Help!!! What passes do we get and how can we get them cheap?

[Disneypal]

We are planning our 7th trip to Disney. We have been to all 4 theme parks and are only interested in 2 or 3 of them, swam at River Country and Typhoon Lagoon, not interested in Pleasure Island or Disney Quest and want to go to Blizzard Beach. If we go we will be arrving on May 12th in the afternoon and leaving on May 17th by noon. I am a Disney Club member till 5/03 (does that mean the 1st or the 31st). I need to know the most practical and cheapest way to get passes? Please help!

 

[NotUrsula]

It seems just a little strange to have been 7 times but not know how to purchase tickets...

The short answer is: in advance, and outside of Florida. Use your DC discount to buy them now, from your local Disney Store, or you might get a better deal from your local AAA if you're a member and if they still have some stock from before the price increase (otherwise the discount is the same as DC, 5%). Some posters here like buying from the online source Paramount International Travel; they include a meal voucher with the price. (See the budget board for more on that.)

BTW, River Country is no more; it has been permanently closed. Your DC membership should be good through the end of the month listed on your card.

 

[gonga]

passes and cheap do not belong in the same sentence when referring to WDW.


you may want to try E-bay!

 

[Disneypal]

Yes, we have been 6 times and working on our 7th. You see thought the first time I went through a travel agent and knew nothing about how to plan except for trusting an agent to get us the best deal. Learned that I was very wrong. Second time I did some research, we had passes left over and went a little cheaper. Third and forth I went with girl friends and we learned of this site. It has been amazing! Also I had Magic Kingdom Club card then and they are no more. Next I used a a discount card that came in the mail with a promo package number. Last time my husband was with a seminar his tickets were included and mine were at a reduced rate. Plus we had a Disney Club Card which will soon be no more. So the reason I asked is that things are always changing and you never know what someone else has found out until you ask. Thanks for your help!

 

[CarolA]

Personally I would NEVER buy tickets from EBAY. There is no way of knowing if the tickets are used until you get to Disney and the you are out your money!

 

[dgaston]

There are at least three legitimate ticket brokers you might want to check out. www.ticketmania.com www.floridaorlandotickets.net
www.centralfloridatickets.com

I have purchased tickets from both ticketmania and florida orlando tickets and have been very happy. Sometimes ticketmania has a three day hopper with or without a plus feature only available by calling. Sometimes these sites have cheaper prices than the DC discount.

 

[jimmybop]

i also agree, dont buy from anyone on e-bay

the only tickets that have DC discounts are hopper pluses....
BUTTTTTTTTTT they never expire...

 

[DVC California]

Hi Disneypal -

Based upon your listed dates (May 12-17), you will be there for 4 full days and 2 half days. If you plan on going into the parks everyday, I would recommend that you either purchase a 4-day Hopper +1 Plus ($217 adult/$173 child) from Ticketmania or a 5-day Hopper +2 Plus ($238 adult/$189 child) from Paramount International Travel . These are both reputable on-line discount ticket agents and Disney Club membership is not needed.

As you may know, a Disney park hopper provides admission to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom, with the flexibility to "hop" among those parks using same day entry. This is convenient if you wish to tour MK in the morning and dine at Epcot later at night, finishing with Illuminations.

The Plus feature of the Hopper includes a limited number of visits to the following: Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, Pleasure Island, and Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.

If you decide to go to Blizzard Beach one day, one Plus day will be deducted from your pass. If you decide to go to a theme park later that day, a Hopper day will also be deducted from the pass. So you need to plan a little on how to get the most "bang for your buck".

If you budget is tight, go for only the days that you need. However, if you can afford tp invest in a lengthier pass, buy more days now in anticipation of future WDW trips. The passes never expire and you will lock in today's prices.

HTH. Steve

 

[Disneypal]

Let me start off by saying thank you to all of you who answered so quickly and efficiently.

I know the difference between a hopper, a hopper plus and a ultimate hopper. What I am not sure of is if we only are interested in Epcot, MGM, Blizzard Beach and possibly Magic Kingdom which ticket is for us. Which pass is the most economical. Sholud we go with day passes. Where is the best place to get them? Is Disney Club still offering deals on passes and if so what are they?

 

[Mic]

In most situations, purchasing day passes for 2-3 of the parks, and purchasing a day pass for a water park seperately will cost more than a 4 or 5-day plus. I have relatives and friends with small children going to WDW soon, and they were only interested in 3 park days(no hopping)and a water park. It worked out best to order a 4-day hopper plus and save the 1 park day for another trip(we all go back...right?) Do a search for a 3-day hopper, and you will find one source that sells a 3-day hopper PLUS...that will most likely be your best bet. As an added bonus, you may be able to "hop" to 2 parks in 1 day, saving a day for future use(even the 3-day hopper does not expire).

 

[SuzyQue]

Do a search for a 3-day hopper, and you will find one source that sells a 3-day hopper PLUS...that will most likely be your best bet.

This is the same answer I gave you over on the Budget board 2 days ago, as a matter of fact I did the search for you!

 

[Disneypal]

Sorry i didn't see that reply. I have now read it and am a little confused and nervous. Ticketmania who are they how dod they get the tickets and what kind of not major problems has everyone seen. I prefer no problems especially on vacation .

