Calling all DIS experts...need your advice!

[eeyore29]

Ahhh...yes, it's a familiar story: my DH and I are trying every possible way to plan a trip in 2005 that won't break the bank. I think I've figured out a fairly decent-priced way to go, but we both want to know if there's anything we're not thinking of. Here's how it looks so far:

5 nights at a value resort in value season (about $385) + 5 day PH tix for 2 thru Disney website (about $460) + Mears shuttle for 2 (about $60) = For a total of $905 (plus taxes & airfare & spending money)

I was thinking we'd go with the basic PH tix because we're really not into water parks, and my DH isn't really into the club scene so PI isn't really on our to-do list either. DH is worried we won't be able to as much as we did last year on our honeymoon when we had UPH tix (we only did the 4 major parks even though we could've done more). Here are some of his questions (some of which I've already answered but he would like a DIS veteran to confirm my answers!):

1. If we buy 5-day PH tix (either thru the website, at the store, or at WDW) can we use these tix in FP machines? (That's his biggest concern since we made BIG use of FP last year)
2. Do we still get unlimited use of the transportation systems?
3. Will our PH tix be on our room keys (like when we did the Dreammaker package last year) or will we each have a separate room key card & ticket card? Is the 5-day PH tix a credit card, paper, or that tyvex stuff I've read about the annual passes?
4. If we buy the tix and book our room separately, can we still have park purchases sent to our room?
5. I've read that some attractions get closed for refurbishing during winter/slower times. To the folks who've visited in the winter/slower months, are there a lot of attractions closed, or is usually only about 1 or 2 that are closed? I've seen somewhere you can call ahead of time to see what's closed; how early can we find that out?
6. Does anyone know if the pools at the resorts (POP or AS Sports) are heated during the winter months?
7. "Unlimited admission to the 4 Disney Theme Parks"...this means we can come & go as we please & we don't have to get our hands stamped, right? We can do multiple parks in the same day, or take midday breaks to go back to our hotel & return to the parks later that same day, right?
8. Are there any perks we'd be missing out on since we won't have the UPH tix (since we only plan to do the 4 main parks)?

Does this sound like a good plan? Got any better ideas? Sorry this was so long...but the only way I can make this happen is to reassure DH that we can get a good price & not limit ourselves. Neither one of us can wait to go back. When we were there last year we stayed longer & it was during peak season, and we could only afford that with our wedding gifts! So next year I want to go when it's a bit cooler & a little less crowded, those are my only requests. DH doesn't mind the heat & the crowds, just the money! So this is our compromise...hopefully it'll work!

 

[ceecee]

We have always bought tickets separately except with these great packages the last few years, it didn't cost much more to get the Ulimate hoppers......You can use all the transportation as long as you are at a Disney resort.
The tickets are separate from your room keys I believe, but you can still charge to your room.
You CAN use fast pass with any hopper.
You can still hop from park to park with the four and five day hoppers and come and go as well. There are not any other "perks" with the day vs UPH except the leasure of a slower pace (in our case) we always wanted to get our money's worth out of a day with our 5 day hopper, so we were usually at the parks ALL day!
They said the pool was heated, but it was a little too cold for our taste in November.
There is a site that tells what is closed for refurbishing but I don't remember it, someone else will I'm sure.

 

[Rhonda]

1. Yes, the PH tickets can be used in the FP machines

2. Yes, you still get unlimited use of all the transportation systems

3. Yes, your PH tickets can be put on your room keys. Just give your tickets to your CM when you check in and they will take care of it for you. We do this all the time at check-in.

4. Yes, anybody staying at a WDW resort can have purchases sent to their room

5. There are usually a couple of attractions closed, but it's usually not a big deal. You can check the Disney Web site a couple of months before to see what is scheduled to be closed for refurbishment.

6. Yes, the pools are heated. We always swim when we go in February. The larger pools (Grotto, etc.) are heated, but still feel so cold because they are so big.

7. Yes, you can come & go to all the parks as you please. You will get your hand stamped also. When you go back to the park, they will check your hand stamp, as well as scan your card (even though it won't take another day off your card). The hand stamp keeps people from going in the morning, then handing their pass off to somebody else for the afternoon.

8. No, you won't be missing anything except the "extras" like waterparks and PI. If you just plan on going to the 4 major parks, then PH passes are a good choice for you!

 

[eeyore29]

Thank you both so much for your speedy & VERY informative replies! You guys are AWESOME!

We came up with just one more question & then I think well be all set:
Will we be able to do the early admission & E-nites (if they're both being done yet when we're there)?

This won't be a decision-maker, just curious about it!

 

[CarolA]

Yes, you can do early admission and late nights.

Also, your ticket may or may not be on your room key. If you buy it in advance it won't be. While rhonda seems to have been able to put hers on her room key when I tried they would not do it. That said it is no big deal. I acutally like it better. I bought a 7 day plus for may Mother's trip last December. We only used 3 days so I have the ticket in my desk with all the plus options and 4 remaining days.

 

[Taja]

Eeyore29, you might want to consider costing the following for comparison:

1 adult Annual Pass (WDW official website-be sure to add tax)

Value resort (which season?) at AP rates (usually $49 per night during value season + tax, so about $55 per night total). Be sure to use the rates for the right season--AP discounts can be anywhere from 25% to 40%. The $49 per night rate is typical for a value resort in value season.

1 adult Park Hopper ticket from discount ticket broker


You don't need an annual pass at the time you make your reservation or apply the discount code (if available--they release them about 4 to 8 weeks in advance). Technically, you need it when you check in, but sometimes the CM doesn't ask for it.

Here is my thought: If this saves you a little money, book your room-only reservation at rack (list) rate. Do not buy park tickets at that time. Wait until the AP room only discounts are released for the period you will be there. You'll have to watch closely on this site for notice that the discount rates have been released and call immediately to apply it. When you have confirmed the reservaton rate change with WDW, purchase your AP from the WDW site (it will be a voucher) or after you arrive. Purchase your PH from a ticket broker after you call.

This allows you wiggle room. If the AP rates don't materialize, then you can go with your original plan for two adult PH tickets and skip the AP.

Does that make sense?


__________________
Taja

 

[powellrj]

the nice thing about the park hopper is, if you don't go to the parks one day, you still have that day left on your park hopper and it never expires, unlike the UPH. We bought 5 day hoppers last year and only used 3 days, so we have 2 days left that we can use at another date!

 

[eeyore29]

I was considering doing the AP+PH...we'll decide that once we know when the hotel discounts are going to be in effect next year. We'll either go in early February or April/May so if the discounts are then, we probably will do the AP+PH. I even mentioned to DH that'd at least 1 AP (if not 2 so we wouldn't have to buy PH twice) would be good if plan to go the following year too (a few weeks earlier in the year so that we can still use the same AP). Do the hotel discount amounts & dates change a lot from year to year? One more question...your opinion: All-Star Sports (where we stayed last year) or POP Century? My preference would be Port Orleans Riverside, but then I'd really be pushing it with DH!

P.S. I just want to thank you all again for being so helpful!

 

[ceecee]

All Star Movies are really nice as well. We have stayed there 3 times. We're trying PC this year, I imagine everyone else will too and it will probably be packed.