When NOT to Go to Disney World Guest Relations

Guest Relations is a mythical place where any question can be answered and any problem can be solved. These magical powers attract many guests with a variety of concerns and issues, many of which are not solved quickly. This often makes Guest Relations long and slow-moving. So when you see a queue of people wrapped around City Hall, check this list and see if your issue can be solved somewhere else.

Upgrading Tickets

If you decided to upgrade your ticket, head to the vacation planning booths–the ticket sales booths at the entrance of the parks–on your way out of the park. There are virtually no lines at the vacation planning booths after noon and they can upgrade your ticket just as well as Guest Relations.

Exchanging Old Ticket

Tickets purchased before 2004 don’t expire, but they need to be converted to the new RFID media (the ticket cards or MagicBands) before being used. Even unused A to E ticket books can be converted into a Magic Kingdom ticket, though they are worth much more than the $105.44 cost of a Magic Kingdom ticket. The conversion can be done at the vacation planning booths.

Replacing Lost Tickets

So you dropped your ticket on the bus/boat/train/plane. No need to fear, just head to the nearest vacation planning booth. Helpful things to have when replacing a lost ticket are all of the other tickets for your party, the will call information you used to pick up your tickets, your credit card you used to buy your tickets, the receipt from your ticket purchase, and/or your My Disney Experience account opened on your phone.

Getting Celebration Buttons

No need to stand in line at Guest Relations just to grab a birthday button. Stop by one of the vacation planning booths at the entrance of park or any of the larger merchandise locations. The Cast Members in front of the merchandise locations are often loaded with buttons and just waiting to entertain guests.

Fixing Your MyMagic+ Account

Issues with the MyDisneyExperience app–tickets not connecting to your account or MagicBand–should be brought to the MyMagic+ service center. They are located at the Town Square Theater in Magic Kingdom, in Innoventions West in Epcot, next to Guest Relations (Ed. – the former Sid Cahuenga’s location) in Hollywood Studios, and at Creature Comforts in Animal Kingdom. Guest Relations Cast Members who are experts in MyMagic+ and dedicated MyMagic+ Cast Members staff the location. The areas have iPads set up on kiosks with the My Disney Experience website open. I’ve never noticed a queue in the area, so they’re a good alternative to the often-crowded Fastpass+ kiosks.

Getting a Parking Refund

Free parking starts the day you activate your annual pass. So if you paid for parking when you entered the park and either bought or activated an annual pass that day, you can get a refund right at the ticket window when you purchase the pass instead of making a separate trip to Guest Relations. The refund can be applied to your purchase or refunded in its original form. Make sure you bring the receipt!

Don’t be afraid to ask for help on the spot when you need it. While Guest Relations Cast Members are always there to help, but you can often save time by addressing an issue when it happens or at the relevant location.