Last Day- Park or ???

[MotoWifey185]

Hi I am a DL regular, and my fiance and I love it! I know, I'm lucky to have a fiance that shares this trait with me. I joined the boards a month or so ago, and have mostly been over on the WDW part of the boards to get some info about my first trip/honeymoon in October. We often go on the weekends to DL, drive there Friday after work (sometimes even in the early morning and save money on a hotel) stay all day Sat and half day Sunday and drive back around 4-5pm that day.

This time we are thinking about saving some money and buying 1 day park hoppers, and doing something else on our half day (which will be Monday, fiance started a new schedule and the weekend is Sunday and Monday). I am wondering if we should just add on the extra money and use our less crowded Monday for the parks or if there is a lot of other stuff we can do at the resorts?

Whatever we do, we are sooo excited. What is your opinion, OH, and any insider Dis-tips that even a seasoned visitor may not know? TIA!

 

[skiingfast]

How often do you go? If it's truly often, at $105 days a day or $173 for two days will stack up quickly. A day every other month warrants an AP.

I'd really look into getting an AP. A delux will work well if you visit are going to be Sundays and Monday, it's mostly blocked on Saturdays and Holiday periods. A Premium AP is more, but you may make up the difference on free parking, dining and merchandise discounts and it has 365 a year of access.


You might also consider a Premier AP for DL and WDW. If your honeymoon is enough days the difference over a DL Premium will be covered. There is also always a discount on WDW resorts with and AP greater than general discounts.

Pass types and pricing.
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/passes/

 

[MotoWifey185]

How often do you go? If it's truly often, at $105 days a day or $173 for two days will stack up quickly. A day every other month warrants an AP.

I'd really look into getting an AP. A delux will work well if you visit are going to be Sundays and Monday, it's mostly blocked on Saturdays and Holiday periods. A Premium AP is more, but you may make up the difference on free parking, dining and merchandise discounts and it has 365 a year of access.


You might also consider a Premier AP for DL and WDW. If your honeymoon is enough days the difference over a DL Premium will be covered. There is also always a discount on WDW resorts with and AP greater than general discounts.

Pass types and pricing.
http://disneyland.disney.go.com/passes/

We've looked into AP's, but at the moment we can't afford it. Just little trips here and there. I was just wondering if there is stuff to do at the resorts, since we've never even been inside any of them, just to do something else we haven't done before!

 

[skiingfast]

We've looked into AP's, but at the moment we can't afford it. Just little trips here and there. I was just wondering if there is stuff to do at the resorts, since we've never even been inside any of them, just to do something else we haven't done before!

If you live in California you can make payment over a year, with no interest cost. If you don't perhaps you should forgo some trips and put money into a cookie jar until you can afford and AP.


You can spend time walking in DTD, at least a few stores should be interesting. The GCH lobby is very nice to see, I'm sure you could spend an hour in there. DLH has nice grounds, you could wander there for 30 minutes.

 

[Kidlette]

First - congratulations on the wedding!

We live about an hour away and typically go 2 - 3 times a month. We've done the same thing where, even though we live close, sometimes we'll spend the night and stay the whole weekend so we don't have to drive the hour home. Most of the time though, we just drive home.

Skiingfast is right - if you go as often as it sounds like you do, and AP will be much cheaper in the end. I don't know what state you live in, but if you live in CA you can make monthly payments for them and not have to pay out of pocket for the whole pass. Also, I don't know how many times you're planning on making weekend trips to DLR & WDW in the next year, or how many days your honeymoon trip will be, but there is a Premier Pass that gets you into WDW and DLR, something you might be able to utilize for 2 years worth of trips to both California and Florida parks. This is what my husband and I would do for our annual WDW trips, and it saved us so much money. For instance: if we went for this year's trip in January we would buy the AP at that time. Then, instead of taking next year's annual trip in January too, we would go in December instead, that way we can use the same ticket for 2 different trips. If you were to get the premier pass that allows you into CA and FL, then you could use it for going to DLR as many times as you want over the next year, PLUS you could use it for your honeymoon trip in October, and then a 1-year anniversary trip the following November - all on the same ticket! Anyway...just a thought!

