Need help with deciding ticket purchasing!

[Shelbelle6]

Help! I am planning a vacation to WDW in early December. We are likely going to rent a house offsite because of the size of our family. We are 1 dad, 1 mom, 2 teenage daughters, 1 teenage son, 1 jr high-aged son, and 2 pre-K daughters. It has been 8 years since we have been to WDW (first time for our little girls) and I'm really lost in trying to figure out what kinds of passes would be the most cost-effective for us. We are planning to be in WDW for 7 days and we want to make the most of it. I'm sure that we will want to spend a couple of days in the MK. I'm guessing 1 day each for Epcot and MGM. My older kids will want to do a water park. Not sure if we want to go to AK (never been there before).

I know this will be costly as most of my kids will qualify as adult admission! What would be the most cost effective for us? We also want to do at least 1 character meal for the whole family as a special treat for the little ones. I think we also want to do MVMCP also. Is there anything else this time of year that's a must see?

How do I figure this out? I'm guessing that I'm not going to be able to do a one-stop shopping for our tickets. I just feel a little overwhelmed and I don't want to spend more than I have to!

 

[leebee]

Shelbelle, go to mousesavers.com and sign up for the newsletter. Every month it comes to your inbox and usually has special ticket offers from TicketMania and/or MapleLeaf Tickets. I just bought 8 day park hoppers, expiring, no plusses, for $189 child, $230 adult. Even though we only need 7 days, the 8 day tickets were cheaper...go figure! This is the total price, including tax and shipping. You could buy one or two tix a month, since most of the monthly specials are pretty much the same, to spread out the cost. I decided to get Disney tickets for as long as we will be in Orlando, even if we only go 5 or 6 days to the parks, because with the 7/8/9/10 day tickets the price difference can be as little as $3. At that rate I'd go into Disney just to see and evening fireworks show, or to eat at a theme park restaurant, even if it hasn't been a theme park day.
You can prepurchase MVMCP from Disney at a discount price- not a lot cheaper than gate price, but a little cheaper. Don't know what to advise about water parks...look at the price for individual admission tickets rather than bundled into a theme park admission. On the multi day tickets with LOTS of days, you get LOTS of plusses. If you aren't going to use them all, it might not be worth it to buy plus tickets. Also, we've been to WDW in Dec several times...sometimes the weather is amazing, sometimes it's too chilly to spend a day at a water park. Good luck..there are a myriad of admission options, and it can get pretty confusing.

 

[leighmidd]

How exciting for you and your LARGE family! I agree, mousesavers.com has saved us enough money that we were able to take two or three more trips with the money saved! I hope your trip is magical, Disney is unbelievable that time of year. We'll never go back another time!

It would be worth the effort to try and book Cinderella's Royal Table for breakfast or for lunch just to see your youngests faces when all the princesses meet them at the table!!

We've not done MVMCP but are hoping to try it this year.

Something we always do is book Tony's Town Square Restaurant for lunch one day at the Magic Kingdom and request a patio seat. We go around parade time and have the best seat in the house. It's a wonderful experience!

Don't miss the Candlelight Processional. This is a special Christmas time event that is NOT to be missed.

I'm sure I'll think of more, if so I'll be sure to post!

Have a magical trip!

 

[seashoreCM]

8 day tickets cost a lot more ($107.) than 7 day tickets ($59.) to make them not expire (can be done at guest relations even a few days after you start using them)

On the plus side, you can add more days at the same time you add non-expiration and you really should go all the way to 10 days.

The number of dollars needed to upgrade advance purchased tickets is the same as for gate purchased tickets.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Shelbelle6]

Shelbelle, go to mousesavers.com and sign up for the newsletter. Every month it comes to your inbox and usually has special ticket offers from TicketMania and/or MapleLeaf Tickets.

Good luck..there are a myriad of admission options, and it can get pretty confusing.

Thank you. I think it's the myriad of choices that makes it all so difficult. That, and with a family of 8 I really need to be as thrifty as possible so we can do as much as possible!! We are SOOOO looking forward to our trip!!