Planning Gurus, DVC/AP/MYW/Park Pass Dilemma, What should we do?

[mello]

I'm getting ready to book villas for our May 08 Grand Gathering - 14 days & 15 people. Our family's planning to stay in a 2br and get annual passes. We're putting my mom and dad in a studio near us the first week and they want to go to POR the second week to be with friends who will be staying there. My question is what to do about park passes for them? I don't think we'll be able to get my dad to spring for APs. We'd thought about doing a MYW pkg at POR with 10 day passes to stretch out for the whole trip, but since that's the second week, I'm thinking that wouldn't work because they wouldn't get the passes til checking in at POR, right? Any other options you can think of? I can think of a few possible ways to work it but they all seem complicated. The folks are pretty overwhelmed by the whole WDW thing so we're trying to make this as easy and "all inclusive" as possible for them by doing dining plan and having as much paid for before they get there as possible (hence the MYW pkg idea).
So, any suggestions???

 

[bobbiwoz]

I do not know anything about current packages that are offered. However extended family usually buys 10 day MYW passes from Ticketmania or Undercover Tourist. If you subscribe to the Mousesavers news letter, you get links to get the passes at extra savings. Of course, if they want to go to a park every day that you're there, you'll need more than just a 10 day pass.
Everyone has been happy with the passes they've bought from those places.

Bobbi

 

[abeyst]

You are correct-you wouldn't get the 10 day passes from POR until you check in there.

The only thing I can think of as being the easiest is purchasing 2 tickets for each of them (1 to cover the week with you, and 1 in a MYW package at POR). Since you need the DDP for the POR portion of the stay, you're going to need some type of ticket to purchase the package with dining included.

That will, however, make ticket prices more than the price of an annual pass...

You could always do an AP. You'll still have to buy a 1 day pass in the POR package, though.

 

[LIFERBABE]

I would buy them the 10 day MYW for the first week studio stay and then if you want to do a package at POR, just get the 1 day base tickets and use it to upgrade to AP's at a later date. They never expire as long as you dont use them.

This is the best way to keep the "all Inclusive" feel to the vacation with dining and tickets included.

I am planning our family reunion for the end of June 07 but it is 50 people, 3 days! You are really motivated!!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I would buy them the 10 day MYW for the first week studio stay and then if you want to do a package at POR, just get the 1 day base tickets and use it to upgrade to AP's at a later date. They never expire as long as you dont use them.

This is the best way to keep the "all Inclusive" feel to the vacation with dining and tickets included.

I am planning our family reunion for the end of June 07 but it is 50 people, 3 days! You are really motivated!!

I agree with this plan. Are you or they doing the dining plan?

 

[mello]

Thank you for the input!

Bobbi, if we go through Ticketmania or Undercover Tourist (DSis and Bil will likely do go this route anyhow) do we receive vouchers or actual passes? And can they be added onto the room key card at check-in, or must it be a separate card?

I know on our first trip we had Key-to-the-World cards with everything on them and it was sure convenient! We even resort-hopped toward the end and they were able to transfer the remaining days left on our passes over to the new key-card at the 2nd resort, which was really nice. Wondering if we could work it that way for all the extended family on this trip.

Liferbabe, WOW - 50 people! Are you doing any of the Grand Gathering events? I'll be dying to hear how it all turns out. Be sure to post about it afterwards!

If we do the 1-day hopper passes with MYW pkg, I was thinking they'd be on the room key, so they wouldn't be "save-able" for later. Is there another way to do it? Or, we could just leave them on and give mom & dad an 11th day in the parks - that could work nicely too.

Diane, I think we're all going to do the DDP. (It's all psychological: DH likes getting a bill that says $0 after every meal - makes him a happy camper, LOL, and I'm beyond certain my dad will be the same way).

 

[bobbiwoz]

We have gotten actual passes from UT and Ticketmania. I have never tried to link these tickets to the room key.
Bobbi

 

[GoldenOldie]

...if we go through Ticketmania or Undercover Tourist (DSis and Bil will likely do go this route anyhow) do we receive vouchers or actual passes? And can they be added onto the room key card at check-in, or must it be a separate card?

You get the actual tickets. These can be added to your KTTW unless you are on a package that requires a ticket purchase as a condition of the package. That's because tickets from multiple purchases, regardless of the source, cannot be combined.

I know on our first trip we had Key-to-the-World cards with everything on them and it was sure convenient! We even resort-hopped toward the end and they were able to transfer the remaining days left on our passes over to the new key-card at the 2nd resort, which was really nice. Wondering if we could work it that way for all the extended family on this trip.

See above.

If we do the 1-day hopper passes with MYW pkg, I was thinking they'd be on the room key, so they wouldn't be "save-able" for later. ...

The 1 day ticket on the KTTW is valid until it is used. That could be a week later or two years later. It is not restricted to the dates of your stay.