Help push me over the fence :)

[sonnyjane]

I'm throwing around the idea of buying a Deluxe Pass (since I have a trip planned in the spring with my sister and the SoCal passes are blacked out those days). I'm not in a position where I have money to just throw around, but the expense of the Deluxe Pass for one person (who would have to spend close to $200 on a 3-day park hopper for my upcoming trip anyway) isn't too bad. A Deluxe Pass is currently $289.

Should I just pull the trigger? I'd LOVE to sneak up there to see the Christmas theme... I live in San Diego, so the drive is 90 miles, very manageable for a solo-day trip, as I've done it before.

And, since I KNOW you fellow DL addicts ARE going to just go ahead and tell me to do it , should I get the parking option? I don't plan on going everyday, just once a season or so to see the changes, overlays, etc. Parking is an additional $79, which is means it would take 6 visits to pay for itself.

AND (goodness this site is an enabler) is there a deeper discount for Premium pass-holders vs. Deluxe ones that would make it worth just biting the bullet and getting that one? Or is the Deluxe sufficient? Thanks

 

[Tasmen]

It sounds to me like: Yes on the pass. No on the parking I'll enable but not all the way.

 

[pixiewings71]

Parking is $79 now?? Sheesh......I mean I know they upped it per day but man, I thought $59 was a lot......

Yes, I would go with the Deluxe, or even the Premium, but if I went with the Deluxe I would add parking. It's great not to have to shell out that parking fee every day......

 

[sonnyjane]

Parking is $79 now?? Sheesh......I mean I know they upped it per day but man, I thought $59 was a lot......

Yes, I would go with the Deluxe, or even the Premium, but if I went with the Deluxe I would add parking. It's great not to have to shell out that parking fee every day......

I think if I do get the parking, I'll end up going to the park more often to justify the cost, which isn't really a bad thing Hmm, now the question of to tell DH, or not tell DH lol...but I don't think you guys can help me with that one

 

[ChrisMouse]

Wow...if only I lived 90 minutes away... I am SO JEALOUS!

So...you can tell my answers would be YES and YES!

Yes get the pass and YES get the parking, because once you have the pass you're going to be up there all the time!!

 

[sonnyjane]

Ooh bonus! Since I'm in SoCal, I can do monthly payments of $18.09 for the Deluxe pass... that's like a large pizza a month, nothing right? (Practicing speech to DH...)

 

[Tasmen]

Ooh bonus! Since I'm in SoCal, I can do monthly payments of $18.09 for the Deluxe pass... that's like a large pizza a month, nothing right? (Practicing speech to DH...)

TOTALLY worth it! And while you're at it, if you can do monthly payments, why not do the premium pass???

ENABLE! ENABLE! ENABLE!

 

[pixiewings71]

Oh yes, if I was a "local" I would do the monthly payments too...and we would definitely get the Premium APs. We have Premiums now and they are so much better then Deluxe's! LOL

 

[sonnyjane]

Oh yes, if I was a "local" I would do the monthly payments too...and we would definitely get the Premium APs. We have Premiums now and they are so much better then Deluxe's! LOL

Can I ask the difference or advantage of a Premium other than parking, which I would add to a Deluxe? All I found was a 15% discount on food rather than 10.

 

[DanT]

can you say block out dates?

 

[sonnyjane]

can you say block out dates?

Doh. Lol, I'm going to pretend I didn't ask that dumb of a question. Yes, I suppose that is the obvious. I don't have much of a desire to go during the most busy times when the Premium has blocked dates, so I think for my needs, the Deluxe should do.

 

[Eeee-va]

Doh. Lol, I'm going to pretend I didn't ask that dumb of a question. Yes, I suppose that is the obvious. I don't have much of a desire to go during the most busy times when the Premium has blocked dates, so I think for my needs, the Deluxe should do.

