Old Pro Needs Ticket Advice

[Bill From PA]

Next trip it looks like we'll need some creative ticket usage and I can use some advice. In the past, a 7 Day Hopper + fit the bill as we either stayed 7 days or, as this last trip, took 7 park days and a day of rest by the pool. Next March we're seriously looking at 9 'full' days at WDW, not counting days interrupted by travel. Depending on whether or not we take one or more pool days, we'll be a day or two short on a 7 day Hopper. I'm philosophically opposed to the LOS pass as we've always found it handy to have plusses that never go away and get used later. Also, there's no 'pool day' built into this pass, if we skip a park day we lose it forever. I've got plusses galore left over to cover this trip, so I'm considering buying 2 4 Day Hoppers for 8 park days or a 5 Day and a 4 Day for 9 park days. Finally my questions: Can you get a LOS pass and pay for fewer than the number of days you're staying so as not to lose pool days? Are there 4 and 5 day hoppers with no plusses? Once there, and after using a day or two on a 7 Day Hopper + can I turn them in, pay some bucks and restore them to 7 days? Any other ideas?

Thanks,
Bill From PA

 

[jimmybop]

what about an AP??? I believe ap rates equal out around 8 days on a hopper.... Plus you can get resort discounts....

 

[Kaycee]

Hi Bill! How was your trip to WDW?

I think jimmybop is right about the AP's. Everything I've read says that at the 8-day mark, it becomes more economical to buy an AP instead of parkhoppers. Of course, you won't have days that never expire, but if you time your trips to overlap in a little less than a year's time, you can get a second trip without any ticket expense! And, on top of that, you can get some great discounts on room rates with AP's. I think there are some other discounts offered with AP's too.

 

[Ms. WDW]

The LOS passes are just that; for the duration of your stay. I believe you can drop the first and/or last day (some have had both dropped) off the passes if your flights get you in late and you have to leave early in the day. But I do believe that's the only exception.

Yes you can get a 4 day and 5 day park hopper without options. That's what I'm doing this year because I have options left over from past trips. I'm picking them up from the Disney Store.

BTW....has Spring hit Wilkes-Barre yet? I have a house in Indian Mt. Lakes (Albrightsville) and last time I was there we were knee deep in snow!!

 

[Bill From PA]

Thanks, all, I never thought of an AP. I'm going to seriously crunch the numbers and investigate the AP discounts folks got the first week in March this year while planning our 3/4 - 3/13 2005 trip.

Kaycee, the trip was our best vacation ever. Four generations of our family at the Swan, not one spat or negative word all week, 70s and 80s all week and not a drop of rain. Everyone should have a week like that.

Ms. WDW, just a few mounds of plowed snow in the valley but the mountains have more in the shaded areas. It's 60 degrees now with more to come so it'll be all gone by the weekend.

jimmybop, thanks for the tip.

Bill From PA

 

[GoldenOldie]

$204.48 - 4 day PH advance purchase from Disney
$231.11 - 5 day PH advance purchase from Disney
_______
$435.59 total
$392.99 - cost of AP
_______
$ 42.60 - savings per ticket getting AP

 

[tjmw2727]

I second the AP advice especially if you go more than once a year (and it looks like you do) or you can plan your next years trip a week or so earlier and get two trips out of the AP.

If you can get a hotel discount then the savings grow you won't know this until a few months before the trip so consider this a bonus savings. We often use the lunch discounts, since we make a sit down lunch our big meal of the day that is nice perk.

You may be able to drop the first or last day of an UPH off but not both and I agree, this isn't the most for your money. Another idea is to buy more days than you need on a PHP. Since WDW dosen't offer 1 day park hoppers I often buy a day or two more than I need for future use. So if a 7 or 8 day pass is most cost efficient esp if our down day is at a water park I buy and save days for the next trip.


TJ

 

[Pig Pen]

APs are dangerous items...they call out to you in the dead of the night...

"book another trip, get your money's worth, sure you can go just one more time this year."

I love 'em.

 

[KristaTX]

I see you around here enough, Bill. Go for the AP. If more than one trip a year is too much, you can always go 50 or 51 weeks apart. But I also agree with Pig Pen. They do call out to you - so be prepared.

Krista

 

[HaleyB]

I vote for AP's too.
This year we are going on the kids stay and play free deal but next trip we will buy AP's.

 

[debster812]

*chanting*

AP! AP! AP! AP! AP! AP! AP! AP!

I think from a sheer dollars and cents standpoint, for 9 full days, you will be over your break even point. Especially since you have leftover 'pluses' to use for the other stuff.

There is a breakeven comparison page on Deb's site. You can check it out Here Deb's already crunched the numbers, so you don't have too.

We bought APs for our 11 day trip in Jan of '03. I snuck in a 3 day solo trip in April, and then we went for another 9 days in January of '04. I would say we got our monies worth.

Good Luck

Debbie

 

[Bill From PA]

I feel a Nov. '05 trip coming on with the AP!

Bill From PA

 

[RUDisney]

Bill, if you want to save money on the APs and don't want to use your plusses yet, and won't get to use your APs a second time, you can get a 30-day fun in the sun pass for about $300 per adult. They expire after 30-days, but they include a breakfast, character or otherwise and admission to DQ. They are available through ticketmania.com. You'd have to call and ask for them specifically, as they are not mentioned on the website.

 

[KristaTX]

See - You haven't even bought it yet and it's calling out for you. And doesn't it feel good?

Krista

 

[MaryKatesMom]

Do the Ap!

I've talked DH into it and for all my hard work it looks like I will probalby get 3 trips out of it!

Spring? Does Spring come to Northeast PA before May EVER?

 

[RUDisney]

MaryKatesMom, spring just teases us until May. I'm already wanting to make up my flower beds, but I know that we'll have several frosts between now and LATE May. (We live in Dunmore.)

 

[jimmybop]

spring is teaseing us now.... it snowed yesterday morning, and today its sopose to be around mid 50's!!!

I'm glad i could help, but i'm sure if i was not at the right place when u posted it, someone else would of been

just a hint, you can pick up AP vouchers at The Disney Store before you leave, it will be the same price as buying them at the gates in florida, but its nice to have them in advance (but the time wont start until you activate them at a guest relations window in florida)

 

[MELSMICE]

Definitely an AP. You will absolutely LOVE the flexibility. Obviously, don't get the PAP, you have enough plusses for that.

The great thing about an AP is that you can spend a day at the pool or water park & then go to a park later in the evening just for a few hours, or go see Illuminations, eat dinner in EPCOT, go see Fantasmic & not feel as though you're "wasting a park day off your ticket".

Next to DVC, our AP's are the best things we ever purchased for Disney!!!

They do call out to book additional trips though!