will it work out or not???

[magicmirror]

Ok here's the situation. I have 2 reservations, both at POR for the end of NOV. I made separate res. in order to take advantage of the value rate. The first 3 nights we have room only res. The second res. is for 6 nights and we have park hoppers with dining. I would have had to purchase separate tickets for the first res, was sooo expensive (family of 5) so I only got room only, I figured there was enough to do outside the parks to occupy the first 3 days. ( this is our first trip) I figured it wouldn't hurt to call and ask if we could begin using our park tickets early, (with the first res.) because adding days is lots less expensive than buying 2 sets of tickets. Ok, the CM told me they don't like to do that, (let you use your tickets early) but she spoke to a supervisor and he said it could be done, it depended on the CM I spoke to at check-in. The supervisor said the CM could put a note in my res. stating I had called and been told it was possible. However, it is totally up to the CM I speak with when I check in. I think it is rediculous to have to spend so much money for a second set of tickets when you can simply add days inexpensively. I don't understand why it would be a big deal, but apparantly it is. Just wondering what you guys thought, do you think they will let me? Now that I know It can be done, its really going to bother me if they don't grant my request, esp. considering the cost of this vacation. What do you think? Vac. isn't until Nov. but I will let you know what happened.

 

[DisneyMama629]

Can't you just put the tickets with the first res. and when you get there add days to it? They wouldn't expired untill 10 days after first use.

 

[magicmirror]

I could but then I would only get the dining for the first 3 nights, and I wanted to have the dining paid for so I wouldn't have to worry about paying while we are there. DH is a serious tightwad and it would be harder for him to pay, for ex. for character meals, and things like that at the time. This way he doesn't actually have to see the money coming out of his pocket. If it was up to him, and he paid as we ate, we would do MCDonalds or sanwiches out of the fridge all week. I was trying to make it more special by adding the dining. That's probably confusing, but that was my thinking at the time.

 

[momrek06]

To be completely honest with you, I am NOT exactly sure what you are doing??? BUT that being said....

If you are doing anything at WDW that is not the "norm" for the "World" and you have been told by a CM or a Supervisor and got the GREEN LIGHT (or green thumb hahaha)....then if it were ME, I would get names and positions of the CM's you spoke with AND I would call a few more times and see if "everyone is on the same page"....

I would follow up on this just so when you get to DISNEY, you are not told something completely different.

I have found (with past experiences) that things I have been told prior to a trip and over the phone ARE not always exactly what happens when you actually get to the WORLD....

The main reason I love WDW so much as they try so hard to accommodate everyone and their families coming to visit them.

I JUST LOVE WALT DISNEY WORLD!!!!!!!!

 

[magicmirror]

I really hope it works out. I realize I am not the best at explaining things. I tried. I didn't want to have to pay the $600ish dollars it would take to get all new park passes, when I had already bought one set. I will call back, but I was told it was an iffy situation. If it doesn't work out my way, it will be fine though, I figure the weekend of Thanksgiving will be extremely busy anyway, which are the days I am trying to get, so it may not be as much fun anyway, waiting in lines forever, and stuff like that, doesn't really appeal to me. I love disney already and haven't even been there yet. I hope it works out mainly for the mornings for us because we can get out early and hopefully ride some rides before it gets so busy. Sorry to be confusing, I realized it would be, I tried to word it the best I could. In any case, we will have a blast I am sure. Just knowing things can work out my way, but may not, is what bothers me, why would a CM care how I spend my vacation? It doesn't make a difference in their paycheck, I wouldn't think. Except for the fact that I may tip extra special for not having a huge hassle. The fact that my tickets don't actually begin, or are not valid until my second check-in is the reason I may have a problem. I was told earlier on this board that they weren't useable till the check-in I actually included them in, I just don't see why, if you can use them late, (after check out) why its a big deal to use them a day or 2 early. What do I know? Just sounds sensible to me. Thanks for your reply, I will keep calling!..

 

[dawnball]

Except for the fact that I may tip extra special for not having a huge hassle. The fact that my tickets don't actually begin, or are not valid until my second check-in is the reason I may have a problem. I was told earlier on this board that they weren't useable till the check-in I actually included them in, I just don't see why, if you can use them late, (after check out) why its a big deal to use them a day or 2 early. What do I know? Just sounds sensible to me. Thanks for your reply, I will keep calling!..

The problem seems to be (from talking to someone I know who works backstage) that tickets are tied to your reservation and room key. So if they fiddle the system when you check in the first time, then they have to remember to fiddle the system again when you check in the second time. One solution might be to downgrade the tickets you're purchasing with your second reservation to 1-day passes. Then purchase discount tickets for your entire stay through a reseller. You'd have a 1-day pass you could use at some point in the future and no hassle with tickets. It should cost you about an extra $50 per adult ticket. I don't know if those 3 days are worth that to you or not - and you might get lucky and they'll let you activate the tickets from your second reservation early.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Okay, another option: Since the purchase of park passes ARE required in order to create a 'package' and make you eligible for the dining plan but the number of days purchased does NOT have to match the length of your reservation - purchase the passes you need with your three-day reservation, then purchase one-day base passes for each of you with the second reservation. Yes, it will cost a l bit up front BUT these never expire (expiring passes are valid for fourteen days from first use, but since the first time you use a one-day pass is the only time you can use it, yadda yadda yadda), and you can hold them until your next trip and apply each one to an upgraded pass for each person in your family.

 

[wdwholic1206]

IMHO get it all figured out NOW. You don't want to wait until you get there and hope you meet a nice CM who will activate your passes early. Relying on this on thing could put a BIG rain cloud on your vacation. You don't want to remember your first trip this way.
I vote w/ the above poster. Get how many day passes you want on the first ressie and buy a one day pass w/ the second one. this way you will have your passes the whole time and can do as you'd wish!

 

[eeyore45]

On the resort thread a couple of us had the situation in which we are adding days - and had to buy the one day passes to get the free dining, even tho we are coming in and staying at a different resort - split stays -

so our situations were equally confusing to explain online, and yet, it seems so simple - we are buying the 10 day pass - just tie it in when we get there for the "package" or .... I'll come to the resort 6 days early, buy my 10 day passes, and it will be good at the other Disney resort I'm staying at and count towards the package right?... I know it makes sense in "my" world... but for some reason, its just not fiting into their "norm"... so I decided to buy the 10 day ticket, then the 1 day pass I'll probably save and upgrade at another visit - giving me the excuse to come back within a years time!! I think I can save that one day pass and upgrade it in the future... Which reminds me of the old "Christmas Club" no interest feature at the bank, you just put money in, and they held onto it for you - so I'll give Disney my money and they'll hold onto it for me!!

 

[powellrj]

I don't know how old your kids are, or if you will have a car, but, here is a totally different idea. Universal has a buy one adult, get a kids ticket free. They are 5 day tickets and they are $99 each. So if your kids are 9 and under, you could get 3 tickets at $300 and then 2 of your kids would be free. Thats 5 days with 5 tickets for $300. This would only work if you had a car.