Hi Dayana! Welcome to planDisney. I’m really glad you reached out with this question. Plans have a way of shifting, but thankfully, the Disneyland Resort builds in a little flexibility to help Guests handle those last-minute changes without too much worry.
Even though
tickets ask for a Guest’s name at the time of purchase, that name isn’t actually what binds the ticket to a specific person. The real moment of connection happens the first time you walk up to the turnstiles at the entrance to Disneyland or Disney California Adventure, scan your ticket, and a Cast Member snaps a quick photo. That photo becomes the official identifier linked to that ticket for the rest of its validity. Because of that, if someone in your original group can’t make the trip after all, you’re absolutely welcome to let another Guest use that unused ticket, so long as it hasn’t been scanned yet.
One important note to keep in mind: Disneyland Resort tickets are non-refundable. While that may be a bit disappointing, there’s still a very helpful upside. Most tickets remain valid for quite a long time (typically around 16 months from the purchase date). You can double-check the exact expiration for your ticket by taking a look at your confirmation email or opening the
Disneyland app. Just tap the hamburger menu in the lower-right corner and select the Tickets and Passes tile to view all the details.
Also, don’t forget: if you have a wholly unused ticket (whether it’s still valid or even if it has already expired) you can usually apply its original value toward the purchase of a new ticket of equal or greater value. That means if your plans change again or you’re hoping to upgrade, the value of that unused ticket doesn’t go to waste. And if you’d like help figuring out the best next step, the Cast Members on the
Tickets line are wonderful at walking Guests through the process.
I hope this gives you the clarity you need as you adjust your plans, Dayana. If any other questions pop up while you’re getting ready for your visit, please come back and ask us anytime at planDisney.
Wishing you a day filled with magic, smiles, and smooth planning!
David