Villa/on site booking, how will tickets work?

[jstephens]

Hi Everyone,


Currently planning a trip for July 2020.

Plan is for villa 7 nights
animal kingdom lodge 7 nights
universal 4 nights

whats the best way for tickets as when test booking on Disney it says tickets won't be active until 1st day on site at Disney.
Would I need to book separate tickets as the idea for onsite for 7 days was to get the 60 day fast passes etc.

Many thanks, Jon

[loves2plan]

Are you planning to do the Disney stay first. If so, then tickets not being valid until your first day isn't a problem. You'll be able to book fastpasses at 60 days, and your tickets will actually activate on the first day you use them to enter a park.

[jstephens]

plan was 7 nights villa to start but i know we will want to do a few parks whilst at villa so need 14 days to start on day 1 of villa.
separate tickets only?

[loves2plan]

You can get a ticket that's part of a package activated up to 10 days in advance by visiting guest services, so you don't necessarily need a separate ticket. If free dining is released in April, then you'll need to buy the ticket when you book AKL in order to qualify, and it's a saving worth getting.

[sonic_heroes]

It is better to do your onsite stay first so that you can get your fast passes booked at 60 days out and you will then have access to your Disney tickets On day one. Also IF free dining is offered and you go down that route then you need to purchase tickets to qualify so would make more sense to do Disney first. You wouldn't get your Disney tickets until you check into your Disney hotel, if bought as part of a package.
If you must stay in a villa first then you can still buy 14 days tickets that can be used from day one, just buy them separately from your Disney stay (don't even have to buy direct from Disney), so that you can have any start date you wish.

[sonic_heroes]

Originally Posted by loves2plan

You can get a ticket that's part of a package activated up to 10 days in advance by visiting guest services, so you don't necessarily need a separate ticket. If free dining is released in April, then you'll need to buy the ticket when you book AKL in order to qualify, and it's a saving worth getting.

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Didn't know this was possible, thanks for the info.

[Thorpy]

Originally Posted by sonic_heroes

It is better to do your onsite stay first so that you can get your fast passes booked at 60 days out and you will then have access to your Disney tickets On day one. Also IF free dining is offered and you go down that route then you need to purchase tickets to qualify so would make more sense to do Disney first. You wouldn't get your Disney tickets until you check into your Disney hotel, if bought as part of a package.
If you must stay in a villa first then you can still buy 14 days tickets that can be used from day one, just buy them separately from your Disney stay (don't even have to buy direct from Disney), so that you can have any start date you wish.

See more...

You'd also have your bands for later on, if that's an issue.

[loves2plan]

Some more info from Disney directly about activating tickets before your onsite stay. The main drawback is that you won't be able to book fastpasses in advance for the days before you move onsite. You can only do that once you've had the tickets activated by guest services. It really does make more sense to stay onsite first of possible. Plus, it's much nicer to go from smaller accommodation to larger accommodation, rather than the other way around. After a week in a villa, a room could feel very cramped.

https://DIBB.in/13533775
"We are so excited to hear that you will be visiting us next year! If you would like to activate your tickets early, you will have to go to a Theme Park for your first day and speak with a Cast Member in Guest Relations. Guest Relations at the Theme Parks can activate your tickets no more than 10-days before your stay with us on the property.

Please note that you will not be able to make FastPass+ selections for the days that are before your stay due to the tickets being attached to your reservation. Once the tickets are activated at the Theme Parks, you will be able to make FastPass+ selections for the days you have not already made for."

[jstephens]

thanks for info everyone.
we have changed plans slightly now! villa for 10 nights (its an amazing looking villa and the cheapest of all bookings!)animal kingdom lodge 4 nights, universal hotel 4 nights.
im going to book tickets with ATD like last time

[loves2plan]

Originally Posted by jstephens

thanks for info everyone.
we have changed plans slightly now! villa for 10 nights (its an amazing looking villa and the cheapest of all bookings!)animal kingdom lodge 4 nights, universal hotel 4 nights.
im going to book tickets with ATD like last time

See more...

Sounds good, bit just bear in mind that if you were hoping to get free dining for your AKL stay (if released next month), that you need a minimum of 5 nights. Could you possibly do 9 night villa or 3 nights Universal? Free dining is well worth it, plus there's usually a $200 gift card too.