Annual Pass Question

[simba_one]

So we're planning on buying AP's for the DLR for our trip this summer and were going to get the Deluxe for all three of us (four blockout dates while we're there but we can do other things on those Saturdays - and I wouldn't really wanna spend Saturday at the DLR anyway as I'm guessing it'll be the busiest day). But I've been thinking... We're staying at th Hilton Garden Inn, Garden Grove and that's a long walk at the best of times (sayed at the Hyat in 2004 and walked a couple of times - just walking is OK but walking after having a full day at one of the parks? Forget about it!!) let alone on full days at one of the parks so I've been thinking about spending the extra $49 and getting the Deluxe AP with parking. We're planning on spending loads of days at Dl and DCA (and using our AP's to the max for the three weeks we're there) and not going to Six Flags or Knotts like in 2004 so we'll probably end up spending over $50 on parking anyway. My question is though... does everyone in our party have to have the Deluxe AP with parking in order to get free parking? Or can say DF have the Deluxe w/ parking (as he'll be driving) and me and DM have the regular Deluxe AP's?!

Might seem like a silly question (does to me) but I just want to make sure. If we do only have to buy one with parking then that is fantastic news!!!

 

[quarterstringer]

.....

 

[disneychrista]

Only one per party needs the parking, doesn't matter who either. When we had AP's (premium) my kids would take turn showing there AP for parking.

IMO, unless you are staying at one the hotels accross Harbor, walking is out of the question. In fact I think I decided to stay at BWPPI just because it is the closet and there is less of a walk.

 

[simba_one]

GREAT news!! Thanks so much for the info. quarterstringer and disneychrista!! Seemed like a stupid question to ask but thought I'd make sure!!

So where will we show our pass? At the normal parking booths? Is there a seperate booth for AP parking (I remember seeing themat Universal)? Or do you get directed along with everyone else? Do you get preferred parking at the M&F Parking Structure? A lot of questions. Sorry.

One final question which I don't even know relates to Disney AP's but seeing as Disneyland.com won't load, I'll ask anyway...

Do they do print-at-home tickets? I never understood exactly how they work but wouldn't like to use them anyway. I know Universal do them but can't remember if Disney do. I can get them normal and have them sent to my London, England address right?!

 

[disneychrista]

You just flash the AP at the parking "toll" booths. No preferred parking or special booths.

No print at home, as far as I know. You can get them (AP's) in advance but other then saving time there is no great benefit to doing so, other then saving time the first day in purchasing a voucher.

For AP's you reieve an voucher and exchange it for a "real" AP at the bank of main street, inside the park.

 

[simba_one]

Thanks for answering those questions.

We would just wait and buy them the day we get there after we check-in atour hotel (have a stroll down there buy the AP's and have dinner) but they have offers on right now and we'll save sowe want to get them asap.

Thanks for you help again!!

 

[disneychrista]

I have never seen specials on AP's where did you see this?

 

[simba_one]

Sorry, I've been looking at so many tickets lately I'm getting them all mixed up. I was thinking of Universal AP's and Disney Hopper Passes. If you buy your Hopper Passes off Disneyland.com then you save like $40. And Universal actually do have deals on their AP's right now. Deluxe AP for $79 instead of the usual $99. So we'tre definitely going to get them asap and if we're gonna get them we may as well get our Disney tickets too.

Plus then it'll make it feel like it's less time until we go.

 

[spazzyjazzy]

Simbaone-I am not sure if they advertise this on the website for universal but when we were in L.A over the Christmas break they had billboards everywhere about buying one day and getting the rest of 2006 for free.

