When will my tickets be active?

[duffy]

I'm not sure where I should post this question. It's ticket-related, as well as a question about the Disney Dining Plan, and it relates to the Swan and Port Orleans Riverside too! Anyhow:

We are planning our first night to be at the Swan (it will be free, with starwood points) and then we will switch to Port Orleans Riverside for 6 nights. We have the Disney dining package for the 6 nights at POR. Our flight will be early enough that we will be able to spend all afternoon at the parks on arrival day. I'd like to walk around the World Showcase, see Illuminations, and then stay the night at the Swan, then of course the next day we will check out of the Swan and into POR.

Here's my question: how do I go about activating my tickets if we are staying one night at the Swan first? Will I receive them in the mail before we arrive? Can I activate them at Epcot and get one day's use on the day before we check in at POR? I know I won't be able to use any dining credits that first day, since we'll be Swan guests, but do we have to be checked in at the POR in order to use them?

The second day, we will check out of the Swan and into POR. I know that Disney will transfer our luggage. At what point will we be able to use our dining credits? Do we have to get them activated at POR? Or can we do that at a park?

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

I may be wrong (and if I am, someone here will be sure to correct me), but I don't think you can use your tickets on your arrival day. It sounds like you have a package, which lumps your room at POR, your tickets, and your dining plan together. I don't know of any way to gain access to your tickets before your package starts, which is when you check into POR.

So, on your second day, you will physically have to go to POR to check in. Then you will be given your Keys to the Kingdom card. Then, even though your room most likely won't be ready, you will have access to your park tickets and your dining plan credits.

 

[duffy]

Darn. So there goes my "watch Illuminations and then enjoy a nice relaxing stroll/boat ride back to the Swan on the first night" plans!!

No offense, bamagirl, but I hope you're wrong!! Just in case, I'll have to start looking at alternative "first night" plans that DON'T involve the parks.

 

[ajleone]

I may be wrong (and if I am, someone here will be sure to correct me), but I don't think you can use your tickets on your arrival day. It sounds like you have a package, which lumps your room at POR, your tickets, and your dining plan together. I don't know of any way to gain access to your tickets before your package starts, which is when you check into POR.

So, on your second day, you will physically have to go to POR to check in. Then you will be given your Keys to the Kingdom card. Then, even though your room most likely won't be ready, you will have access to your park tickets and your dining plan credits.

Exactly!

 

[KristiMc]

You could go to the Boardwalk or DTD the first night.

 

[duffy]

You could go to the Boardwalk or DTD the first night.

Yup! My thoughts exactly.

Adding an interesting twist, is that we will have unused, old non-expiring tickets to a water park, and my daughter's only request for this trip is that we go to Blizzard Beach. I like to go to there midway thru the trip, as a break. But, what the heck-looks like we might be going to Blizzard Beach on our first day!!

 

[LadyZolt]

I know someone on here has posted how to get tickets in advance when you have a split stay like the one described in this thread, but I don't remember how it's done since I never did it. Hopefully, someone who does remember will see this thread and jump on and answer it for us.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[Cheshire Figment]

I have a friend who is a Lobby Concierge at one of the Deluxe Resorts. I asked him what can be done about this.

He told me that he cannot do anything. However there are procedures in place, and two possible situations.

One is that both reservations are at the same Resort. In that situation when you check in they will have to find a Guest Services Manager who will have the ability to link the reservations and get you the tickets early.

If you are staying at another Disney Resort, or off-site, it becomes much more complicated and difficult. (1) You have to go to the Resort where you have the package. (2) You have to meet with a Guest Services Manager. (3) You have to let the GSM know at which park you want to pick up your tickets. (4) The Resort GSM has to contact a GSM at the park you will be going to and provide certain information about your reservation to that person. (5) You have to go to an outside Guest Relations Window at that Park. (6) The person at that window has to contact the GSM there. (7) When the GSM is able to come to the window they can then do something with the terminal to provide you with the tickets.

And be aware that the GSMs tend to be very busy and may have much higher priorities that getting you your tickets early.

 

[duffy]

I have a friend who is a Lobby Concierge at one of the Deluxe Resorts. I asked him what can be done about this.

He told me that he cannot do anything. However there are procedures in place, and two possible situations.

One is that both reservations are at the same Resort. In that situation when you check in they will have to find a Guest Services Manager who will have the ability to link the reservations and get you the tickets early.

If you are staying at another Disney Resort, or off-site, it becomes much more complicated and difficult. (1) You have to go to the Resort where you have the package. (2) You have to meet with a Guest Services Manager. (3) You have to let the GSM know at which park you want to pick up your tickets. (4) The Resort GSM has to contact a GSM at the park you will be going to and provide certain information about your reservation to that person. (5) You have to go to an outside Guest Relations Window at that Park. (6) The person at that window has to contact the GSM there. (7) When the GSM is able to come to the window they can then do something with the terminal to provide you with the tickets.

And be aware that the GSMs tend to be very busy and may have much higher priorities that getting you your tickets early.

LOL! No thanks!!

My only concern now is getting my daughter and myself to Blizzard Beach that first day.