New ticket system coming to WDW - Begins October 16th

[SouthFayetteFan]

Correct.



No, within some time period that is 2-4 days longer than the ticket. For example, a 2-day ticket is valid for any 2 days out of a specific 4 consecutive day period you pick, while a 10-day ticket is good for any 10 days out of 14.



No, according to the info they've sent to TA's, you'll be able to change the dates of tickets with no charge, except that if the new dates are more expensive you have to pay the difference (of course, you don't get a refund if you change to cheaper dates).

They haven't said whether expired unused tickets can still be traded toward new tickets, but they've always done that in the past; I don't know why they would change that policy. Worst case you change the dates to some point as far in the future as they'll let you, then change them again once you figure out your final dates.

Thanks for jumping in Don! Always good to see us bring you out of the woodwork on the DIS Hope all is well at Mousesavers my friend!

 

[rteetz]

Wondering how this will impact my plan to upgrade my MYW Pkg tickets to a Platinum AP in November? Currently have a 5 day ticket with our booked package. I planned to go to Guest Relations at Disney Springs before our first park day and upgrade the whole family ... will I still be able to do this? Will they apply the "old cost" to the AP or the new pricing structure? I am currently looking at paying about $1500 to upgrade when we get there. I would be ok if it's a bit more, but a big jump (or inability to upgrade at all) would make AP's cost prohibitive this go 'round.

Yes you should be able to still do this no problem. You just pay the difference with the upgrade to an AP.

 

[BayouQueen]

Oh my...all sorta like airline tix...pay more for flex fares and go to the pricing calendar to find cheapest dates. It all sounds like too much work to me. Count me as one who is exhausted by it all.

 

[amylevan]

Oh my...all sorta like airline tix...pay more for flex fares and go to the pricing calendar to find cheapest dates. It all sounds like too much work to me. Count me as one who is exhausted by it all.

And what’s worse is you’ll need to factor the airline chart with the ticket chart to figure out the cheapest days. Like I can fly down for $50 cheaper that day, but oh, the Disney ticket is $20 more expensive then and I only have 4 days off work and flying back is $10 more expensive that day. And then throw in room discounts that maybe you can find for certain days but not others....I’m going to need a spreadsheet just to choose dates.

What a nightmare!

 

[BayouQueen]

And what’s worse is you’ll need to factor the airline chart with the ticket chart to figure out the cheapest days. Like I can fly down for $50 cheaper that day, but oh, the Disney ticket is $20 more expensive then and I only have 4 days off work and flying back is $10 more expensive that day. And then throw in room discounts that maybe you can find for certain days but not others....I’m going to need a spreadsheet just to choose dates.

What a nightmare!

That's what I was thinking, too.
I do enjoy planning and am one to be online on time for ADRs and FPs and things...but I really am worn out by all the moving parts. It's become more fun to book a cruise, explore shore excursions...or even plan a car touring trip somewhere or an all-inclusive resort. So many options that are not such a hassle.
Oh well....

 

[Lynn in MI]

Wondering how this will impact my plan to upgrade my MYW Pkg tickets to a Platinum AP in November? Currently have a 5 day ticket with our booked package. I planned to go to Guest Relations at Disney Springs before our first park day and upgrade the whole family ... will I still be able to do this? Will they apply the "old cost" to the AP or the new pricing structure? I am currently looking at paying about $1500 to upgrade when we get there. I would be ok if it's a bit more, but a big jump (or inability to upgrade at all) would make AP's cost prohibitive this go 'round.

Just hung up the phone attempting to do the upgrade on my package tickets and it can still be done but has to be done in person. I was hoping to slip it through before we got down there on October 18th but wasn't successful. Here's hoping the AP price increase isn't horrendous.

 

[HopperFan]

Always do the DW/Universal split stays just so I can get the Express Passes with their 3 deluxe resorts.

But lots of folks have never had the initiative or they just stay in their Disney hotel and hoof over for a couple days. I think this might push more folks to do like you do, or even just to stay at one of the newer Universal hotels that look really nice and explore elsewhere on the darkside.

All the folks so fed up with FP+ and planning, not to mention the other more recent changes - I see this as another aggravating add on if you usually take longer trips but only do 4-5 days in Disney parks. If I had to buy tickets, I would be inclined to do split stays and take advantage of Universal pluses.

For those of us with APs, we don't have to feel this kind of pressure, we can smell the roses like Hiro did ... but for many and almost everyone I know that is not the case.

Direct quote from the Disney Parks Blog post:

"Introducing date-based tickets and pricing will allow us to better distribute attendance throughout the year so that we can continue to improve and deliver a great experience."

Yes, we've heard that story before ... when they raised ticket prices. I don't think it had any impact other than give them more revenue. Disney will always tell you what they think you want to hear.

 

[StacyStrong]

This is really annoying, but I don't think it'll be as complicated/confusing as people expect it to be.

Then again, I've never needed to use tickets 5+ days after I first entered a park without tickets lasting that long.

Six Flags has date based tickets and so do other parks. I'm more upset about price increases than I am about HOW those price increases are happening. I don't have a big issue with the idea of multi-day date based prices.

....For now. Let's see how I feel when it actually happens and how messed up it is.

My FP day is the first week of October. I AM glad it's before MDE inevitably has another magical enhancement when they flip the switch to make this go live.

 

[LucyBC80]

They really want to lock people into visiting their parks and their parks only. Packages tickets expiring at time of check out is such a bad move. If bought a 10-day ticket with my package I own those tickets fair and square and no one should tell me I can't use them because I left the hotel already.

