whats my best FD strategy?

[dkbnyc]

we are arriving the day before FD starts in late oct. how should we handle this? make a reservation for 1 night, w/o park tickets and then a separete ressie for the rest of the trip with FD?
thanks

 

[mommyof3princess27]

We originally were arriving oct 24th-nov 2nd. Now we are arriving oct 25th. Doing room only our first night then our free dining package starts 10/26-11/2. That probably is your best bet if u wanna take advantage of the offer. It was worth it. We upgraded to deluxe dining and still saved $500

 

[dkbnyc]

so what are you doing on your first night when you are room only?
we also arrive oct 25

 

[mommyof3princess27]

so what are you doing on your first night when you are room only? we also arrive oct 25

I booked our flight to arrive at 4 and we will go to DTD and have dinner

 

[nedac]

I have this problem as well. I am currently booked on a bounceback room-only. I plan to keep the first night, cancel the rest and book FD for the rest of the week.

I am kind of annoyed that I will have my magic bands but wont be able to use my tickets until 10/26. Thats just silly. I should be able to use them whenever I want.

Problem is, I am booked with my TA, who is at WDW now and cannot get through to change my reservation for me.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

You can pick up your package tickets at guest relations outside of any park or in DTD up to 3 days before your check-in date. We will be doing this - our FD package starts on 8/31 but we check in for a room only on 8/29. We will pick up our tickets at DTD as we pull onto Disney property, grab lunch, check in to our first resort, then head to a park.

We have done this a few times and never had a problem.

 

[dkbnyc]

You can pick up your package tickets at guest relations outside of any park or in DTD up to 3 days before your check-in date. We will be doing this - our FD package starts on 8/31 but we check in for a room only on 8/29. We will pick up our tickets at DTD as we pull onto Disney property, grab lunch, check in to our first resort, then head to a park.

We have done this a few times and never had a problem.

im confused, you said your first day is a room only res. arent your park tickets tied to your second reservation? how would you have park tix on your first night if its room only?
thanks
d

 

[dkbnyc]

I booked our flight to arrive at 4 and we will go to DTD and have dinner

guess thats what we will do too, but we arrive around noon. wish there was MNSSHP that night, but i doubt it

 

[BuckeyeBama]

im confused, you said your first day is a room only res. arent your park tickets tied to your second reservation? how would you have park tix on your first night if its room only?
thanks
d

You can pick up and use the tickets for a package up to 3 days before check-in for that package. You cannot pick them up in a resort - you have to pick them up at guest services. You can do so at guest services outside of any park, or at guest services in Downtown Disney.

You will likely have magic bands in hand for the package deal. The person at guest services will simply "activate" the package tickets already listed in MDE and you can start using the magic bands to enter the parks - again, up to 3 days before your package check-in date. If you prefer, you can ask them to put the tickets on separate media but this is not necessary and it can mess things up, so I wouldn't try it.

We and many other folks on the Dis have done this repeatedly. Disney doesn't advertise it, but they do allow it. And you don't have to be staying at a WDW resort ahead of your package deal check-in to do it. They don't ask, and it doesn't matter. Most years we are in Cocoa Beach before our WDW vacation starts but we decide to do a few evenings in the parks before our official stay begins.

 

[TennesseeGirl]

You can pick up and use the tickets for a package up to 3 days before check-in for that package. You cannot pick them up in a resort - you have to pick them up at guest services. You can do so at guest services outside of any park, or at guest services in Downtown Disney. You will likely have magic bands in hand for the package deal. The person at guest services will simply "activate" the package tickets already listed in MDE and you can start using the magic bands to enter the parks - again, up to 3 days before your package check-in date. If you prefer, you can ask them to put the tickets on separate media but this is not necessary and it can mess things up, so I wouldn't try it. We and many other folks on the Dis have done this repeatedly. Disney doesn't advertise it, but they do allow it. And you don't have to be staying at a WDW resort ahead of your package deal check-in to do it. They don't ask, and it doesn't matter. Most years we are in Cocoa Beach before our WDW vacation starts but we decide to do a few evenings in the parks before our official stay begins.

So you have done this with magic bands? I am completely confused about where the bands can be activated. On our first day I want to go straight to the parks and check in later but was told I had to get our magic bands activated at our resort first. Last year check in took forever.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

So you have done this with magic bands? I am completely confused about where the bands can be activated. On our first day I want to go straight to the parks and check in later but was told I had to get our magic bands activated at our resort first. Last year check in took forever.

Sorry, I have not done it with magic bands - that part is second hand information. I have picked up my tickets and used them 2-3 days ahead of time many times. If the magic band part is not true, it does not change the rest. The folks at guest relations will know and be able to help you.

I plan on doing this again in August. I will find out about the magic bands first hand then.

 

[nedac]

so.... to clarify, my FD reservation starts 10/26, but I can activate and use my park tickets on 10/25? They will be on my magic bands obviously and I have room only for 10/25.

 

[saskdw]

we are arriving the day before FD starts in late oct. how should we handle this? make a reservation for 1 night, w/o park tickets and then a separete ressie for the rest of the trip with FD?
thanks

Yes.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

so.... to clarify, my FD reservation starts 10/26, but I can activate and use my park tickets on 10/25? They will be on my magic bands obviously and I have room only for 10/25.

Yes