With regards to what there is to do at DLR in the hotels without going into the parks, there's really not much. As "Skiingfast" mentioned you can walk around and shop at Downtown Disney, but that can get old and doesn't really provide any "activity" - it gets boring. There is a movie theater so you can see a movie, but that's about it. Staying at Disneyland without going into the parks (to me) is just not worth it.

Good luck with everything - I hope you figure it out!

 

[MotoWifey185]

If you live in California you can make payment over a year, with no interest cost. If you don't perhaps you should forgo some trips and put money into a cookie jar until you can afford and AP.


You can spend time walking in DTD, at least a few stores should be interesting. The GCH lobby is very nice to see, I'm sure you could spend an hour in there. DLH has nice grounds, you could wander there for 30 minutes.

We don't live in Cali unfortunately! We are definitely going on this next trip, because this year has been very hard on both of us and we need a vacation desperately!! But to my surprise, I sat him down, did the numbers, and he is hooked on buying premier annual passes.

So we will not be going until at least the summer time (he is dying to see carsland ) and saving up our money like you've suggested. So this will save us money on our honeymoon and after that we figured it would only take 2 other DL trips to pay off the total cost.

First - congratulations on the wedding!

We live about an hour away and typically go 2 - 3 times a month. We've done the same thing where, even though we live close, sometimes we'll spend the night and stay the whole weekend so we don't have to drive the hour home. Most of the time though, we just drive home.

Skiingfast is right - if you go as often as it sounds like you do, and AP will be much cheaper in the end. I don't know what state you live in, but if you live in CA you can make monthly payments for them and not have to pay out of pocket for the whole pass. Also, I don't know how many times you're planning on making weekend trips to DLR & WDW in the next year, or how many days your honeymoon trip will be, but there is a Premier Pass that gets you into WDW and DLR, something you might be able to utilize for 2 years worth of trips to both California and Florida parks. This is what my husband and I would do for our annual WDW trips, and it saved us so much money. For instance: if we went for this year's trip in January we would buy the AP at that time. Then, instead of taking next year's annual trip in January too, we would go in December instead, that way we can use the same ticket for 2 different trips. If you were to get the premier pass that allows you into CA and FL, then you could use it for going to DLR as many times as you want over the next year, PLUS you could use it for your honeymoon trip in October, and then a 1-year anniversary trip the following November - all on the same ticket! Anyway...just a thought!

With regards to what there is to do at DLR in the hotels without going into the parks, there's really not much. As "Skiingfast" mentioned you can walk around and shop at Downtown Disney, but that can get old and doesn't really provide any "activity" - it gets boring. There is a movie theater so you can see a movie, but that's about it. Staying at Disneyland without going into the parks (to me) is just not worth it.

Good luck with everything - I hope you figure it out!

This is what we are thinking about doing. I have seen that having an AP gets you discounts at DL, but I looked and I don't see it giving you a discount at WDW. But either way I still think that we are going to have enough DL trips, and one WDW trip, and that should still cover the cost.

I think we are going to just get 2 day park hoppers for this trip also, Monday will have less crowds and we'll get more things done before we have to leave!

 

[mellers]

Hi I am a DL regular, and my fiance and I love it! I know, I'm lucky to have a fiance that shares this trait with me. I joined the boards a month or so ago, and have mostly been over on the WDW part of the boards to get some info about my first trip/honeymoon in October. We often go on the weekends to DL, drive there Friday after work (sometimes even in the early morning and save money on a hotel) stay all day Sat and half day Sunday and drive back around 4-5pm that day.

