Help with Purchasing Park Passses

[TW1]

OK brain freeze...

I used to buy park passes at the local Disney store in the mall. I'd buy a 5 or 7 day Park Hopper, non-expiring card with Water Park options. And I'd buy one every few months until I had four and save them for the next time I go, sort of a "spread the costs out" idea so as not to get hit with an $800+ bill all at once.

Anyway, this weekend the store said they don't sell all the choices anymore, specifically they can't sell the non-expiring option, but I can add that on in the park when I first use the card. OK no big deal, but maybe I'm missing something.

So, finally, my question(s)...what's the best way to buy passes in advance? Just buy them from Disney online? Buy at the store and add-on in the park?

AP's don't make sense for us, we only get there every 18 months or so for about a week, so I like to buy 5 or 7 day passes. What I don't use I just save for the next trip.

So, fellow members, what do you suggest?

[PoohsPal]

If you buy from Disney online in advance, you get 10% off. I know I've heard of another places that's cheaper, though.

[cruise-o-matic]

Try your local AAA office.

And if you're lucky, you may get a AAA parking pass.....though the normally only give the passes to those who book a trip thru AAA travel....but it's worth a shot.

[crisi]

There are a couple of ticket brokers. I've used www.ticketmania.com. If you get the mousesavers newsletter (www.mousesavers.com) there are ticket discounts associated - a few bucks. When comparing brokers, make sure to compare apples to apples - tax, shipping and handling charges.

[jnrrt]

The best deal I've seen if you're not going to use more than about 5 days on a trip, is to get the mousesavers newsletter crisi mentioned, follow the link in it to ticketmania, and they have a very nice discount on the premium 10 day non-expiring tickets. They have the plusses and park-hopping. That's where we've gotten tickets for our extended family; we just got the AP's last time.

[dizhoni]

I just ordered tickets through Mousesavers.com newsletter----completely painless and they even copied the backs of each ticket for me in case somesome lost thiers (for replacement). Highly recommended!!! Honi :beaniepro

[bmalonef45]

Are the non-expiry tickets good for more than one year? If so, which I think is the answer, than would it make since to buy in units of 10 for groups that won't make it more than once a year. This way you get the lowest price per day and can hold them for as long as it takes to use them. Say you go for three days one year and four the next and then three the year after. This seems cheaper than the AP since you have to renew every year, even with your discount? Am I wrong?

Math isn't my game that is why I am in advertising and not architecture!

[jnrrt]

Yes, that's exactly right. They never expire, like the old hoppers. Also, if you get the premium ones, you get 5 plus passes which can be used for the water parks, or Disney Quest, or PI (I think there's one more?) so for our family, we'd get 5 water park days too, and if it's too cold on one trip or whatever, those never expire either. You could use them on a year you bought an AP if you just wanted to do one day and not spring for more than the basic AP. I think the 10 day makes a lot of sense if you know you'll go back sometime.

[JimC]

There are a couple of ticket brokers. I've used www.ticketmania.com. If you get the mousesavers newsletter (www.mousesavers.com) there are ticket discounts associated - a few bucks. When comparing brokers, make sure to compare apples to apples - tax, shipping and handling charges.

Another vote for these two.

[TW1]

Also, if you get the premium ones, you get 5 plus passes which can be used for the water parks, or Disney Quest, or PI (I think there's one more?) so for our family, we'd get 5 water park days too, and if it's too cold on one trip or whatever, those never expire either. You could use them on a year you bought an AP if you just wanted to do one day and not spring for more than the basic AP. I think the 10 day makes a lot of sense if you know you'll go back sometime.
Yup this is exactly how we do it. We only manage to get there every 18 months or so, thus the AP doesn't work for us.

I still have four passes each with a park day and a water park on them that I'll use next time. I also believe they'll combine any older tickets onto newer ones so you don't need to bring two or more with you on trips. And just for peace of mind, I saved all of our park passes over years. On our last trip I took them all to a ticket window and had them all scanned for any unused days or options.

Thanks for the tips!

[Happy]

The best deal I've seen if you're not going to use more than about 5 days on a trip, is to get the mousesavers newsletter crisi mentioned, follow the link in it to ticketmania, and they have a very nice discount on the premium 10 day non-expiring tickets. They have the plusses and park-hopping. That's where we've gotten tickets for our extended family; we just got the AP's last time.

I'm new at this too.

I'm in the same boat. We can't fully utilize an AP. So what do I ask to buy? Non-expiring tickets for one day? I'm not sure what the 10 days thing work.

Thanks for your help.

Cheers ! :yo-yo:

[PoohsPal]

If you get non-expiring 10-day passes, then you can use the days you need durign this trips adn the remining days will still be good next time you go.