Deluxe passes do block out quite a few fairly ordinary Saturdays, though. (And really, the days when Deluxe passes ARE blocked out are often LESS busy than days where they are not blocked out! The thing is that Disney blocks out days that they anticipate will be busy, but since so many guests have APs, the days that are blocked out lose most of those guests and therefore often have fewer total guests in attendance. I believe I heard that some holidays like Easter and July 4th that were blocked out for most passholders were actually fairly pleasant as far as attendance is concerned. Though I think July 4th's low attendance may have been because of heat. I've heard that Sundays in general are marginally MORE busy than Saturdays now, because of the blockout days.)

If you're thinking you'll want to visit the park on two peak-ish season Saturdays or on a holiday weekend, then I reckon Premium would be worth it versus buying blockout passes for those visits, especially if you're already buying parking. At the least, you might make sure that none of the days you're going with your sister are blocked out before buying Deluxe.

The one disadvantage to buying an AP in general (versus a regular 3-day hopper) would be that if you bought it now, you might miss getting a Magic Morning with your sister. I don't keep an eye on Southern California deals since I don't live there, but IF there will be Southern California deals for hoppers/etc. that don't include Magic Mornings anyway, then that doesn't matter; she won't have one either. Or if you are staying on-site (which gives you access to Magic Mornings), or if you think your sister would NOT like to get up early to take advantage of Magic Morning, then again, the Magic Morning will be meaningless anyway. Still, I took advantage of Magic Morning in June and it was just delightful, so it's something to think about. Someone else can probably tell you if there are likely to be Southern California deals in spring if you're worried about keeping your sister from having a Magic Morning with you.

There's no wrong choice, though. I don't blame you for wanting to go at Christmas!

EDIT: For the record, I live out of state and bought a Deluxe AP in June (upgraded a 5-for-3-day hopper). That's a major cost savings even if we just go back once, in December. Since we like to stay within walking distance, we don't need parking. If we go again in May to get the most out of our passes, I would just buy a blockout pass for the Saturday that we'd have blocked out. Even adding in the cost of that one Saturday blockout pass, our net cost will be significantly less than a full upgrade to Premium. (The food savings are a great idea but since I only want to visit on one day that is blocked out, I think I'd need to save about $90 in food discounts to "break even" on the upgrade, and I don't see myself eating that much. )

If I lived close enough for a day trip, though, I think I would VERY strongly consider Premium, especially since it includes parking already.

 

[clb79]

The blackouts are huge for us since we live out of state and have a lot of additional factors that play into when we can make it to the parks (crowds have never been nor will be a major factor with the other things we have to consider) not having to try to plan around a saturday that is blocked here, etc. is huge.

As the above poster stated, I really feel like some of those blackouts are sometimes some of the best days to be there (since all other passes are blocked out).

Also, if you are like us and don't leave the parks to eat (we consider the food to be part of the experience) then that extra 5% on the food discount that the Premium pass offers adds up really quickly. Of course our trips will always be a minimum of 3 days and we are a family of 4.

If you used the discount to pay for food for your sister or other people that may go with you the food the discount adds up even quicker.

 

[MAH4546]

Doh. Lol, I'm going to pretend I didn't ask that dumb of a question. Yes, I suppose that is the obvious. I don't have much of a desire to go during the most busy times when the Premium has blocked dates, so I think for my needs, the Deluxe should do.

The busiest days are Friday evenings and Sundays when no passes are blocked.

Saturdays when only the Premium is unblocked are some of the most pleasant weekend days in the park. Sundays are a mess, especially when the SoCal APs are not blocked.

 

[Disney Dreams]

well, if you are going to go 6 times in one year, it makes sense to add on the parking, so I would add the parking in the beginning and save yourself money in the long run. If you have the AP and are close enough (which you are) you will find a reason to go 6 times.

That said, $289 + $79 = $368 For an extra $61 you can have no blockout days and larger discounts. I say get a Premium!

How's that for enabling?
- Dreams

 

[sonnyjane]

well, if you are going to go 6 times in one year, it makes sense to add on the parking, so I would add the parking in the beginning and save yourself money in the long run. If you have the AP and are close enough (which you are) you will find a reason to go 6 times.

