Hi there, Terry, and welcome to planDisney! I'm thrilled to hear that you're planning an upcoming trip to the Disneyland Resort!
In terms of paper
theme park tickets, I'm wondering if you're referring to the tickets given at the entry gates when you first arrive at the parks? Whether you use the
Disneyland mobile app or a printout of your e-Tickets, you should all receive printed tickets the first time you scan in to enter one of the theme parks. I reached out to a Cast Member to confirm that this should still be the practice!
When I visit, I typically use the mobile app for scanning in and out of the parks, but love keeping the printed tickets we receive as souvenirs of our trip. They're great to put in photo albums!
When I spoke with the Cast Member that I referenced above, I did reference your question about only half of your group receiving paper tickets back in May and the portion of your question about the purchase date, but she was not aware of any policy changes to receiving paper tickets upon first entry into the parks. However, if it's helpful, you could most definitely
reach out to one of the friendly Cast Members at the Tickets line and tell them about your specific situation to see if they can give you a more detailed answer on what to expect.
Thank you again for your question, Terry! I hope you have a fantastic time visiting the Happiest Place on Earth.
Have a Magical Day,
Greg