How would you use 4 one-day, non-upgradeable hoppers?

[Mikie]

OK, I wish I really had to make this decision, but it's really just academic at this point. I am in charge of acquiring donations for our school's raffle baskets and have been awarded some from Disney. Of course it is fun to think of a free-ish Disney trip! However, Disney's charity donations are 4 one-day hoppers and cannot be upgraded. Obviously, the stated value of $620 goes way, way down if you buy other tickets and just use these to add an extra day to a multi-day ticket you purchase. . . What would you do to make a trip (say, 7-8 days) with tickets like these?

 

[Alesia]

OK, I wish I really had to make this decision, but it's really just academic at this point. I am in charge of acquiring donations for our school's raffle baskets and have been awarded some from Disney. Of course it is fun to think of a free-ish Disney trip! However, Disney's charity donations are 4 one-day hoppers and cannot be upgraded. Obviously, the stated value of $620 goes way, way down if you buy other tickets and just use these to add an extra day to a multi-day ticket you purchase. . . What would you do to make a trip (say, 7-8 days) with tickets like these?

I wouldn't use them on a 7-8 day trip. It's just throwing money away.

They can work for a 4 day trip if one person uses all of the comp tickets, but it's still not a stellar value.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Or, if you ever plan for a quick weekend trip, use two tickets each for two people for the best use of the "value."

I have comp tickets that I use individually - a value of approximately $140 because they are park hoppers.

 

[Sytrace]

Have you been able to get donations from Sea World and/or Universal for one day each? There are other theme parks you might want to approach for a donation as well. Fun Spot, Gatorland, the new entertainment complex on I Drive that has the Eye and Madame Toussard and Sea Life aquarium for example.

Take what passes you can get donated and make up a getaway package to include the 4 One day hopper passes, Sea World, Universal and throw in the other locations as bonus day entertainment.
Fun Spot and the I Drive attractions are very close to each other and they could even use that as the last day of an 8 day trip. Gatorland is kind of out of the way, but it might be worth a shot to try them for a donation as well. They are trying to beef up attendance at all the spots I listed.

Just a thought on how you might stretch the 4 day Disney tickets into a more exciting offer. Or put them up as a silent auction item instead of a raffle.

 

[Mikie]

@Sytrace, thanks for some good ideas! Universal only donates to organizations in the Orlando area, but I can look at the others.

 

[kohlby]

If there is no expiration date, then I could easily find a use for them. We used to do both Universal and Disney but it got too expensive to do both. If we had one-day Disney tickets, then I'd pay for one more ticket so the 5 people in my family could do one day at Disney during a Universal-focused trip. I have known many people who only did one day at Disney due to finances and they found other things to do as well. Adding other attractions would make it a better deal, but I'd be happy with what it is. Since you're trying to bulk it up, look into the other attractions but also look into restaurants - see if any of the ones in Downtown Disney, I mean Disney Springs, would donate gift cards. You can also look into movie theater tickets or mini golf tickets - since they have a lower value, maybe a company would be more willing to donate them.

 

[wisblue]

I would probably take a short trip with just my wife. We could either do a 2 day trip, with each of us using 2 of the tickets, or a 4 day trip, with one person using the 4 hoppers and the other buying a 4 day hopper ticket.

 

[tobikaye]

To make a 7 day trip that included 4 one-day park hoppers to WDW, I would consider the group going.

If 4 people: Plan an extended Florida visit where you either base out of Orlando, or part Orlando and part another portion of Florida. If you plan to base out of Orlando, then day trip to WDW, day trip to USO/IOA, day trip to St. Augustine, day trip to Gulf Coast (so many places). There are quite a few other options of things to do in Central Florida, but at this moment I am blank. I had a list at one point, but I accidentally deleted it.

If 2 people: Same as above, but with 2 WDW days.

 

[Malibustyle23]

If there is no expiration date

They expire in a year.

Our school also just got them to use in our fundraiser next month. We will put them in a silent auction. I may be wrong but I don't think we are allowed to use them in an raffle.

Another local school had them sell for over $350+. Ill let the buyer decide what to do with them or how to use them. Ours will stand alone in the auction since I haven't secured anything else to add. Hopefully someone is planning a Universal trip and wants to hop over to WDW for a day.

