What's the best way to utilize this ticket?

[Micklessor]

I was given a 6 Day Park Hopper ticket in 2008 that has never been used. I have a 3 day "re-con" trip coming up soon (still need to pick dates) and a big 10 day family trip in the works for Sept. 2013. Should I use this ticket on my re-con trip and just blow off the 3 remaining days? or add 4 days to it in 2013? I'm tempted to do the former as we'll probably be doing a package deal in 2013. Thoughts? Thanks in advance!

[bandzmom]

Rather than losing the days, could you sell it on EBay or somewhere else for more than a 3 day park hopper would cost you? Then you have the flexibility and a little more cash. The other option is to turn it into an AP after you're onsite, but that would only be beneficial if you did your 3 day trip in September or later and could use your AP ticket and benefits in Sept 2013.

[pfalcioni]

You'll definitely get more of your money's worth if you wait and use the ticket for your 2013 trip.You should be able to use it one time, then upgrade it and get the current 6 day Hopper cost credited to your new purchase as long as the ticket isn't something special that won't allow upgrades - read it carefully.

[blyday]

Honestly.....if you think that you are going to get a package, then saving it for you 2013 trip might not work. I personally have a hard time with the idea of just losing those 3 days but you did get the ticket for free so I guess it really isn't going to cost you anything. I personally think that I would hold on to it until I can get the full 6-days and hopping out of it.

[pfalcioni]

Can you hold off your re-con trip until September 2012, then use the ticket once and upgrade it to a season pass like Bandzmom mentioned? This way you could use it for both trips.

[blyday]

Can you hold off your re-con trip until September 2012, then use the ticket once and upgrade it to a season pass like Bandzmom mentioned? This way you could use it for both trips.

But doesn't that still create the problem of needing to get a ticket for the 2013 package??

[DisneyMom]

Could you buy the minimum days you need to for the package and then save that ticket to use at a later time?

[pfalcioni]

I was thinking if Michele went this September late enough in the month for the season pass to cover her for September 2013 that it would work, am I missing something? (quite possibly!)

[DisneyMom]

I was thinking if Michele went this September late enough in the month for the season pass to cover her for September 2013 that it would work, am I missing something? (quite possibly!)

She said they are probably doing a package deal in 2013 so I think that means she'd have to buy a ticket as part of the package?

[Micklessor]

Could you buy the minimum days you need to for the package and then save that ticket to use at a later time?

I don't think I can do this, doesn't that negate a "package"???

Thanks everyone for your input. I think I'm just gonna use it for my upcoming, unplanned, bonus re-con trip (no, it can't wait!) As Brenda said...since I didn't pay for it, I don't feel like I'm really losing anything (before this bonus trip came up TODAY, I was just going to give it away:shocked:) I've had it for 4 years and have been to WDW 3 times and not found a way to use it - probably my ignorance, but now I feel like I'm getting a "freebie" with this ticket, using miles for the flight - I only have to pay for the hotel room. Now...WL, BC, or George and Brenda's Scotch Drinking Lounge at BW??? :RpS_unsure:

[Pampered Mom]

Can she add the no expiration option to the ticket, use 3 days in Sept. and still have 3 days for next year? Then she could get a package ticket with a minimum of park days on it.

[Pampered Mom]

As I have learned on here, you can get the park ticket detached from your package for use later. There was a recent thread about this.

[Micklessor]

Can she add the no expiration option to the ticket, use 3 days in Sept. and still have 3 days for next year? Then she could get a package ticket with a minimum of park days on it.
I was thinking of this as well...you stated it much clearer than I could and answered another question I had - does your MYW package ticket have to equal your length of stay - I guess, no - it just has to meet the minimum? That being said - don't both parties staying in a room (DH) have to have the type of tickets? or can they differ as long as they both meet the minimum?

[Micklessor]

As I have learned on here, you can get the park ticket detached from your package for use later. There was a recent thread about this.

Ah...good to know. Thanks.

[Pampered Mom]

I really don't have a clue about these things, but this is what I wonder if it could happen. Add the no expire to the 6-day hopper; use 3 days this year; get a package next year. With the package, when you book it just get the minimum number of park days for everyone in the party. For example, if it's a 7-day stay and they require a 2-day park ticket, get the 2-day ticket for everyone. Upon arrival or on your first park day, add more days to those who will need it. If you plan to hit the parks all 7 days, add 5 days to everyone else and just 2 days to yours. You have to budget to pay for those additional days after your trip instead of before. You should look at the current ticket pricing structure to see if this saves you money even with adding the no expire option to the 6-day ticket.

[blyday]

Okay....if I understand what the OP is wanting...it is to use the ticket without having a ticket left over. So....purchasing an AP leaves her with a ticket that she will then have to use later....so why not just keep the 6-day hopper to begin with. I mean....if you're going to be stuck with a ticket....why not keep the one you already have rather then adding another ticket to the mix.

And....after hearing that she has had the 6-day hopper for 4 years and not been able to make it work for a trip makes getting another ticket in 2013 that she has to keep again just doesn't make sense.

So....making it so that she can use the 6-day ticket and still get a package on her next trip without ending up with another unused ticket.....there really are only 2 options: Use the 6-day Hopper on her 3-day trip or pay for the non-expire and then use the extra days on her next trip....the latter of which only makes sense if she really can save money doing that.

So.....she needs 10 days in 2013....based on the new ticket prices.....here is what the costs would be:
To add non-expire to the 6-day ticket it would cost $138.45, a 7-day ticket would costs $284.36 for a total of $422.81. A 10-day ticket is $309.92....so.....not a good deal here.

If you upgrade the 6-day hopper to a 10-day ticket there is a $34.08 price difference plus $239.63 for the non-expire plus the cost of a 3-day ticket (with the package) $247.08 for a total of $520.79. So again.....getting the non-expire option is going to cost her more then just purchasing a 10-day ticket for her 2013 trip.

In summary....since the OP doesn't want an unused ticket just sitting around any longer and the 6-day hopper was free to begin with.....then just using 3 days and walking away from the rest really is the best use of the ticket. Especially when you consider the fact that the price difference between a 6-day and a 3-day ticket is only $38.34 so it isn't like she is throwing way hundreds of dollars here.

[blyday]

I don't think I can do this, doesn't that negate a "package"???

Thanks everyone for your input. I think I'm just gonna use it for my upcoming, unplanned, bonus re-con trip (no, it can't wait!) As Brenda said...since I didn't pay for it, I don't feel like I'm really losing anything (before this bonus trip came up TODAY, I was just going to give it away:shocked:) I've had it for 4 years and have been to WDW 3 times and not found a way to use it - probably my ignorance, but now I feel like I'm getting a "freebie" with this ticket, using miles for the flight - I only have to pay for the hotel room. Now...WL, BC, or George and Brenda's Scotch Drinking Lounge at BW??? :RpS_unsure:

Hmmmm.......not sure that room name works......Maybe Josh's Scotch Drinking Lounge in George and Brenda's BWV room??

[Pampered Mom]

And that is why Brenda is a TA and I am not :)

[Micklessor]

And that is why Brenda is a TA and I am not :)

:RpS_thumbup: Thanks everyone for an informative discussion! Looks like I'm going in July!