April trip - when to buy tickets

[WishUponAStarryNight]

I'm planning a trip to DL for DS's April break. I know it will be very busy, so I'm thinking of buying 5 day park hoppers with MaxPass. We won't be in the parks 5 full days, but the longer tickets give us the opportunity to head back to the hotel for a break when the crowds get nutty. When is the best time to buy tickets? I've looked at Undercover Tourist and there is some savings over buying direct from Disney, but does UT run somewhat predictable promotions on DL tickets? Is it too soon to buy now - is it likely a better deal will be offered in the coming months? I don't have experience with UT is this will be our first trip to DL, so this is all new to me. Thanks!

 

[figment_jii]

Personally, while there might be deals, I would try to buy your tickets as soon as you know you're going to be going for sure and you have the finances. I don't know about UT specifically or what kinds of promotions they run, but generally ticket prices only increase with time. So the longer you wait, the more likely you'll encounter a ticket price increase (they haven't been announcing them in advance anymore).

 

[CandyMouse]

We're going in April of 2020 and got 5-day hoppers and 1 day Universal combo through Ares. We decided to get them early in case the prices increased. Plus we wanted to get some of the cost out of the way before we go.

 

[pharmama]

I agree that you should buy sooner rather than later. Most of the discount vendors don’t run special promos independent of DL promos.

Even if there is a general public spring ticket promo next year like there was this year it likely will not cover your dates if they are what Disney expects to be the peak of spring break.

Do make sure that any tickets you buy now don’t expire before your dates. LMTClub usually has the best discount ticket price but I see that the ones they’re selling at the moment expire at the end of 2019 so they won’t work for you.

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

Thanks everyone! Now to figure out where to stay.

 

[smartlabelprint]

I agree that you should buy sooner rather than later. Most of the discount vendors don’t run special promos independent of DL promos.

Even if there is a general public spring ticket promo next year like there was this year it likely will not cover your dates if they are what Disney expects to be the peak of spring break.

Do make sure that any tickets you buy now don’t expire before your dates. LMTClub usually has the best discount ticket price but I see that the ones they’re selling at the moment expire at the end of 2019 so they won’t work for you.

In the past they have said they expire but they don’t.

 

[dsnyfamily4]

I’ve always waited until a few days prior to my trip before buying. They are non refundable so if plans change or a life event happens you’re stuck with them. Granted you have until the end of the year to use them I’m not sure why you need to buy them right away. I just bought my tickets today and I’m going next week

 

[caribbeandream]

Ditto to what @dsnyfamily4 said. Life happens and the tickets are non-refundable. I would wait to purchase the tickets until right before you leave. If you want to space out your expenses just put the money aside but don't spend it. Or at least wait until January and purchase them through LMTClub and at least you know they won't expire right away.

 

[hyperminimalism]

I don't worry so much about tickets as I do the hotel. I would worry about reserving a hotel room ASAP and then you can get the tickets maybe even a month or two out (but that's kind of a stretch). There are so many options out there now that it's not necessary to snatch up tickets right away. You may want to look at Last Minute Travel Club (you can often find free membership promo codes out there on Google with a quick search) and that has always been the cheapest option. We used it last time for our trip and have also used Get Away Today as well, though LMTClub seems to be the best at the moment.

 

[pharmama]

Just to be clear, even expired tickets still retain the value paid for them so it’s not like you’d be completely out of luck. You can apply the value of expired tickets to the purchase of new ones.

As for why to buy now, as mentioned already, you are protecting against potential ticket price increases between now and then. Some of the recent price hikes have been pretty decent, especially if you have lots of people in your party. There have been ticket price increases every year for the last few years so if the pattern continues it is likely that there will be a price increase before OPs trip next April. That said, I think attendance has to improve A LOT in the next few months for them to justify another price hike or if there is one hopefully it won’t be very big.

In the past they have said they expire but they don’t.

True. I just don’t want the OP to end with expired tickets on my advice because it defeats the purpose of purchasing early . The LMT tickets I purchased in May of this year don’t expire until January 2021 (even though the website probably said end of 2019 just like it does right now).

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Thanks everyone! Now to figure out where to stay.

Great information here:
"HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862
"Choosing the Right DLR Area Hotel for You" www.disboards.com/threads/choosing-the-right-hotel-for-you.3656512/

And for those who worry about buying tickets, then cancelling a trip: some of the authorized vendors offer very low cost trip insurance which covers DLR tickets. It can be worth looking into this. And, as the pp said, DLR tickets do not lose their monetary value after the expiration date. They can always be used at the ticket booth as a credit toward new tickets and you will only pay the difference.

 

[lovethesun12]

My experience: Bought tickets in October for April (WDW though).

Canadian ticket deal came a month later and I could have saved $400 USD if I had waited (this was two years ago. I'm not still bitter. I'm not still bitter).

If there is no predicted immediate price hike I'd wait.

 

[WishUponAStarryNight]

Great information here:
"HydroGuy's Hotel Rule" www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1199862
"Choosing the Right DLR Area Hotel for You" www.disboards.com/threads/choosing-the-right-hotel-for-you.3656512/

Thanks! I have a room booked at BW Park Place Inn, Tropicana and HoJo. HoJo is about $10 more/night than the other two, which are exactly the same. DS will be 9 and will want some pool time. I'm not sure if he'd think he's too old for the "waterpark" at HoJo and the walk is just a tad bit longer. Castle Inn is offering a free night, so that would be a real savings, but the reviews aren't great and I'm thinking that might not be worth it. Now that BW no longer serves the hot breakfast, I think it's all a toss up. Clearly, I overthink these things....

 

[theluckyrabbit]

Your son might enjoy the waterpark at the Marriott Courtyard. It's going to be more expensive than the others, but it's a newer property. If you spot a deal on that hotel, grab it! BWPPI can't be beat for the location. Tropicana gets good reviews here. As long as you have a no penalty cancellation policy in place, keep your reservations and keep looking for better rates and deals as your dates get closer. Then go with whichever rate is best for your family and cancel the others.

 

[mocame]

Thanks! I have a room booked at BW Park Place Inn, Tropicana and HoJo. HoJo is about $10 more/night than the other two, which are exactly the same. DS will be 9 and will want some pool time. I'm not sure if he'd think he's too old for the "waterpark" at HoJo and the walk is just a tad bit longer. Castle Inn is offering a free night, so that would be a real savings, but the reviews aren't great and I'm thinking that might not be worth it. Now that BW no longer serves the hot breakfast, I think it's all a toss up. Clearly, I overthink these things....

The BWPPI still serves a hot breakfast according to their website. I hope it stays that way because we have the BWPPI booked for our May trip. I do remember that someone on these boards had mentioned that the Park Vue Inn near BWPPI no longer serves a hot breakfast but it is instead just a continental breakfast.