CityPass and Magic Mornings

[novatwinmom]

I have five year old twin daughters, and in laws that live in San Diego and Los Angeles.

We're planning to go to Southern California in January (mainly focused in San Diego), and want to visit Disneyland, Legoland, Sea World, and the Safari Park.

I just learned about the Southern California CityPass, which looks like it's perfect for us.

My initial plan was to stay "on site" for a night to get early admission one morning, because we'll only be at Disney for a day and want to maximize our time in the park. I was going to use military discounts (thanking my husband for his service each time I did ) to get admission to each of the parks.

BUT.

The CityPass. It seems to include Magic Morning admission. Which would let us stay at one of the walkable but much cheaper hotels very near Disneyland but technically not on site. Which might let us add a second night (and would certainly let us add a second room for the babysitter) at the hotel, and maybe even another park day since the CityPass has a three day park hopper included.

My question ... What's the catch? This seems too perfect. The current CityPass needs to be activated by December 31, 2016 and expires January 13, 2017 (according to Disney's website) - does anyone know when they usually start selling the next set of CityPasses and/or announce what will be included? Are they really available at the Disneyland gate, and if they are, can I get the Safari Park add on there too?

Thank you for your help!

 

[TinkLoverSam]

@CityPASS should be able to help

 

[starry_solo]

http://www.citypass.com/southern-california

Official website of @CityPASS.

I know, at one point, Costco used to sell Southern California City Pass online, but it looks like if you go through the City Pass official website, you can add on the zoo or safari park (for $30-38) and it's an ONLINE only deal (not available through Disneyland).

Also, I don't believe Disneyland sells the City Pass on-site, but the nearby hotels might.

 

[bcla]

Also, I don't believe Disneyland sells the City Pass on-site, but the nearby hotels might.

They do sell them at the main esplanade ticket booths. It's right on the sign above each window.

The rules are a bit confusing though. Any ticket with at least 3 days includes Magic Morning with one caveat. It needs to be purchased before arriving at DL - i.e. not at the ticket booth. The exception seems to be CityPASS.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/magic-morning-early-admission/

Magic Morning at Disneyland Park
Magic Morning at Disneyland Park is only available for Guests who:​

• • Purchase a valid 3+ day theme park ticket in advance of Resort arrival.
  • Purchase a Southern California CityPASS online, or at the Main Entrance Ticket Booth.

It's also not clear if buying a CityPASS ticket from another attraction (SeaWorld, LegoLand, San Diego Zoo) includes the Magic Morning, although it may be covered by the "advance of Resort arrival" wording.

 

[agamble]

Have you priced it all out separately? If you're only going to go to DL for one day is it still a good deal?

 

[bcla]

My question ... What's the catch? This seems too perfect. The current CityPass needs to be activated by December 31, 2016 and expires January 13, 2017 (according to Disney's website) - does anyone know when they usually start selling the next set of CityPasses and/or announce what will be included? Are they really available at the Disneyland gate, and if they are, can I get the Safari Park add on there too?

It goes through a price change each year, which is why they have an effective expiration date (the required activation date). The expiration date is 13 days from the last activation date, which is what you would get with any multi-day Disneyland ticket - the last day you can use it is 13 days from the first entrance to Disneyland.

The Safari Park or San Diego Zoo add-on can't be done at Disneyland. You could order online from CityPASS or from the San Diego Zoo, or buy at the Safari Park.

 

[starry_solo]

They do sell them at the main esplanade ticket booths. It's right on the sign above each window.

The rules are a bit confusing though. Any ticket with at least 3 days includes Magic Morning with one caveat. It needs to be purchased before arriving at DL - i.e. not at the ticket booth. The exception seems to be CityPASS.

https://disneyland.disney.go.com/guest-services/magic-morning-early-admission/

Magic Morning at Disneyland Park
Magic Morning at Disneyland Park is only available for Guests who:​

• • Purchase a valid 3+ day theme park ticket in advance of Resort arrival.
  • Purchase a Southern California CityPASS online, or at the Main Entrance Ticket Booth.

It's also not clear if buying a CityPASS ticket from another attraction (SeaWorld, LegoLand, San Diego Zoo) includes the Magic Morning, although it may be covered by the "advance of Resort arrival" wording.

Thanks, must have missed seeing it on the signs. Not sure if the prices on the sign are current, but right now on the City Pass website, it's $341 for adults and $311 for children. If the prices on the above sign are current, then it might be better to purchase at DLR than through the website and then purchase separate tickets for the Zoo or Wild Animal Park ($50 for adults, $40 for children), although it's only a few dollars savings.