 

[Mikie]

Thanks, folks! I don't necessarily have to bulk up the offering, but I figure if anyone is a bit savvy about Disney ticket pricing, they may realize you need to be a little creative to get the value out of these. adding another attraction or two in central Florida would help spell it out.

@Malibustyle23 , I'll have to check about using them as a raffle. I know other schools in my area have used them this way, but that doesn't mean they were right! I thought as long as it was a fundraiser (selling tickets, taking bids) and not just a door prize or attendance gift, we were ok. I'll read the fine print. . .

 

[Alesia]

Thanks, folks! I don't necessarily have to bulk up the offering, but I figure if anyone is a bit savvy about Disney ticket pricing, they may realize you need to be a little creative to get the value out of these. adding another attraction or two in central Florida would help spell it out.

@Malibustyle23 , I'll have to check about using them as a raffle. I know other schools in my area have used them this way, but that doesn't mean they were right! I thought as long as it was a fundraiser (selling tickets, taking bids) and not just a door prize or attendance gift, we were ok. I'll read the fine print. . .

Be careful with raffles. They are illegal in many places. There are often exceptions, but they are very specific. You need to be really sure of the laws in your area before you attempt a raffle.

 

[Mikie]

Be careful with raffles. They are illegal in many places. There are often exceptions, but they are very specific. You need to be really sure of the laws in your area before you attempt a raffle.

Thanks - that I DO know. We are in the clear here. Good warning for others, though.

 

[DisneyPups]

Sometimes after a cruise, we like to pop over to Disney for the day, since you have to disembark so early... that would be the perfect use, b/c who the heck pays for a one day ticket to Disney? WAAAAY too expensive.

 

[scrapquitler]

Or, if you ever plan for a quick weekend trip, use two tickets each for two people for the best use of the "value."

I have comp tickets that I use individually - a value of approximately $140 because they are park hoppers.

I agree with this.

A lot of people in my area have family that lives in Florida (I think half of CT has moved there). So for a lot of people from my area, those tickets would be used as a one day thing for their family while they go to visit Grandma and Grandpa. Especially families who are not huge Disney fans and wouldn't think to go for a whole multi-day Disney extravaganza. One day during the week while they go to visit Grandma and Grandpa would be a fun extra and there is a lot of value in that for many people.

 

[ConnecticutNonna]

I would actually plan a trip around them, I would do 6 days, maybe during party season, buy a hard party ticket, spend one resort day and hop my heart out for 4 days. What's not to love?!?
Stay at a value and enjoy the tickets!

 

[bc7ate9]

We won 4 1-day hopper tickets at a fundraiser for my cousins' football team for only $200. We thought about using them for an upcoming trip, but the value just wasn't there since we always stay on site and book packaged. We ended up inviting my best friend and her daughter to join us for a day - they actually live in FL so it worked out well. We will spend another day with them on a future trip.

 

[Raenstoirm]

Post cruise. When we cruise out of Port canaveral, I can't not stop at disney since we are so close! lol. In the past we have done one night at a disney resort and 2 park days.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

Thanks, folks! I don't necessarily have to bulk up the offering, but I figure if anyone is a bit savvy about Disney ticket pricing, they may realize you need to be a little creative to get the value out of these. adding another attraction or two in central Florida would help spell it out .

You are perhaps only thinking of how you would use these tickets, while forgetting the VAST number of folks who go to Orlando for WORK trips.Thousands of folks visit the area for work every day. Some companies allow employees to tack a day onto their trips if the employee is willing to pick up the hotel/food costs. Swapping airfare by one day is usually free for the business in terms of cost, AND a perk employees love to get.

Still more folks go to WDW each year for weekend weddings, to see family, to visit central FL area for a host of non-WDW reasons. WDW is only an hour from Daytona, and only 90minutes from Tampa. A number of folks would be happy to tack a day onto an existing visit to FL whether they are going for the Daytona 500 or the beach.

 

[kohlby]

With the expiration date in a year, I'd still use them - but I live about 8 hours from Disney. If I lived a plane ride away, then the year expiration date would make me not want want to bid on them unless I was already planning a trip.

 

[Julylady]

I have had the opportunity to use these tickets twice.
1. I bought them at a silent auction knowing I would use them one day prior to our cruise six months later.
2. I bought two tickets from another person who had won them. We used them for a family member who met us a WDW for just two days during our longer trip. I paid $75 for both tickets so a great deal!