The other company mentioned is one better than the other? How do I get the tickets? In the post it said something about Mousesavers newsletter.

Since we are wanting to do a water park the 3 day hopper plus sounds like the one we want? Does Disney sell that one? Also would it be better to get Length of Stay (Ultimate Hopper) for 3 days? I am sure I am making this way more confusing than it has to be but there are so many variables!

 

[SuzyQue]

Here is Ticketmania's link, http://ticketmania.com/
I've ordered, received and used 5-day PHP, 7-day PHP and Sea World tickets from them and had no problem whatsoever! They are reputable and recommended by Mousesavers.com. Sorry, I've never used the other companies, maybe someone else can vouch for them. I believe you have to "call" for the 3-day PHP, everything else is listed on their site. No you can't purchase the 3-day hoppers from Disney. Length of stay passes are exactly that, you have to purchase them for your "length of stay" with the possibility of being able to drop your first and last day. In that case you would have to purchase the 3night/4days pass which would cost you 232.17 each (you couldn't purchase in advance at a cheaper price if you want to drop arrival and departure days). ~~

 

[KSDisneyDad]

I went to Ticketmania and looked at their FAQ page. It stated that there are no 3 day Park-hoppers available. Are these really available anywhere?

I too am needing 3 days of tickets, plus one day in the waterpark. I thought the least expensive option would be to buy the 3 day pass from Disney for $149 ($117 for children), plus the water parks at $33 ($27 for children). That is a total of $182 ($154 for the kids). Even though there is no park-hopping, this would be ok to save a little money.

However, I have thought about a five-day plus pass. It is my understanding that you get two plus options. It is $263 ($209 for children) at the Disney Store. This is only $81 more than buying a 3-day pass and a ticket to one water park. I get 2 extra park days plus one extra water park (or DQ) for only $81 more. Although I have to save the extra two park days and the extra plus feature for my next trip.

Also, is there such a thing as a 4 day park hopper PLUS?

 

[Mic]

KSDisneyDad-
I was able to purchase a 4-day hopper plus from Connections last May, but my membership expired(long story...not a reputable company). I think they were about $200 each and included 1 plus, which was a dollar or 2 less than Disney, and had the plus feature to boot. I know I have seen a few posts in the past about some of the on-line ticket brokers having them during a promotion period. I am thinking Mousesavers had a link once for these for @$217. Good luck in the search.

 

[SuzyQue]

I get 2 extra park days plus one extra water park (or DQ) for only $81 more.

Disney Quest is not included in plusses, but Pleasure Island and Wild World of Sports are.
KSDisneyDad, did you try calling Ticketmania and asking about the 3-day hopper, I know it's not available on the web site. And yes Mousesavers.com has got a deal with Ticketmania offering 4-day plus hoppers to people who are signed up to receive the Mousesavers newsletter, so head over there and sign up if you're interested. ~~

 

[Disneypal]

Ok here is how I see it, could be wrong?

I can get day passes at the gate to use only at that park for (AM I ALLOWED TO GIVE PRICES?) $53.25. Then if you go to them and buy a second day they give you $5.00 off that day. If you buy a third day they give you $10 off. That is a total of $53.25 for one day, $101.50 for 2 days and $144.75 for 3 days. No discount cards or specials just the fact that you keep purchaseing tickets from Disney.

To buy a water park pass at the gate it is $33.02 if you use a Disney Club it is $29.82 on advance purchases.

A 4 day Hopper Pass (shortest one I could find) is $211.94 at check in, $204.49 with Disney Club advance purchase.

A 5 day Park Hopper Plus is $275.85 at check in and $263.07 with Disney Club advance purchase.

Then we have Ultimate Park Hoppers
2 days, 1 night $126.74 at check in or $121.41 Disney
3 days, 2 nights $171.47 at check in or $164.01 Disney Club
4 days, 3 nights $232.17 at check in or $ 222.59 Disney Club

From what I have read Connections is not reliable or maybe I should say consistent.

Ticketmania is still an option and I did sign up for Mousesavers ews letter today. I guess I just wait till the 15th now.

By my calculations my best bet is the Ultimate Park Hopper for 2 days and 1 night $121.41, followed closely by 2 single days and a water park for $131.32. I talked to a cast member at Boardwalk Inn and they said that I could purchase a 2 day Ultimate Park Hopper since the first part of our reservation is under a corporation and the last 3 days are under our names. Do you understand? Since this is our 7th trip we know what we do and don't like, what parks we do and don't want to visit and want to just want to see what else ther is in the world besides the parks. If I am missing something let me know.

 

[Disneypal]

Thought I should bump this up since there was no response to my findings.

 

[Deah]

I also have a question about this... Has anyone used paramount? If so do you know if the delivery charge is 15$ per ticket or if it is 15$ for both?? Do they ship regular mail?? I saw they had 5 day park hopper plus for 238 ea. Has anyone saw a better price on these?? Well Thank you all !!!

 

[luvindisneyworld]

hi that is the total for shipping on the entire order 15.00.i think they ship 2 to 3 day express if i am not mistaken.we will be using www.paramountinternationaltravel.com for our ticket purchase.cant beat 300.00 for 7 day PHP passes with a free breakfast voucher.so it will be 615.00 including shipping for 2 passes and a free breakfast