Buy Annual Pass online or @DLand?

[VivekB]

I live in NorCal, but am going to buy an AP as i think we'll be able to get some serious mileage out of them. The wife just got a new job and can't take time off, but I have 5 weeks of PTO built up and what better way than going to DLR and doing everything the wife would frown upon. (It'll only be 2 days at a shot, though, can't afford to be away longer than that.)

I'm going down solo with my kids on 6/24 (2.5 weeks), and have been trying to figure out whether to get the APs @the park or online. I know it's the same price, but we're not wheels down in LAX until 1:15, hence not at DLR until perhaps 2:30 or 3:00pm. No idea how long the lines are at that time, but was hoping to maximize efficiency.

so...any thoughts? It'll be Thursday 6/24, so I risk getting the voucher thingey in the mail, or do I risk the line and get them direct?

- Vivek B, future arrogant AP'er. (i'm kidding, i'm kidding , just very excited to have a pre-paid year of DLR)

 

[BELLEDOZER]

GEEZE...not another future arrogant AP'er. From I understand from my extensive research (I'm a commando researcher), you can purchase the AP from online at Disney.com, and get an e-ticket. You then can skip the ticket booth and go straight to the turnstiles with your e-ticket, they will give you a card, then take it to the end of Main street to the AP booth, have your pic put on the card, and you are good to go. I'm planning on doing this when I head down to DL from Oct 2nd to 10th on my solo trip. The AP's are definitely worth it, especially if you are planning on going multiple times. Welcome to the boards, and have a great time when you head to DL later this month. Have a great evening!

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

If you are getting a DAP and will be there on Saturday the 26(a block out day), then I'd get PHs first and upgrade on Saturday. If you aren't going Saturday or getting a PAP, then I'd buy online, get the e ticket and go straight to the gates.

 

[VivekB]

Thx. I'm getting 3 PAPs since I'll need saturday tix, so it seems online is the way to go. I thought I read that they mailed you something, i'll see what it does once I fork over the $$$.

Welcome to the boards, and have a great time when you head to DL later this month. Have a great evening!

Thx; and yes, was up until 1:30am, which made the 6:45am alarm clock pretty harsh. The wife does dropoff, I do pickup/dinner/baths for kids, so I stopped @safeway for some chicken strips as I was still tired. But, by 8pm I was back on the boards, so yes, that coffee is certainly needed.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Thx. I'm getting 3 PAPs since I'll need saturday tix, so it seems online is the way to go. I thought I read that they mailed you something, i'll see what it does once I fork over the $$$.



Thx; and yes, was up until 1:30am, which made the 6:45am alarm clock pretty harsh. The wife does dropoff, I do pickup/dinner/baths for kids, so I stopped @safeway for some chicken strips as I was still tired. But, by 8pm I was back on the boards, so yes, that coffee is certainly needed.

If you are just getting the PAP for that Sat, you might want to reconsider and get the PH, then upgrade to the DAP on or after Sat. In addition to giving you an early entry (which you won't need if you are staying at a DLR hotel), the PH will mean you don't need to process your brand spanking new AP on your first day. If you find on a later trip you need the PAP, then you can upgrade and pay the difference at that time, which helps spread your cost out to some extent. Best of luck -- Suzanne

 

[VivekB]

As a former salesman, i'll admit there's an element of presumptive closure here as the wife doesn't think DLR is nearly as much fun as me/kids do. (she likes it, but gets bored after 1.5 days or so)

If I buy the PAP first, then I can turn to the wife and say "honey, i know i'm going twice without you since you need to work, but we've got no plans for the 4th of July. Seriously what is there to do in the SFBay Area that's remotely as fun as Disneyland rides? Plus, the tickets are free, and we can get a hotel for $120/night, and we could all go to the beach between park days".

Besides, i'm also a victim of time zones. There is literally no chance I could get my kids up early enough, bathed, fed, to get to the park at 8am much less earlier. Too bad I can't give that early entry to someone else who'd actually use it.

 

[Funball]

Unfortunately, after you do buy it online you will have to take a trip to the park, to get your photo done and get your real pass! I know it sucks, I wish there was like a way to just upload a photo of ourselves and then have them send us the pass, but Disneyland has a certain way they are suppose to take the photos for the pass.. hey I could not even have my sunglasses on top of my head in the photo-they made me take them off!

 

[VivekB]

Do I have to stand in the outside ticket booth line again, or can I just go to the gate and stand in that line/AP processing center? Do they mail you anything that you need to take with, or is it printable from your home PC (ie, eTicket)?

 

[Funball]

Do I have to stand in the outside ticket booth line again, or can I just go to the gate and stand in that line/AP processing center? Do they mail you anything that you need to take with, or is it printable from your home PC (ie, eTicket)?

i do not know! cause i did mine at the park, i didn't want a hassle(Not that buying online is). but only cause i live locally an my first time i didn't know what i was doing,when i renewd i did it online and they just sent me my new pass w/the same photo...

 

[VivekB]

ah okay. Did you wait in line @the ticket booth and then go to the gate, or can you just go straight to the gate?

Apologies for all the questions, I called the Disney line 3x, gotten 3 different answers each time. I'm not sure there's any value in calling a 4th time

 

[Funball]

ok i bought the pass at the ticket booths(the first time), then i was able to go into the park and get the pass stuff done. then i got my pass and was free to go on rides.

so yes when i bought it at the park i had to buy at ticket booths, and then go to gate then to the AP center. no, have faith and keep calling, they are helpfull on the phone

 

[mvf-m11c]

I bought my AP online and I shouldn't have bought it online since I could apply a PH ticket to the AP, so I can use the PH ticket for MM when I was there. But when I got my AP online, I just got the regular ticket instead of the e-ticket. They sent it to me in the mail and when I got to the park, i just walked up to the gate and they told me to go to the AP center when it was at the bank.

If you did the e-ticket, you can just go up to the main gate and the CM will give you a one day ticket voucher ticket to you and you can go to the AP center and redeem your ticket for your AP.

 

[blackjackdelta]

Unfortunately, after you do buy it online you will have to take a trip to the park, to get your photo done and get your real pass! I know it sucks, I wish there was like a way to just upload a photo of ourselves and then have them send us the pass, but Disneyland has a certain way they are suppose to take the photos for the pass.. hey I could not even have my sunglasses on top of my head in the photo-they made me take them off!

But how would they know the photo would be you?

Jack

 

[Funball]

But how would they know the photo would be you?

Jack

yeah i don't know..but i am sure that is why you can't do it!! LOL LOL