Disneyland & California Adventure For Two Weeks!

[pharmama]

Are the Deluxe Annual Passes Park Hoppers? Would we be able to go from DL to DCA in the same day?

All APs allow access to both parks at any time (as long as its not a blockout day if you have passes with blockouts).

I don't think I'd plan a week for each park but rather more fluid going back and forth. It's so easy (mere moments walking one gate to the other).

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[Disney Dudette]

This trip is all about DL and DCA. Trying to go on just about every ride and soak up the spirit with no rush!

This sounds awesome! If you were to buy 5 day hoppers and on the Saturday that is a blockout day... you can do an "upgrade" to the deluxe AP without having to pay the fee for a blockout day! The day you do the upgrade prevents having to pay the fee (I believe it is $40). This is the way my mom and I did it a few years back. We arrived on a Friday, and on Sat. we upgraded to annual passes and didnt have to pay the fee. Saved us $80!

 

[Jerry Horne]

All APs allow access to both parks at any time (as long as its not a blockout day if you have passes with blockouts).

I don't think I'd plan a week for each park but rather more fluid going back and forth. It's so easy (mere moments walking one gate to the other).

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Fantastic! Well the Deluxe passes fit our needs perfectly then!

Thanks!

 

[Jerry Horne]

This sounds awesome! If you were to buy 5 day hoppers and on the Saturday that is a blockout day... you can do an "upgrade" to the deluxe AP without having to pay the fee for a blockout day! The day you do the upgrade prevents having to pay the fee (I believe it is $40). This is the way my mom and I did it a few years back. We arrived on a Friday, and on Sat. we upgraded to annual passes and didnt have to pay the fee. Saved us $80!

Whoa. How exactly does the upgrade work? You don't have to pay more than $499-?

 

[pharmama]

This sounds awesome! If you were to buy 5 day hoppers and on the Saturday that is a blockout day... you can do an "upgrade" to the deluxe AP without having to pay the fee for a blockout day! The day you do the upgrade prevents having to pay the fee (I believe it is $40).

Yes, they could definitely do this. However, I'm not sure if the extra day on a trip of that length would be better than getting AP discounts on food etc the whole trip.

Currently, blockout tickets are $70, btw.

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[Disney Dudette]

Whoa. How exactly does the upgrade work? You don't have to pay more than $499-?

You pay the difference from a 5 day hopper to a deluxe AP... so you end up paying what a deluxe AP costs. So, the value of the 5 day hopper goes towards your AP!

 

[Disney Dudette]

I just saw your intenerary though, and I see you just had the blockout days as days off. If you were wishing to go the parks that day as an AP you have to pay the block out fee, so that is why I suggested a 5day hopper and doing an upgrade that day so you could get into the park while avoiding the fee. But, you would have to consider also that those days before getting the AP means missing out on the AP discounts until then. For us it worked great because it was the day after our arrival. Hope you have a wonderful trip!!

 

[Jerry Horne]

You pay the difference from a 5 day hopper to a deluxe AP... so you end up paying what a deluxe AP costs. So, the value of the 5 day hopper goes towards your AP!

I see! So the advantage is that we use our one Magic Morning and then on the last day of our 5 day hopper we upgrade.

So 5 day hoppers are $300- each, then on our fifth day, we can upgrade to Deluxe AP's for only $199- more each?

 

[pharmama]

On their current schedule though, that Saturday would be their 6th day in the park. They would need to give up a park day in the preceding week to make this work. So nothing is really gained other than access to the parks on Saturday. Not an extra park day...

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[Jerry Horne]

On their current schedule though, that Saturday would be their 6th day in the park. They would need to give up a park day in the preceding week to make this work. So nothing is really gained other than access to the parks on Saturday. Not an extra park day...

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We probably wouldn't even go on that Saturday anyway because we need to rest. I'm thinking the only advantage to the upgrade is getting that Magic Morning (which is on a Thursday if I remember correctly)

 

[Jerry Horne]

Also, this might sound like a silly question but, you can buy Deluxe AP's and 5 Day Hoppers at the ticket counter right? Is there any advantage to ordering online (from Disney)? Are prices expected to go up again by April '14? I thought they just went up.

Also, what do the AP's look like? Are they thin like 5 day passes or like credit cards?

 

[pharmama]

Yes you can buy both at the ticket counter. No real advantage to buying early as a price increase is not *anticipated* between now and April 2014.

APs are plastic cards like credit cards. 5 day hoppers will be on heavy card stock (like all hoppers except the 'souvenir' ones that occasionally come with some packages- those are also plastic).

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[Jerry Horne]

Do you use your AP's in the Fast Pass machines?

 

[pharmama]

Do you use your AP's in the Fast Pass machines?

Yep. The barcode on them works just like the ticket ones for FP.

They also have PhotoPass barcodes on them.

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[Jerry Horne]

Yep. The barcode on them works just like the ticket ones for FP.

They also have PhotoPass barcodes on them.

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Thanks! Also thanks to all the kind folks here for taking the time to answer my mundane questions!

I think the plan will be to purchase 5 day hopper tickets to get the one MM, then upgrade to Deluxe AP's. Why not if it's the same amount of money?

 

[pharmama]

The first MM will be Tuesday assuming the current schedule is still in effect. So I'd use it that morning and upgrade that day so you can start getting food and merch discounts.

Oh- and to answer one of your questions way back- yes, the Starbucks in DL should be open by then. (and of course DCA is already open).

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[Jerry Horne]

The first MM will be Tuesday assuming the current schedule is still in effect. So I'd use it that morning and upgrade that day so you can start getting food and merch discounts.

Oh- and to answer one of your questions way back- yes, the Starbucks in DL should be open by then. (and of course DCA is already open).

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Very wise of you! Of course. Do MM Tuesday and upgrade that day. For sure we want 10% off BB and Steakhouse 55. I've heard there will be no merchandise discounts by then but that's OK.

Read about Starbucks on a different thread and that's great news. It's such an easy and quick place to get breakfast in the park at DCA. Long overdue in DL. I'm sure they will open by then. I like Earl of Sandwich but they don't open early enough - missed opportunity if you ask me.

Thanks!

 

[Jerry Horne]

Do you get one of those plastic protector things you can wear around your neck when you buy an AP? Or do they sell those in the park?

 

[IDreamofPoly]

The plastic pass holders are sold in the parks. There are many options regarding character choices on the holder as well as the lanyards. They sell these in almost all shops.

 

[Jerry Horne]

The plastic pass holders are sold in the parks. There are many options regarding character choices on the holder as well as the lanyards. They sell these in almost all shops.

Awesome! Thanks!