Lindsay

I'm going to Disney World in a couple of weeks and am looking for some passes. I've seen some for sale on auction sites, but the "official" Disney guides say these are non-transferable. Are they? I've also heard something about thumb prints-- how does that work?

Thanks!!

JOy in VA

I believe you can use them, but be sure what type of pass you are getting. I suggest going to wdwig.com & reading up on what travelers say in their trip reports. In the past we have bought passes before our trip from the local Disney Store. There IS NO identification on these passes at all, the store clerk carefully cautioned me to put them in safe place because, if lost, anyone could use them and there is no mechanism for a refund if you lose your pass. (If you get length-of-stay pass if staying on WDW property there MAY be some kind of protection, not sure.) On trip last year we had an unused day on a pass we found from our honeymoon in 1983! (yes, 1983) Used it at Magic Kingdom, cast member happily exchanged it for one-day park hopper ticket, since rest of family had park-hoppers. There was no ID on the ticket, we could have gotten it from anyone as far as they know. Little yellow ticket boothes around Orlando also buy & sell tickets with unused days.

GOL

We've never had a problem. For years and years, a local family member buys tickets (4-10 always on hand) for all family members that visit. Many families use them and have not had a problem (1 exception). Their personal annual or Florida pass required a fingerprint.

But - some passes are magnetic-strip-encoded and you never can be sure what (park or days) remains. [That is why I would not buy them from just anybody]

The one exception was an interesting story (~6 years ago). The Disney employee would not let the ticket be used. They asked for ID and proof of purchase. The relative reamed out the person, stating we have done this many times (precident set). We got in. The employee said they began to crack down on the rules. The relative wrote Eisner a letter, and was written back with a note stating they had stopped strict enforcement because of the number of Guest complaints...

ilisa

Personally, I would not trust passes on an auction site. Annual passes and Florida resident passes are non-transferrable and require ID and a thumbprint. Hopper passes, length of stay passes and the like do not. Now, what will you do if you purchase passes from someone you don't know off of an auction site, and you get to Disney and find out that you've been screwed and there are no days left on the passes?

Ann

I don't think you'd even be able to buy length of stay passes in the secondary market as they are directly tied in with the owner's stay at a WDW property, and expire at midnight of the last day. THe only problem I'd see with buying other passes would be the honesty of the seller (as GOL said, the mag-strip has the info...how can you check it?). If you trust the seller (relative, etc.) then fine. The shortest park hopper now available is the four day I believe, so if that's important you may have to try the secondary market. YOu may also pick up some of the extras (water parks unused by the first owner, etc.). Do read www.wdwig.com for a full accounting of EVERYTHING WDW.