Cheapest way to get a Park Hopper Pass

[Pooh_Friend#1]

Due to the hurricane, Ron Jons resort has cancelled reservations so my mom and dad decided to stay at WDW for 2 nights. Is there a cheaper way than $171/ticket for 2 days? Any suggestions on how we can get it for cheaper? Thanks.

 

[BethR]

The price that you are quoting must be the price for the UHP. It gets you into EVERYTHING Disney from the time that you check in until Midnight of the day that you check out.

I think that the cheapest option would be to decide what 2 parks your parents would like to see the most and purchase the 2 day/2 park ticket. It would be the price of a single day's one park admission plus the price of a second day MINUS $5. (Should end up being about $115 per person.)

If they want to park hop, then the UMP would be their best bet. OR (do they have time?) they could buy a 3 day hopper from one of the websites where they are available and save the extra day for another visit. http://www.discountorlandovacation.com/cgi-bin/ccp51/cp-app.cgi?pg=cat&ref=specials


Here is a place to try. If you do a search on this board, it has gotten good reviews from those who have bought from there...

Hope that this helps.

 

[kenziesmamaw]

I clicked the link and was surprised to see that they have 3 day park hoppers. Do you know how they are able to do that when Disney doesn't sell them? My fear in buying from someone like that has always been that the tickets will turn out to be fake and I will be out my money.

 

[rlduvall]

kenziesmamaw:

There has been alot of discussion about this place and their tickets. I have been mulling over buying from them for quite awhile. I absolutely believe they deliver the tickets; and so far no-one has complained they couldn't get in using them, BUT, they are really not supposed to sell them; no matter what they say. They are in violation of their agreement with WDW. The only place "authorized" to sell 3 day PHP outside of WDW is Alamo. Now, does this mean I would never buy from them??? No. I'm just trying to justify taking the chance. I would be the unlucky one that would not be allowed to use them.

 

[kenziesmamaw]

Do you mean Alamo the car rental place? How does that work?

I tend to be a "rules girl" and don't like doing anything that even looks unethical...even to save money on Disney tickets.

 

[BethR]

Originally posted by rlduvall


BUT, they are really not supposed to sell them; no matter what they say. They are in violation of their agreement with WDW. The only place "authorized" to sell 3 day PHP outside of WDW is Alamo.

I was wondering - do we know that for a FACT? Or are we supposing that since no one else sells these tickets?
Please don't be offended, but I did not recall seeing this anywhere.

Thanks!

 

[rlduvall]

No offense taken. I am only passing along what I have seen and read (I tend to be very anal). All websites I frequent (mousesavers, disboards and allearsnet) have indicated that these passes (3 Day PH/PHP) do not exist "ethically" except either through Alamo (as WDW's preferred car rental) or through WDW's own personal site for convention tickets (which means you technically should really be going to a valid convention to use them). Unless, of course, WDW changes and begins to offer these to the general public. Additionally, either Ticket Mania or Florida Orlando Tickets has a disclaimer about their not being able to sell any ticket but 4 Day PH/PHP and above (and they are only supposed to mail 4 Day PHPs and above - all others have to be picked up at their office) due to contractual agreements with WDW. Mapleleaf Tickets also told me that anyone selling a 3 day PH/PHP, except for Alamo, is selling a convention type ticket and should not be doing it. Whew, I'm exhausted. Like I said, I'm not trying to be judgmental or a goody two shoes Just trying to let people know what "appears" to be the truth about these tickets. Hope this helps.


Edit: I should have also mentioned that it's not only WDW's personal website that can sell convention tickets. They also sell them in blocks to the valid convention main people. Does that make sense?? In other words, you could buy it directly from your employer, vendor or whoever that is involved in the convention if you or a family member are attending. And Now, here is my final Disclaimer so I don't get sued Maybe this place has a secret agreement with WDW to do this.

 

[kenziesmamaw]

I had never heard of the convention tickets, but that may be why they don't offer it to the public, it's an incentive to get conventions there.

I wish they would give Georgia a resident option like Florida. We're only 7 hours from there and would be able to take advantage of the off-season passes regularly. Course, I also wish they would offer a 1 day, 2 park ticket. For us grownups who love to hit the high points, we can do two parks in a day. My husband and I even did 3 in one day on Thursday. We just did the things we wanted and granted the lines were non-existent because of Frances, but the lines were the longest on Thursday of all week and we still got to Epcot, MGM and Magic Kingdom!

Bottom line for me on those who are selling the 3-day tickets is that they are bending the rules, if not breaking, them and I won't be part of it.

I would like more info on Alamo though.....do you have to rent a car to get the deal or can you just get the tickets?

 

[rlduvall]

As to Alamo:

Yes, you technically need a reservation through them to get the tickets. Most of the operators will ask for your reservation number. But, as Mary Waring states, who is to say that after you make your reservation and get your tickets, you can't change your mind about the rental car. Oh no, here comes that moral dilemma again. Must be at least 21 days out till your trip or they won't mail them; guest pick up only.

 

[FoodLover]

Actually it appears that different ticket vendors have different agreements with Disney. It's all a big mishmash and very difficult to sort out who has what ticket, and who is really "supposed" to be selling what.

Some of the 3-day Hoppers (the ones that have DisneyQuest on them) appear to be convention tickets, but the regular 3-day Hopper PLUS tickets (plus is good for water parks) are not exclusive to Alamo. For instance, some of the local "Good Neighbor" hotels are able to sell them to their guests.

