AmI sadistic or just a good planner?

[disneyorbust]

I just bought DisneyQuest tickets through the Mousesavers newsletter for a great price. Now my family thinks that we are going to Disney soon. I just like to do things in piecemeal so that when we do go I'm not faced with a huge bill. For instance, I bought the park tickets before the price increase so I have those stashed away and now I have the DQ tix. When we do decide to go that chunk will be paid for. In my opinion, that's good planning - in my family's opinion I'm teasing them. We usually end up going once a year so they probably know that it's coming, but am I a secret meany or just "very organized"? Anyone else like me?

 

[hercamore]

I am exactly like you. That's the only way we can afford to go if I buy tickets, disney dollars, etc. as the budget allows.

Just keep the spending to yourself and don't them em, LOL.

Herc.

 

[MCazer]

That's why I keep the park hopperes in my safe deposit box. As I save, I buy a pass.

If the Connections vouchers didn't have expiration dates, I would buy them and put them with the passes.

When I do have an exact date, I will be buying things just like you.

Its the only way. I do know it is sometime next year. My husband is Disneyed out. LOL.

We have only been there about 12 times in the last 13 years. What's his problem. We haven't gone as a family since December of 2000. Hey, I took my son in Dec 2001, and my daughter in 2002, and we did do a 7 day cruise in Oct 2001, and another 7 day cruise this past August (both on the Magic).... but I am totally in withdrawal and can't wait until my 11 month window opens up for OKW

Disney here I come... I am trying to hint about a trip this year for our 10 year wedding anniversary.

GINNY, if you are reading this post... please call and talk to Steven and hint hint hint... that you KNOW I would love a trip this year! LOL

Margaret

 

[TreeOfLife]

That is the way to do it! Next join rewards programs that give you meal and web certificates. I have a few to use at the Rainforest cafe and our meal in there will be free next time.

This year, we're going in December and all I have to worry about are the expenses of the stay and hotel. We got our plane tickets through Skymiles, saved $700. Bought our tickets to Disney and Universal last year, saved over $800 this year.

I have already planned our meals and have a clear image of how much we'll spend on which days, when we'll use a dinner package, etc. I already have our best airport parking deals (with coupons, of course) and we are ready down to that.

Buy an organizer in Walmart where you can set up tabs and categorize your items. I have a tab for our e-tickets and plane information, park tickets, hotel tips, restaurant certificates and coupons, hotel reservations and information, car reservation, etc. That way everything is in one spot, easy to check and bring along.

The key is not to be wealthy, but organized and plan ahead!

 

[mad4themouse]

If you're a sadistic meanie then you have plenty of company. I've been buying and secreting away park passes and anything else that will get us to WDW next year. The difference is that my family knows nothing about it!

Like MCazer's DH, mine is Disney'd out too. He can't understand, if we were just there in Dec 2001, July 2002 and are taking the 7-day cruise in August 2003, why would I want to go there again? (This from the man who insists on going to the Jersey shore every summer - same week, same hotel - every blessed year!) I tell him that it's because I haven't done it all yet.

So, I'm very quietly doing my rewards programs and buying tickets as the deals become available (I took advantage of the DQ tickets in the MouseSavers newsletter, too). I also make it a point to purchase $DD every month and stash them away as well. I figure that if he doesn't have to write a check for the trip, then he won't complain so much in the long run. Actually, he does enjoy WDW, I just think that maybe this past year of the Mouse has been a little bit of overkill for him.

I say keep it up! Just keep it to yourself or come here to share your excitement. You have a whole group of people here who understand!

 

[westjones]

Do the DisneyQuest tickets ever expire? I think I would like to take my family there sometime, and if I could get a good price and the tickets wouldn't expire, I would buy them in advance too.
DJ

 

[lisajl]

Hold on a second people...

I've been on this board since Aug, I think....and I did not know that the tickets did not expire.

Could someone explain that to me?

We are not planning on going back till Oct 2004, and if I start now, we will have a great stash of stuff by then.

Lisajl

 

[mad4themouse]

Originally posted by lisajl
Hold on a second people...

I've been on this board since Aug, I think....and I did not know that the tickets did not expire.

Could someone explain that to me?

We are not planning on going back till Oct 2004, and if I start now, we will have a great stash of stuff by then.

