is so hard for me not to be in an open park! I am really loving some of the relaxing experiences I have had lately. I LOVE not having butts in my face on Disney transportation and not filling in available space on ride queues. I really have not missed the things they do not have at the moment. I will be glad when some of them return though!

 

[PamNC]

I understand how you're feeling, I really do. You've obviously got a lot of different points of view and that's the point... it's not for everyone. I've been twice since Covid.. September 2020 and the last week of January. I missed the shows and fireworks and the limited dining options for certain BUT it was still magical for me. I go every year, sometimes multiple times in a year, so I know I'll be back. It IS my happy place for sure although I like to visit other destinations. To me, it's safer than a lot of places becaue they really have done a great job with social distancing, masks, etc. I've done the shows and fireworks multiple times and absolutely miss them but I still want to go to my happy place to experience what is open and just to be "in the magic." Plus, once the shows and fireworks return, they will be even more special. I don't have kids so character meet and greets don't really affect me. I actually like the cavalcades better than the planned parades. In both of my trips, the crowds were much lighter than pre-covid days so that is another reason I have enjoyed my recent trips. Especially the late January trip....5 minutes for soarin, 15 for FOP, 25 for Splash, 20 for BTMRR. I'll go again - in fact I am in September for the DIS Reunion.

 

[kslone2021]

Greetings!

My family is considering a trip (six nights) to WDW in early May 2021. This would be our 5th trip in the last twelve years. We always stay on property and use ME. I'm struggling with the fact that based on what I have priced for a package that week, I will be spending a fair amount more than I have in the past and be receiving less of a product. I know Covid is a part of the issue but I also feel like WDW is using Covid as an excuse to cut services that were a key part of a magical vacation. With no extra magic hours, no fast passes, many dining options closed, no fireworks, considerably less shows etc. I am having trouble signing on to this endeavor. This is not intended to be a whiny post even though as I read it, that's what it kind of sounds like. Trust me. I want to get excited. Am I looking at this wrong?

Many thanks!

My family and I Disney vacation at least once a year! With the exception of last year, when our cruise was cancelled twice... I struggled with this same dilemma when making our reservations this time. I felt like I was paying so much, but not getting near the perks!!! But then I started to think that maybe now we will actually get more resort and pool time then we normally would. Let's face it, staying out at the parks all day, your entire trip, is nothing short of exhausting. I'm hoping with the less park hours, that maybe we will get more time to relax and enjoy all the magic. And as far as the meet and greets go... Is it bad to say that I'm a little glad their unavailable at the moment??? lol... Those lines are exhaustingly long and our daughter has met them... I still have doubts here and there, but it's DISNEY WORLD, no matter what, it will be magical!!! My little one is so ready to go!!

 

[StuckInKS]

We just decided to plan a last minute trip and we are all excited despite knowing it will be a different experience. We will be spending a lot more, but we haven't been since Jan 2020 and most of us have literally been at home for almost a year now, except for the DH who runs the errands. With me working from home and the kids homeschooling, there has been little reason to risk all of us going anywhere and we haven't. So, we are excited just to be going anywhere at all and especially excited since it is WDW, even with the higher cost and the reduced experience. We are focusing on the things that will be available and starting to plan, which helps us get excited. I'm bummed that the parks are closing earlier, but being in snow right now, it will be fun to spend time in the pools instead. We may also try to stay at a deluxe the entire time, since we usually stay in a value. If we can do that will help add a new experience to look forward too.

 

[SWDisfan]

Greetings!

My family is considering a trip (six nights) to WDW in early May 2021. This would be our 5th trip in the last twelve years. We always stay on property and use ME. I'm struggling with the fact that based on what I have priced for a package that week, I will be spending a fair amount more than I have in the past and be receiving less of a product. I know Covid is a part of the issue but I also feel like WDW is using Covid as an excuse to cut services that were a key part of a magical vacation. With no extra magic hours, no fast passes, many dining options closed, no fireworks, considerably less shows etc. I am having trouble signing on to this endeavor. This is not intended to be a whiny post even though as I read it, that's what it kind of sounds like. Trust me. I want to get excited. Am I looking at this wrong?

