Tickets and Annual Pass Questions - Please add your ticket questions to this thread

[woodys_girl]

Hi everyone! Here's a situation I'd love some insight on.

I was in Disney this past February. We went to the parks with base tickets and first entered the parks on February 18, 2024. On the last day of our trip, we decided we may upgrade to Annual Passes (Sorcerers Passes as we are Disney Vacation Club members). Guest Relations was having MANY problems, as their ticketing system kept going down. The Cast Member seemed a bit frazzled because of this, but was also maybe not super knowledgeable about the Annual Pass system too when it came to the Disney Vacation Club side of things (which is important to this story).

We were initially asking questions about pricing and dates for upgrading our passes prior to deciding whether or not we would do so. I asked the Cast Member when our passes would expire, assuming she would say February 17, 2025. Instead, she said that they would expire on February 18, 2025. I clarified and said, "Do you mean they stop working on February 18, 2025, since we first used our initial tickets on February 18, 2024?" She said, "No, you can enter the parks on February 18, 2025 for the last time." I mentioned how that was weird, but it was kind of like an "extra bonus day" because based on what she was saying, you got the passes for one year + one day. This ultimately convinced us to buy the pass, because my birthday is February 18th and we figured we could get into the parks on February 18, 2025 for another birthday trip (this past year on my birthday, it POURED from park open to park close, so I was hoping for a redo).

Well, I just booked flights yesterday and happened to go into my My Disney Experience app. I took a look at my tickets...and they expire February 17, 2025. I am feeling frustrated because I wouldn't have booked my trip for the dates I did (and maybe wouldn't have even upgraded to an Annual Pass) if I was told they expired on February 17, 2025. I know that the one day difference seems trivial, but my parents also booked their flights to go down and spend my actual birthday in Disney with me....and now it looks like I don't have passes to get into the parks to even be able to do that.

I chatted with someone on the Disney website, but they said I will need to call the Annual Passholder help desk. I won't be able to call until after work and am panicking a bit.

What do you think my chances are of them extending my passes an extra day in this situation?

I know you already got help from Disney on this (yea!), but wanted to add my experience as a warning to others. Since the 366 days thing was such a well known thing before covid, all the info I found said my Pass would be good the for the same date as the starting date the next year. I carefully chose our start date to coincide with a birthday as well as vacation days I knew about well in advance. As you know, once I activated my AP I saw that it was actually 365 days. Not the end of the world, but I was very confused as there were plenty of sources including some of the CMs I talked to who were continuing to claim it should be 366. After many conversations with Disney and much conflicting information, I just gave up and planned a resort day for our last day. Still feeling a little annoyed at all the misinformation, I sent Disney one last email before my final AP trip and begged them to make their website explicit and train their CMs in this policy so that at least people would know. They did extend my pass then (too late), but honestly I would have preferred they just be clear in the first place.
That was April 2022-2023, so I'm sorry to hear that there are still CMs giving out the wrong info.
In case anyone else needs to hear it: APs are good for 365 days only. This is a change from how it was for years.

 

[CarolynFH]

Ticket question - I have "6-day Magic Your Way Base Tickets" for our trip in October. Do I need park reservations for this type of park ticket?

If your tickets are valid starting on a specific date, then they are date based, and you do not need park reservations. Have fun!

 

[lanejudy]

Ticket question - I have "6-day Magic Your Way Base Tickets" for our trip in October. Do I need park reservations for this type of park ticket?

As PP said -- if your tickets have a designated start date, you do not need theme park reservations.

But just to clarify... current tickets with a specified start date are not "Magic Your Way" they are now just "theme park tickets." So if your tickets are older MYW or Magic Your Way purchased through the military, then you will need a theme park reservation because they are not date-based.

 

[ellbell]

I have a quick question. I currently have an AP set to expire on October 1st of this year. I was just going to let it expire because I don't plan on going for at least 6 months after it expires. I now have the opportunity to get a new one gifted to me for my birthday in September instead. Is it possible to by a new AP to activate at a later day or do I have to do the renewal and keep my anniversary date the same?

 

[CarolynFH]

I have a quick question. I currently have an AP set to expire on October 1st of this year. I was just going to let it expire because I don't plan on going for at least 6 months after it expires. I now have the opportunity to get a new one gifted to me for my birthday in September instead. Is it possible to by a new AP to activate at a later day or do I have to do the renewal and keep my anniversary date the same?

Disney will be happy to sell you a voucher for a new one that you can hold onto for up to a year before you start to use it.

 

[ellbell]

Disney will be happy to sell you a voucher for a new one that you can hold onto for up to a year before you start to use it.

Thank you

 

[tchris4]

Hi! I have two questions:1. can I Upgrade undercover tourist tickets by phone prior to arriving? I bought them before I knew if I was going to get an AP? 2. If I'm able to do that, and do it, would I be eligible for AP Passholder Previews for Tiana if they have them? thanks!

 

[ellbell]

Hi! I have two questions:1. can I Upgrade undercover tourist tickets by phone prior to arriving? I bought them before I knew if I was going to get an AP? 2. If I'm able to do that, and do it, would I be eligible for AP Passholder Previews for Tiana if they have them? thanks!

1. I've been able to uograde undercover tourist tickets.
2. In my experience you can only book the AP previews if the AP is already activated when booking day comes

 

[tchris4]

1. I've been able to uograde undercover tourist tickets.
2. In my experience you can only book the AP previews if the AP is already activated when booking day comes

thank you! I'll more than likely wait until we get there - no use in that money going too them too early!

 

[ellbell]

thank you! I'll more than likely wait until we get there - no use in that money going too them too early!

