Imagine this: you’re gearing up for the vacation of a lifetime, and in a bid to save some cash, you buy a bunch of what you think are discounted gift cards for the resort. This exact scenario turned from dream to nightmare for one mom who mistakenly bought $10,000 worth of Disney+ vouchers instead of gift cards for Disneyland. Yes, that’s right. Andie Coston’s mother ended up with enough streaming service credit to last 104 years, based on a basic subscription of $7.99 a month.
Taking to TikTok, Andie shared the blunder her mother made when purchasing what she thought were park vouchers for their much-anticipated family trip to Disneyland. Originally planned for 2020, the vacation was postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In preparation for the rescheduled trip this Christmas, her parents bought the vouchers, believing they would cover park tickets and meals at Disneyland for all 16 family members.
Andie explained the stressful situation further: “I went home this weekend, and they were having problems loading the gift cards correctly and purchasing the tickets.”
The family quickly realized the mistake and posted a video on social media seeking advice on how to swap the $10,000 worth of Disney+ gift cards for Disney Park gift cards. With their departure fast approaching and park tickets selling out due to the holiday season, tension was high.
Andie recounted, “We leave in 6 days and the parks are selling out of tickets because it’s Christmas. My mom is distraught, Dad frustrated, and the kids worried we won’t get into Disney.”
Since the gift card numbers had been revealed, returning them wasn’t an option.
Luckily, after contacting Disney and explaining their predicament, they were able to convert the credits into usable park gift cards.
Reflecting on the resolution with PEOPLE, Andie expressed relief: “I am so glad we were able to get it resolved, especially for my parent’s sake. It was also good to hear that my parents are not the only ones who have experienced this. I received many messages and comments from people telling me that they or someone they know have had similar experiences.”
Andie hopes her family’s misadventure will serve as a cautionary tale: “I hope that this story makes more people aware of the card difference so no one else experiences this.”
This should serve as a reminder to double-check your vouchers to ensure they’re for Disneyland and not just for binge-watching the latest season of The Bear on Disney+.