Won comp tickets in auction, not upgradable - now what?

[DisneyWishes14]

I worked professionally in fundraising for years and then organized many school silent auctions when my DS started school. You need to post all terms and conditions on auction items, plain and simple. I understand people may have volunteered to put this event together, but the omission of the tickets not being upgradeable, which is very clearly stated in the terms and conditions when applying for and when you receive the tickets, was negligent on their part.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

jeesh.... Sorry I offended you.

On topic, I empathize with the OP, but I think it's too late. Like I stated before, I've been burned by silent auctions. But I always just chalked it up to a mistake and kept my purchase. I helped the school. Oh well.

You didn't actually offend me (and just because I didn't agree with your original statement doesn't mean I was offended). I was however pointing out that it IMO could be perceived as insulting to overgeneralized people saying that if you aren't on a planning forum then you wouldn't have the knowledge.

We'll just leave it as an "agree to disagree" and move on.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm in the camp of not knowing a thing about comp tickets. But aren't there other types of Disney tickets that can't be upgraded? Like convention tickets? Or after 4pm tickets or those YES tickets? I really don't know a thing about those types of tickets either. Maybe they can be upgraded? I guess because I know there are different types of tickets out there, I wouldn't assume you could upgrade the tickets that the op bid on unless it specifically said you could.

That's very true. I haven't experienced those type of tickets either so I wouldn't know that either.

From the picture the OP posted in this thread it doesn't mention at all that the tickets bought weren't normal tickets. I did say earlier in this thread that if Disney's normal process was NOT to upgrade then yes I would NOT assume you could upgrade but as Disney's normal process is that you can upgrade and from the information the OP was provided it didn't (at least to me) seem like these were anything other than normal tickets (and you do have other people stating the auction place was supposed to provide the restrictions) where normal tickets you can upgrade.

That was kinda my point that if I personally was in the OPs shoes I would think these were normal, upgradable tickets, as they weren't specified otherwise and you know part of that probably comes from not having experience with comp tickets at all. You can tell by this thread that we all don't agree on what should have or should not have been assumed though.

Of course this is my personal thought process and I'm told by my engineering husband that my mind just doesn't make sense sometimes

 

[Mikie]

Soooooo, I have just obtained some Disney comp tix for our school and we're going to raffle them - not auction - at our trivia night.

Usually, with these basket raffles, the description is general and/or you just see what you can through the cellophane wrappings. There is less investment, generally, from someone buying raffle tickets vs bidding on an auction item. If I simply have a sign similar to what OP posted in her follow-up post adding in the phrase "non-upgradeable" and listing any expiration, and listing Disney's "valued at" amount, am I being fair and clear?

 

[DizDaD7]

How close are you to DW? Do you ever do long weekend trips? If it were me, I would just buy a new set of tickets for however many days you need on your next trip, and hang on to the 1 days. Then I would plan another trip near a MNSSHP or MVMCP, and do a long weekend with 1 park day, and 1 party day!!! I think that would be a nice way to maximize the value of the tickets!!

^^^^ This....No way I would waste them and use them as my 5th day...

If there is no expiration, you can always use them when it's an extra thing that you need to do when down in Florida... Maybe an extra day before a cruise, maybe at the end of a US vacay...Who knows right??

 

[Disneylover99]

Soooooo, I have just obtained some Disney comp tix for our school and we're going to raffle them - not auction - at our trivia night.

Usually, with these basket raffles, the description is general and/or you just see what you can through the cellophane wrappings. There is less investment, generally, from someone buying raffle tickets vs bidding on an auction item. If I simply have a sign similar to what OP posted in her follow-up post adding in the phrase "non-upgradeable" and listing any expiration, and listing Disney's "valued at" amount, am I being fair and clear?

It sounds fair and clear to me.

 

[jbish]

OP here

I am so sorry you are dealing with this and I know it is of little comfort to you, but I want to thank you for this post. I am going to a silent auction tomorrow night where they have four, one-day park hopper tickets up for bid.

My plan was to bid on them and upgrade them to a four or five day ticket. I may still bid, but I will know to bid a significantly lower amount than I would have without seeing your post.

I will also contact the person handling the auction to make sure that it is clear whether there are blackout dates and that they are not upgradable.


I hope you are not too angry at the people who organized the auction. I know that the people who organize ours donate enormous energy and hours and hours of their personal time and are really trying to do what is best for the school. I would expect that they, like you and I, might make the assumption that a one-day Disney ticket is the same as a one-day Disney ticket you would purchase from Disney (and based on the value Disney assigned the ticket, that would be a natural assumption). They may not even realize about how much "not upgradable" means, value-wise, to people who are "in the know" about Disney tickets. If they don't know how Disney tickets work and how with every day you purchase after three days the price goes down significantly per day, the term "not upgradable" may mean nothing to the auction organizers.

I hope you are still able to enjoy your trip. I am sorry this has left you with a negative feeling for both the school fundraiser and Disney. I can understand how it would, though.