Ok just know though that AP previews are usually (never seen it otherwise but things could change) booked in advance. So you wouldn't be able to do the Previews if you didn't already have an AP.

 

[Gwade4]

A little help from those who have a better understanding regarding my situation, please!

My family (5) visits WDW annually, usually 6-8 days per year. We are now in a situation where we have the opportunity to visit more frequently, and as such, have considered purchasing AP's.

We currently have a trip scheduled for this coming July (6-day ticket). I would like to upgrade our tickets to APs, but am not sure if it is better to do it on the first day of our trip, or the last day. I'd like to have the AP benefits for the days we are there, but wasn't sure if that would require making park reservations for those days.

What is the best route to take in this situation? I appreciate any insight.

 

[lanejudy]

I would like to upgrade our tickets to APs, but am not sure if it is better to do it on the first day of our trip, or the last day. I'd like to have the AP benefits for the days we are there, but wasn't sure if that would require making park reservations for those days.

It won't make any difference with regard to the expiration of the AP -- that will be set as 1-year from the first day you enter the park with the original tickets. So it really comes down to 2 choices which are entirely personal:
1) do you want the AP benefits (discounts, free parking if offsite, etc.) for the duration of your July visit
2) theme park reservations will be required; often the CM changing your ticket will assist with those but no guarantee

Are your tickets part of a package or bought separately? If not package tickets, you could upgrade in advance by phone and make the theme park reservations ahead of time if that is a stressor.

 

[Duck143]

We are going in 30 days and purchased day specific 6 day hoppers. I have 4 unactivated Plat APs in my account. I have heard that it might be a good idea to have a Dummy MDE account and transfer these. Can anyone give me any more info on how I should do this? Do you need an entire new MDE linked to a different email and move the APs back and forth? Sorry if this is a silly question, I just get so nervous as far as my APs are concerned lol!

 

[Gwade4]

It won't make any difference with regard to the expiration of the AP -- that will be set as 1-year from the first day you enter the park with the original tickets. So it really comes down to 2 choices which are entirely personal:
1) do you want the AP benefits (discounts, free parking if offsite, etc.) for the duration of your July visit
2) theme park reservations will be required; often the CM changing your ticket will assist with those but no guarantee

Are your tickets part of a package or bought separately? If not package tickets, you could upgrade in advance by phone and make the theme park reservations ahead of time if that is a stressor.

Thanks! Tickets are part of a package for this stay. I was a little worried about the park reservations being an issue, but I know it's not super common for them to "sell-out", especially in the middle of July.

 

[lanejudy]

We are going in 30 days and purchased day specific 6 day hoppers. I have 4 unactivated Plat APs in my account. I have heard that it might be a good idea to have a Dummy MDE account and transfer these. Can anyone give me any more info on how I should do this? Do you need an entire new MDE linked to a different email and move the APs back and forth? Sorry if this is a silly question, I just get so nervous as far as my APs are concerned lol!

Just make an extra profile within your existing MDE -- maybe use your middle name or initials, such as Mary Jane Smith becomes Jane Smith or MJ Smith. You can transfer the unused AP vouchers there so they won't inadvertently get activated instead of the 6-day hoppers. Then after your visit, you can transfer the vouchers back to your main profile.

 

[thanxfornoticin]

We are going in 30 days and purchased day specific 6 day hoppers. I have 4 unactivated Plat APs in my account. I have heard that it might be a good idea to have a Dummy MDE account and transfer these. Can anyone give me any more info on how I should do this? Do you need an entire new MDE linked to a different email and move the APs back and forth? Sorry if this is a silly question, I just get so nervous as far as my APs are concerned lol!

You could also stop by Guest Services at any of the parks (or Disney Springs), and have them verify the park hopper tickets are prioritized to be used first. They can make sure the APs are not activated.

 

[Duck143]

Just make an extra profile within your existing MDE -- maybe use your middle name or initials, such as Mary Jane Smith becomes Jane Smith or MJ Smith. You can transfer the unused AP vouchers there so they won't inadvertently get activated instead of the 6-day hoppers. Then after your visit, you can transfer the vouchers back to your main profil

You could also stop by Guest Services at any of the parks (or Disney Springs), and have them verify the park hopper tickets are prioritized to be used first. They can make sure the APs are not activated.

Thank you both for the help! I am planning on swinging by to GS at DS before our first park day because I want to find out about the expiration of our AP vouchers. They used to say 203, then 2099 and now, nothing.

 

[Perdita&Pongo]

Is it still recommended to enter a park first before upgrading/bridging UT tix to an AP in order to get the full WDW price (vs UT discount price) towards the AP? I know back in the day that was a thing, but not sure it’s needed anymore.

 

[lanejudy]

Is it still recommended to enter a park first before upgrading/bridging UT tix to an AP in order to get the full WDW price (vs UT discount price) towards the AP? I know back in the day that was a thing, but not sure it’s needed anymore.

It doesn’t matter. The credit value will be what Disney sold the same ticket online on the date you bought from UT. If there has been a price increase since then, it won’t be “current” price.

 

[Graciegirl5]

I'm considering upgrading a ticket for next week to an AP, but I need to clarify something. We want to be at AK on the Saturday morning and MK on Saturday night. Disney says something about not being able to enter MK after 2 on Saturdays and Sundays without a park reservation. Does that apply to all APs or just someone who hasn't had a park reservation at all on Saturday? In other words, would I need to make a reservation for MK on Saturday and scan in there before going to AK in the morning or will having a park reservation at AK make it possible for me to park hop to MK Saturday night?