Lisajl

Park Hopper passes do not expire..EVER. They are good until you use every feature on them. The only exceptions that I know of would be promotional tickets sold for conventions (they will state their expiration dates and conditions of use on the reverse side) and the 10 Days World passes sold on Paramount Travel's site (they expire 20 days after their first use).

The length of stay passes which you would buy as part of a room package at a WDW resort also expire at midnight on the day that you checkout.

Buying your PH or PHP passes in advance is a good way to spread your purchases out over a longer period of time and also helps to hedge against possible price increases, which is why so many of us do it that way.

Tickets for Universal/IOA have a similar expiration policy as the Disney Park Hoppers. I'm not sure about Sea World or Busch Gardens.

My Disney Quest tickets have no expiration date on them.

 

[lisajl]

mad4themouse,

Thanks for the info. Where do you buy your tickets?

I think that will be a great idea for our future trip.

My husband keeps telling me we are not going back until 2007.
The kids and I keep saying 2004! If I start doing this now, we will definately be ready for Oct!

Thanks...
lisa

 

[mad4themouse]

Originally posted by lisajl
mad4themouse,

Thanks for the info. Where do you buy your tickets?

I think that will be a great idea for our future trip.

Thanks...
lisa

You'll get a variety of opinions on this. I like TicketMania.com because they have free shipping and the prices that they quote already include the taxes. Very good service and I've never had a problem with them. If you are not signed up for the MouseSavers newsletter, I highly recommend doing so. Mary often includes a link in it to special ticket prices at TicketMania.

I also like OrlandoTicketSales.com because they offer a 4-day Park Hopper PLUS, which you cannot buy at the gate nor at most of the other ticket sites. They are the Orlando/Orange County Convention & Visitors Bureau, which is the official marketing organization for Orlando, Florida. They are very reliable and I can sometimes find better prices on their site than I do anywhere else.

 

[Belle5]

Since you can't stash away connection's vouchers because they expire, why don't you consider stashing away Traveler's Checks. A lot of folks do that. Learned it right here. Nice, because they're safe. I don't think they expire, do they? Also, you can eat at any restaurant at any time instead of being limited to certain places.

 

[TreeOfLife]

Since you can't stash away connection's vouchers because they expire, why don't you consider stashing away Traveler's Checks.

I'd also add Disney dollars.
And the truth is, for the puny discounts Connections offers in most places you could throw in the use of your DC card, AAA, Entertainment, US Fan Club, AP, Orlando Magic Card and save about as much, if not more...
Also avoid potential hassles dealing with Connections...

 

[Belle5]

Disney Dollars are another terrific idea. The plus side of buying those is you can buy them in small increments. The plus side of traveler's checks would be that they are protected against theft and loss. One time on this board I read a nightmare story of someone losing hundreds of dollars in Disney Dollars that they had saved to eat on. It's just like carrying around wads of cash.

 

[mad4themouse]

If you're going to take large quantities of $DD with you to WDW, and you are staying onsite, you can always put those $DD on your room account when you check in. Your room key then acts as your "charge card" and you can charge against those $DD.

Another option would be to pay off your room itself with the $DD.

Either way would be better than carrying large amounts of $DD with you around the parks and would protect you against their loss once you arrive at WDW.

 

[TreeOfLife]

You're right- Travelers Cheques are indeed the best option for that added benefit or replacement if lost or stolen.
Both AMEX and Visa issue travelers cheques with the same benefits...

 

[mickeysaver]

I have another source for buying tickets online that might help someone. http://www.floridaorlandotickets.net
I have been looking at purchasing some tickets in advance for our week long stay at WDW. I have about decided to buy the 5 day PH+, but I am waiting to see what kind of hotel deals come up for the time of our stay before I buy the passes in case it would turn out to be a better deal to buy an AP. We also plan on spending a day at SeaWorld, so that I can touch a penguin, but that's another story. lol Mickey