Are any of your in-laws members of the San Diego Zoo Society? If so (and they have APs), they get 50% off two tickets per membership.

 

[bcla]

Thanks, must have missed seeing it on the signs. Not sure if the prices on the sign are current, but right now on the City Pass website, it's $341 for adults and $311 for children. If the prices on the above sign are current, then it might be better to purchase at DLR than through the website and then purchase separate tickets for the Zoo or Wild Animal Park ($50 for adults, $40 for children), although it's only a few dollars savings.

Are any of your in-laws members of the San Diego Zoo Society? If so (and they have APs), they get 50% off two tickets per membership.

That's an older sign. I just included it as an example that CityPASS is sold at DL. Obviously prices today are higher. The prices should be the same.

And I know you weren't addressing that to me, but I would note that I am a member of an AZA zoo. They have a reciprocal discount program with zoos that choose to participate, and most zoos have a 50% off program. One of these places was more an amusement park than a zoo, although they had a small zoo. The San Diego Zoo doesn't participate. I'm guessing they don't see it as being beneficial since they probably would lose more in discounts to members of other zoos than they could get from attracting members.

 

[starry_solo]

That's an older sign. I just included it as an example that CityPASS is sold at DL. Obviously prices today are higher. The prices should be the same.

And I know you weren't addressing that to me, but I would note that I am a member of an AZA zoo. They have a reciprocal discount program with zoos that choose to participate, and most zoos have a 50% off program. One of these places was more an amusement park than a zoo, although they had a small zoo. The San Diego Zoo doesn't participate. I'm guessing they don't see it as being beneficial since they probably would lose more in discounts to members of other zoos than they could get from attracting members.

Thanks! I didn't know that about zoos. I do remember my parents being a member of the zoological society in San Diego for a year, back when it was less than $100 for two people and back when it was two free tickets to the zoo as part of the membership (besides the one annual pass). So, with that, four of us could go for less than $100 Of course, now it's only 50% off admission

 

[bcla]

Thanks! I didn't know that about zoos. I do remember my parents being a member of the zoological society in San Diego for a year, back when it was less than $100 for two people and back when it was two free tickets to the zoo as part of the membership (besides the one annual pass). So, with that, four of us could go for less than $100 Of course, now it's only 50% off admission

My family has been (on and off) members of the Oakland Zoo. They participate in the AZA Reciprocal Admissions Program. We've used that to get half off at the zoos in San Francisco and Sacramento, as well as the Happy Hollow Park & Zoo in San Jose.

https://www.aza.org/reciprocity

The San Diego Zoo is an AZA member, but they're clear that they don't participate in the program. I don't really think there's that much of a need for "destination" zoos like them to participate. Their admission costs are so much higher than most other zoos, so they would probably be losing a lot of money. I don't necessarily buy what they say, but I do understand why they're not doing it. Other AZA institutions like the Monterey Bay Aquarium and Aquarium of the Pacific don't participate. For-profit members like SeaWorld definitely aren't going to be participating.

http://zoo.sandiegozoo.org/faq-page/147#t147n1623

Are there discounts for members of other zoos?

The San Diego Zoo is a not-for-profit conservation organization that raises funds to maintain its parks, provide state-of-the-art animal care for endangered species, and pursue conservation efforts around the world. Most of our funds are raised through admission and on-grounds sales at our parks. Unlike most zoos in the US, we are not largely supported by municipal, state, or federal funds. In the interest of supporting our conservation mission, we do not offer complimentary or discount admission to members of other zoos.​

 

[tinkerszs]

The CityPass was great. We used it in June. We bought it ahead of time through aRes travel. We redeemed it at the Disneyland ticket window. We stayed off site and had a magic morning.

 

[bcla]

The CityPass was great. We used it in June. We bought it ahead of time through aRes travel. We redeemed it at the Disneyland ticket window. We stayed off site and had a magic morning.

How did you get it? Was it some sort of print at home voucher?

We bought a couple in 2012. My wife insisted on buying it directly from CityPASS because she heard they threw in coupons or something. The shipping was free, and they used UPS 2nd Day Air. We didn't get anything other than the passes, which were credit card style with bar codes. We took the cards directly to the turnstiles at Disneyland, SeaWorld, and Universal. We got a separate ticket at Disneyland, but nothing else at SeaWorld or Universal.

 

[cruisehopeful]

Be sure to price out all the possibilities for the Zoo. You may find that buying the Keeper's Club membership will work for you. $199 (I think) covers 2 people on the membership and you get 2 guest passes and 2 50% off coupons and parking at the Safari Park.