Disney/Orlando tips?

[Fat Tone]

The only thing left to organise is park tickets.

Q1: How do they establish the age of children? Luke is 10, that is only *just* adult, and he's average height so could be taken for 9.

Q2: What are the chances of these tickets on ebay being any good? http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Disney-World-F...QQcmdZViewItem

The seller is local fwiw.

Cheers,

T.

[ND66]

PLEASE NOTE

These tickets were issued on resort 02/20/03 but have never been used or signed (see photo)

Tickets were issued in addition to tickets purchased in the UK (cost then £700+)

I have called Travel City ( 0871 911 2575 ) and asked if they are still valid , their answer = they may work, but you will have to try them.

All I know, in Florida they scan your fingerprint, and that's what lets you in the parks or don't, depends on the option purchased, like Park Hoppers or Water Parks.

I think I says somewhere that the tickets or not transferable. And unless they have “No Expiration” option (you pay for that extra), they expire 14 days after the initial use or something like that.

I would call Disney World themselves to confirm.

All I know, I'll be there in 3 weeks myself....

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[ND66]

*NOTE: All Disney ticket media for the Theme Parks require that the "Ticket Tag" (finger scan) system be used for both entry and re-entry. This includes any tickets issued prior the Magic Your Way program, such as Park Hopper Passes. In addition, guests with the latter will be asked to sign the ticket should they encounter difficulty using it for reentry. The Ticket Tag system is not in use for the Water Parks, Pleasure Island, Disney Quest or Disney's Wide World of Sports. Hand stamps will be used for readmission to these venues.

From HERE:


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[WxDude]

http://www.undercovertourist.com/uni...tions/tickets/

This is where we purchased out tickets for our boys for our trip this past January. They have
a deal where you can buy a 3 Day park hopper pass and get 3 days for free. Take a look
at it.

According to the mouse savers site, it might be cheaper to buy your tickets from an agent
in the US and have them ship the tickets to you rather than buy the International tickets
that Disney sells.

Info is here:

http://www.mousesavers.com/wdwticketprices.html

http://www.mousesavers.com/specwdwtix.html

[Fat Tone]

Thanks for all the advice guys. And Andy, have a great time

I'm seeing quite a few tickets going on ebay. Could you experienced guys please take a look at item 260228563658 and tell me if you would buy them? That seller actually had an identical lot up a few days ago that finished at £411. That would be a relative bargain for us.

BTW if anyone is looking to buy 14 day Ultimate tickets, they are the same price as 7-day tickets until the end of May. That's still £166 each for adults, so over £600 for us (3 adults, 1 child).

[WxDude]

I'd be careful about buying tickets from ebay. If they are listed as "partially" used, you might
not be able to use them. Once or twice I had to put my finger into a scanner at the gate, so
they may tie the ticket to your finger print. Also, if you buy a used ticket, Disney will not help
you out if the ticket is invalid. So you'd lose the money you spent on the first ticket and you
will have to buy a new one as well.

Also, before you go, make photocopies of the passes (front and back). If you lose the pass,
go to guest relations with the photocopy and they can reissue you a pass with the info on
the photocopy.

-Wx

[ND66]

Thanks.

Now for the Ebay.....

If it sounds too good to be true.....

Remember how many people out there only catch the, "Never expires," but completely miss the, "Non-transferrable." It might be a fast way to make cash, they think, when in fact, they really don't understand what they're selling. For those who are selling lots of them (I've never searched for this before!), are they coming by the tickets legitimately or are they frauds? You could be the responsible party if you're caught at the gate will illegitimate passes.


.................

You need to be careful when you do this. You never know if they've been used or not - and if they've been used you're basically SOL. If you're looking for discounted tickets, try ticketmania.com or discountorlandotickets.com. There are also links in the Mousesavers newsletter. I'd be very wary of making a purchase like that on eBay - especially reading about so many bad experiences with eBay lately.

.................


It is possible, but it isn't advisable. The seller is required to sell you a ticket, but they are not required to sell you a ticket with any days remaining on it. There is no way to check if there are any days left on it until you arrive at the park (or at a Disney resort) so you're really taking a chance. Many people who have taken that chance have been burned, only finding out when they try to enter a park that the ticket is no longer valid.

Also, Disney tickets are non-transferable. It just isn't worth the risk. Imagine the look on your children's faces (or yours!) if you got a used-up ticket and were denied entry into the parks. Any small savings you might get isn't worth the risk and the worry. Go with a reputable discount ticket broker.

.................


I have bought on ebay three times (2 day park hoppers) and had no problems. However, we went this past August for a quick 3 day trip. We ordered our tickets about 4 weeks in advance. The tickets showed up the monday that we returned from the trip. So we had to buy at the park when we got there. Its a chance you take, we purchased from someone is was a "powerseller" and still had problems. This person was from Long Beach, MS, so maybe steer clear of them.
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Read up HERE:



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[Fat Tone]

Thanks Andy. Message received

So what tickets are you going for, and how much (if you don't mind me asking)? What else do you plan on doing?

[ND66]

We'll start driving Wednesday, April 16, around noon so we should be far away from Chicagoland traffic congestions when it hits.