Many thanks!

This won’t be the response you’re hoping for, but as a recent visitor is was blah. I love Disney. Huge fan. But this was really hard trip. The constant mask reminders, empty sanitizers, blocked seats on busses making a simple ride not simple as your filled with anxiety if you’ll make it on as the busses are at half capacity at most! The lack of fast passes was the worst part. I just could not stand in line for a full day on rides we’ve been able to walk right on in the past. We also did universal. Now they’re even more annoying with the covid rules but at least they still had the express pass option. As we stayed on site that was included and was awesome! Plus all their restaurants were open! We had a hard time finding dinner one night at the boardwalk and had to resort to their awful pizza. If you don’t have dining reservations they are a MUST DO for Disney this year! Otherwise you can end up needing Uber to goto a chain offsite. Not exactly staying in that Disney bubble. All in all it was still nice to get away. We snagged a 40% off 1 bedroom at boardwalk and were able to get passes to ride RoR, stood in line for MMRR, and the kids went a few new rides they’ve never been in either. That was the best part. I’m just glad this was not one of our first trips as we definitely would have been even more disappointed. Hope this help!

 

[ryman471]

No dining plan, no annual passes, no FPs, no fireworks, no parades, no shows, shortened hours, large crowds. Much less for more.

That is alot of "stuff" that has been taken away to pay the same price for. hmmmm.....

 

[revdon64]

My family loves Disney. We miss Disney. But, we are really having a hard time justifying the value of a Disney vacation compared to other destinations right now. And it doesn't look like it's going to get better any time soon. This summer we're going to the Great Smokey Mountains/Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge area and spending quite a bit less than we would going to Disney.

 

[DL1WDW2]

My family tradition has always been Xmas Day arrival and depart NYDay.
So really worried about No fireworks and No AuldLangSyne Castle Coutdown. So we made it even bigger and went to Gaylord Resort to experience their interior balcony rooms...How awesome is that with everybody opening their balcony doors to sit every night (No worries about the weather)and watch the lobby activities including giant holiday light show and peeking inside to see how many families had decorated their rooms too. Then we went to Universal Studios and their decorations at night remind me of Osborne lights and discovered I love the Grinch more than Mickey Mouse... and then finale at MK trip... Disney had awesome fireworks streaming every night on resort TVs and photo memory picture “with masks” on standing under the Xmas tree on Main Street and then BLT bridge along with families on their balconies with all of us Counting Down together & hollering Happy New Year to the World at midnight.
So glad I did not cancel!

Forgot we also went to the Give Kids the World Holiday Celebration!!!

 

[PoshMom]

Greetings!

My family is considering a trip (six nights) to WDW in early May 2021. This would be our 5th trip in the last twelve years. We always stay on property and use ME. I'm struggling with the fact that based on what I have priced for a package that week, I will be spending a fair amount more than I have in the past and be receiving less of a product. I know Covid is a part of the issue but I also feel like WDW is using Covid as an excuse to cut services that were a key part of a magical vacation. With no extra magic hours, no fast passes, many dining options closed, no fireworks, considerably less shows etc. I am having trouble signing on to this endeavor. This is not intended to be a whiny post even though as I read it, that's what it kind of sounds like. Trust me. I want to get excited. Am I looking at this wrong?

Many thanks!

My sentiments exactly and I'm a fairly optimistic person. My husband is definitely not crazy about the cuts yet paying same price. We also realize some of this is temporary and out of anyone's control. We hope these aren't permanent changes. I'm hopeful.

 

[PoshMom]

I’m glad to hear you folks are heading to WDW. We understand and came to the conclusion that we are waiting until things return to normal. We want the fireworks, the shows, park hoping, the whole thing. Plus we love the ”Disney bubble“ and are waiting to see what comes after ME goes away. It’s not being critical of other people’s decisions it’s just what works for us.

Agree 100%!

 

[Rockbro]

That is alot of "stuff" that has been taken away to pay the same price for. hmmmm.....

It's the new Chapek dining and package plan. The motto is "fill my pockets while I empty yours."