4/3 deal and adding hopping.

[sjms71]

I was just wondering how many people will be adding hopping to their package during the 4/3 deal. We decided not to this is just an extra trip for us as we will do Sept free dining BB.

 

[scrappinmom]

Absolutely! Now that my girls are older, Idon't think I could go to Disney w/o hopping! We do it every day

 

[Tammy296]

when I figured this in it was about $200 extra for hopping. Since we are already paying 3 days of extra DINING to get the 4/3 offer we are not adding the hopper. We have an infant and I can't see us doing all that running around this year like we did 2 years ago!!

I still haven't booked ours. I'm debating if I want to at all or not or wait for a Free Dining offer! We're coming from Maine so we have to consider plane tickets in too plus with the damaged economy is it worth the risk? So we're sitting on it all right now.

I can hope... I can wish....for it's little Amy's first birthday!!

-T

 

[wdw71]

We added it because we love to hop even with our young children (2 and 5). Its worth the extra money to us and an excuse to hop on the monorail

 

[DrmWvr1299]

We always hop. We have a package deal this time with base tickets. I did the math and we will upgrade to hoppers and save the hoppers we had bought for the next time.

 

[WiscMomof2]

We're adding hopping and may actually go to a 10 day pass and the no expiration option. We'll definitely be back and it'll save us money in the long run.

 

[thunderbird1]

Haven't booked anything yet, but seriously thinking about it. We also have a free DDP BB booked for fall, so we'd take the tickets with the 4/3 package and upgrade them to AP's. Overall, we think that would be the best deal for us financially--then we'd get park hopping plus we could buy the "Tables in Wonderland" for 20% dining discounts for all our food on this trip and for any extras on the free DDP trip. Plus any other passholder discounts--last trip we decided on the spur of the moment to see La Nouba, and were able to get something like 25% off for being annual passholders. So if you're going back in the fall, you might want to consider upgrading to AP's.

 

[sjms71]

Haven't booked anything yet, but seriously thinking about it. We also have a free DDP BB booked for fall, so we'd take the tickets with the 4/3 package and upgrade them to AP's. Overall, we think that would be the best deal for us financially--then we'd get park hopping plus we could buy the "Tables in Wonderland" for 20% dining discounts for all our food on this trip and for any extras on the free DDP trip. Plus any other passholder discounts--last trip we decided on the spur of the moment to see La Nouba, and were able to get something like 25% off for being annual passholders. So if you're going back in the fall, you might want to consider upgrading to AP's.

Ok, so can someone explain to me how that works "on paper" upgrading to AP's would we save money or not really spend anymore. Are AP calander year or date to date year. So, we are going in March 4/3 deal 2 adults 1"junior" and 1 child. We are also going on BB in Sept for 10 days. If someone could help me understand finacially how that works it would be great. TIA

 

[thunderbird1]

Ok, so can someone explain to me how that works "on paper" upgrading to AP's would we save money or not really spend anymore. Are AP calander year or date to date year. So, we are going in March 4/3 deal 2 adults 1"junior" and 1 child. We are also going on BB in Sept for 10 days. If someone could help me understand finacially how that works it would be great. TIA

AP's are good for one year from the date they are first used. For argument's sake (and because it's late and I'm too lazy to add up all the kid ticket prices, too), I'll just give you the price of one adult ticket/pass. If you need 7 days for your March trip, and 10 days for your September trip, the 7 day base ticket (no park hopping) is $242.82 and the 10 day base ticket (no park hopping) is $252.41 for a total of $495.23. An annual pass would run you $499.49--$4.26 more BUT you'd have the advantage of being able to park hop (which would cost you an extra $50 per ticket for each of your 2 trips) plus you'd be entitled to passholder discounts on shopping, dining and recreation, as well as free parking at all the theme parks. And if you manage to make it back next spring before the date in March that you activated the annual pass, that third trip is "free" as far as park tickets are concerned. If you can nab a good passholder rate on your resort, so much the better!

Hope that helps--if you have any other questions, I'd be happy to try to answer them for you. Despite living as far away from Disney World as we possibly could while remaining in the continental US, we've had annual passes several times over the years, and always felt like we were able to get our money's worth and then some.

