Does ARES TRAVEL charge any additional fees for purchasing tix through them?

[Mugglemama]

I usually purchase our tix from the Disneyland website, because that always seems to be the best deal. Last year I ordered a package through getawaytoday.com because IT was the best deal at that time. This year, it looks like Ares Travel is the best deal (tix are only $5 less per ticket, but hey, we're a family of 6 so i save $ where i can, lol).

Last year when I ordered through getaway, I realized at the end of the process that they charged an additional $20 processing fee. It still came out cheaper than booking everything myself so it was no big deal.

Does anyone know if Ares Travel charges a processing fee, on top of the price of the tix?

Thanks!

 

[avalon451]

I don't know about Ares... I do know about GetAwayToday, though. Normally they charge a $10 processing fee. Otherwise their prices are the same as DL Travel.

Used to be you could use the discount code "podcast" online, and they would waive the $10 processing fee. That started to get abused this summer when somebody figured out how to order gift cards at a discount with it, so they dropped the code. But somebody just reported that you can get the same discount by calling them on the phone to order. If you mention that you'd intended to use the "podcast" discount code but that it seemed that it no longer works, they will give you the discount.

 

[DisSarahK]

I ordered from ares just before the rates went up and they charged a flat $3 fee for our vouchers. Just one fee even though we ordered three parkhoppers.

 

[Whidbey5]

If I'm not mistaken, the fee is $1 per pass? I, too, ordered just before the rates went up and our fee was $5 for five passes.

 

[Mugglemama]

wow, thanks so much for the quick responses. so the extra fee was for processing....did they also charge you for shipping or anything?

 

[DisSarahK]

They wouldn't ship to me--instead they emailed a voucher that I printed off and need to bring to Disneyland to exchange for a paper ticket. I wish they would have mailed the tickets to me instead.

 

[Mugglemama]

yeah, that's the same way we did it through getawaytoday.com, too. i didn't like it much, either. it seemed like kind of a hassle. maybe it's just better to go buy the tickets at the disney store. when all is said and done it will only cost about $25 more and plus it will be fun for the kids to go there to buy the tix.

 

[mamatojade]

So, if you order directly from Disneyland, it is $5 more and they ship the tickets to your home and don't charge a processing fee, but if you order from ARES it is $5 less + a $1 processing fee and they only send you vouchers so you have to wait in line at Disney to get your tickets?

For $4, I think that I would rather have the tickets in hand as the last time we went and had to get our tickets at Disney, we had to wait nearly 45 minutes at the ticket booth.

Am I missing anything?

 

[Mugglemama]

So, if you order directly from Disneyland, it is $5 more and they ship the tickets to your home and don't charge a processing fee, but if you order from ARES it is $5 less + a $1 processing fee and they only send you vouchers so you have to wait in line at Disney to get your tickets?

For $4, I think that I would rather have the tickets in hand as the last time we went and had to get our tickets at Disney, we had to wait nearly 45 minutes at the ticket booth.

Am I missing anything?

No, I don't think you're missing anything. I think that's right. It would be $4 more per ticket. But still, even buying 6 tix, the difference is only $24, and then as you said, I'll have the tix in hand and won't have to wait at the booth.

When we did the package with getawaytoday.com, we got to the park at opening, and if I remember correctly, the ticket booth actually opened half an hour earlier than the park, so we didn't end up waiting more than about 5 minutes. But still, it was a hassle (toting 4 kids with us while we did all this). I think I'd rather fork out the extra $24, let the kids have the fun of picking the tix up at the Disney Store, and avoid the ticket booth hassle altogether.

 

[mamatojade]

I just called my BCAA (Automobile Assoc.) office and the tickets were $167.

 

[mamatojade]

Now, I just had a thought. Do I get anything extra if I buy my tickets directly from Disney? Toontown Mornings or Extra Magic Hours?

 

[Mugglemama]

Now, I just had a thought. Do I get anything extra if I buy my tickets directly from Disney? Toontown Mornings or Extra Magic Hours?

If you buy the 3 day from the Disneyland website, it includes one Magic Morning entry.

If you buy from getawaytoday.com they give you TWO MM entries, and a lanyard + pin for each person you buy a ticket for, PLUS an 8x8 Mickey mouse scrapbook.