newbie question

[Billybob7]

We just purchased our DVC membership.

If we are going to WDW for 8 days in January, 2009, and that is the only time we are going in 2009, is there a trick/discount to purchasing park tickets or do I simply purchase an 8 day park hopper ticket? An annual pass is more than the 8 day park hopper and I'd only be using it once for the year.

Also, if I want to use the dining plan, is there a discount or again, do I simply purchase a 7 or 8 day dining plan?

Thanks!

 

[TisBit]

Not really any tricks to it....you can purchase tickets through places like Undercover Tourist and save a little bit (about $11) from WDW price. If you sign up for Mousesavers Newsletter, they also will send you a link that will possibly save you a couple more dollars off your passes as well.

As for Dining, it really depends on how you eat in order to do it cheaper. If you typically eat a full lunch and sit down dinner with dessert, plus a snack during the day, than the DDP is definitely an option. But if you sometimes skip a meal, etc....the DDP might not be the best option. It has changed for 2008, so who knows what changes might happen in 2009. I would hesitate to buy it for an 8 day vacation, but thats because we don't typically eat that way and over 8 days I doubt we would use it all up. You can only get the DDP for your length of stay, so it is the number of nights you are there, not days.

Hope that helps.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I would go to a place like Undercovertourist and get the 10 day non-expiration, hopping - if you want. For the extra money, you could find yourself in the lucky position of not having to buy tickets one year for your 8 night stays!

Bobbi

 

[dianeschlicht]

I know you say you will only go once next year, but you do know that an AP is valid for 366 days, right? It is not a calendar year, so many of us will skew the dates by a week or two and get two annual trips out of one AP. For example, if you go the second week of January '09m can you go the first week of Jan. '10? That is a great way to save on park passes.

 

[pennst8r]

Just look at what you get from the discounted tickets closely. When I checked them last year I found that the discounted tickets didn't have everything the ones from WDW had. The ones I looked at had a few less water park admissions for the week, not every day. Might not matter, but FYI.

 

[hellerjw]

I too would recommend going the 10-day, no expiration route.

We did the AP this time when we went for a week in Aug 07 because we knew we were going back in June 08 for another week and the DVC discount made it a better option.

With the 10-day, no expiration tickets you could always do 4 or 5 days in the parks and then save the remaining 5 or 6 for the next trip.