 

[kgle]

I did. It was worth it for me, because I wanted to be able to see another park after say AK and a nap. Also for ADRs I thought it would be the best idea. Then again there are only 2 of us going. We are also going for 10 days.

 

[sjms71]

AP's are good for one year from the date they are first used. For argument's sake (and because it's late and I'm too lazy to add up all the kid ticket prices, too), I'll just give you the price of one adult ticket/pass. If you need 7 days for your March trip, and 10 days for your September trip, the 7 day base ticket (no park hopping) is $242.82 and the 10 day base ticket (no park hopping) is $252.41 for a total of $495.23. An annual pass would run you $499.49--$4.26 more BUT you'd have the advantage of being able to park hop (which would cost you an extra $50 per ticket for each of your 2 trips) plus you'd be entitled to passholder discounts on shopping, dining and recreation, as well as free parking at all the theme parks. And if you manage to make it back next spring before the date in March that you activated the annual pass, that third trip is "free" as far as park tickets are concerned. If you can nab a good passholder rate on your resort, so much the better!

Hope that helps--if you have any other questions, I'd be happy to try to answer them for you. Despite living as far away from Disney World as we possibly could while remaining in the continental US, we've had annual passes several times over the years, and always felt like we were able to get our money's worth and then some.

Yes, it did help. So, now my question is how do you go about upgrading your tickets to AP's? For the 4/3 deal do we get the value of 7 days or 4? Now for September we are booked for 10 day hoppers so, If I upgraded to AP's I would have to still buy with my free dinning package a 1 day base ticket for everyone? Thanks for help everyone!

 

[rt2dz]

when I figured this in it was about $200 extra for hopping. Since we are already paying 3 days of extra DINING to get the 4/3 offer we are not adding the hopper. We have an infant and I can't see us doing all that running around this year like we did 2 years ago!!

I still haven't booked ours. I'm debating if I want to at all or not or wait for a Free Dining offer! We're coming from Maine so we have to consider plane tickets in too plus with the damaged economy is it worth the risk? So we're sitting on it all right now.

I can hope... I can wish....for it's little Amy's first birthday!!

-T

You do realize that you aren’t paying for three days of “extra” dining? Dining isn’t included in the deal, but it isn’t required either. You could very easily just pay for all your dining OOP. It might even cost you less in the long run; it does for a lot of people (our family among them). You could even book without the dining and decide later; you only have to add dining no later than 72 hours prior to check-in. That would even help you keep your money fluid longer.

Also, you might want to go ahead and book if you think there is any type of strong possibility of going. The offer expires on 1/24 for booking. Also, it is based on availability and it could go out for what you want at any time. It could be there at 10 AM and gone by noon, especially this late in the game. I don’t know your dates, but you have until 45 days out to cancel with a full refund. And I think you’ll get all but $100 back within 5 days of check-in. Someone correct me if I have that number or the days wrong; I just can’t really remember right now. If you change your dates, at worst you’d get a $50 change fee when you switch your dates. It will keep your options open.

OP—I’d never go without hopping. $50 per person is more than worth the flexibility to me. But as you can tell from above, I’m an options girl.

 

[rt2dz]

Yes, it did help. So, now my question is how do you go about upgrading your tickets to AP's? For the 4/3 deal do we get the value of 7 days or 4? Now for September we are booked for 10 day hoppers so, If I upgraded to AP's I would have to still buy with my free dinning package a 1 day base ticket for everyone? Thanks for help everyone!

First, let me also add a little. If you would get the hopping regardless--not a base ticket--more than 11 days in the parks during the 366 day period, since a hopper is good through your anniversary date (Example 3/1/09 through 3/1/10), would make an AP the least expensive admission media.

Second, to answer your first two questions see THIS link. I'm being a bit lazy here and it is a very short thread.

If you were to take advantage of free dining, if offered or if you are booked under bounce back from last fall, yes, you would have to buy at least a 1-day base ticket for everyone. But you could save it forever and use it towards another ticket.

 

[mom22bless]

I might be in the minority, but I added PH and wasted $200. We spent 2 days at MK, 2 days at Epcot, 1 each at HS and AK. It is such a PAIN to get around and hop parks. It wastes time and by the afternoon if you hop, all the FP are gone anyways.

