Not sure what to do about park passes

[purplebelle]

DH and I are going to WDW later this month with his family coming in from the UK. They are staying 2 weeks, and we'll be there for one week. His family purchased 14-day passes with water park and hopper option. Is it even possible to park hop during summer months when it's crowded?? Dates are Aug 18th-25th for me and DH so I figured we'd only do one park a day -- no need for hoppers. I was thinking of going with the AAA 4 or 5 day pass (basic tickets) but I don't want to lock into basic tickets and end up with a family that hops the whole day from park to park. AAA is only saving me like $10 a person for the 5 days, so should I wait and just buy tickets from Disney World site when I get there and know better what the family's plans are?

 

[SaraJayne]

When it's crowded is the best time to park hop. If one park feels too crowded to you, go to a different one.

You can keep the current tickets you have and once you get there, if you decide you want to add hopping, you take your ticket to any ticket window and add park hopping.

The cost is the same regardless of when you do it during your trip.

If you're going a week, why are you only buying 4 or 5 day tickets?

 

[eliza61]

Also the time of year you are going, the parks are usually open very late. 11 pm, midnight so times even 1 am with EMH's.
We've gone around that time and it's great because we can do 1 park in the morning, come back to the room during the heat of the day and then do another park in the evening.

 

[purplebelle]

When it's crowded is the best time to park hop. If one park feels too crowded to you, go to a different one.

You can keep the current tickets you have and once you get there, if you decide you want to add hopping, you take your ticket to any ticket window and add park hopping.

The cost is the same regardless of when you do it during your trip.

If you're going a week, why are you only buying 4 or 5 day tickets?

If I buy the tickets through AAA, can I still add park hopping option at WDW when I get there? By the way, I'm not staying on site -- but in an offsite villa. Not my choice, but much more affordable for the whole group.

8 days is really 6 days b/c 2 are travel days and not park days for me. I've been to WDW 13 times (I've lost count really...) and don't see the need to do a park virtually every day I'm there. My husband definitely doesn't want to do the parks every day either.

Also ... I want to save a non-Disney park day or two to try Harry Potter land or whatever it's called.

 

[purplebelle]

Also the time of year you are going, the parks are usually open very late. 11 pm, midnight so times even 1 am with EMH's.
We've gone around that time and it's great because we can do 1 park in the morning, come back to the room during the heat of the day and then do another park in the evening.

No EMHs for me since we're staying off site.

I didn't realize parks were open that late. Good to know. I was hoping we could avoid the extra fees for park hopping + water parks b/c my income unexpectedly dipped hugely. Not sure if I should risk the non-park hopping or not...

 

[SaraJayne]

If I buy the tickets through AAA, can I still add park hopping option at WDW when I get there?

Yes.

 

[CdnCarrie]

Undercover Tourist is cheaper than AAA and for sure cheaper than buying once you are there.

 

[powellrj]

Not sure if they allow this, but because tickets for UK visitors are so much cheaper than they are in the US, could his family buy you the UK tickets to use since you are traveling together?
http://www.mousesavers.com/specwdwtix.html#14day

 

[Chris the CPA]

Not sure if they allow this, but because tickets for UK visitors are so much cheaper than they are in the US, could his family buy you the UK tickets to use since you are traveling together?
http://www.mousesavers.com/specwdwtix.html#14day

They also come with park hopper and water park and more options.

 

[ValpoCory]

When it's crowded is the best time to park hop. If one park feels too crowded to you, go to a different one.

You can keep the current tickets you have and once you get there, if you decide you want to add hopping, you take your ticket to any ticket window and add park hopping.

The cost is the same regardless of when you do it during your trip.

If you're going a week, why are you only buying 4 or 5 day tickets?

Yep, and I usually recommend to my friends to not buy PH tickets before your trip, but instead upgrade to PH tickets as you arrive to the 2nd park the first time you find that you actually need to park hop. This is especially good advice when traveling with young children who have relatively early bed times.

 

[ceecee]

YES to the hoppers. When it's crowded it the BEST time to use them.

 

[laurafergie]

Not sure if they allow this, but because tickets for UK visitors are so much cheaper than they are in the US, could his family buy you the UK tickets to use since you are traveling together?
http://www.mousesavers.com/specwdwtix.html#14day

I know I have seen this question before....I want to say yes, with conditions. I'm sure Cheshire Figment will see this thread and let you know the best thing to do.

 

[laughinplace199]

Undercover Tourist is cheaper than AAA and for sure cheaper than buying once you are there.

Actually, this depends on the AAA office. The tickets at my AAA office are typically the same or a dollar or two cheaper than UT.

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

That time of the year shouldn't be that crowded. Kids are heading back to school next week, so the locals won't be at the parks during the week and that is close to the end of the month, so I think most kids nationwide would be heading back to school.

We have been that time of year and it really wasn't that crowded.

And, we hardly ever head to WDW without hoppers any more, but you can add them if you see you are going to need them.

 

[purplebelle]

Not sure if they allow this, but because tickets for UK visitors are so much cheaper than they are in the US, could his family buy you the UK tickets to use since you are traveling together?
http://www.mousesavers.com/specwdwtix.html#14day

UK sister-in-law said she used this site to purchase: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/tickets-passes/ (The regular US site...? and I sure don't see a 14-day option for the 7 day price she states)

I've asked her if she added water park and hopping option on top of the base tickets and the only response I can get is "We have unlimited access to everything for 14 days." It was my thought once that perhaps we could get tickets through a UK deal as my husband is a UK citizen though he lives here. Anyone UK-ers out there who know of good deals? I'll check out the link you suggested, powellrj

 

[purplebelle]

I know I have seen this question before....I want to say yes, with conditions. I'm sure Cheshire Figment will see this thread and let you know the best thing to do.

Ahh...THIS must be what my sister-in-law in the UK purchased for the whole family. Offers 14 days at 7-day price including the water parks and hopper option. No idea why she only gave me the US site.

 

[purplebelle]

So on Disney's UK site, I can get 5 days in Disney Parks + hopping option and water parks for $358.91 (GBP to USD with today's rate)

AAA can offer the same deal for $352.93 --- I think I'll go with them instead of trying to figure out the UK thing

Thanks everyone!!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

UK sister-in-law said she used this site to purchase: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/tickets-passes/ (The regular US site...? and I sure don't see a 14-day option for the 7 day price she states)

I've asked her if she added water park and hopping option on top of the base tickets and the only response I can get is "We have unlimited access to everything for 14 days." It was my thought once that perhaps we could get tickets through a UK deal as my husband is a UK citizen though he lives here. Anyone UK-ers out there who know of good deals? I'll check out the link you suggested, powellrj

They have special tickets that people from the UK can purchase that include a 14 day and 21 day ticket, when she typed in what ever she typed in, it probably redirected her to the UK site.

 

[zurgswife]

Park hopping is most important when the parks are crowded. I would definitely look at he prices of Undercover tourist and compare to AAA.