I have a complicated problem I hope someone has a suggestion for:

[sublimesting]

Let's see if I can explain this. I have two 2-Day park tickets that my wife and I bought last year (so we could get free dining). Usually we roll these in to the purchase of an AP the next year (which was our intent this year). However this year I bought three 2-day tickets (my wife, me and now my daughter who is 3 this year) to get free dining. Normally I would roll our previous tickets in to the AP and save the tickets I bought this year for THE NEXT Time I boought an AP. Do you see my pattern?
OK, here is where it gets difficult: We were chosen to test the Magic Bands this year. So, on our Magic Bands are this year's tickets. When we go to Disney this year I am assuming in order to utilize our Magic Bands we will have to buy an AP pass and roll the magic band tickets into them. In other words we have to use the tickets that are on the magic bands. The problem is that leaves me with the two 2-Day tickets I bought last year and never used. Now, normally one would think to use those tickets next time we buy APs, but, in thinking ahead, the next time we buy APs it will be the same exact scenario as Magic Bands will be used by everybody. I'm pretty sure I can't roll 2 sets of 2 day passes into an AP upgrade. Does anyone have any suggestions? All I can think of is to use the Magic Bands and hold on to the 2 day tickets from last year until the day comes where they no longer offer free dining (and therefore I don't buy 2 tickets just to get free dining and thusly use those at that point). Make sense? It barely does to me but I hope somone can help!

 

[Monty]

I suspect that you can roll last year's tickets into APs and use them for park entry and use the Magic Bands for FP+ and in-park purchases. During the transition from FP to FP+ this would allow you to use regular FP with your APs and FP+ with your Magic Bands. Then next visit, you upgrade the ticket media from your Magic Bands from this trip to APs and continue the cycle.

This is basically what I did when the free dining tickets were on my KTTW cards, I don't see that it would be any different with Magic Bands. You just have to make sure you don't accidentally swipe the Magic Bands to enter the parks.

Another thing to consider is skipping the "free" dining and get the TiW card and an AP room-only discount. With my son and I it works out about break-even if we're staying at a Value resort and we save a lot more if we're at a Mod or Deluxe. With "free" dining, you're paying rack rate for the resort, discounts are usually better than the cost of paying for dining.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Failing that drink heavily.

 

[sublimesting]

Failing that drink heavily.

Which is why, Pumbas, that I have an 8:00 AM delivery of beer, wine and liquor from gardengrocer on the morning of our arrival.

 

[Pumbas Nakasak]

Which is why, Pumbas, that I have an 8:00 AM delivery of beer, wine and liquor from gardengrocer on the morning of our arrival.

I appreciate a good plan.

 

[lunchbox1175]

Another thing to consider is skipping the "free" dining and get the TiW card and an AP room-only discount. With my son and I it works out about break-even if we're staying at a Value resort and we save a lot more if we're at a Mod or Deluxe. With "free" dining, you're paying rack rate for the resort, discounts are usually better than the cost of paying for dining.

I agree here, the TiW card and AP room only discounts come out way ahead savings wise over using the free dining ticket packages. I would use up your ticket package for this trip, and then roll over the other ones to your AP, then you can link your Magic Band to your AP after this trip and not have to worry about it anymore.

 

[OswaldTheRabbit]

I have the same thing (2 x 2 day passes). I was told on the phone that we can roll BOTH into next years AP renewal . I made them swear. I didn't want to sit on those tickets.

Oh and for us we do come ahead by getting free dining so it is like getting 2 day passes for free. That is just for our family of 4. If it was just my DH and I it would work to our advantage.

 

[Rob562]

I'm not sure about using two tickets toward a single purchase, but I suppose it's possible that they may include that ability with the upgrades to the system. (I hope you got the CM's name, Oswald...)

