Annual Pass blockout question

[kelmac284]

I've had a deluxe pass for the last two years but I never tried to use it during spring break. For those that have one do you know is the entire week of spring break usually blocked out? We are going to let our current one expire and then get a new one next year and would like to use it during that week but I fear that entire week will be blocked out. Is it? And if so would it still probably be cheaper to get one and do the 30 dollar block out pass so that I can use it later in the year then to buy a 6 day park hopper?

HELP!

I don't know what my best plan would be because we want to go next spring break of 09 for 6 days and then we would most likely return for at LEAST a weeklong trip in Feb of 2010 and possibly one other trip during the length of the year of our passes. So I am wondering what my best bet would be.

TIA

 

[kelmac284]

And fyi the reason we are going to let our current one expire is because it renews in June of this year and if we renewed it we can't go back until our trip next April and it would be stupid to renew it in June only to be able to use it in April and have to probably use the blockout pass at that. So we figured it would be better to let these expire and get new ones at that time that would be good from that point on so we could use them for a year from that point so from April 09 to April 10. I hope that makes sense. Rather than them expiring again in June of 09 and only getting to use them once in 09.

 

[bumbershoot]

Since you have one, have you set up your AP holder account on disneyland.com? If you have an account on disneyland.com, just log in, then go to the AP section and follow the info.

That way you can see the blocked out dates. Thing to remember is that there is no such beast as ONE week of spring break. Schools have spring break at vastly different times! So I don't think there are weeks when the Deluxe is blocked out entirely...

Well unless you're in southern CA, then the APs less expensive than the Deluxe might...do you still have the little papers they gave you when you got your AP? They have calendars too, I believe.

Anyway, if you don't have your account set up or the disneyland site causes yoru computer to crash (it makes my brand new Mac rev up so it sounds like an airplane!), or for whatever reason, please do post the dates that you're worried about, and someone I'm sure will be more than happy to look it up. DS and I have to walk to the store right now; hubby just sprang the old "we have a potluck tomorrow and I forgot to ask you to make your famous pineapple cake from Paula Deen's recipe but you make the pudding and cake from scratch instead of boxes" line on me. I tell ya... Anyway I tell you that b/c I would be happy to look it up, but we'll be away at least an hour (taking a walk to a store with a 3 year old!).


But I will mention that the blockout passes are now $40 per person per day. (which is why we have an extra $120 budgeted for the Sunday of mem day weekend so we can see Fantasmic and Dh and DS can see electrical parade)


Also, the one thing that you can do if your first trip is during a heavily blocked out time, is buy a park hopper for your length of stay, then on the last blocked out day of your trip, upgrade to the AP. You'll get the cost of that hopper applied to the cost of the AP (so if hopper cost 189, you pay the difference between that and 259, I believe it is now for the Deluxe), and even if you upgrade ON that last blocked out day, as a courtesy they let you stay in the parks (and hop) on that day! It's most excellent.

That way you get through the possible blocked out days, you've spread your purchase out a bit if you order your tickets beforehand, and you've likely gotten MM AND you get to get an AP for your next trip inside the year (beginning the first day you used the hopper).

OK that's a lot of typing for someone who has to get to the store.

 

[wendypooh22]

I have heard that the blockout day ticket is now $40.00

From looking at this years calendar, it seems that the Deluxe was only blocked out on Saturdays during the Spring Break time... I can't imagine that the calendar would change that much for next year JMHO

(The major holidays for the deluxe blackout times are Thanksgiving weekend and the week before and after Christmas)

Seems like your plan would work...

 

[kelmac284]

Yes I do have it set up on my computer but unfortunately it only goes through March of next year and Easter week is in April of 09 . The week in question next year is the week prior to Easter. I was even going to look and see if the week prior to easter was blocked out in March of THIS year but of course it only goes from April of 08 to March of 09, go figure LOL. So I couldn't see what was blocked out THIS easter week nor NEXT year either. I am thinking though that it might be. I realize that all schools are different but I know our school gets the week prior to easter and I am thinking that is the week that they would probably block out.

I forgot too that they make you pay the fee PER day that is blocked out so that WOULD be an expense. I hadn't thought of that.

So that could get rather spendy. Hmmm, I will have to think about that. If anyone does happen to have an old schedule though and can let me know for sure I would appreciate it. I am thinking it was blocked out from what I remember but as I said on the website it is not showing it.

Anyway I like your idea though about the hoppers so that is a thought.

 

[KelsiesMommy]

Good Friday through Easter Sunday of Easter week were blocked out this year on the Deluxe pass, and that's how it's been the last few years.

And a blockout day ticket is now $40

 

[bumbershoot]

Yes I do have it set up on my computer but unfortunately it only goes through March of next year and Easter week is in April of 09 . The week in question next year is the week prior to Easter. I was even going to look and see if the week prior to easter was blocked out in March of THIS year but of course it only goes from April of 08 to March of 09, go figure LOL. So I couldn't see what was blocked out THIS easter week nor NEXT year either. I am thinking though that it might be. I realize that all schools are different but I know our school gets the week prior to easter and I am thinking that is the week that they would probably block out.

I forgot too that they make you pay the fee PER day that is blocked out so that WOULD be an expense. I hadn't thought of that.

So that could get rather spendy. Hmmm, I will have to think about that. If anyone does happen to have an old schedule though and can let me know for sure I would appreciate it. I am thinking it was blocked out from what I remember but as I said on the website it is not showing it.

Anyway I like your idea though about the hoppers so that is a thought.

Aha.

We upgraded on the 3rd day of our hoppers in September (would have done it before, but just didn't feel like it), and it's absolutely something that people do. You don't spend any more, and you actually get the MM day if you buy 3+ day hoppers up front.

But like a PP mentioned, this year it was blocked just Friday through Sunday, so especially if your days are during the week that wouldn't be a huge problem.

But just bypass the whole problem and upgrade from hoppers.

 

[DangerMouse]

And, if you are lucky, getawaytoday may still be offering their 2 MM with their hoppers next year, so you could get 2 MM's before the upgrade. Bonus MM day totally rocks dude! (sorry, I was channeling Crush momentarily)

 

[kelmac284]

I like your guys thinking!! Sounds good to me!

 

[dewdrinker19]

Here is a calendar for the 2008 Deluxe AP...

http://disneyland.disney.go.com/dis...me=AnnualPassholderDeluxeBlockoutCalendarPage

i just said fewey on it and didn't want to worry and got the premium. I think it'll pay for itself with just the free parking alone!

 

[kelmac284]

Yeah see I have access to that same calendar only problem is it shows from April of 08 to March of 09 which doesn't show Easter which from THIS year OR next year. That was what I was wanting to see. But it sounds like from what people were saying that it was just Good Friday and the weekend so it looks like if we go I might just need to buy the pass for that Friday if we do the AP's which is pretty ironic because the last day is when I would probably buy it and THAT is the day I would have to buy the block out pass so maybe we will just leave on Thursday instead. I don't know I will just have to wait and see I guess. But thanks everyone for the info. I know I am going to probably buy one premium this time for the discounts and get deluxes for the rest because that is what we decided to do the last time anyway. I guess I will wait until May and then they will probably show next April's blockout dates and then I will know for sure!