Pix's Super Happy Fun "Why is my ticket made of paper" thread

Why is having an Annual pass that is paper a big deal to you?

  • Because it looks cheap.

    Votes: 30 27.5%

  • There is no distinction and I want people to notice that I am a passholder.

    Votes: 12 11.0%

  • I have ego issues.

    Votes: 4 3.7%

  • Because I have this fear that the ticket will be worn down to the point where it is unusable.

    Votes: 63 57.8%
  • Total voters
    109
Pixie Duster

Pixie Duster

New Member
Original Poster
I can certainly understand how one thing can turn into many different discussions. So this thread is serving a few purposes here.
First, many people have voiced their opinion about not liking having an Annual pass (or Seasonal) that is made of paper.
Second, many people have come up with their own reasons to explain why this is so. It has been said that it is because Disney is a cheap, money grubbing company trying to save half a cent per pass. Others have said it is because they want to keep printing you out new ones, don't even ask me why someone would think that. In this thread I will explain why the passes are paper.
Finally, I want to know why having a paper Annual or Seasonal pass is such a big deal to some people, that is what the poll is for.

Thanks for stopping by, have a Super Happy Fun day!

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE VISIT THE FOLLOW -UP THREAD!!!!!!!! http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?p=836068&posted=1#post836068
 
Pixie Duster

Pixie Duster

New Member
Original Poster
This is from another thread.
Pixie Duster said:
EVERYONE PLEASE READ

The "paper" tickets are used because that is all that is available to print on if you get your tickets / annual pass from any Disney park (as well as TTC, Guest Relations, and Downtown Disney). The printers are loaded with a reel of the tickets, they are not individual pieces of paper that they can switch out. Since any given Disney ticket venue has to sell anything from 1 day tickets to Annual passes they have to have ticket system that is consistent. If they were to have a different printing area for regular tickets and a seperate printing set-up for Seasonal or Annual passes it would be time consuming for the Guest and Cast Member, and it would not be cost effective either.
The plastic tickets that you may see are from Disney Stores, Disney Resorts, or tickets that were ordered online and sent to the Guest's home.

I hope I explained that well. And again if you keep your ticket in a sleeve they generally will last a good while.
Click to expand...
 
NemoRocks78

NemoRocks78

Seized
Because it looks cheap and there's no distinction and I want people to notice that I am a passholder. :D

I wouldn't have a problem with them setting up a seperate location for AP Processing....Universal has it and everything seems to work out just fine.
 
Computer Magic

Computer Magic

Well-Known Member
Hey, where's "all the above" :animwink:

Just kidding, I have no problem with the current system. I have a sleeve to carry my ticket. They do last longer that way, especially on those water rides. :)
 
Pixie Duster

Pixie Duster

New Member
Original Poster
NemoRocks said:
Because it looks cheap and there's no distinction and I want people to notice that I am a passholder. :D

I wouldn't have a problem with them setting up a seperate location for AP Processing....Universal has it and everything seems to work out just fine.
Click to expand...

Ok you want people to notice?
Use the bright ticket sleeve booklet they give you, wear the passholder t-shirts and pins, and why not carry a copy of the Mickey Monitor if it is really that big a deal to you. Seperate processing center may work for Universal, but unless someone says something phenominal on here the reasons for wanting a seperate processing center is very, very superficial and not worth the extra time, money, and staffing it would take to have seperate printing and purchasing system at all 4 parks, DTD, and TTC. I didn't actually think anyone would pick because it looks cheap. :wave: :kiss: :p :)
 
imagineersrock

imagineersrock

New Member
Though I would like a plastic card for practicality reasons, I now understand WHY I have a paper ticket.

Thanks for the insight, Pixie! :wave:
 
Figment1986

Figment1986

Well-Known Member
I got it..... build an AP center in the old melenium village for the photos.. u get your paper one like USF does.. then procede to epcot and get your ID processed and then use the new ID..... it is brilliant and would require an extra $100 per ticket.. LOL

I wish they would have a different cardstock for APs.....one with a brilliantr design.... But otherwise.. i donbt care it is paper... BGT's is paper now and i has lasted me one year without messing it up yet.... (and thats without a sleve to put it in...)
 
barnum42

barnum42

New Member
I liked the old photo ID cards, there was someting nice about having a more substantial feeling ticket. I would say that I was only surprised when I got the first paper ticket, but I had no issue with it. When I wore out I just got it replaced. On the very plus side, I have enough plastic in my wallet, so the paper ticket taking up less space is a boon.
 
