Park tickets - best source?

[1derfultigger]

Just made my FW reservations for July 13th - 19th. What's the best strategy for getting tickets? They don't appear to be any cheaper when priced into the package. As a matter of fact, I priced 4 5-day park-hoppers separately on disney.com for $950 and tried adding same to my campground package and the tix were over $1000. Maybe one included tax and the other didn't, I'm not sure, but there is either no difference or they are actually cheaper when purchased separately.

Are there any advantages to purchasing them as part of the package? Are there any good discount sources for park-hopper tickets?

Any strategies or sources you can share would be appreciated.

 

[bama_ed]

1derfultigger,

I have wondered about this myself and I go just about annually.

Disney changed their ticket pricing strategy a few years ago to now if you are in a park 3-4 days, it costs very little to get a 5th, 6th, 7th day etc. I've considered buying at the gate, buying in advance from wdw, buying from a discounter on-line, buying from the WDW center in Ocala on I-75, annual passes, the timeshare route, andonandonandonandonandonandon...... Then add on the water park option, park hopper, or unused day options, blah blah blah....

Last time around I hit on something that worked for me I think. I considered buying the 10 day (longest) pass on line in advance on wdw.com with unused day options; it works out to be cheap per day (I think I priced out the 7 day with unused as the cheapest per day) but I would have had to shell out a lot of money up front, hold on to the tickets for subsequent visits, etc...

So last time I just bought tickets in advance from wdw.com (at a slight discount) for the number of days I planned to be in the park for that visit. I planned to do only 1 water park so I didn't buy that option, didn't buy unused days, and we don't park hop as a general rule. Once you compare an on-line discounter and wdw.com advance purchase both on an after-tax basis there is very little difference.

My belief is that buying tickets as part of a package ceased to be cost-effective many years ago. We don't buy the DDP either so I just book the campsite seperately, buy the admission tickets in advance seperately, eat one or two nice meals in the parks, once at HDDR or TE, and then the rest we eat in our pop-up or pack a picnic lunch to the parks (no glass or alchie allowed).

So depends on if you planned to want the DDP anyway, what kind of room/cabin you want, how many of you, how many park or h20 days you plan, and how much cash ya got on hand. No simple answer.

Thanks for letting me vent - I feel your pain!

Bama ED

 

[OK GRUMPY]

If you have Military privileges you may also be able to check on base. That is were we always get our tickets. Saves on taxes also you get a little break on the price.

 

[DisneyFanatik]

If you are a member, try AAA. Or sign up for the Mousesavers newsletter.

 

[ftwildernessguy]

Military discount is not what it used to be either. The main savings is in the tax. Also, the welcome center in Ocala closed a year or so ago. You can get the military discounted tickets at SOG on property.

 

[stillh2o]

We just buy annual passes 700 and something good for all park and park hopping.

 

[Donna]

If there's any chance you will go again before July 13th, i would definitely go with an annual pass. Otherwise, i'd subscribe to the mousesavers newsletter and click on the ticketmania or undercover tourist link and get your passes from them. One of them (can't remember which one) even offers free shipping and the price on the screen is the TOTAL price including all taxes. It will save you approx. $20 or so per pass. I've used both of them and highly recommend them.
I say to subscribe to the newsletter because the link you get in the newsletter saves you a few bucks over going directly to the site.

 

[1derfultigger]

We aren't in the military and won't be making multiple trips. I am just wondering if there is anything tied to buying the tickets with the reservation vs. buying them separately at a later date. For example, if you buy them through Disney, they give you room keys that act as your gate admission as well right? What do you get if you buy the tickets separately and/or from another source? No big deal - thanks for the responses.

 

[Donna]

We aren't in the military and won't be making multiple trips. I am just wondering if there is anything tied to buying the tickets with the reservation vs. buying them separately at a later date. For example, if you buy them through Disney, they give you room keys that act as your gate admission as well right? What do you get if you buy the tickets separately and/or from another source? No big deal - thanks for the responses.

The tickets tied into your room key will expire at midnight the day you check out. If you get the hoppers on their own (regardless of where), they NEVER expire and you can use them for other trips. The 10 day hopper is an especially good deal, or at least it used to be (through ticketmania or undercover tourist).
I believe undercover tourist is an official ticket broker of disney and that is a hard designation to get. We are not allowed to post links via agreement with Mousesavers.

 

[DisCamper]

No all ticket expire 30 days after you first use them unless you buy the no expire package.

 

[Smooshdog]

No all ticket expire 30 days after you first use them unless you buy the no expire package.