This time we are thinking about saving some money and buying 1 day park hoppers, and doing something else on our half day (which will be Monday, fiance started a new schedule and the weekend is Sunday and Monday). I am wondering if we should just add on the extra money and use our less crowded Monday for the parks or if there is a lot of other stuff we can do at the resorts?

Whatever we do, we are sooo excited. What is your opinion, OH, and any insider Dis-tips that even a seasoned visitor may not know? TIA!

For what it's worth, my teenaged daughter and I went to Disneyland in February, and we saved all of our explorations of Downtown Disney for our last half day. We spent a pleasant half day looking through the stores, and having a late character breakfast at the PCH Grill. We felt we had a lovely day, and we didn't spend very much money. I think it depends on what you like to do.

 

[Eeee-va]

I'm glad you're going the AP route! Wow, it looks like with your trip to WDW it will make all sorts of sense for you. I'd caution you that it might result in you going to the parks more often (I went on 3 separate trips the year I had an AP!)...but it sounds like you're going often enough anyway that it won't make much difference.

IF you like shopping for Disney things, I think you can spend a few hours in DTD...you'd save any shopping for the "resort" day. You can also enjoy a leisurely meal and just lounge around in the GCH lobby. I don't know about staying until 4 or 5, though, unless you like sleeping in until check-out time. (Which I do...but not on vacation!)

That said, if you're used to doing 1.5 days, I think you might be disappointed with the "downgrade" to 1. I'm not sure when you're going (did I miss it?) but IF the parks are on short hours/8 PM close on Monday then you'll be staying nearly 'til close on Monday if you leave at 5 PM.

(As an aside, it looks like the Premier AP is only about $60 more than a WDW resort-only AP? Maybe a bit more with taxes/etc. but still...that seems crazy to me!)

 

[skiingfast]

I sat him down, did the numbers, and he is hooked on buying premier annual passes.

So we will not be going until at least the summer time (he is dying to see carsland ) and saving up our money like you've suggested. So this will save us money on our honeymoon and after that we figured it would only take 2 other DL trips to pay off the total cost.

3 DL trips and a WDW should work out fine for the cost of the premier.
To save money I would suggest a couple things. If you can avoid summer by going in May or September it will help with room rates. If it must be summer aim for midweek. This will also help with crowds.

This is what we are thinking about doing. I have seen that having an AP gets you discounts at DL, but I looked and I don't see it giving you a discount at WDW. But either way I still think that we are going to have enough DL trips, and one WDW trip, and that should still cover the cost.

WDW discounts are a lot more complex. Mainly because a lot of locations in the parks are not owned by Disney. So for them and other onsite 3rd party locations the deals differ.

Other than that it does have a merchandise discount similiar to in DLR.

For dining it's a whole other ballgame. At WDW having an AP lets you buy thier Table in Wonderland card. It's I believe currently $75, and it gives you a 20% off discount on food and beverages(yes alchohol unlike DLR) as the base, but lots of exclusion and inclusions. http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/passholder-program/dining-discounts/

Another hitch of having an AP in WDW is this. As I mentioned it will get you a better rate than the general discounts at WDW for rooms. It will stop you from buying a package since you won't need tickets, and thus no dining plan. Not having the dining plan at WDW may feel like a disadvantage, but in reality it's a mixed blessing. The dining plan can only save you upto 20% off, and the TIW card saves you upto 20% off. It's not a direct trade off though because the TIW cards isn't good at all the places that do accept the dining plan, but it does discount a bottle of wine. The dining plan does not include alchohol.

I think we are going to just get 2 day park hoppers for this trip also, Monday will have less crowds and we'll get more things done before we have to leave!

If you can't fit your other 3 trips(WDW +DLRx2) in the same 365 days, then go to it.

 

[MotoWifey185]

For what it's worth, my teenaged daughter and I went to Disneyland in February, and we saved all of our explorations of Downtown Disney for our last half day. We spent a pleasant half day looking through the stores, and having a late character breakfast at the PCH Grill. We felt we had a lovely day, and we didn't spend very much money. I think it depends on what you like to do.

