Advice on tickets - August

[disrfc01]

We're heading to California early in August (2 adults + 4 kids aged 12,9,and 5 year old twins) for a summer science camp for our older kids. We have started planning to add on three full days at Disneyland. However, I'm worried about blowing $1100 on 6 x 3 day park hopper tickets only to arrive and discover that the crowds and the heat are too unbearable. If the crowds are over the top, thus making the ride lines 60+ minutes, we can't really put the four kids through that. I'm wondering if there is a realistic option to get a single day set of tickets that would allow us to try the first day before committing to the next two days. I know this would ultimately cost more overall, but I kind of count that as insurance. Is there any way to get the first days 1 park tickets now, and then get a two day park hopper on the night of the first day's visit after we determine it is bearable? Am I going to pay a lot more, and can this even be done without buying at the gate? Thanks!

 

[smile4stamps]

You can purchase one day tickets and then upgrade them to 3 day while at the park. The upgrade MUST be done before the park closes the first day so you will need to decide before you leave but it can most certainly be done!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

Yes, as smile4stamps said you CAN upgrade a 1 day pass to a 3 day. They will credit the price you paid for the 1 day and apply it to the 3 day. The only place you will loose out is that you will then have to pay the gate price for the 3 days passes instead of the advance ticket price available online.

 

[HydroGuy]

First, the heat in SoCal in the summer is nothing like Florida. Warm? Yes, it is summer! Tolerable? IMO yes definitely. For most people. Not everyone.

Summer is my favorote time to go to DLR.

However, many people make numerous classic mistakes on summer trips that in the end detract from the experience. Do it right and your trip with your four kids will be a blast. Do it wrong and it could be the disappointment you are fearing it will be.

My suggestion - read this and get a feel for things.

"Getting The Most Out of a Summer Visit To DLR" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1345319

 

[skiingfast]

The difference between buying 3 days ahead of time and a one day plus adding two is going to be about $100. Not a huge sacrifice to be patient.

Still I wouldn't tease my family by taking them for a day to wait and see if you want to go the next.

-Go midweek to beat most of the crowds.
-Stay somewhere close and take a mid afternoon break.

 

[Jynxed]

Like PP said, if you tour right, no matter when you go you will have an enjoyable time. I wouldn't leave it up to my kids to decide. There are ways to beat the heat in he summer (and high crowds) by touring in the early morning taking an afternoon hotel/pool break and then returning in the evening.

 

[minniecarousel]

During the summer, Disneyland is usually open 'til midnight. Even if it's hot during the day, the evening will be cooler. The humidity is low, which makes it hands-down more pleasant than WDW in the summer.

Yes! Go early, take a break mid-day & return for the evening. Very do-able.

 

[oumagic]

In my opinion, the advantage of doing multiple days is that you don't "have" to do anything. "Kids, the wait at Indy is 75 minutes, so we will try again tomorrow; let's hit Tarzan's Treehouse, no one is there." If you go for one day in August, as hydroguy mentioned, it can be done but it will not be as easy if you just decide you are going for three days.

We had one day on our 5 day trip last year that just was not very fun at roughly 11 AM. We had rode 2 or 3 rides and the lines were getting long and the kids and mom and dad were getting irritable. We went back to the room and relaxed by reading some books and playing with some of their new toys and went back after dinner and had a blast.

I just went for one day on Friday (5/20) and the lines were getting really long. Man, how I wished we had another day planned.

 

[tanyaewa]

The point about have the most extended hours is very true. There is lots of time to see & do everything without having to sacrifice your time in long lines in the heat.
You will be stressed and stretched to do it in one day though.