Now, depends on the drive conditions and how tired I will be, we may drive all the way to Orlando and then visit Sea World for a day and find a room somewhere to sleep the night. If not, we’ll sleep somewhere half way or so and go straight to Fort Myers.


Friday we’re checking in at the Pink Shell Resort in Fort Myers. The only extrusion will be a very short trip to Sanibel Island to pick up some shells. My Girls love that and Sanibel is a Shell Heaven.


Monday AM will relocate to Orlando and stay in the Pop Century Resort. We went for the package with Dining and have a Dining with Characters lined up for every day the whole week. This will save us time later standing in lines to get up close and personal with the characters.

Originally I purchased the Basic Tickets (1 park per day), room and Dinning Plan back in January. Later, when they released discount codes from the Disney Visa Card, I called like 10 times until they gave up end upgraded my tickets to Park Hoppers and Water Parks for Free with the Visa discount.


What we’re going to do there??? Just about anything and everything except rushing around. We’ll hit all the playgrounds in every park, watch some shows and parades, etc. This is the 3rd time we’re going to be there since we went there like 2 years ago, there is no way you can do and see everything in a week or two.

Might as well enjoy a little. The kids will go nuts having fun again & I’ll be having fun with my new toys: HD camcorder, and I just purchased 2 new lenses for my Nikon DSLR, Nikkor 18-200VR and 70-300VR, trying to catch some of the fun for the later years.


Saturday morning we’ll have a breakfast with Donald and friends and the Animal Kingdom, catch the last train ride at the Magical Kingdom (my Matthew loves trains), let the girls wave Good Bye to the Castle and start driving back home.


Monday I'll be back at work suffering, but happy that I did everything I could to stimulate our slowing economy.... .

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[Fat Tone]

Sounds like a good trip

[Marshmallowman]

Disney in 3d on google maps for anyone looking to do some holiday planning, or virtual holidaying

http://www.disneyworld.com/3dparks

The map of the four theme parks and 22 hotels at Disney World shows souvenir shacks, merry-go-round horses and even benches for resting.

Google Earth, an interactive 3D mapping program, creates travelogues by embedding photos, videos and commentary about locations they highlight.

Disney called its entry the largest corporate initiative on Google Earth.

About 100,000 shots from eight photographers went into 1,500 three-dimensional images of a variety of structures at Disney World, the company said.

quote from

http://www.watoday.com.au/technology/disney-world-goes-3d-on-google-earth-20080608-2nfu.html

[ND66]

Woohoo! I've just booked flights for two weeks mid August (Tuesday-Tuesday).......

I'm glad it wasn't you giving this statement here:

Violent storms cause damage in Ill. and Ind.


Severe thunderstorms plowed across the Midwest during the night, ripping roofs from buildings, chasing people to shelter and blacking out thousands of homes and businesses.

One death was blamed on the storms in Indiana late Monday.

By Tuesday afternoon, showers and thunderstorms were scattered from central Illinois into West Virginia.

Late Monday, the storms set off tornado warnings for downtown Chicago. Fans were evacuated from the stands at Chicago's Wrigley Field, interrupting the Cubs-Astros game, and travelers were evacuated from the upper levels of terminals and planes at O'Hare International Airport.

The National Weather Service said tornadoes touched down in the Chicago suburbs of Bloomingdale and Bolingbrook, where about 24 homes were damaged, and at Griffith, Ind., where roofs were torn off several homes and businesses. More than 4 inches of rain fell in parts of Indiana.

A disaster area was declared in Griffith, said Town Council President Rick Ryfa.

"It looks like a war zone," Ryfa said.

Near Michigan City, Ind., a tree fell on a car and killed the 23-year-old driver, LaPorte County Deputy Coroner John Sullivan said.

Widespread tree and power line damage was reported in northeastern Illinois.

ComEd spokeswoman Pam Anton said 225,000 of the utility's customers were without power early Tuesday. Because of the number of downed lines, it will be several days before power is completely restored, she said.

The Northern Indiana Public Service Co. reported 52,000 customers still without power Tuesday afternoon.

Travelers at O'Hare International Airport were evacuated into the lower levels of the complex's buildings. All flights were temporarily halted, and travelers who had already boarded airplanes were taken off and also were sent to the lower levels as a precaution.

"It was pretty cramped down there, the whole terminal was down there," said George Wickens, 50, of London, who was trying to travel to Florida with his family.

The storms did not cause any damage or injuries at O'Hare or Midway Airport, said Department of Aviation spokesman Gregg Cunningham. However, more than 350 flights were canceled at O'Hare.

Security guards at Chicago's Ogilvie Train Station, just off the Chicago River, ushered people away from large glass windows and into the middle of the building.

"The lightning between the buildings was looking ominous," said Michaela Nelson, 58-year-old singer from Barrington. "And then it just poured."

___

Associated Press writers Caryn Rousseau, Megan Reichgott and Jason Straziuso in Chicago, Sports Writer Rick Gano in Chicago, and Associated Press Photographer Michael Green contributed to this report.

[ND66]

Fat Tone? Are you still there?

[degrub]

it'll be a yawn when it gets there.....and it's moving fast. So a day or two of rain and some wind. Most Floridians won't even notice, right Liz ?

[ND66]

I'm sure Georgia is praying for some of that rain to get all the way out there...

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