Help me get 6 kids to Disneyland!

[NavyDad01]

The thing about buying discount tickets and then adding on a day or some other upgrade at the parks is that you lose the benefit of the discounts. You will have to pay the full difference between gate price and what you paid up front. Current gate price for 6 adult and 1 child 4 day, 1 park a day tickets is $1805, so it would cost you $366 to add on a day once you are at the parks. Some people occasionally report having the good fortune of getting full price ticket value applied when upgrading discounted tickets and that's great if it happens, but it can't be counted on.

As far as when to upgrade, you can do so right up until park closing time on your last day of use, so you could wait until your third day in the parks to add that fourth day if you want.

Thanks for the clarification!

 

[NavyDad01]

Is there anything like Ohana's from DW nearby in or out of the park?

 

[NavyDad01]

So I researched and apparently my niece and nephew dont need any proof or permission that they are flying with us. That sounds so odd and wrong that cant honestly be right

 

[SMD]

So I researched and apparently my niece and nephew dont need any proof or permission that they are flying with us. That sounds so odd and wrong that cant honestly be right

It depends on the airline. It's not required on a domestic flight, but if they are below the age to fly alone for the airline, they might require it. And if there is a shared custody situation, get it from both parents to be safe.

 

[Geemo]

It depends on the airline. It's not required on a domestic flight, but if they are below the age to fly alone for the airline, they might require it. And if there is a shared custody situation, get it from both parents to be safe.

When I take the grandkids, I always have a Medical Authorization slip for each kid. I'll send you a copy in a private message.

.

Geemo

 

[NavyDad01]

It depends on the airline. It's not required on a domestic flight, but if they are below the age to fly alone for the airline, they might require it. And if there is a shared custody situation, get it from both parents to be safe.

I called southwest and they said as long as they are not a lapped child nothing is needed. It just strikes me as odd that it can be that easy to take someone elses kid like that.

 

[NavyDad01]

When I take the grandkids, I always have a Medical Authorization slip for each kid. I'll send you a copy in a private message.

.

Geemo

So helpful as always

 

[McNs]

I don't have any tips as we only travel with two kids, but this looks like an awesome thing you are doing. Seeing the wonder and excitement when they see some of the things there for the first time will be priceless! Sending some pixie dust all the way from NZ to help!!

 

[MommyJKM]

It's probably too late for your trip now, but we have always had a passport for my daughter. I think they're about $75, but good for 5 years.

 

[GenGen22]

Ok here's my take on this... Do you or you family or close friends have AAA & costco memberships? If so, this is the way I would go. Buy your Knotts tickets from ares travel.com for $227.94, $480 for annual passes to Universal studios $80 each $480 total at costco, $1037 Disney 2 day 1 park per day tix from way.com total cost of all park tickets $1744.94 or buy 1 Disney ticket from AAA to utilize the free parking $185 adult & 4 adult 1child $862 from way.com total Disney ticket cost $1047 which total cost this option for all tix is $1754.94 ($10 for 2days parking at Disney). Also, you can buy for $9.99 a refillable drink cup for Knotts online with free refills all day. They also have one at Universal Studios I think it's around $15 with .99 cent refills. This could save a lot in the parks on drinks. I would also check mousesavers.com for dining discounts at Disneyland & http://anaheimoc.org/coupons & restaurant.com. I would also buy Disney gift cards from target with a target red card which is free to sign up if you don't have one to save 5% which will be a good savings since every dollar counts as far as food & souvenirs go.