 

[Ella1]

Simba one
when we got our Deluxe AP's in 2004, we went to the ticket booth and paid for our AP's then had to walk over to Tomorrowland, (just by Space Mountain )and hand over a voucher,then we had our photo taken and the pass was then given to us and it had a lot of use in the 4 weeks we were there!!!.
We couldn't use ourAP's for the first 3 Saturdays so the first one we went on the Downtown LA tour, the second one we went shopping and the third one we were at the GC and on the fourth Saturday we had been out all day shopping at Rodeo Drive and were too tired to go to the parks...lol.
We are getting 4 day hoppers then upgrading to Deluxe AP's.
What about buying your AP's and using ART? As a non driver, we have the choice of ART or walk, walking is ok a couple of times but, tiring as you say walking round the parks as well and we have had no problems with ART.
Love Ella

 

[simba_one]

Simbaone-I am not sure if they advertise this on the website for universal but when we were in L.A over the Christmas break they had billboards everywhere about buying one day and getting the rest of 2006 for free.

Thanks for letting me know. Can't believe they're still doing that. They let tickets go for silly-money and have crazy deals!! They were actually doing that when we went in 2004 but we had already bought our tickets for Universal back home so couldn't take advantage of it.

For the price of the one day ticket we just thought we may as well get the AP and get the benefits too. Discount on food and merchandise is well worth the extra $24 and the deal you mentioned has block-out dates so we wouldn't be able to make the most of it for the three wees we'll be there.

Thnking about it I totally understand why their tickets are so cheap... there's not THAT much to do there. I am movie-crazy though so I enjo Universal as much as Disney!!!

Thanks for the info. though!!

Simba one
when we got our Deluxe AP's in 2004, we went to the ticket booth and paid for our AP's then had to walk over to Tomorrowland, (just by Space Mountain )and hand over a voucher,then we had our photo taken and the pass was then given to us and it had a lot of use in the 4 weeks we were there!!!.
We couldn't use ourAP's for the first 3 Saturdays so the first one we went on the Downtown LA tour, the second one we went shopping and the third one we were at the GC and on the fourth Saturday we had been out all day shopping at Rodeo Drive and were too tired to go to the parks...lol.
We are getting 4 day hoppers then upgrading to Deluxe AP's.
What about buying your AP's and using ART? As a non driver, we have the choice of ART or walk, walking is ok a couple of times but, tiring as you say walking round the parks as well and we have had no problems with ART.
Love Ella

Hi Ella, hope you're well. We're planning on our first full day (Sunday, July 30th) being a drive around day getting used to the place again so maybe we'll head to Disney first actually and get the whole photo-taking, voucher exchanging thing out of the way so when we do our first full day at Disney we won't have to do it then. Glad you told me you have to do that.

You know we used the ART once (well, twice inc. return) when we were there in 2004 and although it was great, we prefer to drive for some reason. For us it's just nicer to know that we'll get there in total comfort. And even more so after coming out of one of the parks at night after a lonnnng day and carrying dozens of bags.

Typical girls... a lot of shoping!!!

 

[Ella1]

Hi Simba,
I'm fine hope you are too.
Probably because I don't drive, I don't know the benefits of going there by car. We love using ART as thats part of the holiday sitting chatting with other people from all walks of life and theres one driver who used to have a kind of mini quiz asking questions about Disney and he was good fun.All the drivers are really nice and I think it was one of them who told us about the dancing waters( think thats what its called), we would never have come across them.
We will get a weekly pass as we cant expect the younger kids to walk more than a couple of times.
Love Ella

 

[Rapunsel]

I have been at disney a few times this past week and the Ap prices are higher at the gates than on the DL website. Also if you purchase them ahead of time and one has parking on it you show that pass at the parking booth and you will not have to pay for parking.

I know it works as we did it. There was no problem. Also buying your pass on line it is a 'ticket' and you won't have to wait in line at the ticket booth and the entrance plaza..

The bank of Main street is on the right side as you enter.. You can not validate your AP at DCA.

Also you do not have to get your pass as soon as you walk in. So you can get it later that day and still use the tickets you have for fast passes. But you must get it before you leave the park...

 

[disneychrista]

One other thing to note. If you plan to upgrade to an AP (purchase a hopper then upgrade to an AP), if you purchase parking that day take your parking stub and they will also credit it towards an AP w/ parking.