So it's entirely possible that it's legit for that vendor to sell the 3-Day Hopper (probably with the stipulation that they can't advertise it to the general public). As long as the vendor has a good reputation, I wouldn't hesitate to buy "special" tickets such as the 3-Day Hopper PLUS.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[rlduvall]

Well now, don't I feel like a geek. Thanks for clearing this up Mary. I love your website, but I really was getting the feeling we shouldn't buy from people that had them. Now, I can buy without hesitation. Other than, this same outfit sells the 3 day PH with Disney Quest and 2 day PH (all with a 10-14 day expiration time) so it would seem they are selling convention tickets, also.

 

[BethR]

Thank you to all who have weighed in on this subject - Mary and rlduval. Good information for all to be aware of.

I have been in contact with someone who is very knowledgable about Disney admissions. They reminded me that Disney is VERY good at protecting itself and would never allow ticket wholesellers to sell tickets that were not "for sale" to everyone.

Now, the difference lies in how these "different" tickets are advertised. Disney does restrict the ADVERTISEMENT of the "odd" tickets that we read about - 5 day/ 4 plus hoppers, 3 day hoppers, FITS, etc. All of these tickets are not advertised on any websites, but may be made available to people through various mailing lists (ie: Mousesaver's Newsletter) and by calling the companies and asking about "other" tickets.

The link that I provided above is not available DIRECTLY on the DiscountOrlandoVacation website. I found it by doing a search for 3 day hoppers on the site. When you click on the link, you read this:

These are specials that we do not advertise in our shopping cart. These are reserved for newsletter subscribers and members of theme park message boards.

So there is your difference. These special tickets are not ADVERTISED to the public. But they may be BOUGHT by the public!

I would not hesitate to purchase ANY of the tickets that are offered for sale by any REPUTABLE Disney reseller. To find out if a company is reputable, do your homework - check with the BBB, do a search on these boards, etc.

I know that I feel better about these tickets. I hope that the rest of you do too!

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Now I'm really confused. If Mary says that the 3 day PH's are legit, I have no problem at all with ordering them. As a matter of fact, these are the tickets that I plan to order. Or at least it was.... We are also going to DQ, and I was going to purchase this ticket seperately, because I didn't realize the option to include them existed. Can I order the 3 day hopper that also includes DQ, without worrying about being questioned about them once I get there. Thanks for the info. If so, this would really make my night.



edited to add: Does anyone happen to know the difference in the price? Thanks again!

 

[BethR]

Originally posted by tarheelmjfan
Can I order the 3 day hopper that also includes DQ, without worrying about being questioned about them once I get there.

In a nutshell, if you purchase at ticket like this through a reputable Disney ticket reseller, the answer is "YES!"

Why not contact the DiscountOrlandoVacations and ask if they have a ticket like you want - a 3 day hopper with Disney Quest? (We know that they do. ) If they are a licensed Disney reseller (which I believe that they are) - then if they sell you the ticket, it will be a "good" ticket and you are doing NOTHING wrong in buying it. They just are not allowed to ADVERTISE the ticket on their site.

I hope that your night has been "made."

PS - The price at DOV for the 3 day hopper with PI or DQ is $180 for an adult, $152 for a child. HTH

 

[tarheelmjfan]

Thanks BethR it has. I'm getting so bummed out about all the gloom and doom post on here concerning Epcot on NYE, I really needed a pick me up tonight. Thanks.

 

[jiminy579]

We just purchased 2-day Park Hopper passes that also include one day at Disney Quest from discountorlandovacataion for 130.00 per ticket. Since we are going on the Disney Magic, and wanted to spend 2 days at Universal this is perfect for our schedule! Just enough time to get a sampling of our favorite attractions, with the advantage of hitting more than one park in a day. Buying single day passes wouldn't work for us, so finding these tickets was a huge blessing!!

They were shipped out quickly, and the customer service has been great!

The bottom of the ticket reads:

Good for 2 days of park hopping and a visit to either Pleasure Island or Disney Quest. The first day must be used by December 30, 2004. Valid for 10 days from teh first day of activation. This ticket does not include a water park.

Hope this info can be of use!

 

[rlduvall]

This is wonderful news to me. I loved this places' prices, but got the feeling we shouldn't do it. Now I can purchase from them with no guilt. I never doubted their integrity to deliver, I was just concerned about their having these passes. All is cleared up and I shall no longer pass along, accidentally, incorrect information. Thanks.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I'm the mom that PoohFriend was trying to help. Just wanted to thank her and also thank BethR. What a great price. Sure made my day!

 

[BethR]

Originally posted by rlduvall
I shall no longer pass along, accidentally, incorrect information. Thanks.

Please PLEASE don't feel badly about this. You cannot believe how I almost DESTROYED Paramount's reputation a few years ago when all of this discount ticket information was fairly new to us and *I* passed along incorrect information!

 

[BethR]

Originally posted by jiminyC_fan
I'm the mom that PoohFriend was trying to help. Just wanted to thank her and also thank BethR.

Truthfully, I think that the thanks goes to Mary Waring from Mousesavers and to my Disney Admissions expert who shared what they know and relieved many of us of our fears of buying and using these "unusual" tickets.
Please just make sure that you are dealing with a reputable reseller.
And jiminyC_fan, if you are going to buy the 3 day hoppers to use the 3rd day in the future, make sure that you find out that the tickets that you are buying DO NOT expire!