I wish I didn't add them now!

 

[thunderbird1]

Yes, it did help. So, now my question is how do you go about upgrading your tickets to AP's? For the 4/3 deal do we get the value of 7 days or 4? Now for September we are booked for 10 day hoppers so, If I upgraded to AP's I would have to still buy with my free dinning package a 1 day base ticket for everyone? Thanks for help everyone!

For the most comprehensive info about upgrading to AP's, let me direct you to one of our resident experts, Cheshire Figment:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1452684

Particularly post #7. But I'll also give you my summary. If you upgrade the ticket before you've used it (like at the ticket window outside the gate), the value will be what you paid for it (4 days). If you use the ticket at least once (like to get in the gate of any park, then walk directly to guest services), the value will be the face value of the ticket (7 days). It's not a huge savings, but it's better than nothing.

You are correct about your upcoming free dining trip--you will have to purchase the one day base tickets for everyone in your party. But you don't have to use them on that trip, you can save them for another time. The ticket will be good forever as long as you don't use it. Just make sure you call to switch the tickets on your reservation from the 10 day PH tickets to the one day base tickets.

 

[sjms71]

Thank you for all the info I haven't looked at the links yet but will. So, again already booked 4/3 deal I'm booked in Sept. BB 10day hopper passes. So, I check in in March for 4/3 deal get all my stuff. Go to one of the parks and go through the turnstile with 4/3 tickets. Then go to guest services and tell them I want to upgrade ticket to an AP and pay the difference. I also have to call and change my tickets in September to 1 day my way tickets. Thanks again my Dis friends for explaining it all to me and answering questions .

 

[thunderbird1]

Thank you for all the info I haven't looked at the links yet but will. So, again already booked 4/3 deal I'm booked in Sept. BB 10day hopper passes. So, I check in in March for 4/3 deal get all my stuff. Go to one of the parks and go through the turnstile with 4/3 tickets. Then go to guest services and tell them I want to upgrade ticket to an AP and pay the difference. I also have to call and change my tickets in September to 1 day my way tickets. Thanks again my Dis friends for explaining it all to me and answering questions .

I think you've got it! Now you have to come back to this thread and let us know if everything worked out. Good luck!

 

[sjms71]

Thanks eveyone!!! I did "punch" the numbers and AP would be cheaper for us. Plus I know DH if we get AP we will be going not just in March and September but at least one more trip to get our moneys worth!! Yeah!!

 

[thunderbird1]

Thanks eveyone!!! I did "punch" the numbers and AP would be cheaper for us. Plus I know DH if we get AP we will be going not just in March and September but at least one more trip to get our moneys worth!! Yeah!!

Make sure you also check out this thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=2056880

It sounds to me that if you add no expiration to your 4/3 tickets, you can save even more $$ when you upgrade them to AP's.

 

[huskies90]

You do realize that you aren’t paying for three days of “extra” dining? Dining isn’t included in the deal, but it isn’t required either. You could very easily just pay for all your dining OOP. It might even cost you less in the long run; it does for a lot of people (our family among them). You could even book without the dining and decide later; you only have to add dining no later than 72 hours prior to check-in. That would even help you keep your money fluid longer.

+1 The dining plan comes out pretty even whether you take it or not. Sure, if you go to an expensive dinner (not lunch or breakfast) and order the most expensive stuff and eat every dessert available you can save a ton of money on paper. But in reality, if you eat normally or skip a TS meal or two or eat at some less expensive locations or add in a lunch or b'fast or two, it does come out pretty even. And if you go home with unused credits, you will most likely lose money. The best part of the dining plan is the convienence factor and the 'set and forget it' aspect. We are booking a TS every day including a dinner at the Coral Reef. But there are a few breakfasts in there and we are going to do ESPN one night. So when you add up the entire week, we'll break even. And if we decide to skip a TS because of where we are touring the parks at the time, we'll actually save $$.

As for the hopper we have ALWAYS added it on (also love the flexibility) but this trip since the hours for Pres week have been reduced, we have decided to make it a game time decision. The night before President's day, the MK is open late and if we are not too tired and decide we want to hop over there, we'll add the hoppers that day and use them the rest of the week. If we decide not to take advantage of the night, we'll wing it this trip sans hoppers...