 

[NavyDad01]

Ok here's my take on this... Do you or you family or close friends have AAA & costco memberships? If so, this is the way I would go. Buy your Knotts tickets from ares travel.com for $227.94, $480 for annual passes to Universal studios $80 each $480 total at costco, $1037 Disney 2 day 1 park per day tix from way.com total cost of all park tickets $1744.94 or buy 1 Disney ticket from AAA to utilize the free parking $185 adult & 4 adult 1child $862 from way.com total Disney ticket cost $1047 which total cost this option for all tix is $1754.94 ($10 for 2days parking at Disney). Also, you can buy for $9.99 a refillable drink cup for Knotts online with free refills all day. They also have one at Universal Studios I think it's around $15 with .99 cent refills. This could save a lot in the parks on drinks. I would also check mousesavers.com for dining discounts at Disneyland & http://anaheimoc.org/coupons & restaurant.com. I would also buy Disney gift cards from target with a target red card which is free to sign up if you don't have one to save 5% which will be a good savings since every dollar counts as far as food & souvenirs go.

Thanks for this! I just confirmed the pricing at costco. I'm a little worried though about way.com

 

[GenGen22]

Thanks for this! I just confirmed the pricing at costco. I'm a little worried though about way.com

There are good reviews about way.com but if you really feel uncomfortable about them you can call getawaytoday.com & ask them to price match you with way.com's rates. Getawaytoday is a reputable company. I personally have used them several times with no issues at all. I also ordered my Knotts tix from ares travel. You get print at home tix that you take directly to the turnstyles & they scan & let you in. The crowds are light there on weekdays. We have been quite a few times. We love all the parks your going to. Enjoy your time with your family!

 

[NavyDad01]

There are good reviews about way.com but if you really feel uncomfortable about them you can call getawaytoday.com & ask them to price match you with way.com's rates. Getawaytoday is a reputable company. I personally have used them several times with no issues at all. I also ordered my Knotts tix from ares travel. You get print at home tix that you take directly to the turnstyles & they scan & let you in. The crowds are light there on weekdays. We have been quite a few times. We love all the parks your going to. Enjoy your time with your family!

I got to check on the Ares tickets for knotts because they seem really low. I need to make sure that they are good all year long because I know there is a special now for admission till April with a low price.

 

[GenGen22]

I got to check on the Ares tickets for knotts because they seem really low. I need to make sure that they are good all year long because I know there is a special now for admission till April with a low price.

Good point! That, I didn't know. I bought mine there last time because the price was the lowest. Oh I forgot to mention that Knotts & US also give merchandise discounts to AAA members as well & if you are a Chase Disney Visa member you get some dining discounts & merchandise discounts at Disney & a free photo op as well. if you don't have the visa but you have a checking account you can change you debit card to a Disney debit & get pretty much the same discounts. Just in case you have any of those.

 

[lorijohnhill]

Disney debit card? Do you earn disney points with that like you do with the visa?

 

[luulu1999]

One big thing that helped us, since you will be going when it is warmer and kids will be thirsty, instead of carrying around all the bottled waters any place that has a fountain soda machine will give you free cups of ice water you don't have to buy anything with it just walk up and ask for a cup of water!! I would also suggest just using all the "theme park days" for Disney just because there is so much for everyone to do....and its AWESOME

 

[GenGen22]

Disney debit card? Do you earn disney points with that like you do with the visa?

No, you do not earn points They used to have a program where you earned points but they took it away

 

[luulu1999]

Also I might add, if you decide 4 day park hoppers, Orbitz has buy 3 get one day free but I believe it is only park hoppers, it ended up being $1914 for 4 day park hoppers

 

[NavyDad01]

So we changed the dates and are arriving in Orange County June 13th and leaving Tuesday June 23rd. My wife told me that we had like 75,000 Saphire Preferred points which is about $750 statement credit. (I guess that whole charge everything to the card and pay it off at the end of the month paid off). Don't get me wrong we stay want to save money, but this will help us do Disney 3 days along with Knotts and Universal.

I'm trying to plan the days and was wanting to get some more advice. In order to get low crowds we want to avoid Grad night days, EMH hours and AP black out dates is that correct?

 

[coluk003]

Remember Parking at the disney parks is 17 dollars per day per car, im assuming what i read you'll only have one. Someone mentioned AAA free parking, If you go that route i wold dbl check that because Disney and AAA's partnership ended on Dec 31. You might get discounts in the park with AAA or even for parking but I would check before getting down there just in case