[TW1]

I just spent time on Ticketmania and compared to buying passes direct from Disney online. Not much of a difference and so you might as well get the real thing, right from the Mouse House and not risk anything.

We buy 5, 6, 7 day passes with park hoppers, water park options and no expiry.

So, on the day you go to a water park, go to just one and don't go to a theme park. Thus if you buy a 7 day ultimate pass that offers 5 days of water parks you really have 12 days of visiting Disney. This ticket costs $323 and comes out to $26.91 a day.

We have 1 theme park and 1 water park on a set of tickets left from the last trip, will probably buy another set of multi-day ticket soon to lock in the current price and bring them all with us whenever we go again.

Clear as mud?

[Happy]

I just spent time on Ticketmania and compared to buying passes direct from Disney online. Not much of a difference and so you might as well get the real thing, right from the Mouse House and not risk anything.

We buy 5, 6, 7 day passes with park hoppers, water park options and no expiry.

So, on the day you go to a water park, go to just one and don't go to a theme park. Thus if you buy a 7 day ultimate pass that offers 5 days of water parks you really have 12 days of visiting Disney. This ticket costs $323 and comes out to $26.91 a day.

We have 1 theme park and 1 water park on a set of tickets left from the last trip, will probably buy another set of multi-day ticket soon to lock in the current price and bring them all with us whenever we go again.

Clear as mud?

Still got mud between my ears...

Why would buy 5,6, 7 day passes vs a 10-day pass? What is the ultimate?

If a 7 day pass with 5 day water pass - does that mean I can go 7 days of WDW and 5 separate days of water park?

Thanks!

[Happy]

Still got mud between my ears...

Why would buy 5,6, 7 day passes vs a 10-day pass? What is the ultimate?

If a 7 day pass with 5 day water pass - does that mean I can go 7 days of WDW and 5 separate days of water park?

Thanks!

My DH says do these unexpiring passes ever expire?

Cheers!

[PoohsPal]

My DH says do these unexpiring passes ever expire?

Cheers!
No, but they do cost a little more ($100 for an adult 10-day). It is insurance, though, if you are sick and do not want to go to any parks one day. Also, the basic 10-day price is over $8 cheaper per day than teh 7-day. So, there's a balance to look at.

Yes, you only count days you enter the parks towards teh hopper. Unless you have the no-expire option, all passes expire within 14 days of first use. Clear as mud?

I have a table I can e-mail you with prices that I got from teh WDW website. It's got AP prices on it too. Send me a pm with your e-mail if you want it.

[TW1]

I have a table I can e-mail you with prices that I got from teh WDW website. It's got AP prices on it too. Send me a pm with your e-mail if you want it.

Hey Happy, ain't Carrie great! :thumbsup:

[DSNY FN]

Yup this is exactly how we do it. We only manage to get there every 18 months or so, thus the AP doesn't work for us.

I still have four passes each with a park day and a water park on them that I'll use next time. I also believe they'll combine any older tickets onto newer ones so you don't need to bring two or more with you on trips. And just for peace of mind, I saved all of our park passes over years. On our last trip I took them all to a ticket window and had them all scanned for any unused days or options.

Thanks for the tips!
We used Maple Leaf tickets this year. www.mapleleaftickets.com a 10 day MYW with hopping and no expiring was 380 tax in. and another 40 bucks if you want plusses that is a great deal as far as I am concerned.

[PoohsPal]

Aww shucks TW. **Insert blushy here***

[Happy]

We used Maple Leaf tickets this year. www.mapleleaftickets.com a 10 day MYW with hopping and no expiring was 380 tax in. and another 40 bucks if you want plusses that is a great deal as far as I am concerned.

Hey everyone,

Carrie is so wonderful. Thanks for everyone's help!

Cheers, :bluebloun

[PoohsPal]

OK, getting out hip waiters. Getting deep in here. :eek

[DVCHHGal]

And I'd buy one every few months until I had four and save them for the next time I go, sort of a "spread the costs out" idea so as not to get hit with an $800+ bill all at once.



So, finally, my question(s)...what's the best way to buy passes in advance? Just buy them from Disney online? Buy at the store and add-on in the park?



So, fellow members, what do you suggest?


Hey, thanks for the brilliant idea!

I'm getting my family 10 day MYW hoppers for Christmas, but didn't want to have a huge bill right now--so I just ordered the first one from Ticketmania with the mousesavers discount--and I'll order one each month! (Our next trip is in March). I only need to have one on Christmas day to represent the family gift!

Do you subscribe to Mousesavers free newsletter? I found the Mousesavers Ticketmania discount to be the best price.

Good luck with getting your hoppers!