Five-Day Tickets or FlexPass?

[EmJ]

Need opinions, please! My family is headed to Disneyland next month on 5-day tickets. We plan to return in 2021 to see Avengers campus and other attractions we will miss this go-around (hello, HM!). Prior to the price increase, I had been planning to upgrade to FlexPasses with MaxPass on the last day of our trip next month, since we will be returning in just under a year's time. However, after crunching the numbers, it is only $83 more for me to purchase 5-day, 1-park tickets for my family, with MasPass on two of the 5 days (one DL and one DCA). So, which would you buy?

The benefits of FlexPass are: $83 cheaper, can park-hop, MaxPass every day
The benefits of 5-day tickets are: Get Magic Morning; don't have to worry about reservations (which we will for one day on the FlexPass)

Even though Disneyland Phase II isn't until next year, I have to decide what to buy by next month, because we'd have to upgrade to FlexPass on our way out the door.

 

[starry_solo]

So, it's $83 more to purchase 2 sets of the 5-day, 1 park tickets for the family? That is, for right now. They will likely increase the costs by the time you want to go to DLR next year.

So, I would do the 5-day park hoppers now + Max Pass and upgrade to the Flex Pass on the way out the door.

 

[Skyegirl1999]

If you have the AP, you can parkhop.

So I’d buy hoppers and then upgrade them.

 

[EmJ]

So, it's $83 more to purchase 2 sets of the 5-day, 1 park tickets for the family? That is, for right now. They will likely increase the costs by the time you want to go to DLR next year.

So, I would do the 5-day park hoppers now + Max Pass and upgrade to the Flex Pass on the way out the door.

Sorry, I might not have been clear. We already have 5-day, 1-park tickets for our 2020 trip. The question is whether I should upgrade those to the FlexPass for 2021, or buy a second set of 5-day, 1-park tickets for $83 more. I would love to know we don't have to worry about that Friday reservation and would get one Magic Morning; on the other hand, parkhopping and MaxPass every day is quite appealing.

 

[EmJ]

If you have the AP, you can parkhop.

So I’d buy hoppers and then upgrade them.

Oh, I see now. Honestly, it did not enter my brain to purchase parkhoppers for the 2020 trip because the FlexPass didn't even exist then and I'm kinda cheap. (As cheap as someone going to Disneyland can be, ha!) I suppose I could upgrade these tickets to hoppers at the start of our trip, and then upgrade to the FlexPass at the end of the trip, no?

ETA: Can I upgrade them to hoppers in the app? That would be idea.

 

[starry_solo]

Sorry, I might not have been clear. We already have 5-day, 1-park tickets for our 2020 trip. The question is whether I should upgrade those to the FlexPass for 2021, or buy a second set of 5-day, 1-park tickets for $83 more. I would love to know we don't have to worry about that Friday reservation and would get one Magic Morning; on the other hand, parkhopping and MaxPass every day is quite appealing.

Ah....hmm, in that case, I would probably still upgrade to the Flex Pass after the magic morning day and then make the reservation for the one day you need it (if reservations are available). If reservations are not available, I would wait til the last day.

Oh, I see now. Honestly, it did not enter my brain to purchase parkhoppers for the 2020 trip because the FlexPass didn't even exist then and I'm kinda cheap. (As cheap as someone going to Disneyland can be, ha!) I suppose I could upgrade these tickets to hoppers at the start of our trip, and then upgrade to the FlexPass at the end of the trip, no?

ETA: Can I upgrade them to hoppers in the app? That would be idea.

Yes, you can upgrade the current tickets to park hoppers first. Then, upgrade at the end of your trip to the Flex Pass.

 

[tsumgirl]

If your reservation day is still open, I would also do the FlexPass as soon as you've used your MM (even on your way to take a mid-day break). That way, you can start using your AP discount on this year's trip. The savings can add up quickly, especially if you do any dining packages.

 

[theluckyrabbit]

As the pp noted, the AP discount on merchandise and food can add up and help the budget. Regular tickets can't do that. With a 5 year old, I'm guessing there will be merchandise as part of your trip. The AP discounts can extend outside the berm, too. Always ask at DLR area hotels, restaurants, shops, etc. whether there is an AP discount. Some hotels do offer a discount (e.g. HOJO, CCI, etc.), some restaurants in the area do (I think CPK at GardenWalk, maybe others?). And don't forget DTD, too. So you'll pay more for 5 day tickets and get no discounts.

 

[Wakey]

Undercover tourist still had the tickets with Maxpass at the old $15 rate the other day- I bought some, not sure if they still have them now.

 

[EmJ]

So we are doing Magic Moring on Tuesday, and we could upgrade to FlexPass on our way home that evening. Merch is DEFINITELY going to be a part of the trip, lol. Wednesday is Star Wars day during which we will buy All The Things. Plus, The Boy has been earning made-by-mom Disney Dollars by engaging in pro-social (pro-parent?) behaviors like sleeping in his own bed, putting his laundry away, and clearing the table. And it WORKED, so thank you Disney, lol!

I guess I need to figure out how to see if Friday is still available on Tuesday night. I assume I can do that on my phone somehow? I'll play with it later today.

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

What Star Wars things are you planning on buying? No AP discounts on droids or light sabers unfortunately?

When are you going in 2020? And in 2121? Reservation days could be harder to come by in 2121... nobody knows. Or it could be no problem. I’m considering downgrading to Flex.

 

[sunflare]

What Star Wars things are you planning on buying? No AP discounts on droids or light sabers unfortunately

They give you the discount on accessories, but not the main items. My son got a discount on the blade of his legacy lightsaber, but not the hilt, and on his holycron/crystal.

 

[EmJ]

What Star Wars things are you planning on buying? No AP discounts on droids or light sabers unfortunately?

When are you going in 2020? And in 2121? Reservation days could be harder to come by in 2121... nobody knows. Or it could be no problem. I’m considering downgrading to Flex.

It's okay if there are no discounts on SWGE. My parents gifted each of us Disney gift cards for Christmas. Of course we can use them on what we would like, but the intent is for DH to get a lightsaber, The Boy to get a droid, and me to finance our Oga's visit including souvenir cups. The Boy will also want a stuffie from the Creature Stall to join the ever-growing menagerie of stuffed animals in his bedroom, and we told him he could get a lightsaber from Star Traders. So, yeah. It's going to be obscene

Our 2020 trip is March 30-April 3.

Our 2021 trip is March 21-27 because The Boy will be in kindergarten and we're limited by spring break. Based on this year's calendar, I anticipate Friday, March 26 will be a reservation day. And we will baaaaarely squeak by on an annual pass, lol.

 

[Aurora0427]

It's okay if there are no discounts on SWGE. My parents gifted each of us Disney gift cards for Christmas. Of course we can use them on what we would like, but the intent is for DH to get a lightsaber, The Boy to get a droid, and me to finance our Oga's visit including souvenir cups. The Boy will also want a stuffie from the Creature Stall to join the ever-growing menagerie of stuffed animals in his bedroom, and we told him he could get a lightsaber from Star Traders. So, yeah. It's going to be obscene

Our 2020 trip is March 30-April 3.

Our 2021 trip is March 21-27 because The Boy will be in kindergarten and we're limited by spring break. Based on this year's calendar, I anticipate Friday, March 26 will be a reservation day. And we will baaaaarely squeak by on an annual pass, lol.

It will be a reservation day, but as long as you log on and make the reservation 30 days in advance, you’ll be fine. Most local residents have spring break in April, so it shouldn’t be a huge day for local flex passers. What does the rest of the week look like? Will 3/26 be the only day requiring a reservation?

I agree with the advice to upgrade as soon as you’ve used your MM, as long as your reservation day is available. The CMs will make the reservation for you if you ask. They did for my parents when they upgraded their tickets a few weeks ago.

 

[EmJ]

It will be a reservation day, but as long as you log on and make the reservation 30 days in advance, you’ll be fine. Most local residents have spring break in April, so it shouldn’t be a huge day for local flex passers. What does the rest of the week look like? Will 3/26 be the only day requiring a reservation?

I agree with the advice to upgrade as soon as you’ve used your MM, as long as your reservation day is available. The CMs will make the reservation for you if you ask. They did for my parents when they upgraded their tickets a few weeks ago.

I expect that 3/26 will be the only day requiring a reservation because the March 2020 calendar shows Mon-Thurs as good to go days, with Friday being the only reservation day.

Will the CM's really make the reservation? I recall some threads here where individuals upgraded to the FlexPass and the CM's would NOT help them make a reservation, even though the app was glitchy and they couldn't make it themselves either.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Will the CM's really make the reservation? I recall some threads here where individuals upgraded to the FlexPass and the CM's would NOT help them make a reservation, even though the app was glitchy and they couldn't make it themselves either

We upgraded to Flex last weekend and the CM offered us park hoppers to return to the parks because it was a ‘no reservation’ date. We were on our way out so didn’t need to return.

Do remember to ask the CM to check the expiration dates on your new Flex passes. Everything looked fine at the Ticket Window but when I checked the app, the system picked up and used the ticket purchase dates to calculate the expiration dates. So one Flex was set to expire in November and one next February. It took a phone call and a request forwarded to IT to correct the dates.

 

[Aurora0427]

I expect that 3/26 will be the only day requiring a reservation because the March 2020 calendar shows Mon-Thurs as good to go days, with Friday being the only reservation day.

Will the CM's really make the reservation? I recall some threads here where individuals upgraded to the FlexPass and the CM's would NOT help them make a reservation, even though the app was glitchy and they couldn't make it themselves either.

As long as your day is good to go, they will help you make a reservation. The only instances I’ve heard of people not getting help making reservations is if the day is blocked- for example, I read one post where someone upgraded their tickets over Christmas, when flex passes are blocked. The CMs won’t let you in since flex passes are blocked that day.

My parents upgraded on a Sunday when flex passes needed a reservation- I told the CM we only wanted to upgrade as long as they could get back into the parks. She told me that they would get my parents back in, even if in the time it took to upgrade, all reservations filled. She even got a supervisor when she was finished and he came in and made the reservation. They were fantastic.