Disney Tickets......
Advance Purchase 6 day/5 nite UHP $299.27
On Site 5 day/4 nite UHP $277.97
Advance Purchase 5 Day PH $231.12
On site 5 Day PH $243.90
FLOrlandoTickets 5 Day PH $233.00 (Free Hotel Delivery)
***TicketMania 5 Day PH $230.00 (Free Shipping)
Advance Purchase 5 day PH+ $263.07
On site 5 Day PH+ $275.85
***FLOrlandoTickets 5 Day PH+ $251.00 (Free Hotel Delivery)
TicketMania 5 Day PH+ $257.00 (Free Shipping)
Disney Quest $33.02
FLOrlandoTickets DQ $24.00 (Free Hotel Delivery)
TicketMania DQ $24.00 (Free Shipping)
***FLOrlandoTickets DQ/Planet Hollywood ($10 off)+VIP $31.00
PI $21.50
FLOrlandoTickets PI $15.00 (Free Hotel Delivery)
***TicketMania PI $16.00 (Free Shipping)
FLOrlandoTickets PI/Planet Hollywood ($10 off)+VIP $23.00

Annual Pass $392.99

MVMCP $33.95 and $3 S&H extra $2, if not bought in advance.
Special "Dinner Add-On" package is available. To purchase tickets
call (407) W-DISNEY (934-7639).

Tickets for 2002 Candlelight Processional Dinner
Packages went on sale August 19th. You can either
purchase a ticket for the Dinner Package or you can watch
for free. You do not need a ticket to see Epcot's Candlelight
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first come, first serve basis for each show. The package
includes dinner at select Epcot restaurants and reserved
general seating at the American Gardens Theatre. There
are 3 Tiers of Restaurants and Pricing. Price includes
gratuity, not the 6% tax. For dinner you have your choice of
soup or salad or appetizer; entree and dessert. Beverages
are not included this year. Guests order off the regular
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Tier One - Adults - $26.99.
Tier Two - Adults - $32.99.
Tier Three - Adults $39.99
Tax included on all the above!

5 Day PH - Provides admission to MK, Epcot,
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5 Day PH+ - Provides unlimited admission to
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Five Day Park Hopper PLUS Pass includes two PLUS visits.

Annual Pass is only for MK, Epcot, MGM, & AK admission.
However there are some added benefits.
PI: 20% discount throughout the year for passholder and up to three Guests.
DisneyQuest: 20% discount throughout the year for
passholder and up to three Guests.
Planet Hollywood: 10% off food and non-alcholic beverages for you and up to 3 guests daily & 10% off select merchandise in the Planet Hollywood shop (shopping discount is limited to the
passholder only).
Rainforest Cafe: 10% off of food and non-alcoholic beverages for Passholder and up to 3 guests daily from 11:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Priority Seating is available by calling (407) WDW-2NITE (939-2648). Also, 15% ff merchandise. (This discount is limited to the
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Passholder and up to five Guests daily before 6:00 p.m. Also, 10% off merchandise. (This discount is limited to the passholder, and excludes books, leather, tobacco, jewelry, and select CD's) Magnetron: 10% off merchandise purchases of $10 or more. Eurospain: 10% off merchandise for Passholder only. Does not apply to Giuseppe Armani line, Crystal World, Lladró, Nao by Lladró, Swarovski, The Arribas Collection, Waterford and merchandise sold at 40% off or more. Discount is nontransferable and some restrictions apply.
Mickey 'N You Photo Package: $5 off of a Mickey 'N You photo package at Studio M at the Downtown Disney Marketplace. Package includes: one 8x10, one 5x7 and four wallet prints. Richard Petty Driving Experience: 10% discount off the regular price of all Richard Petty Driving Experience packages at the Walt Disney World® Speedway. Call (800) BE-PETTY (237-3889) for
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Boat Rentals Discounts: 15% off regular price of boat rentals at any Walt Disney World Resort Marina. Discount subject to
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Miniature Golf : 50% off for Passholder, and 15% off for up to three guests playing with you at Disney's Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course or Disney's Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course.
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EPCOT
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Dolphins in Depth
Dive Quest
Gardens of the World
Hidden Treasures

MGM
Inside Animation
Backstage Magic
Yuletide Fantasy

ANIMAL KINGDOM
Backstage Safari
Wild By Design

 

[TreeOfLife]

Oh yes, I have bought from Florida Orlando Tickets as well, and am happy with their service.
Theirs and Ticketmania are the only online sources (other than teh Disney Store) I'd buy from