Using package tickets before package begins question?

[maleficent83]

Ok, we have Aug 15-20 booked at cbr with a room only reservation, and then the 20-30 booked at por with free dining. I had always read you could use park tickets up to 3 days prior, when I asked the cm on the phone they said it was actually up to 10 days prior now? But i have not seen any info online regarding this. so i called and asked again, the 2nd cm also said that yes I could use the tickets prior to my package, but they didn't know of any restrictions as far as how many days in advance i was able to do this. So I just want to know if we will be able to go to a park on the 16th or not? that is 4 days prior?

 

[kmb584]

Ok, we have Aug 15-20 booked at cbr with a room only reservation, and then the 20-30 booked at por with free dining. I had always read you could use park tickets up to 3 days prior, when I asked the cm on the phone they said it was actually up to 10 days prior now? But i have not seen any info online regarding this. so i called and asked again, the 2nd cm also said that yes I could use the tickets prior to my package, but they didn't know of any restrictions as far as how many days in advance i was able to do this. So I just want to know if we will be able to go to a park on the 16th or not? that is 4 days prior?

You can pick them up 3 days prior and as far as I know nothing has changed. Phone CM are notoriously unreliable.

 

[supersnoop]

The phone CM's are specifically trained to tell you that tickets can't be used early. But, yes, you can pick them up three days early.

 

[maleficent83]

The phone CM's are specifically trained to tell you that tickets can't be used early. But, yes, you can pick them up three days early.

Yes I guess I was just surprised, because she so matter of factly said "well its actually 10 days now!" so i just wanted to make sure that nothing had changed guess we will have to find something else to do that day. Thanks, i figured everybody here would know if it had changed.

 

[djc9699]

I questioned this on the online chat and was told 10 days as well. I printed it out and am taking it with me, but I only need mine two days early.

 

[maleficent83]

I questioned this on the online chat and was told 10 days as well. I printed it out and am taking it with me, but I only need mine two days early.

hmm i will try this as well, and see what they say! thanks!

 

[maleficent83]

omg i just live chatted and they said it depends on your package? and won't give me an answer lol

 

[maleficent83]

ok well i just called again and was told 10 days again. so i am just going to cross my fingers it was changed to 10 days....

 

[Robo]

I questioned this on the online chat and was told 10 days as well. I printed it out and am taking it with me, but I only need mine two days early.

Simply ignore anything that the "Phone CMs" tell you about park operations.
They have zero information about operations, but that doesn't stop them from making up answers to questions.

 

[Robo]

If you book room-only and buy tickets separately, those stand-alone tickets can be used ANY TIME before check-in.
No restrictions, no time limit, and they do not have to be "activated" at all.
If you have them connected on your MyDisneyExperince account, you don't need to do anything to use those tickets
via your MagicBand… at any time.

If your tickets are bought as part of a WDW Resort Package…
those tickets cannot be used until they are activated by checking into your resort (on-line check-in is fine.)

-OR-
Those Package tickets can be activated up to three days before check-in date by going to a Guest Relations
outside any park.

 

[maleficent83]

lol, ok i called one last time, the cm said they can't be used early, when i questioned her, she said well let me check with "guest services'? i think thats what she said, and when she came back to the phone several minutes later, she said it was in fact 10 days in advance and that to go to guest relations?

i am just going to finish up my plans and count on the 3 days, and hope for the 4th day. my mil will be with me and my kids on the 1st part of my trip. so if its only 3 days in advance, i can only take here to 3 parks, if i can get in 4 days in advance i can take her to all 4 parks. either way it won't ruin my trip or anything. i am there for 2 weeks, and my children will get to go to all the parks numerous times. i guess worse case scenario we can have a pool day that day, or we have universal studios annual passes, so i guess i could take her there that day, and just have to buy her a ticket there.

 

[Robo]

lol, ok i called one last time, the cm said they can't be used early, when i questioned her, she said well let me check with "guest services'? i think thats what she said, and when she came back to the phone several minutes later, she said it was in fact 10 days in advance and that to go to guest relations?

I've got an idea…

Can you please call again tomorrow during the day, when the "weekday shift" comes onboard?
I'd like to hear the answer from the regular staff.

 

[smitch425]

Regardless of when you pick them up, be sure that when you check in for your actual free dining stay, your dining plan gets activated properly. Grab a mug and "pay" for it with your mug credit before heading to the parks. When we did early ticket pickup last year, our dining plan didn't activate and we had to pay for our first meal at MK. City Hall was able to fix it, but it did take time out of our day to do so.

 

[maleficent83]

I've got an idea…

Can you please call again tomorrow during the day, when the "weekday shift" comes onboard?
I'd like to hear the answer from the regular staff.

yes i will definitely do that, thanks!

 

[maleficent83]

Regardless of when you pick them up, be sure that when you check in for your actual free dining stay, your dining plan gets activated properly. Grab a mug and "pay" for it with your mug credit before heading to the parks. When we did early ticket pickup last year, our dining plan didn't activate and we had to pay for our first meal at MK. City Hall was able to fix it, but it did take time out of our day to do so.

thats good to know, thank you

 

[djc9699]

lol, ok i called one last time, the cm said they can't be used early, when i questioned her, she said well let me check with "guest services'? i think thats what she said, and when she came back to the phone several minutes later, she said it was in fact 10 days in advance and that to go to guest relations?[/QUOTE

That's what they told me on the online chat. They said to check in for my first reservation and then go to guest services and get a hard ticket and I could get it up to 10 days prior to my 2nd check-in date, but I couldn't make FP+ early (which I knew). Maybe this (10 days) is something new.

 

[maleficent83]

thank you!

 

[bunnyboo]

If anyone has an update on this please post! Whether or not they changed the 3 days to 10 days would affect the park plans for my trip. I tried asking a CM today but the CM wasn't particularly helpful. The CM told me I could use tickets prior to my package start but couldn't specify how many days. At least it seems like they're no longer telling people they can't use tickets ahead of time.

 

[Mom2Stitch]

If you book room-only and buy tickets separately, those stand-alone tickets can be used ANY TIME before check-in.
No restrictions, no time limit, and they do not have to be "activated" at all.
If you have them connected on your MyDisneyExperince account, you don't need to do anything to use those tickets
via your MagicBand… at any time.

If your tickets are bought as part of a WDW Resort Package…
those tickets cannot be used until they are activated by checking into your resort (on-line check-in is fine.)

-OR-
Those Package tickets can be activated up to three days before check-in date by going to a Guest Relations
outside any park.

Sorry to be digging up this old thread, but I'm trying to get this through my thick skull --

We are doing 1 night room only at CSR before our 6 night FD package starts. I have purchased an 8 day PH with my package. IF I do online check in for the package portion, will that activate my tickets so that I can use them for our room only night? Or will I need to visit Guest Relations?

 

[supersnoop]

Sorry to be digging up this old thread, but I'm trying to get this through my thick skull --

We are doing 1 night room only at CSR before our 6 night FD package starts. I have purchased an 8 day PH with my package. IF I do online check in for the package portion, will that activate my tickets so that I can use them for our room only night? Or will I need to visit Guest Relations?

You will need to visit guest relations.