Deluxe Annual Passport Sept 2008

[sydangel68]

Hi, we are heading to Anaheim & San Diego on 16 Sep 08 for 15 days.

I was trying to work out what would be our best option ticket-wise.

I suspect an annual pass will be the best option as we will be in the DLR area for at least 12 of these days. We are stay 7 nights HOJO and 5 nights GCH, so will be in very close range of the park, so I figure most days we will pop in for at least a few hours. As we are travelling with a 3yo long days at the park won't be an option.

My question is I am considering the deluxe AP, the blackout calendar shows no days in Sep 08, can they still add them? Is it just that its too far out?

Also would I be better off getting 8 day park hoppers and upgrading to AP whilst we are there? Would we get any benefit from doing this?

Also wanted to say, I appreciate everyone's help. The information I found on here made for an amazing trip last year. Can't wait till next year.

Take care
Angela

 

[mariezp]

Is there any possibility that you will be going again within the next year? If so, the AP is the way to go. We only go once a year but 10 days at a time so we get in 20 days on our annual passes which ends up saving us a few dollars. We just make sure to plan our next trip before our APs expire. Don't forget that you also get a 10% discount at various eateries and stores which is also a nice perk.

Not sure about upgrades. One advantage might be to get early entry going that way but not sure.

You might be surprised how well your 3 year old does. My DD went her first time when she was 18 months. We have been going ever since. She did get tired when she was younger but was perfectly recharged and ready to go again after a midday rest break back at our room. Also, our 16 month GS went with us 2 years ago. He did great and loved it as well.

 

[samkj]

I would start with the 8 day pass. You can upgrade to the AP if/when you need to. There aren't any blackout days in Septemeber so you would be fine with the deluxe. Have you checked with your travel agent? I believe I read in Australia they sell up to a 12 day pass for Disneyland. I don't know the price, but it may be worth looking into if you won't be back within the year.

 

[bumbershoot]

Since you are starting at HoJo, you won't have access to Early Entry through your hotel at first. So if you start off with a ParkHopper, you will have one day of EE during that HoJo stay, and EE is nice!

Definitely check all the outlets (I've read that UK travel agents can get much longer ParkHoppers than in the US, so I would try in Australia to find a longer hopper, just to see what the cost is) for longer ParkHoppers.

If there are no long-enough ParkHoppers, or you figure that the discounts of the AP would make it worth it, after you use the EE day, you can upgrade and start taking advantage of the discounts. The deluxe is 10% off almost all food, the premium is 15% off food, and 10% off most merchandise. Plus, you can get a discount on Disneyland hotels, just in case there's a better rate using the AP than whatever you have reserved right now! You don't have to have the AP when making the reservation.

I'm with the previous poster, don't count your days shortened by your 3 year old until you know that's what he/she is doing! We have a 3 year old, and he just went went went until he dropped (and he fought that like crazy). Made for some nice, SOLID, nights of sleep, let me tell you!

 

[bumbershoot]

Finishing a thought.

Once you get to the GC, you'll have access to Early Entry days when they are offered during that stay, you don't need your ParkHopper for that.

Unless they change by next year, but I assure you that if they DID change that, you would know about it from the outcry here.

 

[tinkermell]

Hi, we are heading to Anaheim & San Diego on 16 Sep 08 for 15 days.

I was trying to work out what would be our best option ticket-wise.

I suspect an annual pass will be the best option as we will be in the DLR area for at least 12 of these days. We are stay 7 nights HOJO and 5 nights GCH, so will be in very close range of the park, so I figure most days we will pop in for at least a few hours. As we are travelling with a 3yo long days at the park won't be an option.

My question is I am considering the deluxe AP, the blackout calendar shows no days in Sep 08, can they still add them? Is it just that its too far out?

Also would I be better off getting 8 day park hoppers and upgrading to AP whilst we are there? Would we get any benefit from doing this?

Also wanted to say, I appreciate everyone's help. The information I found on here made for an amazing trip last year. Can't wait till next year.

Take care
Angela

Maybe one of the biggest AP perks you might get, is the great off season rates that they offer. I'm getting the PP for $169.00 in the concierge level. I believe that the GC is going for 199.00 a night for a regular room. I forgot what the concierge cost was for the GC. Also forgot for the DLH. I'm pretty sure they started this offer in Sept.

Anyways, that might "sweeten up the pot."

 

[sydangel68]

Thanks so much for the replies everyone.

I think we will buy one annual pass for DH. The deluxe one will do as we will only be there in September. The money we will save at the GCH getting the standard AP discount (10%) will pretty much pay for the pass itself (5 nights). I will get an 8 day park hopper and the same for DS. I got these last year through Walt Disney Travel by calling and asking for something more than the 5 days available online. We can then upgrade to AP if we need too.

In Austalia you can only buy the Park Hopper if you purchase a vacation package, however the packages are ridiculously priced. For example the rate per night at the GCH is per person the same as the nightly rate when you book direct. So you essentially pay double!!! Also the tickets are way over priced, anything over 5 days is equal too or more than getting an AP!! I don't understand people that book vacation packages to DLR using Australian travel agents. You defnitely save more by doing it yourself or going direct via Disney. Even Dream Unlimited do better prices.

Once again thanks for all the replies, lots to think about.

Cheers
Angela

 

[Alex2kMommy]

I haven't checked prices in the last month or so, and I know the park admission prices have gone up, but we just returned from a 9-day stay. At the time I was purchasing tickets/APs it worked out that the Deluxe AP actually cost less than an adult 8 or 9-day PH. So no brainer there, DH and I got APs! The child PHs were actually $50 less than a Deluxe AP (the APs don't give a discounted price for children) and we were already tentatively planning another trip in 2008, so DH agreed that spending an extra $100 to save many more on the next trip was a good move. So APs all around!

We did use the AP to get dining discounts, plus saved about $40 when we used a 20% off shopping coupon that came with them.