 

[Roxyfire]

This is really annoying, but I don't think it'll be as complicated/confusing as people expect it to be.

Then again, I've never needed to use tickets 5+ days after I first entered a park without tickets lasting that long.

Six Flags has date based tickets and so do other parks. I'm more upset about price increases than I am about HOW those price increases are happening. I don't have a big issue with the idea of multi-day date based prices.

....For now. Let's see how I feel when it actually happens and how messed up it is.

My FP day is the first week of October. I AM glad it's before MDE inevitably has another magical enhancement when they flip the switch to make this go live.

It makes sense for one day tickets, and of course you can always pay more (at least at Six Flags) to get an anyday ticket if you're unsure. But I don't know of many Six Flags locations where someone would go multiple days. As for this new system, I don't think it's that difficult either. Once you see it or play it with, it'll make sense I'm sure. It helps if you're a person who is used to picking dates ahead of time and knowing when you want to go. People picking packages will likely not even see or perceive a difference, except in cost. Unfortunately I can see a lot of use cases where people will either be minimizing cost/maximizing park days (min/maxing) or buying whatever and then getting to the gate and finding out they have incorrectly dated tickets. Either of those situations are going to see people spinning their wheels (either in advance or at Guest Services) and frustrating themselves quickly.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

I don’t really have a problem with it since I usually know what tickets I need and buy them 61 days out anyway.

The thing I don’t like and detest is the fact they charge 50 per person if you want a “ flexible “ tickets.

That’s kind of a joke

 

[randumb0]

Sheesh people just

Just hung up the phone attempting to do the upgrade on my package tickets and it can still be done but has to be done in person. I was hoping to slip it through before we got down there on October 18th but wasn't successful. Here's hoping the AP price increase isn't horrendous.

I could be wrong but I don't expect an AP increase until spring of next year. When the AP price increase does come there will most likely be a change in AP types along with blackout dates

 

[vinotinto]

This is very similar to the lift ticket pricing systems at ski resorts. You have to select which days you will be using your tickets, pricing varies based on the days, and there is usually 1-2 days of grace period (e.g., 6 ski days out of 8). I've always thought the lift tickets were a pain and really made you commit to dates.

I was debating whether to purchase tickets or APs. It sounds like APs is the way to go and I should make my move by October 15. We would first use them on March 30. My concern, of course, is that they will have some blocking for SW. That's the main reason I would consider APs.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Just hung up the phone attempting to do the upgrade on my package tickets and it can still be done but has to be done in person. I was hoping to slip it through before we got down there on October 18th but wasn't successful. Here's hoping the AP price increase isn't horrendous.

I know there are posts in the ticket sticky from people who upgraded over the phone. It seems like it could be very random. I’d try again if it were me.

I am also worried about the AP prices. We don’t plan on buying regular tickets in the future, but what does all this mean for AP holders in the future.

 

[epcotty]

So am I correct in assuming this means that how it currently is with the 1 day tickets with it being pricier or less pricey based on dates will now apply to multi-day tickets? Truly awful if so, just more price gouging when a lot of people can't control when they go there

 

[epcotty]

There's always Universal or Sea World (both great parks btw)

I really think there's only so much of this stuff people will stand, and if this is what I think it is with all tickets being based on dates, then this will really drive a lot more people to the competition

 

[dkrauss]

I don’t see why they wouldn’t be.

I'm torn...…..what do I do. We're doing a long weekend in December. We doing the Party on Friday night...…...and Epcot on Saturday...…...Sunday is resorts and DS. We only need 1 day park ticket (ok...….don't judge )…….the 1 day Epcot ticket is $122/per...……..thinking a ticket price increase will happen with the update...…...you buy the tickets before Oct 15th...…..right?

Doug

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

I’ve read through this thread and my head is swimming. Here’s my scenario:

My split-stay reservations have been made for very early March. I’ll be at the first resort for the first three of the six days and plan on a 6-day PH ticket.

When I move to the second resort, I’ll be joined for the last three days by my adult son who will need a 3-day PH.

I saw upthread that the expiration date on etickets through UCT should be fine. But I was planning on visiting our local AAA office for discount tickets, which I believe are probably hard tickets. The discount is only off the UCT price by a couple of dollars and I initially felt better knowing I would have hard PH tickets in hand. Now, I’m not so sure. Is there any indication hard tickets purchased before Oct. 16 will lose their value before our visit in March?

 

[dragonfly57005]

Yep. We are going to South Dakota most likely next summer and I still have about 25 other states to visit. Then there's the rest of the world.

Welcome to South Dakota!
Don’t forget The Mammoth Site. Spearfish Canyon and Roughlock falls are beautiful. The Spearfish Hatchery is always fun too!

 

[anomamatt]

This is really annoying, but I don't think it'll be as complicated/confusing as people expect it to be.

I think selecting and buying the tickets will be easy and non-complicated. Their video overview looks like they build an easy to use web tool.

But what will be overly complicated is trying to get the "best" deal... (or even a "better" deal). For example, if you go on Tuesday WDW tix might be cheaper, but now plane tickets are more (or maybe the resort is more).

Upgrading, changes in plans, etc. will also be incredibly more complicated with this system.

Six Flags has date based tickets and so do other parks.

Sure, but you don't need to plan a Six Flags vacation 6 months in advance (at least). You buy tickets at home the day before (or so). A lot can happen to plans made 6 months in advance, which is why there are so many questions on Disboards about changing / upgrading tickets. This new system makes it so much more complicated.