Park Passes

[RavenRob]

This may be a dumb question but I need help on purchasing my park tickets. We will be making our first trip "home" to SSR using DP in June. I don't think we should by AP's because we only make one trip a year.

I am going to buy park hoppers for the length of our stay and will probably also get the DP with them. Do I call member services to buy these???

 

[jimmacmn]

This may be a dumb question but I need help on purchasing my park tickets. We will be making our first trip "home" to SSR using DP in June. I don't think we should by AP's because we only make one trip a year.

Just because you only make one trip per year doesn't mean an annual pass can't make sense. If you plan your trips 11 months apart, then an AP would be good for 2 trips. In that scenario, you would purchase an annual pass every other trip. We do this for our APs, our golf membership and now our Tables in Wonderland card.

 

[Sandisw]

I am a new member--going to SSR on my DP's in August--as well so I am not sure about getting passes through MS but I don't think you can--only AP.

Have you considered this option for AP use? My family only goes once a year as well, but always in the summer because I am a teacher. Our plan is to buy AP for our 2009 trip (1st week in August) and then go in 2010 one week earlier (last week in July). We will get 2 trips out of one pass which essentially cuts the cost in half. I think that right now, the AP is $400.00 (with DVC discount) so it ends up being only around $200.00 for each person--cheaper than the 7 day park hopper pass.

Then, instead of renewing in 2010, we will wait until our summer trip in 2011 to buy them and use them again for the 2012 trip.

Of course, if we manage to squeeze in an extra trip in one of the years that I have the AP's, I will be all set.

 

[RavenRob]

Just because you only make one trip per year doesn't mean an annual pass can't make sense. If you plan your trips 11 months apart, then an AP would be good for 2 trips. In that scenario, you would purchase an annual pass every other trip. We do this for our APs, our golf membership and now our Tables in Wonderland card.

Jim:

Thanks for the idea but that would work great if we did not only go in June. Because of my schedule with work and other things..we can only go down in June every year.

 

[Deb & Bill]

We only go once a year and get PAPs. We plan for the two trips to fall into one 12 month period. So one year we go go early June to mid-June. The next year, we at the end of May and early June.

Last year we were there June 9 to June 19. This year we are there May 28 to June 6.

 

[kdepot]

Ravenrob how many days are you staying? The DVC discount on AP/TIW may be the better option???

 

[RavenRob]

Ravenrob how many days are you staying? The DVC discount on AP/TIW may be the better option???

5 days for parks etc...

 

[WALTSAGOD]

Just because you only make one trip per year doesn't mean an annual pass can't make sense. If you plan your trips 11 months apart, then an AP would be good for 2 trips.

We also did that one year; worked out fine.

 

[MamaCrush]

For our trip to SSR in a couple of weeks, I plan on getting the AP (we're also going over Tgiving this year so it's a no-brainer). I've done an rather in-depth analysis of 1) the Dining Plan, 2) no Dining Plan, and thanks to this thread, 3) Tables in Wonderland. The lowest cost winner for our family of 4 is TIW!

So like Ravenrob, by question is, do I get the AP's through DVC MS, or do I wait until I get to the park somehow-- especially since the expiration date is 12 months after your purchase of the pass, as I understand it.

Also-- where or who do I purchase the TIW program from??

This is our first DVC trip, so all the other times I got the free dining plan!

Thanks for your help!

 

[DISNEYMOMx5]

Since it doesn't look like an AP will work with you, you can also buy your tickets from a reputable broker cheaper than going through Disney. We have gone through Maple Leaf Tickets before, & lots of people on here swear by Undercover Tourist (you can get more info about them on Mousesavers as well as a link they give in their newsletters to get a special discount). I think both sites have specials going on where you buy 3 days & get 2 or 3 free. Hope this helps!

 

[kdepot]

For our trip to SSR in a couple of weeks, I plan on getting the AP (we're also going over Tgiving this year so it's a no-brainer). I've done an rather in-depth analysis of 1) the Dining Plan, 2) no Dining Plan, and thanks to this thread, 3) Tables in Wonderland. The lowest cost winner for our family of 4 is TIW!

So like Ravenrob, by question is, do I get the AP's through DVC MS, or do I wait until I get to the park somehow-- especially since the expiration date is 12 months after your purchase of the pass, as I understand it.

Also-- where or who do I purchase the TIW program from??

This is our first DVC trip, so all the other times I got the free dining plan!

Thanks for your help!

The TiW is purchased at guest relations as well. This is our first trip as well but we are going again in Dec so " no brainer" on APs I know that APs and TiW are purchased at GR locations at the parks or at DTD. I need to find out where GR is in DTD.

 

[kdepot]

5 days for parks etc...

Yes I see MYW is better for you

 

[mecllap]

I am going to buy park hoppers for the length of our stay and will probably also get the DP with them. Do I call member services to buy these???

You need to call MS a few days in advance of your arrival to add the DP to your rez -- then pay for it when you check in.

With all the stuff to do around the resorts, do you really need to get parkhoppers? Maybe for such a short day, you do. I looked at our past three trips when we had APs and there was only one day out of nearly 30 that we actually went to two different parks on the same day.

We'll be at WDW for more than two weeks and I haven't been able to justify getting even one discounted AP (even with the parking for the non-SSR days, getting TIW discounts, etc. -- it doesn't pay. But I'm comparing prices between non-Parkhopper, but with Water Parks and More, since we're going in June, so maybe that's why).

If you're only going for 5 days, would getting the 10-day PH with No Expiration work for you for this trip and the next? (The NE is expensive, tho).

 

[Deb & Bill]

The TiW is purchased at guest relations as well. This is our first trip as well but we are going again in Dec so " no brainer" on APs I know that APs and TiW are purchased at GR locations at the parks or at DTD. I need to find out where GR is in DTD.

If you know where the Team Disney store is, just past Ghiradelli's, it's located in that store. It's where they used to do character photos with Mickey way back when (old Studio M). You can enter the store area right before Ghiradelli's and just after it.

 

[MamaCrush]

The TiW is purchased at guest relations as well. This is our first trip as well but we are going again in Dec so " no brainer" on APs I know that APs and TiW are purchased at GR locations at the parks or at DTD. I need to find out where GR is in DTD.

Is it possible to purchase the APs and TIW at the SSR Guest Relations Desk??

 

[Debbie Jean]

5 days for parks etc...

In you rcase, it seems to me that the best value for money is probably the 10 day non-expiration hopper. The difference between 5 and 10 days is actually negligable. You can use 5 days this trip, tuck them away when you get home and have them to use next time you go.

I buy an AP for myself because I go more frequently, but get DD (22) the 10 day non-exp ticket since she goes less often. I wind up buying one for her every couple of years which actaully saves money.