Truly, I'm glad my experience can help someone else. No worries - I'm not angry. Disappointed? Sure. But I can keep my perspective in line here and know that I'm very fortunate to still be going to Disney and we'll still have a blast.

Absolutely for the person who is interested in a one day ticket then it is price comparable. But it is not value comparable. For anyone going more than three days to the parks in one trip, a one day ticket I can upgrade is worth a lot more than a one day ticket I cannot upgrade due to Disney's pricing structure.

I think there is a lot of confusion and frustration about these auction tickets that would be eliminated if a comp ticket were treated the same as a regular ticket.

I'm glad that Disney generously donates these tickets to schools. I just hate it when hard working PTA volunteers as well as parents who want to help by bidding on auctions have to go thru grief because of the confusion the comp tickets cause.

I really don't see how it's any skin off Disney's nose to treat these as regular one-day tickets. If I want to pay the difference to upgrade my tickets, whether it's to add on days or add water parks, wouldn't that still be better for Disney?

Soooooo, I have just obtained some Disney comp tix for our school and we're going to raffle them - not auction - at our trivia night.

Usually, with these basket raffles, the description is general and/or you just see what you can through the cellophane wrappings. There is less investment, generally, from someone buying raffle tickets vs bidding on an auction item. If I simply have a sign similar to what OP posted in her follow-up post adding in the phrase "non-upgradeable" and listing any expiration, and listing Disney's "valued at" amount, am I being fair and clear?

This would be totally fair as a disclosure.

So, for those that care to know, I have reached out to the bidder two behind us as I've heard back from the organizers that she's interested in buying them from me. I'm still waiting for her call. We also put them on eBay and will pull the listing if this other bidder is willing to commit. Either way, I think we will be made whole. I do appreciate the feedback from everyone. And it seems like I may have helped a few others along the way, too.

 

[ArwenMarie]

I think it's weird too that they aren't upgradable. In fact, I thought the reason Disney offered them was for that fact...a family wins four random one-day tickets and then all of a sudden they plan a big WDW vacation worth thousands.

It's funny, my friend went to a raffle-type fundraiser and she texted me saying do you want me to put in for these WDW tickets for you (she had to buy a set number of raffle tickets anyway) and I was like sure, why not! I never knew they had such restrictions, even though I have seen them in the many school fundraisers I have attended. One-day tickets would work for us anyway, we would just use them on a trip based on Universal and SW, for one day at MK but I can see how for a lot of people they wouldn't.

Anyway, now I know! Good info if I am ever on a school fundraising committee that uses these too, I'll be sure to make a sign with every restriction!

 

[Mikie]

I think it's weird too that they aren't upgradable. In fact, I thought the reason Disney offered them was for that fact...a family wins four random one-day tickets and then all of a sudden they plan a big WDW vacation worth thousands.

It's funny, my friend went to a raffle-type fundraiser and she texted me saying do you want me to put in for these WDW tickets for you (she had to buy a set number of raffle tickets anyway) and I was like sure, why not! I never knew they had such restrictions, even though I have seen them in the many school fundraisers I have attended. One-day tickets would work for us anyway, we would just use them on a trip based on Universal and SW, for one day at MK but I can see how for a lot of people they wouldn't.

Anyway, now I know! Good info if I am ever on a school fundraising committee that uses these too, I'll be sure to make a sign with every restriction!

I would have thought exactly the same thing - the family would upgrade and spend $$$ on hotel, additional days, food. . . I guess maybe a lot of people get them & just buy additional full tickets, thus making Disney even more or do like you said (and what I would do) by using them on a "central Florida" vacation instead of a multi-day Disney trip.

OP - good luck with that next bidder!

 

[Disneylover99]

I would have thought exactly the same thing - the family would upgrade and spend $$$ on hotel, additional days, food. . . I guess maybe a lot of people get them & just buy additional full tickets, thus making Disney even more or do like you said (and what I would do) by using them on a "central Florida" vacation instead of a multi-day Disney trip.

OP - good luck with that next bidder!

I think that's what Disney is counting on. The family that has so much fun in one day, the kids say, puh-leeze, just one more day! And the parents just go up to the ticket booth and purchase more.

 

[dizzyinwdw]

I feel for the OP. Last year our PTA had a fundraiser and I was bidding for 4-1 day hoppers with the idea I would upgrade them. There was also no indication that these were comp tickets with restrictions for use or upgrade. I was outbid (lucky?). I will make sure I check this year if they offer this again! I hope it works our for you OP!

 

[Mikie]

I feel for the OP. Last year our PTA had a fundraiser and I was bidding for 4-1 day hoppers with the idea I would upgrade them. There was also no indication that these were comp tickets with restrictions for use or upgrade. I was outbid (lucky?). I will make sure I check this year if they offer this again! I hope it works our for you OP!

I'd say the only way you'd ever see any other kind of ticket is if Disney completely changes their donation process or if an individual actually had "real" tickets that they donated for auction. When requesting a WDW donation, they have a very formalized process and it states up front that the gift offered is these 4 1-day, non upbrageable tickets. Unlike some other organizations, WDW doesn't ask what donation you're requesting or change it up from one donation to the next.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Interestingly, on the letter that accompanies the tickets, it says that they have "no cash value" but also says they are equivalent of value of $155 per ticket.

