Buying WDW Passes at Disney Stores

[Disneynutcase]

Has any of you ever pre-bought your WDW multi-day passes at a Disney Store? I know they offer them for sale. Is it worth it?

I've been told that if you do buy in advance at Disney Stores, you get a discount from what it would cost if you bought them at WDW ticket booths. Is this true?

If so, does Disney Store actually sell you a usable pass--something that will gain you entry into the parks--or is it a voucher that needs to be turned in at a WDW ticket booth?

Any advice or shared experience will be much appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Thorphin]

We just tried to go to our local Disney Store to buy passes for our trip next week, and they had them there in a rack... they were credit card looking things, like the regular tickets, but I couldn't actually tell you if they were actually valid media, although I would assume so. The reason I don't really know is because we went in to buy an 8 day pass, but they only sell up to 7 days. We had to go online and buy them from disneyworld.com. I do believe, though, that you get an advanced purchase discount by buying at disneystore.

 

[Master Yoda]

Not sure on the price thing. We buy AP and the price is the same. They are not printed on valid media. They are a voucher that will need to be activated at WDW before use. The easiest place is guest service at DTD or at a ticket both before you enter the parks.

 

[TheDisneyGirl02]

They are 100% valid passes into the parks. All you need is the ticket and you can go to the gate. The tickets are 'activated' at the store, but your 14 day limit doesn't begin until your first day of use. You will also be given a receipt that can be taken to Guest Relations in case your tickets get lost or stolen.

There is a savings getting them at the stores as well as it saves you time once you get to the parks.

Hope you have a great trip!

TheDisneyGirl02

 

[Disneynutcase]

Just to clarify...

So if I buy from Disney Store 4 Day Park Hopper Plus tickets, the card they sell me will be good for entry to the parks, including park-hopping...plus admission to the "plus" features like the water parks and Pleasure Island?

 

[Master Yoda]

Just to clarify...

So if I buy from Disney Store 4 Day Park Hopper Plus tickets, the card they sell me will be good for entry to the parks, including park-hopping...plus admission to the "plus" features like the water parks and Pleasure Island?

I could be wrong but I don't think that the 4 day park hoppers exist any longer. If you already have on e you can still use it. From my understanding every thing has switched over to the Magic Your Way tickets. You can still get the same "package" but you would have to purchase a 4 day ticket and then add on the options you wanted. Unless things have changed the item you receive from the Disney store is not your actual ticket it is a voucher. When you get to the park you will need to take this voucher to the ticket window and they will give you your actual ticket.

 

[JPVonDrake]

Select Disney Store locations sell the same Magic Your Way Tickets sold by Walt Disney World. Supplies are limited and not all ticket lengths / options are availiable at all stores. Also select locations will sell Disneyland Resort tickets.

The Disney Stores outside of the state of Florida will always sell the tickets at the advance purchase price, and with Florida State sales tax. Florida Disney Stores sell Magic Your Way tickets at Gate Prices only.

This same advance purchase price can be obtained by purchasing the tickets at least 1 day in advance online at disneyworld.com or by calling 407-W-DISNEY. You can choose to have the tickets mailed ($3 shipping, takes 7-10 days) or placed on "Will Call" to be picked up at a Disney Resort Hotel or at Guest Relations at any of the parks. A third option for tickets purchased by calling 1-407-W-DISNEY is to have your tickets encoded on your Disney Resort Key To The World Card (resort ID), this way the tickets can be easily replaced if lost or stolen, and you have only one card to carry.

The advance purchase price applies to 5 day or longer Magic Your Way Tickets with either the Park Hopping Option or the Magic Plus Pack Option added.

There is no cost advantage or disadvantage to any of the above methods to purchase your tickets, just whatever is most convient for you!

Hope this helps! :sohappy:

 

[Becky]

Doesn't the Disney store at MCO sell AP's that you can actvate there rather than going to the parks of DTD?

 

[Nut4Disney]

We have AP's, but we are leaving on the 12th and just bought my parents 7 day tickets at Disney store. They are the same price as the one's online, you still save the same amount as you would online for buying them in advance. The ones we bought yesterday are actual tickets, not vouchers or cards. Also, by buying them at the store you only pay 8% sales tax instead of 12% at the parks. In addition you do not have to pay for shipping like you would if you order them online, or wait at will call at the parks.

 

[Gail Hayden]

Not sure on the price thing. We buy AP and the price is the same. They are not printed on valid media. They are a voucher that will need to be activated at WDW before use. The easiest place is guest service at DTD or at a ticket both before you enter the parks.

The AP is an entirely different animal. They do receive an early purchase discount for other passes and the medium is immediately valid.

