Using Tickets before package arrival date!!

[Polynesian27]

Hi All, quick question.
Can you use tickets that are part of a package prior to your arrival date. I have a room booked on DVC points for 3 nights, and 3 night booked on a package. The tickets are much cheaper to book with a package then separately. Does anyone know if I can just use the tickets when i check in to my DVC reservation? thanks so much!!

 

[Welsh_Dragon]

In my experience you cannot.

 

[starry_solo]

@Robo can answer your question!

 

[EpcotPhoenician]

I attempted this during a split stay and it did not work.

 

[lanejudy]

No, not anymore. Package tickets start with the package check-in date and cannot be activated earlier. If you want tickets to use prior to the package, you will need to purchase them separately. Try an authorized reseller for some savings.

 

[Robo]

The tickets are much cheaper to book with a package then separately.

Are you certain that's true?
I'm trying to think of under what circumstance that would be the case.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Im not sure about the discounted tickets. I havent seen that.

I do know the tix start with the first day of your package, however, the end usage date is a few days after your checkout. I cant say for certain how many days, it has varied for mine, possibly depends on your length of stay??? I stayed 12 days recently, checked out on a Monday, but my tix were valid until the following Friday. I also noticed on my visit prior to that, 10 nights, they were extended 2 days. I dont know the rhyme or reason. When I check out, I fly home so Ive never questioned or used it beyond my checkout.

 

[Turksmom]

Are you certain that's true?
I'm trying to think of under what circumstance that would be the case.

I don't know that it would be much cheaper, but prices do vary based on start date. The package start date may be less expensive than the date they want the tickets to start.

 

[Robo]

Im not sure about the discounted tickets. I havent seen that.

I do know the tix start with the first day of your package, however, the end usage date is a few days after your checkout. I cant say for certain how many days, it has varied for mine, possibly depends on your length of stay??? I stayed 12 days recently, checked out on a Monday, but my tix were valid until the following Friday. I also noticed on my visit prior to that, 10 nights, they were extended 2 days. I dont know the rhyme or reason. When I check out, I fly home so Ive never questioned or used it beyond my checkout.

Ticket expiration date is not necessarily dependent on length of stay at a WDW resort
(although it CAN be, it is not always the case.)
It is quite possible to buy tickets which validity extends past the resort checkout date.
(It depends on the number of days on the ticket vs. the length of the resort stay.)

 

[Robo]

I don't know that it would be much cheaper, but prices do vary based on start date. The package start date may be less expensive than the date they want the tickets to start.

I know what you are saying, but that does not address my question regarding the cost of buying a stand-alone ticket vs. buying a ticket as part of a resort package.
There should be virtually no "discount" when buying tickets as part of a resort package.

 

[DISNEY1975]

Ticket expiration date is not necessarily dependent on length of stay at a WDW resort
(although it CAN be, it is not always the case.)
It is quite possible to buy tickets which validity extends past the resort checkout date.
(It depends on the number of days on the ticket vs. the length of the resort stay.)

I have no idea. When I book our packages, I book resort and at the same time choose add ons...tickets, PH+ (and previously DP). I dont buy the tix separately, but all bundled.

If you book resort and tix separately, it is no longer a "package", as the OP questioned.

 

[Robo]

I have no idea. When I book our packages, I book resort and at the same time choose add ons...tickets, PH+ (and previously DP). I dont buy the tix separately, but all bundled.

If you book resort and tix separately, it is no longer a "package", as the OP questioned.

We're getting bogged down in definitions.
(Which is fine, but it's not helpful to finding a solution to many ticket purchase situations.)

For clarity:
Tickets bought as part of a resort room reservation ("package") can be cancelled along with the room reservation if the guest decides not to make the WDW trip. That fact can be very significant and can serve as an "insurance plan" for uncertain times (like the ones in which we now find ourselves.)
But, the COST of buying the tickets as part of a package is not reduced in comparison to buying the tickets and room SEPARATELY.
In some (many?) cases, it makes sense to buy the tickets as "stand-alone" and the room separately.
Stand-alone tickets (generally) can be purchased at a savings from authorized ticket discounters.
AND... even if the trip for which those tickets were purchased is cancelled by the guest... the full on-line "Disney value" (at the time the tickets were purchased) is RETAINED by the purchaser, and can be used in the future to buy tickets for a later trip. (So, no money is "lost.")

There is another factor to consider (but it can be somewhat rare in actual "need.")
When a guest buys a ticket as part of a resort package, and the check-out date is a number of days PAST the (normal) "end-date" of a multi-day ticket, the last date that any remaining unused ticket assets can be used is the final checkout date of the resort room.

 

[DISNEY1975]

We're getting bogged down in definitions.
(Which is fine, but it's not helpful to finding a solution to many ticket purchase situations.)


There is another factor to consider (but it can be somewhat rare in actual "need.")
When a guest buys a ticket as part of a resort package, and the check-out date is a number of days PAST the (normal) "end-date" of a multi-day ticket, the last date that any remaining unused ticket assets can be used is the final checkout date of the resort room.

In my example, I purchase a package. 10 nights at ____ resort. Because I know I wont be going to the parks on day one, or checkout date, I buy the 9 day ticket.

My dates.. check in Sept 1st, check out Sept 11. My 9 day tickets are valid 09/01 - 09/14 (or something like that. Its definitely beyond my checkout date.)

 

[DebbieB]

Are you certain that's true?
I'm trying to think of under what circumstance that would be the case.

I think they meant separate tickets for each part.

Since there is no dining plan, I would change the cash stay to room only and buy a ticket that covers both.

 

[lanejudy]

@DISNEY1975 When purchasing tickets in a package, ticket expiration depends on A) length of ticket (how many days) and B) length of resort stay.

• You can do a 10-night resort stay with 3-day park tickets, and the tickets expire on the day you check-out. A 3-day ticket typically allows one 5 days to use the entitlements. So the "package" is extending that expiration through the length of the resort stay.
• You can do a 10-night resort stay with 10-day tickets, and those tickets will still be valid for a few days after check-out. A 10-day ticket typically allows one 14 days to use the entitlements. That 14-day window extends past the resort check-out date.

With a package, you get the longer expiration date -- length of stay or based on the number of days for the ticket.

However, none of that helps the OP who wants to use tickets prior to the resort package check-in date. That is not allowed any more. (Used to be, but not now.)