PARK HOPPER TICKETS- need help.

[DISFANS3]

WE are going back to WDW next Aug, this is going to be a short trip four days, as we will be going on a DCL Cruise the next week. I made reservation yesterday for Pop Century, now I am looking for tickets to the parks. I was told by Reservation I could buy Park Hopper ticket over the phone? They also said it would cost me $30 more per ticket at the gate. In past we always buy the A.P. pass,but we will not be renewing it this year. We just need a 4 day Park Hopper pass.. Should I buy now or wait until we arrive?? Also whats up with the new Passes they are comming out with in 05? I am way to Confused... Thanks

 

[Geoff_M]

If you want PH passes as they exist now (non-expiring), then you will need to buy them now. Next month the current ticketing system goes out the window (tickets previously purchased will not be impacted and are still good as when sold) and you will have the "a la carte" system for your trip, if you don't want to park hop and/or will consume all of your days on your August trip and don't need a "non-expire" option, then it may pay to wait to buy them at a later date.

 

[dcmbshafe]

Sounds to me like you will be using all of your days during your August trip. In addition, it sounds like you don't want any "pluses". If this is the case, you have a pretty easy comparison to make (all prices from allearsnet):

Current 4-day PH passes = $233/188 advance purchase adult/child
Magic Your Way passes w/park hopper feature = $234/183

All prices include tax. Based on this comparison, even though you will most likely use all of the days, I would purchase the current 4-day park-hoppers directly from Disney. Since the days on these don't expire, you will have a little "insurance" in case you have some problems (i.e. someone gets sick and you can't use all the days). These will only be sold through 1/1/05, so you should order them asap.

 

[brentalex]

you can also go to ticketmania and get a 4 day park hopper plus for 227. Even if you don't want the plus option, it is still a bit cheaper and the plus option necer expires, so you could still use it years from now. But you must buy it by the end of the year. They may not have any to sell once the new tickets become available.