Yeah I figured there would be plenty of things to do, I've always wanted to check out the resorts. But I'll save that for another half day when our trip has already been 4-5 days long.

I'm glad you're going the AP route! Wow, it looks like with your trip to WDW it will make all sorts of sense for you. I'd caution you that it might result in you going to the parks more often (I went on 3 separate trips the year I had an AP!)...but it sounds like you're going often enough anyway that it won't make much difference.

IF you like shopping for Disney things, I think you can spend a few hours in DTD...you'd save any shopping for the "resort" day. You can also enjoy a leisurely meal and just lounge around in the GCH lobby. I don't know about staying until 4 or 5, though, unless you like sleeping in until check-out time. (Which I do...but not on vacation!)

That said, if you're used to doing 1.5 days, I think you might be disappointed with the "downgrade" to 1. I'm not sure when you're going (did I miss it?) but IF the parks are on short hours/8 PM close on Monday then you'll be staying nearly 'til close on Monday if you leave at 5 PM.

(As an aside, it looks like the Premier AP is only about $60 more than a WDW resort-only AP? Maybe a bit more with taxes/etc. but still...that seems crazy to me!)

We are going January 7-9, just a quick weekend trip. Getting there late on Saturday and leaving Sunday so we can be home before bed. Lol, but you're right, we won't enjoy the downgrade. If we go shopping and spend money we might as well have just bought the park hoppers. And I know what you mean. I knew what the prices of the AP's were, but I never really did the math of the difference, until the other day when we finally just sat down and figured it out!

3 DL trips and a WDW should work out fine for the cost of the premier.
To save money I would suggest a couple things. If you can avoid summer by going in May or September it will help with room rates. If it must be summer aim for midweek. This will also help with crowds.


WDW discounts are a lot more complex. Mainly because a lot of locations in the parks are not owned by Disney. So for them and other onsite 3rd party locations the deals differ.

Other than that it does have a merchandise discount similiar to in DLR.

For dining it's a whole other ballgame. At WDW having an AP lets you buy thier Table in Wonderland card. It's I believe currently $75, and it gives you a 20% off discount on food and beverages(yes alchohol unlike DLR) as the base, but lots of exclusion and inclusions. http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/passholder-program/dining-discounts/

Another hitch of having an AP in WDW is this. As I mentioned it will get you a better rate than the general discounts at WDW for rooms. It will stop you from buying a package since you won't need tickets, and thus no dining plan. Not having the dining plan at WDW may feel like a disadvantage, but in reality it's a mixed blessing. The dining plan can only save you upto 20% off, and the TIW card saves you upto 20% off. It's not a direct trade off though because the TIW cards isn't good at all the places that do accept the dining plan, but it does discount a bottle of wine. The dining plan does not include alchohol.



If you can't fit your other 3 trips(WDW +DLRx2) in the same 365 days, then go to it.

I was just saying 2 trips is all it would take to justify the cost, but we'll probably go at least 5-6. We went 6 times one year without AP's, just cause we didn't even know about them.

We didn't plan on doing the dining plan because we share meals and don't eat very much anyway. It's nice that all we'd have to buy is the hotel if we get these Premiers.

Yes I know summer (most likely a weekend also) will be more crowded and expensive but it's a priority for DF to see Carsland and I'm not going to complain!

 

[MotoWifey185]

On a side note, I have been debating if I want us to go on a DL honeymoon, where our love for Disney first began (and honestly the glue of our relationship at times). We would stay at our dream hotel- the Grand, go to Sea World, the beach, and save a ton of money by not buying plane tix. And go to WDW with our first child or something. DF is no help because he just wants to roll with whatever I do, lol. I obviously don't need to make our decision any time REAL soon, but anyone have any opinions?

