3 Day tickets

[Lou-Ann]

We will be going the week of Labor day and at the present time I think will need 3 day tickets. We will be staying at Ho Jo's and are also AAA members. I would appreciate knowing where I might get the best deal on tickets and also if I purchase somewhere other than at Disney will I be able to upgrade them if I need to at Disney to either an additional day or an Annual. Thanks so very much for your help.

 

[DizMe]

We got the best deal on tickets through AAA. I just called and ordered them over the phone, but at many places you can pick them up from your local office, depending upon where you are. You can also order through getawaytoday.com, but I don't think their rates are any better than through disneyland.com and you may have to pick them up at your hotel or something. Here is another site that offers tickets: http://hotels.anaheimoc.org/1282_attraction-tickets_a18.html?ticketID=587

If you buy your tickets through AAA and are considering a character meal, order character meal vouchers at the same time. The price is the cheapest I've seen and includes tax and tip.

 

[avalon451]

The advantage of purchasing through GetAwayToday is that you get two magic mornings instead of just one. So if you'll be there over a weekend, and are willing to get up and get a jump on the crowds, that would be worth it. They cost the same as DL travel. There is a $10 processing fee, but if you call them up to order over the phone, and tell them you want to use the discount code "podcast" they will waive that fee. You used to be able to use that discount online, but somebody found a way to abuse it, so now you have to ask for it on the phone.

 

[PinkBudgie]

With AAA you get free parking on 3 day tickets, but only one MM.

 

[Lou-Ann]

The two magic mornings woudl be a help for sure. Is there is big cost difference?

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm not sure about the price difference between various sites (though Gail did just mention that GAT and disneyland.com's pre-purchase prices are the same), BUT if you're already planning to upgrade to an AP, the discount won't matter. You'll pay the difference between the the AP and the price you paid (what you paid is encoded on the ticket).

As for adding days, some people have been charged the difference between their ticket and the pre-purchase price for what they want, but others have been charged the difference between what they paid and the price at the gate of the ticket they want. So in the case of the latter, the discount would be lost there, too.

 

[avalon451]

I think you save like $5 bucks per ticket or so through AAA? Not sure, might be more than that... anybody know? But with GetAwayToday you get that extra magic morning, so it may be worth it to you. MMs are Sun, Tue, Thur and Sat.

GAT tickets are e-tickets; they will send you a receipt, but you need to pick up the actual tickets at the ticket booth at DL. So if you can do that the night before, that works best. All you need is your i.d. and they will issue you the 3-day hopper. They are upgradable for extra days or annual passes, but if you are adding days, I believe you are paying the difference for a full-price, at-the-gate ticket, not the discounted one you bought ahead of time.

Hope that helps!

edit: Molly, I'm echoing you! sorry 'bout that!

 

[Lou-Ann]

Thanks so much. we are probably looking at Tue, Wed and Thurs so the extra morning owuld be lost anyway.

 

[avalon451]

Well, you could use it both on Tuesday and on Thursday. It's not a whole lot of fun to get to the parks early on an MM day, when you don't have MM. It's often already mobbed with those people who got there for MM.

You know, I just looked at AAA and I don't see a difference between that, Disney Travel, and GAT. They are all $169 for 3-day hoppers.

If you will be getting there on the Monday afternoon or early evening, you might consider going for the extra $15 for another day. It's fun to take that first night to stroll around, get a feel for the parks, and hop on rides that don't have long lines. Maybe have dinner.

 

[Lou-Ann]

Extra $15.00 ?? How does that work?? Do they have a ticket for just late in the day?

 

[DizMe]

There is not much price difference between a 3-day and a 4-day hopper ($15/ticket). There is only $10/ticket difference between a 4- and a 5-day hopper. It may well be worth the extra money if you have some time you can spend in the park on your first or last day.

Hmmm...I also just looked up the AAA price on their website, and it is listed at the same rate as Disney and GAT. I wonder if you get a discount by dealing with the local office directly or if they raised their prices this week? I just paid $5 less per ticket than what they sold for elsewhere.

I always forget about the MM bonus with GAT, since we stay at a Disney resort hotel and get MM anyway.

Edited to add: it's kind of silly, but I prefer the AAA tickets because they send you the plastic hoppers in the mail.

 

[50sjayne]

They just posted on Howard Johnsons website that they have a limited amount of discounted tickets left today. You have to be checked in to get them though I think.