Nicole

Nicole

Well-Known Member
I would have picked "all the above" too, :p but I have to agree that having an explanation for why they are paper makes sense to me. Though - the resorts don't seem to have a problem with printing on cards for room keys.

I do keep my pass in it's paper sleeve, but the edges are starting to get a little raggedy. It's my first ever AP and when it expires I want to save it for my grandkids in my scrapbook

I guess the only reason it's something I've ever even thought about is that it does seem strange that temporary passes (i.e. MVMCP) are plastic and the ones designed to last a year are paper. You'd think Disney could switch completely over one way or the other.
 
AEfx

AEfx

Well-Known Member
I voted "because it looks cheap", only because that is the closest to what I feel - though doesn't exactly describe it. If I was adding an option to that list, it would be "Because it makes me feel like I have a piece of the magic."

It just comes down to the fact that I'd love to have a hard, plastic card to carry around with me, to keep and remember with "forever".

For instance, when I lived in Orlando a few years ago I was still a student and only could afford a UO season pass, and that hard plastic card, with my name and picture, was in the back of my wallet for years and now is a treasured keepsake of my time there. I wish I had the same at WDW.

I understand why the AP's are the way they are : the ticketing media is available throughout the resort, it's easy to replace lost AP's this way by making them semi-disposable, and this way you can get an AP at any ticket window. I get all that. And I actually like how easy it is - I can show up at any WDW ticket window at any time and know I'm gettin' in. But you know what? I'd be willing to pay MORE to have a hard, plastic, personalized pass.

Say, charge me $5-10 for it - and make it only available at certain Guest Services locations. That's not too much of an inconvenice to me to do once a year. If you need a temporary paper one because you forgot yours at home, you can still get it - or you can go to that special guest services, pay the fee, and get another hard plastic one.

If I lived in Orlando now, I don't think I would care as much. However, I live over a thousand miles away and "only" get there 3-4 times a year with my AP (I say only in quotes because I know that is FAR more often than many people get to go - I certainly count myself as lucky). A hard, plastic card has heft and weight and feels like a "part" of something - not just a paper ticket that, while made of a moderately durable material, is still just a piece of cardboard.

So that's why I don't like the paper cards. It would make me feel like I have a piece of the magic at home, and when it expires I'd like to put it in a pile in my keepsake drawer and watch them pile up as the years go on. I guess on some level that could be seen as self-gratification, but it's only for my benefit, not for others to see my "status".

I understand what we are buying is admission, not a tangible item : however, $400-500 is a HUGE investment for many of us, and I don't think it's all that unreasonable to expect that most people are going to want some tangible, durable symbol of that to keep after the investment itself has expired.

AEfx
 
R

rosebud's mom

Active Member
Add me to the list of people who worry that I will wear it out. In the late 80's I had Florida Resident passes for my family and they were hard plastic photo IDs. You simply had your picture taken at Guest Relations at the TTC and they made it there. I understand the explanation, but was simply surprised that they no longer used the photo system. I must admit, I liked that better for keepsake value.
 
xfkirsten

xfkirsten

New Member
Over here on the left coast, our APs are plastic. They're very durable. I've never had much problem. The only time it gets to be annoying is the odd FP machine that throws a fit about the pass being slightly different in size than a paper ticket, but that's rarely an issue anymore. It seems to me that the WDW paper APs are too susceptible to damage. That would get really annoying to me to have to go replace it when it wore out.

Here at Disneyland, we do in fact have a separate processing area inside the parks. I've never waited in line for more than 20 min, even in the middle of August. IMHO, it's worth that extra time. Also, ours have photos on the back, so we don't have those annoying finger scanners. :lol: When you renew, you have the option of keeping your old photo, so all that is needed is a stop at Guest Relations outside the park, where they'll print you a new one in like two minutes. Very convenient!
 
AEfx

AEfx

Well-Known Member
Nicole said:
I would have picked "all the above" too, :p but I have to agree that having an explanation for why they are paper makes sense to me. Though - the resorts don't seem to have a problem with printing on cards for room keys.
Click to expand...
Hehe, well sometimes they do - which is why I proudly carry my TOTALLY BLANK keycard from my last trip in my wallet - the machine broke in the middle of the night when I needed a new card. :) Hehe, but your point is very valid nontheless - ID cards are easy to produce and they already have the capability. UO does it - and so do many much smaller businesses and organizations. In fact, there is very small machine where I work that produces very expensive badges with embeded radio transmitters (for wireless entry) that only cost $10 each - a simple ID must cost much less. With digital photography, adding a picture would be a...well..snap.

I do keep my pass in it's paper sleeve, but the edges are starting to get a little raggedy. It's my first ever AP and when it expires I want to save it for my grandkids in my scrapbook
Click to expand...
Exactly my feeling as well. I was surprised how well it did hold up - I kept mine in a lanyard FP holder and it got wet several times on Splash Mountain and I never had a problem with it. But as I said above, it's a big investment for many of us, and it would really be nice to have a memento of it that isn't made of paper.

I guess the only reason it's something I've ever even thought about is that it does seem strange that temporary passes (i.e. MVMCP) are plastic and the ones designed to last a year are paper. You'd think Disney could switch completely over one way or the other.
Click to expand...
Well, I understand that one - I believe those only go out to preorders. I went to three MNSSHP's this year and bought tickets to two of the events by mail before I left, but the third I bought a ticket same-day at City Hall and I got a paper one.

Just put four card printing machines - one at each park at Guest Relations. Keep the paper tickets the same, but give us the option of paying another $5 and getting a hard plastic card at those locations. I know it may seem silly to others, but it really would be worth it for me.

EDIT : Did I just come up with an idea or what? Souvineer AP's. Hey, they make pins for us to buy, so there must be enough of us that like to collect such things...

AEfx
 
Gail Hayden

Gail Hayden

New Member
Nice poll, unfortunately, you did not have a "I don't care what it is made of" selection. :)
Your explaination of why they are made of the same stuff the other tickets are made of works for me. I have yet to lose, destroy, rip, or otherwise mar my APs over the years, and I am not the most careful person in the world. I use it, slip it back into the sleeve and it lasts and lasts.
 
Woody13

Woody13

New Member
rogerrabbitfan9 said:
I like my pass paper!:slurp:
Click to expand...
The Disney passes are not made from paper. They are made of DuPont Tyvek. This material is actually very fine, high-density polyethylene fibers. While Tyvek shares many of the characteristics of paper it is superior to paper because it is vapor-permeable, water-resistant, chemical-resistant, puncture-resistant, tear-resistant and abrasion-resistant. Tyvek is much stronger than a plastic credit card.
 
Pixie Duster

Pixie Duster

New Member
Original Poster
Nicole said:
I would have picked "all the above" too, :p but I have to agree that having an explanation for why they are paper makes sense to me. Though - the resorts don't seem to have a problem with printing on cards for room keys.
Click to expand...

I did touch on this on my explanation, the second post on this thread. But I will expand. The hotels are secondary distribution centers, they do not get near as much ticket purchase transactions as the parks. More importantly they have to print out room keys which need to be more durable to stand up the the more sensative room entry sensors.

Therefore the tickets are printed on a plastic card.

Also I do believe that the ironically named hard ticket events no longer come with a hard ticket.
 
Gail Hayden

Gail Hayden

New Member
Woody13 said:
The Disney passes are not made from paper. They are made of DuPont Tyvek. This material is actually very fine, high-density polyethylene fibers. While Tyvek shares many of the characteristics of paper it is superior to paper because it is vapor-permeable, water-resistant, chemical-resistant, puncture-resistant, tear-resistant and abrasion-resistant. Tyvek is much stronger than a plastic credit card.
Click to expand...
Wait!!!! That cannot be possible, TYVEK is what they use to wrap houses.
It cannot possibly have more than one application, right? ;)
 

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