Picking up park tickets earlier than check-in

[goNsoon2WDW]

We are going October 20-30 and switched our reservation to now be two separate reservations so we could take advantage of free dining. So we have our first room-only reservation October 20-23 and our package with park tickets and free dining October 23-30.

I remember reading that we should be able to pick up our tickets three days earlier than our official check-in which would be the 20th when we are there for our first reservation.

When I was make the adjustments to our reservation I asked the CM about what would need to be done to pick up the tickets early and the CM said that they would not be available until we check in on the 23rd.

I tried to ask this in a different way and clarify that I understood that we should be able to pick up our park tickets on the 20th before we officially check-in for our second reservation with the free dining. She again told me that our packet would be given to us when we check in on the 23rd and not before.

Can anyone help me understand this? Is this accurate? This would have a huge impact to our trip. Is asking to pick up the park tickets three days earlier than the official check-in bending/breaking the rules?

TIA

 

[DisneyDebbie]

Everytime you call, a CM will give you a different answer, so don't worry about what they say.

In the sticky (by Cheshire Figment) it says you must go to guest relations at a park, and they can give you the tickets. In some cases your hotel can do this.

I haven't tried it yet, but I will be this Nov. hopefully there won't be any problems. If this works, I plan on adding days to my tickets before our last day, because there are new rules with upgrading.

HTH a little! and I would love to hear from people who've actually done this!

 

[mom2rtk]

Maybe Disney hasn't figured out yet that this could cost them some extra room only income. I mean, if I can't get my tickets early, maybe Universal at the beginning of our trip is looking better......... maybe onsite at Universal for a night isn't out of the question.......

 

[Lehuaann]

I was told the exact same thing by Guest Services last Sep and was able to pick them up, no problem.

Here's the thread.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=38377095

 

[mom2rtk]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2772089

We probably need to keep this together on one thread so we are all sure to get any updates.

 

[mom2rtk]

I was told the exact same thing by Guest Services last Sep and was able to pick them up, no problem.

Here's the thread.
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?p=38377095

There are CM's on another thread discussing whether there was a very recent change to this policy, so a report of this working last year won't really help.

 

[Lehuaann]

There are CM's on another thread discussing whether there was a very recent change to this policy, so a report of this working last year won't really help.

Yes, I've been following all of the threads for the past 2 days; HooksGirl stated 'nothings changed' and Cheshire said HooksGirl knows what's she's talking about because she's a GR Trainer...I thought we received our answer, no?

Anyways, I know my thread is almost a year old, but I just wanted to post MY experience because it's the same exact issue. Plus, HooksGirl posted a reply to it back then, which makes it obvious that this isn't the first time she's had to address it.

Therefore, if the policy has not changed, as Hook's Girl stated, then I felt my report was still valid for helping.

 

[Lehuaann]

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2772089

We probably need to keep this together on one thread so we are all sure to get any updates.

I agree, all of these threads need to be merged.

 

[mom2rtk]

Yes, I've been following all of the threads for the past 2 days; HooksGirl stated 'nothings changed' and Cheshire said HooksGirl knows what's she's talking about because she's a GR Trainer...I thought we received our answer, no?

Anyways, I know my thread is almost a year old, but I just wanted to post MY experience because it's the same exact issue. Plus, HooksGirl posted a reply to it back then, which makes it obvious that this isn't the first time she's had to address it.

Therefore, if the policy has not changed, as Hook's Girl stated, then I felt my report was still valid for helping.

I agree because both Cheshire Figment and Hook's Girl are very reputable sources.

But there is this little nagging voice in my head that says I should keep my ear to the ground on this. The other poster said they were just told to be sure to tell people doing split stays that they can no longer pick up tickets early. When I added free dining to my reservation yesterday and split off one day as room only, the CM made a point of telling me I cannot get my park tickets early. I hadn't even asked that question, so it struck me as odd, even before ANY of this came up.

 

[Nermel9]

I agree because both Cheshire Figment and Hook's Girl are very reputable sources.

But there is this little nagging voice in my head that says I should keep my ear to the ground on this. The other poster said they were just told to be sure to tell people doing split stays that they can no longer pick up tickets early. When I added free dining to my reservation yesterday and split off one day as room only, the CM made a point of telling me I cannot get my park tickets early. I hadn't even asked that question, so it struck me as odd, even before ANY of this came up.

