Help!Hopper vs. Length of Stay passes

[goofyandmore]

I am going to the Disney Store today to buy my AP. But for the rest of my gang, I am trying to decide if I should buy the hoppers there or wait until I get to the Polynesian and have them put the length of stay passes on my room key. We are going to be there 7 days but only need passes for 6 since we will arrive late in the evening the first night. Also, we will only use the water parks for a couple of visits. So, do I get the 6 day hopper plus tickets or get length of stay with the first night taken off?

 

[tcfdick]

Do you think you would want to go to DQ? That would be the only reason I would buy the LOS passes. You will save money buying the 6 day hopper plus passes over the LOS, especially since you will only go to the water parks a couple of times.

 

[iansmomm]

what is a length of stay pass? we are going only for 3 days, have the ability to go one more since our plane lands at 9:30 am, but wasnt planning on doing any parks that day. I was thinking i'd just get 3 one day passes, as we usually dont hop. which is better for me?

 

[seashoreCM]

Length of stay pass -- Good from the moment you arrive at the resort to park closing time of the day you check out. If the room is not ready they will issue your passes and store your luggage.

I generally do not recommend it if you plan to spend a complete day elsewhere (such as Sea World).

For the three day vacation, ask about the three single day passes linked together with a slight discount over three separate single day passes. Or buy a hopper pass and save the leftover days for a future trip.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Other things you can do for a future trip: stay at a budget hotel near the airport if you arrive late, then when you get to WDW you can easily choose the LOS pass with a complete day to start off with.

The premium annual pass includes Disney Quest too and breaks even with 14 days' worth of LOS in one trip or 10 days' of LOS in two trips.

 

[Deb & Bill]

The Ultimate Park Hopper (formerly LOS) includes just about everything at WDW including DQ, all water parks, theme parks, PI. The Park Hoppers only include the theme parks unless you get Park Hopper Pluses. The pluses can be used for water parks or PI, but not DQ. If you buy your UPH ahead of time, you can't drop any days, but you can get it for a discounted price. If you wait until you arrive, you usually can drop either the first or last day, sometimes both, but you don't get the discounted price.

 

[GoldenOldie]

goofyandmore:

To look at it from a dollar and cents perspective:

$335.48 6 day UPH from resort
$295.02 6 day adult PHP from TDS
----------
$40.46 difference per ticket.

Even if you want to visit DQ, pay the $33.02 for a day's admission and you're still ahead $7 per ticket.

 

[goofyandmore]

thanks for all of your knowledgable responses. I am leaning toward getting the 6 day park hoppers since we will not be going to Disney Quest. Also, if I buy the tickets ahead of time at the disney store here in NJ, don't I get the discount too?

Also, the hotel can't put the hopper tickets on my room key right? I know that is probably a dumb question.

Thanks, Carolyn

 

[goofyandmore]

Sorry, but another question: If I get the ultimate park hopper passes ahead of time at the disney store, does that mean, the resort can't put them on my room key when I get there?

 

[GoldenOldie]

Originally posted by goofyandmore
Sorry, but another question: If I get the ultimate park hopper passes ahead of time at the disney store, does that mean, the resort can't put them on my room key when I get there?

TDS does not sell UPH's. In order to get those ahead of time, you need to call 407-WDISNEY. The UPH's (even advance purchased ones) will be put on your resort ID as the ticket doesn't exist until you check into the resort.

 

[Deb & Bill]

You can only purchase the UPH as part of a package with the discount (and you can't delete any days) or when you check in at the hotel and no discount (unless you are a DVC member staying on points at a DVC resort) (but you can delete the first or last day).

And, no, you can't get the tickets you purchase outside of a package or away from the hotel when you check in on your room key.

 

[GoldenOldie]

Originally posted by goofyandmore
thanks for all of your knowledgable responses. I am leaning toward getting the 6 day park hoppers since we will not be going to Disney Quest. Also, if I buy the tickets ahead of time at the disney store here in NJ, don't I get the discount too?

6 day PHP's from TDS are sold at the advance purchase price of $295.02. If you bought them at the resort or at the gate, they would be $318.45.

Also, the hotel can't put the hopper tickets on my room key right?

If they are purchased in advance, no. If they are purchased at the resort at check-in, yes.