Upgrading to RFID Tickets outside of Orlando

[aquamarine84]

Hello all,

I'm lucky enough to live within a few hours drive of Disney and therefore haven't stayed in Orlando since I was a kid. I won a bunch of 1 day,1 park passes a few years ago and finally have someone to go with me to use the last of them. I've picked May 22, which appears to be a light day for both the Magic Kingdom and Disney in general, but still, to get there before the park opens to exchange the paper tickets for RFID ones and allowing to stop for a quick breakfast would mean leaving my house at 5am. I'd rather give myself another half hour or so. Is there any way to exchange them close to home, at either a Disney store location or AAA maybe? I'm trying to convince my trip partner to go the night before and stay with a family member closer, but she's not going for it yet.

 

[Master Yoda]

To my knowledge, no. You also do not have to trade them in to use them at this time. You can still use regular tickets just like you did before.

 

[aquamarine84]

Thank you for your reply. I know that you don't have to, but I've also heard that the lines are significantly longer if you use the paper tickets. Well, here's hoping I can stay closer and buy an extra hour.

 

[luv]

It's not really an upgrade, just a different ticket.

So, you could just use the ones you have and then switch on your way out of the park, if you like.

I love that my plastic AP works better than my old, paper one did...but there is no other benefit to one ticket over another.

 

[RonAnnArbor]

If you get there 30 minutes before park opening, there is no difference in the line length between the new RFID lines and the older turnstile lines -- that occurs later as the crowds start to pour in -- incidentally, that "big line" thing while true means it takes about five minutes longer, not significant. They even bring in extra staff to use electronic scanners at those entrances -- and Animal Kingdom even starts processing that line a few minutes earlier than the RFID lines -- there is nothing to worry about.

 

[luv]

I haven't noticed that it takes less time at the new circle thingies than the old turnstiles. I frequently go to the old ones when I can. The new circle thingies...they sit unused while people clog it up, waiting for their families. The older ones, even if there are a couple people there, will get me through faster.

But I am almost never on hand for a park opening and don't know about that.