 

[disneychrista]

I have been at disney a few times this past week and the Ap prices are higher at the gates than on the DL website.

This is not what I have seen. The prices at the gates for AP's are exactly what they show online...

 

[simba_one]

Just booked our Disney and Universal AP's and SeaWorld tickets. Going to phone ToFlyL.A. tomorrow and book the Helicopter Tour and we have to get the Pirates Dinner Adventure, WB VIP Studio Tour and City Tour when we're there but we're finally done... well, almost.

Hotel - Check
Car - Check
Flight - Check
Disney - Check
Universal - Check
SeaWorld - Check



Final question though...

When you add your tickets to your basket at Disneyland.com, it asks what date you want your tickets by and gives you the max. amount of time it'll take for you to receive them (will take 15 days for us as we need International Shipping). We didn't want to take annnny chances so said we want them by February 10 - giving them a good 15 weekdays. On our confirmation it says we should receive them by January 26, 2006. We aren't going until July 29. Does that matter at all? I read everything but I can't seem to find ay answer.

Universal is VERY clear that all you have to do is use it before December 31, 2006 and it'll then be valid for one calendar year. The same goes for Disney AP's right? So even though we'll have them by the end of this month and won't be using them until probably the last day of July, we're still OK?

I'm just getting paranoid.

Hi Simba,
I'm fine hope you are too.
Probably because I don't drive, I don't know the benefits of going there by car. We love using ART as thats part of the holiday sitting chatting with other people from all walks of life and theres one driver who used to have a kind of mini quiz asking questions about Disney and he was good fun.All the drivers are really nice and I think it was one of them who told us about the dancing waters( think thats what its called), we would never have come across them.
We will get a weekly pass as we cant expect the younger kids to walk more than a couple of times.
Love Ella

They do seem nice. The one we had ended up letting us ride half price or something as we were the only ones on there. That was nice of him. He didn't have to. I love the look of those little carts whizzing up and down too. They're so much nicer to look at than buses!!

 

[Skylarr29]

Could you please tell me about the helicopter tour you are refering to?? That would be a great surprise for hubby.

 

[Anewman]

Hmmm somebody needs a CITYPASS.

 

[simba_one]

Hmmm somebody needs a CITYPASS.

Not if we want more than a few days at each park!!!! And what's the point in paying for things that you won't use?! i.e. San Diego Zoo and Knotts!!

 

[simba_one]

Could you please tell me about the helicopter tour you are refering to?? That would be a great surprise for hubby.

Of course. It's AMAZING!!! A half-an-hour flight over some of the best sights in Southern California. We did one back in 2004 but with SunDance. Searching on the Net (trying to find them) we found To Fly LA. After looking at what they had to offer and their prices we stopped looking for SunDance. The one we've already done was breathtaking though. We actually flew in between the skyscrapers in Downtown LA. It was just fantastic!!! I alone ended up snapping about 7 rolls of film - and could have taken more. I ended up sing dozens of the pics I took for my Photography coursework at college. They went own a treat.

It's well worth it and I GUARENTEE you'll absolutely LOVE it!! And it'll be a fantastic surprise for your DD. They offer some other flights too. Check them out.

Here's more info on our one:

Hollywood and Skyscraper Flight
Departs Van Nuys Airport for a 30-minute narrated tour flight, Famous Movie Locations, Getty Center, Bel-Air Celebrity Mansions, UCLA, Westwood, Century City and Beverly Hills, Kodak Theater and Walk of Fame, Paramount Studios, Downtown Los Angeles Skyscrapers, Staples Center, Hollywood Sign, Universal Studios, and more

Recommended Times: Day or Night

Price: Tour Rate, $149.00 per person.

You can find out more at http://www.toflyla.com/ Be sure to download the video they offer. It gives ou a great idea of what you can expect. And a great song to listen to while you're watcing to boot!!!!