WDW shopping pass?

[KCMiller]

Hi,

I have heard that there is some sort of one hour shopping pass you can use at WDW - can anyone tell me anything about this? Personal experience? Or is this one of those urban legends?

Thanks!

KC

 

[goofy4tink]

They used to offer something like that years ago, but to the best of my knowledge they don't anymore.

 

[GoldenOldie]

It's not a legend but it's now about as common as an honest politician.

At one time, all of the parks had many park specific items that could only be bought at that particular park and nowhere else at Disney. People would often see something at a park, hold off purchasing it thinking they could pick it up later on somewhere else (maybe using a disount at DTD), and then realize later that they never saw it anywhere but at that park.

So all they wanted to do was go in and buy that item but didn't want to use a park admission day off their tickets. Disney came up with a shopping pass.

This shopping pass was available only at the Guest Relations window at the four major parks. The deal was you had to put a charge card imprint equal to the amount of a one day park pass at full price. You would have one hour to enter the park and do your shopping or whatever.

If you did not make it back to the same Guest Relations window within an hour, they put your charge through as a ticket purchase and you became the owner of a one day pass. If you got back in time, the charge slip is voided and it would have cost you nothing.

But now the proliferation of park specific merchandise is very small and everything is available through Disney's phone/mail order department. Guest Relations has all but discontinued these shopping passes. It's possible that you can still find one or two GR CM's who will do it but they are getting fewer every day.

By the way, only one person was allowed to do a shopping pass. You cannot take your whole family in.

 

[CarolMN]

Originally posted by KCMiller
Hi,

I have heard that there is some sort of one hour shopping pass you can use at WDW - can anyone tell me anything about this? Personal experience? Or is this one of those urban legends?

Thanks!

KC

Here is what All Ears Net says about the shopping pass:

I have heard you can get a one hour shopping pass, what is this?

This was available from Guest Relations at the major parks at one time but seems it has largely gone the way of the dinosaurs. A 'shopping pass' as they were called is part of a "time limit" admission media. Distributing a time limit pass is an exception to the general admission media rules. All time limit admission media is distributed at the sole discretion of the Guest Relations CM distributing the media. Most will not allow it to be done anymore. My advice is if one CM tells you there is no such thing as a shopping pass that you ask him/her to check with their supervisor.

Part of the demise of these "shopping pass" admissions has been the result of Disney Merchandising. At one time, each park had many items that were specific to that park and were only available at that park. For example, a Splash Mountain sweatshirt could only be had in the Magic Kingdom itself. But now, the existance of park specific merchandise is extremely limited. A higher percentage of park merchandise is just as available outside the actual Theme Parks as inside their gates.

Just in case you find yourself the rare exception and still manage to obtain a one hour park shopping pass, here is how it works. This shopping pass is available only at the Guest Relations window at the four major parks. The deal is you must put a charge card imprint (they may take cash for it but I'm not sure) equal to the amount of a one day park pass at full price. You will have one hour to enter the park and do your shopping or whatever.

If you do not make it back to the same Guest Relations window within an hour, they will put your charge through as a purchase and you become the owner of a one day pass. If you do get back in time, the charge slip is voided and it will have cost you nothing.

This was set up to allow people to go back to a park to purchase an item or items that they forgot and are only available in the park. Only one person in your party will be allowed in on the shopping pass.


Here's the link (with more FAQ on tickets):

Ticket FAQ

Best wishes -

 

[KCMiller]

Thanks, everyone!


KC