Going back to the OP's question, I do know that if you have multiple tickets assigned to your profile (and thus your MagicBand), you can set a priority for them. (Basically the order in which the admission system will use them to gain admission)

I have friends who just checked in today with a Free Dining promotion. They already have AP's. So both the existing APs and the 2-day tickets are on their profiles, with the priority given to the AP. The 2-day tickets will sit on there until they use them to upgrade at some future point.

I'll try and remember to report back if I hear anything negative from them regarding the tickets.

-Rob

 

[dreamfinder]

I have the same thing (2 x 2 day passes). I was told on the phone that we can roll BOTH into next years AP renewal . I made them swear.

I'm not sure about using two tickets toward a single purchase, but I suppose it's possible that they may include that ability with the upgrades to the system. (I hope you got the CM's name, Oswald...)

Fairly certain that the system only allows for a single ticket to be upgraded. Upgrades take the existing ticket, and add on to that ticket. Sadly many CMs aren't always up to speed on policies and other things around the world.

 

[coachwnh]

I suspect that you can roll last year's tickets into APs and use them for park entry and use the Magic Bands for FP+ and in-park purchases. During the transition from FP to FP+ this would allow you to use regular FP with your APs and FP+ with your Magic Bands. Then next visit, you upgrade the ticket media from your Magic Bands from this trip to APs and continue the cycle.

This is basically what I did when the free dining tickets were on my KTTW cards, I don't see that it would be any different with Magic Bands. You just have to make sure you don't accidentally swipe the Magic Bands to enter the parks.

Another thing to consider is skipping the "free" dining and get the TiW card and an AP room-only discount. With my son and I it works out about break-even if we're staying at a Value resort and we save a lot more if we're at a Mod or Deluxe. With "free" dining, you're paying rack rate for the resort, discounts are usually better than the cost of paying for dining.

Totally agree with the TIW idea and the AP room only discount. My parents got talked into a similar situation last summer. A Travel agent told them to buy 2 day hoppers to get free dining even thought they already owned APs. Why they didn't ask us before they booked I'll never know, but thats a different story. Your best bet is to buy your APs with the value of the 2-day tix you own. They are the most expensive days anyway, so you are well on your way to an AP already! Get the TIW card.

 

[erstwo]

I'm not sure about using two tickets toward a single purchase, but I suppose it's possible that they may include that ability with the upgrades to the system. (I hope you got the CM's name, Oswald...)

Going back to the OP's question, I do know that if you have multiple tickets assigned to your profile (and thus your MagicBand), you can set a priority for them. (Basically the order in which the admission system will use them to gain admission)

I have friends who just checked in today with a Free Dining promotion. They already have AP's. So both the existing APs and the 2-day tickets are on their profiles, with the priority given to the AP. The 2-day tickets will sit on there until they use them to upgrade at some future point.

I'll try and remember to report back if I hear anything negative from them regarding the tickets.

-Rob

I was about to ask a similar question about Magic Bands and AP's. I received an email telling me my 'Magic Bands' will be waiting on me at Pop tomorrow. I was going to reject the Magic Bands and stick with the KTTW so I could 'protect' my 2 day tickets and use my APs only for park entry this trip.

But are you saying I can put my AP's on my Magic Band AND still have my 2 day park tickets on my Magic Band indefinately??? If that's correct, I am totally getting myself some WDW wrist swag.

 

[Lord_Vader]

The AP Discount and TiW are a better deal in some cases, particularly when the entire discount period is available during your stay. In my particular case it was not, the AP discounts stop on 12/23 so I would get a discounted room for three days, 21st-23rd and then full price for the duration of my vacation. However, the free dining is based on the day you check-in therefore is appied to my entire 14 day vacation and since there are five of us save a rather large amount of money, nearly $300 per day based on DDP prices.

I state the above understanding that we may/may not have spent the same amount of money on dining during our stay but did expect to spend close to $200 or more daily for the five of us meaning I am reducing my expense dramatically, now only responsible for gratuities when applicable.