 

[Gail Hayden]

We have AP's, but we are leaving on the 12th and just bought my parents 7 day tickets at Disney store. They are the same price as the one's online, you still save the same amount as you would online for buying them in advance. The ones we bought yesterday are actual tickets, not vouchers or cards. Also, by buying them at the store you only pay 8% sales tax instead of 12% at the parks. In addition you do not have to pay for shipping like you would if you order them online, or wait at will call at the parks.

The sales tax on the tickets is 6.5%, not 8 or 12. Resort rooms in some locations charge the 12% tax. If you payed 8% sales tax you got scre*ed.
Read the top line of this link.
http://allearsnet.com/pl/ticketchart.htm

 

[SnowWhite5669]

We have AP's, but we are leaving on the 12th and just bought my parents 7 day tickets at Disney store. They are the same price as the one's online, you still save the same amount as you would online for buying them in advance. The ones we bought yesterday are actual tickets, not vouchers or cards. Also, by buying them at the store you only pay 8% sales tax instead of 12% at the parks. In addition you do not have to pay for shipping like you would if you order them online, or wait at will call at the parks.

I worked at Disney Store for 4 years until a few months ago, you pay the same amount of sales tax that you pay in Florida. It works out to be about $22 cheaper overall to purchase them at the store. You can not purpose the no expiration option, however, and you cannot purchase annual passes. There are so many ways to purchase tickets and types of tickets now that it can be a little confusing. Just a FYI, sales tax varies throughout the park, it doesn't get as high as 12% though! That would just be highway robbery!!

 

[Gail Hayden]

I worked at Disney Store for 4 years until a few months ago, you pay the same amount of sales tax that you pay in Florida. It works out to be about $22 cheaper overall to purchase them at the store. You can not purpose the no expiration option, however, and you cannot purchase annual passes. There are so many ways to purchase tickets and types of tickets now that it can be a little confusing. Just a FYI, sales tax varies throughout the park, it doesn't get as high as 12% though! That would just be highway robbery!!

The sales tax is a confusing issue. The sales and use tax in FL is 6% different counties can add up to 1% (or more) on top of that. Resort tax is usually about 11 to 12%, restaurants charge the sales tax. The reason you pay the going FL. rate in any state you purchase the passes is because you are USING them in FL.
I am sure you already know this, but, I tagged on to your message to try to clear up the tax issue.

 

[wild01ride]

So is the concensus that you can NOT buy AP's at the Disney Store??

 

[Gail Hayden]

So is the concensus that you can NOT buy AP's at the Disney Store??

Some stores sell them others don't. Best to call and ask. There is no advantage to prepurchasing an AP. It costs the same wherever you buy it.

 

[Nut4Disney]

The sales tax on the tickets is 6.5%, not 8 or 12. Resort rooms in some locations charge the 12% tax. If you payed 8% sales tax you got scre*ed.
Read the top line of this link.
http://allearsnet.com/pl/ticketchart.htm

I just went by what the cashier said, 8%, it may have rang up 6.5%. How did I get scre*ed? 6.5% or 8%, who cares it's like $5. I still saved by purchasing them in advance.

 

[Nut4Disney]

I worked at Disney Store for 4 years until a few months ago, you pay the same amount of sales tax that you pay in Florida. It works out to be about $22 cheaper overall to purchase them at the store. You can not purpose the no expiration option, however, and you cannot purchase annual passes. There are so many ways to purchase tickets and types of tickets now that it can be a little confusing. Just a FYI, sales tax varies throughout the park, it doesn't get as high as 12% though! That would just be highway robbery!!

12% is what the Disney store cashier said. I guess she was talking about the hotel taxes. I know depending on what hotel you are at and which county it is in, it may be 12 or 11%

 

[Gail Hayden]

I just went by what the cashier said, 8%, it may have rang up 6.5%. How did I get scre*ed? 6.5% or 8%, who cares it's like $5. I still saved by purchasing them in advance.

I don't care in your case, but, if it were me, I would care a lot. I never pay more than I have to for anything, ever.
I am sure you can figure out what the tax was if you look at the receipt and do the math.

 

[SnowWhite5669]

12% is what the Disney store cashier said. I guess she was talking about the hotel taxes. I know depending on what hotel you are at and which county it is in, it may be 12 or 11%

It must be the fine training from Children's Place :lol: :lol: :lol: !!

 

[Nut4Disney]

It's really not that important to me. I was just providing some information on the subject, since I experienced this yesterday. I forgot we had so many experts on the subject. I'll guess I'll stick to the "What are the best smelling bathrooms in AK?" or "What color shirt should I wear to Epcot on Sunday?" threads. :lol: