Going to DL today - need annual pass and ticket strategy

[kml-oc]

Hi folks, I'm sure this info is in a FAQ somewhere but we want to take our 13month old to disneyland today

At the end of the day, we'd like to have one Premium pass and one Deluxe pass. Can someone suggest the best way we can achieve the following?

1) Free parking today - i can buy the premium pass online and print it out at home, this should get me free parking
2) We want one prem and one deluxe pass, but deluxe is blocked out this week. Can I buy a single day pass for today and have that converted to a Deluxe or Premium AP?

And if I'm going to upgrade to AP, does it matter how much I'm paying for the single day pass?

Thanks!

 

[DangerMouse]

By today, you mean yet this Friday afternoon? First thing you should know is that DL very possibly has stopped selling day tickets today. They hit capacity yesterday for day tickets, and it will only get worse over the weekend.

Although I have read that the first day use of the deluxe is exempt from the block out, so you should still be able to get in the parks.

Hopefully someone else will confirm this.

 

[kml-oc]

Yes, today as in this afternoon (Friday). We live 30 mins away so we wanted to catch the christmas lights before the take them down for the year (hopefully they haven't yet).

So then should we just buy the 2 passes today even though one of them is blacked out?

 

[DangerMouse]

Yes, I just confirmed this information on MousePlanet with a post from Darkbeer (very trustworthy DLR information expert):

The policy of the first day not being a blockout day is to allow folks to buy any AP year round. You take the paid voucher to the turnstiles, where they scan the barcode and allow you into the park. Then, before you leave the park that day, you need to go to the Bank of Main Street to turn in the voucher and have your photo taken and AP issued.

The policy of the First Day not being a Blockout allows Disney to up-sell folks to AP's year round, and is mainly a financial decision to help AP sells.
_

 

[kml-oc]

Yes, I just confirmed this information on MousePlanet with a post from Darkbeer (very trustworthy DLR information expert):

Thanks! Quick followup on that. Does that mean I have to upgrade? Or can I just buy a premy and a deluxe online, and use both today? Or do I have to work the system?

 

[bumbershoot]

I'm not an expert, but I think you might have to work the system.

Yesterday there was a post elsewhere stating that they had closed to AP blockout tickets, and in fact weren't even selling more tickets. And that was yesterday.

If you're not there already, you might rethink going today b/c you might not get in at all. But I'm not an expert.

 

[kml-oc]

Thanks for everyone's help. I just got off the phone with a Disney castmember. She said I can buy an deluxe AP and use it today even though it's blackout, just the first entrance. Secondly, they maybe sold out of day tickets but APs can still be sold (and admitted).

Cool, on the way!

 

[bumbershoot]

From the post I'm looking at, it gives this info: "may want to call Disneyland Guest Relations (714-781-7290) prior to coming to see"...about sales for the day.... or if.... "admission restrictions have been put into place".


Aha, I was adding that while you were already calling!

 

[DangerMouse]

I haven't seen any crowd reports today. If you do go this evening, I would go with the thought that you might not get in. Go ahead and purchase the AP vouchers online. Otherwise, I would recommend waiting until next week (after the 1st), to visit. The Christmas decorations will still be up and all the holiday entertainment will still be in full swing.

 

[kml-oc]

Just got back from a successful trip to DLR. 5hrs, 1 ride, happy baby

The park was indeed sold out of day passes.

We ended up buying the two passes online, one premium and one Socal Resident. I didn't know blackout passes exist and at $40, I think it came out to three or four blackouts I needed to purchase to catch up to a deluxe. I think I'm good with this one.

So, just to confirm, if you buy an AP, it is VALID even on a blackout date as long as that's your date of purchase (not sure if it's also the case if your date of purchase <> your date of redemption).