I feel the same way, I'm hoping Cheshire Figment is right, but IF there is a chance that the policy changed 8 weeks before my trip, I'm going to be really annoyed. I paid for the tickets, I should be able to pick them up early. If for some reason the policy has changed and we can't do that anymore, Universal the first day sounds like a good plan. Although I'd really rather be in Epcot, like I was planning to be.

 

[Rachaelt]

This is the official policy.

Guests booking a Magic Your Way Package or a Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining receive the Magic Your Way Base Ticket. This ticket offers the Guests vacation flexibility because they get to select the number of admission days they want, and also get to choose from the following available option plans:
Park Hopper Option - Allows Guests to enter more than one park on the same day
Water Park Fun & More Option - Allows Guests a specified number of visits to other gated attractions
No Expiration Option - Unused Days Never Expire

Remember that these tickets expire 14 days from first use, unless the ticket is booked with the "No Expiration" Option.
All Guests traveling on the same Travel Plan who book either a Magic Your Way Package or a Magic Your Way Package Plus Dining will receive the same Magic Your Way Ticket and package options.
Guests traveling on a WDTC package can be offered other great WDTC products like airport transfers, car rental, vacation insurance, Cirque du Soleil, Beach Resorts, and the Richard Petty Driving Experience!

Ticket Fulfillment
Ticket fulfillment for Magic Your Way Tickets will be on their Key to the World Card (Resort ID Card).
These tickets can not be set up as "Will Call" or be obtained prior to the check-in date of the package.
Guests may not pick up their tickets prior to the day of their scheduled check-in. Guest may check-in early on their scheduled check-in day to receive their Key to the World Card with the admission media purchased.

 

[stitch34]

rachaelt - thanks for posting that. nice to see it written out what you've been told.

I was so back and forth over FD versus AP rate... glad I just went with the AP. We are arriving 3 days prior... if it were only one day, eh, would make it a DTD day and handle it... but to go 3 days w/o tickets, no way.

I do feel bad for many that are arriving prior to FD package starts. Would have been nicer if deal were released earlier before people had airfare set in stone and can't change dates for a fall trip to make FD dates work.

I also believe the info coming from chesire and hooksgirl (not sure if got the name right!) Just wonder why it's conflicting policies given to different CMs. Seems at this point you can go down to GR and pick up the tickets early on their end still.... but wonder if that will change and the policy you were given will make its way to GR also.

 

[Rachaelt]

No prob. I'm sorry if it makes anyone mad, but this needs to be clarified asap.

 

[stargazertechie]

No disrespect to rachaelt, but I'm still going to believe Cheshire Figment until he informs us otherwise that policy has changed. He's got tens of thousands of posts, and an established history here.

 

[Rachaelt]

I understand, and I respect him too. I learned a lot from his posts when I was a new CM. This isn't really a policy change though, it's a policy that will be more strictly enforced. If I could give you my Hub info, so that you could sign in and see it for yourself, I would. But I can't.

 

[Rachaelt]

To the section of his sticky about DRC though, we are strictly in Orlando or Tampa. Not Houston, Utah, or North Carolina. There is a Disney Store Call Center in South Carolina, with a handful of cast members who sometimes help with itinerary planning.

 

[Robo]

This isn't really a policy change though, it's a policy that will be more strictly enforced.

Ah-HAH!

This is the very BIG (and yet) unasked question...

Since nobody asked it... lumbering ol' Robo (he'll say anything) will clear his throat, step up to the microphone and mutter,

"What is the exact wording on the PREVIOUS (umpteen) "dispatches from headquarters" regarding early ticket pickup?"

 

[Rachaelt]

The exact wording is what I posted. There have been times when guests have been allowed to pick tickets up early, on a case by case basis.

 

[Robo]

The exact wording is what I posted. There have been times when guests have been allowed to pick tickets up early, on a case by case basis.

You're telling us that the PREVIOUS dispatches (from, say, 6 months ago) offered the same wording as the one you've been quoting in the past couple of days?

 

[Rachaelt]

That policy has been the same for at least the last year and a half.