Hotel inclusive or exclusive of park tickets ?

[Tigger73]

I'm helping out a friend with his Disney vacation plans and wonder what the best deal is concerning the park tickets. Is it cheaper to book the hotel with the park tickets or is it better to do the two seperate ? I always do mine seperate and I've always assumed its a better deal. Am I missing something ?? Any benefits to booking the two together ?

 

[MJames41]

So far as I've seen, it appears the only benefit is the convenience. The cost is usually better if it's seperate. Also, I think the only way (should they decide on the UPH) to have either the day of arrival and/or departure taken off is to do it seperately.

 

[Ricola]

I don't think it's really a better "deal" one way or the other; you can pretty much add the same park tickets to your room that you can buy elsewhere, and in some ways this is nice since they are added to your resort "key" card, which is plastic and waterproof, as opposed to the paper ticket you get at the parks and elsewhere. That way you (or more importantly, your KIDS) just have one card to keep track of, and it's close to indestructable.

However, it is my opinion that some of the park passes that are offered with rooms are not a great value UNLESS you plan to use them. For example, if you were staying for a week, but only planned to visit Disney parks for 5 days, buy a 5 Day "Park Hopper", rather than the more costly "Ultimate Parks Hopper" length-of-stay option. And if you aren't going to visit a water park or Disney Quest, why pay for them. Even if you plan to attend the parks every day of your stay, perhaps it's still better to buy a "regular" pass rather than a length-of-stay, just in case something (weather, injury, needing a day off to relax) comes up which might cause you to "waste" a day of your pass. "Park-Hopper" tickets don't expire, so you could always use them on a future trip. "UPH" passes expire at the end of your stay, whether or not they are used.

Also, some of the packages include meals and other activities (boat or bike rentals, etc...) that you may or may not end up getting your money's worth out of.

Personally, although we've done it both days, We usually buy PH passes separately, (or an annual pass).

 

[telly]

Am new to this board. Can anyone tell us if there are any places that sell discount park tickets? or if there are discounts for seniors? We will probably stay at ALL STARS and are trying to decide the best (least exp.) way to get tickets for 4 days THANKS for any help. T

 

[MJames41]

Hi Telly,

When it comes to tickets, there are many, many options, and very few discounts. The biggest discount is for those who live in Florida. If you live in Florida, your best bet would be a Play 4 pass. If you don't live in Florida, then it depends on what you want to do in your 4 days. Do you want to only do the theme parks? And, if so, will you be wanting to do more than 1 theme park per day? If you only want to do the theme parks, and only 1 theme park per day, then your best bet would be the single tickets using the "Bounce Back" option (if that is still available). You would need to purchase those tickets when you get there at the gate, but they are restrictive type of tickets. Will you be wanting to do any other parks, such as a water park or Disney Quest? Will you be wanting to go to a theme park and a water park in the same day (on multiple days)? If yes, the the Ultimate Park Hopper would do the trick, otherwise it would probably not be worth it. Those are at the extremes. In between would be the Park Hopper and the Park Hopper Plus. Here are the advantages/disadvantages of each:

Single Day/Bounce Back: Each ticket can only be used in one theme park per day. Bounce Back tickets must be used within a certain time frame. Best for those who will not need "park hopper" feature.

Park Hopper: Minimum 4 days - good for all 4 theme parks for 4 (or 5) days. Does not have to be consecutive days, unused days never expire.

Park Hopper Plus: Minimum 5 days - same as Park Hopper, but with Flex features. Allows usage at Water Parks, Pleasure Island, Wide World of Sports. Flex features are not park hopper type. For instance, with Park Hopper Plus, you could go to Animal Kingdom and Epcot on same day and only use one day of pass. However, if you went to Typhoon Lagoon and then to River Country, you have used 2 flex features. Unused days/features never expire.

Annual Pass: Since you are only there for 4 days, you will probably not want this one. It is an Unlimited Park Hopper good for 1 year.

Premium Annual Pass: Unlimited Park Hopper pass good for 1 year.

Unlimited Park Hopper: Must be a Disney Resort guest to get this. Unlimited entry to all theme parks, water parks, Pleasure Island, Disney Quest, Wide World of Sports. Does not allow for entry to other special tickted events (Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party for example).

About the only discount advice I can give would be to look into a Disney Club card. I love mine, but I also use it outside Disney World as well. Good luck on your trip and enjoy.

 

[JerseyJanice]

Here's a site purported to be good: floridaorlandotickets.com

I've been advised on the Budget Board here that these folks are legit.

 

[J&Z's Dad]

Ricola-
Do you have to buy your room and tix in a package to get the plastic room key/park ticket? I love that option, but we will be making room only reservations in order to take advantage of a code and will be purchasing Ult Park Hopper tix. Can they just put the tix on our room key?

Thanks

 

[FoodLover]

J&Z's Dad,

You don't have to buy a package to get the passes put on the room key. If you purchase your UHPs at check-in they can put them on your room key.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[Ricola]

J&Zs Dad,

We have been able to do add park tickets to our room checkin. We bought (if I remember correctly) a 5-day Park hopper plus when we checked in, and it was combined with our room keys. This works if you buy your park passes at the front desk (not guest services) at the time of checkin. I also know that there are some kinds of park passes, including Annual Passes that they can't do this with.

Have a great trip,
Ric