 

[Eeee-va]

On a side note, I have been debating if I want us to go on a DL honeymoon, where our love for Disney first began (and honestly the glue of our relationship at times). We would stay at our dream hotel- the Grand, go to Sea World, the beach, and save a ton of money by not buying plane tix. And go to WDW with our first child or something. DF is no help because he just wants to roll with whatever I do, lol. I obviously don't need to make our decision any time REAL soon, but anyone have any opinions?

Do you want to fly across the country with a baby? You almost certainly COULD do a WDW trip cheaper than staying at the Grand Californian, but I'm not sure what hotel you're looking at for WDW. The Grand Californian by itself appears to be about as expensive as some of the WDW Deluxe resorts, so if you stayed at a cheaper hotel you could feasibly counter the airfare and maybe even park costs. If you wanted to.

I think both options are great...WDW might be more fun because it will be a new place to explore. But if you've been exclusively doing 1 or 2 night trips at DL, then an extended trip could be crazy-fun. Will you be going in October, though? I don't really like DL in October so much...I found the Halloween parties to be crazy-busy, and they'd be an extra cost on top of your AP. (And I LOVE dressing up in costumes, so the fact that I didn't like the party...of course, some others think the parties are great and not crowded.... )

Anyway, I guess I'm no help. I'd lean a bit toward WDW because it's new, but either option is wonderful.

 

[MotoWifey185]

Do you want to fly across the country with a baby? You almost certainly COULD do a WDW trip cheaper than staying at the Grand Californian, but I'm not sure what hotel you're looking at for WDW. The Grand Californian by itself appears to be about as expensive as some of the WDW Deluxe resorts, so if you stayed at a cheaper hotel you could feasibly counter the airfare and maybe even park costs. If you wanted to.

I think both options are great...WDW might be more fun because it will be a new place to explore. But if you've been exclusively doing 1 or 2 night trips at DL, then an extended trip could be crazy-fun. Will you be going in October, though? I don't really like DL in October so much...I found the Halloween parties to be crazy-busy, and they'd be an extra cost on top of your AP. (And I LOVE dressing up in costumes, so the fact that I didn't like the party...of course, some others think the parties are great and not crowded.... )

Anyway, I guess I'm no help. I'd lean a bit toward WDW because it's new, but either option is wonderful.

No, you were a great help. I am going in October and we like it but not enough to want to have a huge vacation at that time. It will be more crowded. Butttt, that will give us a chance to enjoy the resort a little more, sit out by the pool and check out other ammenities (sp) or whatever.

DF likes this idea a lot, because he knows how great we could make a DL trip. Oh and, since it's our honeymoon, I'm more inclined to want to spend more money on the hotel, so we can be closer and have a nicer stay and not have to deal with the buses so much. So I'm mainly looking at Deluxe.

This is why I know that I can do DL cheaper. And we've only had 2 vacations that were longer than the weekend at DL, so a week there would be amazing! It's a lot to consider, oh and I wouldn't take our first WDW trip when our first kid is a baby, we'd wait til he/she is about 4-5!

I hate not knowing what to do!

 

[taaren]

Another option would be to buy 10 day non-expiring WDW hoppers and use some of the days at DLR ... I guess even a 5 day hopper non-expiring would be worthwhile for you since you'd spread it out over 6 months to a year. I guess that might be as much as an AP though, huh?

 

[bumbershoot]

...and I wouldn't take our first WDW trip when our first kid is a baby, we'd wait til he/she is about 4-5!

If that's your plan, despite being big Disney fans, then definitely do NOT go to WDW as a couple!

Don't get me wrong, I actually like land a bit more than world, but it's a great place to have a proper vacation, without the parks *right there*, calling to you.



OP, the info about the Premier AP isn't on a disney website. But rest assured, it functions as a top of the line AP for DLR and WDW, and gives you the discounts involved in each of those APs. And there are AP discounts on dining beyond getting a Tables in Wonderland card. (though the TIW is great, IMO)