No cash value would seem to indicate they can't be bought or sold. Equivalent cash value would be for tax reporting, maybe? If the auction winner bid higher than the equivalent value and itemized their taxes, they can claim the coverage as a donation.

It is misleading to value them at $155 per ticket when they are not worth the same as a ticket purchased for $155 directly through Disney.

I really don't see how it's any skin off Disney's nose to treat these as regular one-day tickets.

Nobody pays Disney for the tickets. Therefore no cash value. Therefore, no base payment to upgrade from.

 

[jbish]

Nobody pays Disney for the tickets. Therefore no cash value. Therefore, no base payment to upgrade from.

I get this now. But I didn't know this at the time of the actual auction. The only thing we were told during the auction was the "value" of $155 per ticket. I had no way of knowing these were "comp" tickets. Seriously, what I saw could have been some generous benefactor buying real one-day park hopper tickets which really could have been upgraded to add on days. That additional information was only revealed to us when we received the physical tickets which were accompanied by a letter that detailed the various restrictions.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I really don't see how it's any skin off Disney's nose to treat these as regular one-day tickets. If I want to pay the difference to upgrade my tickets, whether it's to add on days or add water parks, wouldn't that still be better for Disney?

Whether it is skin off their nose or not, Disney does not and will not treat comp tickets the same way as they treat regular tickets. It appears they are unable to do so under any circumstances, whether the ticketholder understood the comp ticket's restrictions when they acquired them or not. There may be legal issues regarding tickets that Disney is going to donate or give away.

Agreed that it was the auctioner's responsibility to alert the buyer that these were not regular Disney tickets, but that's not Disney's responsibility. Biggest issue may be that the buyer can't really ask for their money back from a charity or fundraiser auction.

 

[Gracie09]

Thinking about this a bit I can see why they would not be upgradable. Disney writes off the donation. It's a simple number x number of comp tickets = y donation value.
If they allowed them to be upgraded what is the donation value and therefore the amount per ticket that can be written off. Is it the $155 or is it now the total number of days upgraded to divided by the total cost? That also adds another layer of tracking that Disney has to do.
It would seem the KISS system they have in place works for most organizations and for Disney.

 

[keishashadow]

As a former auction committee member, yes we were clueless this is the first I've heard of this. I'm going to inform the current auction committee though.

I've never been to an auction where the 'fine print' on a ticket isn't photocopied and placed upon the table of items. Same as to gift certificates re expiry dates, etc. Even the online charity bidding sites i've seen are very are clear as to terms on tickets/vouchers/gift certificates.

That said, if no 'cash' value was assigned to the tix, could they at least be deducted in full as a charitable deduction? hmmm might be something for OP to check re taxes at least.

OP congrats on your winning bid! Plan a water park, resort, shopping day or even visit another park or beach in the area and have a great time.

 

[ruthies12]

That really sucks that they didn't put all the information out there before you bid. My sister and I are planning a girls weekend with our two daughters for a trip to Universal and I talked her into adding two days at Disney. I want to do the MVMCP for our MK day so we were going to buy one day non-hoppers for our Epcot day. She was at a school fundraiser and sent me a text that they had four one day park hoppers available and I told her to jump on it.

We won the bid and got them for $250 which is a steal since we already had the trip planned, needed one day tickets anyway and these were cheaper than what we would have paid for regular one day tickets. As an added bonus they are hoppers so we are now going to add HS in the morning to do TOT, RNR, and star tours before heading to Epcot since we love those 3 rides.

The school fundraiser we bought from set the letter they received from Disney out on the table at the auction. It very clearly stated that they were not upgradable so we knew exactly what we were getting. It doesn't say anything about blackout days or not being able to pre-book FP so I will be ticked if I find out that we can't link them in MDE for some reason. It does have an expiration date of 2 years which is fine since we are going this November.

I haven't gotten the physical tickets yet from my sister, fingers crossed that they link okay for FP. And fingers crossed that you manage to get your money back OP!

 

[supersnoop]

I really don't see how it's any skin off Disney's nose to treat these as regular one-day tickets. If I want to pay the difference to upgrade my tickets, whether it's to add on days or add water parks, wouldn't that still be better for Disney?

I imagine it protects the integrity of their charitable program. If they were full, normal tickets, anyone could call up asking for a donation and then walk over and upgrade. With the limited utility, there's less motivation for abuse.

 

[mickeymom629]

That really sucks that they didn't put all the information out there before you bid. ...
We won the bid and got them for $250 which is a steal since we already had the trip planned, ...

Great price! I got mine for $200, I think, but definitely no more than $250.

Good for people to know in case they want to try to bid on them in the future. I think my sister put my name down with my $200 bid and no one wanted to top that. My co-worker tried to do the same at her silent auction (so that I would have 2 sets), but people out-bid me. $250 would be my limit.