I thought it was 14 days after first use?

 

[DisCamper]

You are right I think it is 14 day after first use 30 days is an other company. I still have the about 40 of the old never expire passes with one 2 -4 day left on them.

 

[1derfultigger]

Haha the last several responses only add to my confusion. But thanks for trying. At least I finally found a ticker that works though.

Let me change my question just a bit... I'm not interested in buying a 10 day pass or anything with a no expire option as we are only able to visit WDW every few years at best - so I only want to purchase what we'll use on this visit. I just called FW and changed my reservations from 6 nights to 8. We know we want to spend some time at the campground only, instead of going to the parks; and we might even try a day or two at Universal since we've never been to the one on the "right coast". So, I'd like to buy, probably, 5 day parkhopper passes for WDW parks. Once used for the first time, do I have to use the passes in the first 5 days (consecutive) following first use or can I spread the usage out over the length of my stay (eg. go to MK on day 1, Epcot on day 2, no WDW parks on days 3 and 4, MGM on day 5, AK on day 6, etc.)? And, if the latter is the case, do I have to purchase the passes as part of my reservation package to make it work that way?

 

[stillh2o]

Disney has changed there tickets as other have posted they now expire after you first use them,But I have read for a charge you can add the no expire to the tickets.

 

[1derfultigger]

Thanks but not exactly what I was asking. If I have a 5-day park-hopper pass and, lets say, I use it on a Monday. Do the other 4 days have to be used on the next 4 consecutive days or can I, for instance, skip the parks on Tuesday, and still have 4 days remaining? I realize there will probably be a date at which they expire somewhere down the line but I mean over the course of a 7 or 8 day stay. And, if I can still get 4 days out of them if I skip a day or 2 in between, do I have to buy them through disney with my reservation to get that to work or will it still work that way if I buy them through another source?

 

[stillh2o]

No you can use them any time with in that 14 day window.

 

[TheGreatGonzo]

Unless you get the "No Expiration" option your pass will be good anytime for 14 days from the first day you use them. With the new pricing structure you only pay a couple of dollars for each extra day beyond the fifth so you may want to get a couple of extra days anyway. That way if you have some extra time or your plans change you can still pop by the parks for a couple of hours or even just for a dinner with very little added expense. I usually like to have that option open.

You can buy them just about any way. Pre purchase through Disney or another source (AAA, etc), purchase them as part of your package (this is required if you get the dinning package) or at the gate when you arrive.

 

[auntie]

I agree with Gonzo..if you are purchasing a 5 day..(no expiration)..it literally only costs a few dollars a day more for longer tickets. I understand you don't "plan" on going everyday to the parks...but given that you are at the Fort you might even want to take a water launch over to the MK one night to take a stroll down Main Street..or a stroll through the countries of Epcot one evening. With the longer ticket(since you will be there 8 days) you have that option without it costing $50 more..it's literally only a few dollars more for the longer passes once you get to that 5 day park pass point. Seems they are charging the big bucks for the first few days and significantly less as it goes on. Just something you might want to consider.
We are the same..I only plan to purchase for time that we will be there..because we don't get to Disney every year. I used to buy the no expiration..and we actually still have a couple of days left on some passes...but given the costs of the passes now..we will purchase the ones that expire with the 14 days of time of purchase.
Good Luck..and enjoy your trip! Oh..and I'd also recommend you check out the mousesavers site..and subsribe to the newsletter..so you can get the discounted tickets. They have some good deals.

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

One big advantage to get an extra day or two is that you don't have to do the parks commando style. Tired or sick halfway through one of your planned days? No problem! You have an extra day available to you. Went to Universal but you want to see Illuminations? No problem! Use the extra day.

Btw I understand why you don't want the plus options. I've got plus options left over from the mid nineties and have gotten more on my latest 10 day pass.

 

[Tickla]

We just got back 2 days ago an I think I can help with your question.We stayed at FW for 9 days. I bought our theme park passes at our local Disney Store 3 weeks before we arrived at the campground--I purchased the 7- day park hopper Plus water park & more option. We went to theme parks the first 4 days, then we did Disney Quest & mini-golf the next day, Blizzard Beach on the 6th day, we park hopped to 3 theme parks on the 7th day, did Magic Kingdom the 8th day (also park hopped for illuminations this day), and ended our stay at Epcot. You do not have to do all your days at theme parks in a row. We were told by Disney that once we use our first day, the rest would expire 14 days from that day. It doesn't have to be consecutive though. Hope this helps!