That said, $289 + $79 = $368 For an extra $61 you can have no blockout days and larger discounts. I say get a Premium!

How's that for enabling?
- Dreams

AHHHHH! I think you guys are talking me into Premium!!! The days I need were not blocked out with Deluxe, but I know we are planning on eating at quite a few PS restaurants during her visit so 15% vs. 10% would help a lot during our three-day trip. I decided I'm going to make a trip next Thursday to see HMH and ride SM since it was closed for refurb when I was there in Sept. I have to buy the annual pass in person if I want to do the monthly payments deal. Deluxe is $18.01 (without parking) and Premium is $29 a month (obviously with parking)...so when I do it that way lol... Thank goodness I drive a Civic because I foresee a lot of driving in my future!!!

 

[Leofoenget]

Ooh bonus! Since I'm in SoCal, I can do monthly payments of $18.09 for the Deluxe pass... that's like a large pizza a month, nothing right? (Practicing speech to DH...)

How much are the payments on a premium + parking per month? If it's only a few $$ more I would get a PAP. I wish I could go on payments! I'm soo bummed I live in N CA. It's not fair!

 

[sonnyjane]

How much are the payments on a premium + parking per month? If it's only a few $$ more I would get a PAP. I wish I could go on payments! I'm soo bummed I live in N CA. It's not fair!

Not sure how it breaks down with parking, but I just bit the bullet and got the PREMIUM!!! I have a 0% APR card so I actually put it on that (since I am incredibly impatient lol) and that way I can pay it off sooner. I think next THURSDAY will be the debut! WHOOHOO!

P.S. for anyone interested, I ordered it online today, and it said I must redeem by 01/03/2011. I will assume that means I have to use the entire year before that date, but I know in a previous thread I asked how long I'd have to redeem it after ordering online, and it looks like they give you at least a couple months before it expires

 

[TheZue]

Not sure how it breaks down with parking, but I just bit the bullet and got the PREMIUM!!! I have a 0% APR card so I actually put it on that (since I am incredibly impatient lol) and that way I can pay it off sooner. I think next THURSDAY will be the debut! WHOOHOO!

P.S. for anyone interested, I ordered it online today, and it said I must redeem by 01/03/2011. I will assume that means I have to use the entire year before that date, but I know in a previous thread I asked how long I'd have to redeem it after ordering online, and it looks like they give you at least a couple months before it expires

Grats! I was just going to pile on the reasons for the premium and mention the merchandise discounts

 

[pixiewings71]

well, if you are going to go 6 times in one year, it makes sense to add on the parking, so I would add the parking in the beginning and save yourself money in the long run. If you have the AP and are close enough (which you are) you will find a reason to go 6 times.

That said, $289 + $79 = $368 For an extra $61 you can have no blockout days and larger discounts. I say get a Premium!

How's that for enabling?
- Dreams

LOL And I thought I was enabling.....LOL

Not sure how it breaks down with parking, but I just bit the bullet and got the PREMIUM!!! I have a 0% APR card so I actually put it on that (since I am incredibly impatient lol) and that way I can pay it off sooner. I think next THURSDAY will be the debut! WHOOHOO!

P.S. for anyone interested, I ordered it online today, and it said I must redeem by 01/03/2011. I will assume that means I have to use the entire year before that date, but I know in a previous thread I asked how long I'd have to redeem it after ordering online, and it looks like they give you at least a couple months before it expires

YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Enjoy that PAP!!! I know that we have GREATLY enjoyed it this year!! And yes, we went in July, (see my sig for dates) and it was less crowded over the weekend when all but the PAP were blocked then it was during the week!! DBF and I have decided that we are not likely to go back to Deluxe APs.....ever.......the free parking also makes it so you can stay slightly farther away (paying less) and park so that saves some $$ too. And I LOVE whipping out that AP for discounts, we've saved so much this year just on that alone......