Question regarding the new tickets . . .

[Tinkim]

OK. Bear with me. I know these tickets are new but I was doing some figuring last night for our trip in February. I was going to buy the 5-day PH from AAA for about $893 (3 adults, 1 child). Now I am thinking if I buy the new tickets I can get the 6-day PH (no pluses, no hopping, and an expiration date) for $793 (3 adults, 1 child). My logic was this. . . I wanted to buy UPHs because we are taking a short trip so that we could go into the parks on the first and last day but they were pretty expensive. Then I settled on the regular 5-day PH and we would skip the parks on arrival day and go to a park on the last day. Now if I buy the new passes and I give up the park hopping option and accept that it has an expiration date I can actually use the tickets to enter the parks all 6 days for $100 less. I would be willing to forgo park hopping as a trade off for having 6 days which should allow us to see more and not really need to hop anyway. If I understand correctly I could add $10 per ticket so the tix don't expire (still ahead $60 if that is correct). The only drawback I could find was it did not look like they are offering the "base" tickets for advanced sale purchase so I am assuming I have to wait until I get there to buy them. All right I know some of you have gotten out the calculator and the pen and paper and sat down and looked at this. I know I'm not the only one . . . am I?

 

[leebee]

I've been doing some fast reading and I too may not fully understand the ins and outs...but...I thought the "no expiry" charge was $5/day...also I believe Mary at Mousesavers has the advance purchase prices posted, so scoot over there and see if you can save more!

 

[Tinkim]

leebee ~ I did go over to Mousesavers for another look and you're right about the expiration date. It would actually cost me $45 per 6-day PH to add the no expiration date feature which is $180 for 4 tickets. I think that is the only option I would really struggle with. I never get the plusses so that isn't an issue and I can live without the park hopping privilege if it means more days to access the parks at a lower price but the expiration thing worries me. What if the kids or I get sick when we are there? Then we have tickets that expire and can't be used. Maybe there is an option to pay the fee after you have the tickets "just in case." That would be best case scenario I guess. I did look at the advanced ticket options and right now it seems you can only get that for the PH with the plus or the expiration date but the "base" tickets don't seem to have an advance purchase option. Definitely something to think about. What is everyone else going in Jan/Feb planning on doing for tickets? Are you going to run out and buy PHs before Jan 2 or wait and try out the new tickets?

 

[Princess Erin]

I am so glad I am going in December. Maybe I am not concerntrating on this enough but it is confusing. We typically buy a four or five day hopper. How much will that be in January? Also, if you have days left over on your current passes will they be excepted since they do not expire?

Thanks all.

 

[JessetheCowgirl]

Any old tickets will still be accepted, according to Mousesavers.

 

[InstImpres]

The no expir. price add on is as follows:
1,2 & 3 day = $10
4 day = $15
5 day = $35
6 day = $45
7 day = $55

(these prices are before tax).


Hope that helps
Sandy

 

[JudyS]

... Maybe there is an option to pay the fee after you have the tickets "just in case." That would be best case scenario I guess....

There is another post on this board saying that yes, you can add on the extra features after you buy the ticket. However, the "no expiration" price would be based on the number of days on the original ticket, not the number of days you have left.

I assume that once a ticket has expired, it's worthless -- the "no expiration option" can't be added after the ticket expires.

 

[DianeV]

Does anyone else think this is crazy to make people have to do so much figuring just to buy tickets? I think they are trying to prevent reselling of unused days for one thing and they also threw in a price increase which my local news stated was 9% (I posted on another thread 5% which is what I thought I heard but evidently it is about 9%) the most in a decade

 

[mochabean]

Looks to me you'll be able to add the no expiration option after the tickets have been used but before they expire. The price increases are highest for the 1-4 day tickets. 5-7 day tickets are actually much more economical on a cost-per-day analysis.

If I was planning a 4 or 5 day trip, with another trip possible in the future, I would get a 10-day ticket (hopper or not, your choice) with the no expiration option. This gives you essentially two vacations worth of tickets for only about $100 more.

The price increase, percentage-wise, is different for each ticket. For the 1-day ticket it is 9%, but for the 7-day ticket it is actually a 2% decrease when comparing an equivalent new ticket to the old 7-day PHP.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

It's really not that complicated, guys. Go look at the chart at AllEarsNet. Think of it like a hamburger.

You pay for the amount of days you want, and get your base price (a plain hamburger). Then you can add on either the park hopper option (cheese), the plusses option (bacon), and/or the no-expire option (mushrooms).

They are just streamlining the ticket process and actually making it EASIER. You buy the options you want, you don't buy the options you don't. No more getting confused or upset because you have to buy a 7-day PHP with plusses you may not want. Most vacationers are going to pay LESS than they would have before, especially if you don't need "plus" options - many of us don't care for the waterparks, etc.

I understand new ideas can trip people up, but just look at the chart - it's about as complicated as ordering a value meal at a fast-food restaurant.

N.E.D.

 

[kutchyone]

I think the base prices listed on Mary's site are advanced purchase discount prices. I was on another site and the base prices were a little higher.

 

[tiberius]

It's really not that complicated, guys.

I understand new ideas can trip people up, but just look at the chart - it's about as complicated as ordering a value meal at a fast-food restaurant.

The only drawback is that I always seem to get stuck behind the guy at McDonald's that does not understand the menu. At least with Disney I can pre-order tickets for my Magical days.

 

[InstImpres]

Tiberuis -

Your countdown timer is depressing, I am feeling sad homeless person syndrome coming on

Sandy

 

[Tinkim]

Just to clarify. . . I don't find the new method that confusing. What confuses me is this. . . it does not appear that you can buy advance purchase tickets unless you are purchasing the park hopper option or the water park option. I don't want those. I just want the base tickets so I assume I am going to have to buy them when I get to the hotel. The other thing I would like to know is if the kids or I are sick, etc. can I purchase the no expiration option after I purchase the ticket?

 

[InstImpres]

The other thing I would like to know is if the kids or I are sick, etc. can I purchase the no expiration option after I purchase the ticket?

The "no-expiration" can be added at any point before the ticket expires. Just note, you will pay based on how many days the ticket was for originally, not how many days are left.

 

[Tinkim]

The "no-expiration" can be added at any point before the ticket expires. Just note, you will pay based on how many days the ticket was for originally, not how many days are left.

Thank you! I didn't feel like I needed the no expiration option but it is nice to know it is there just in case. I would rather pay the fee and have tickets for later rather than just losing out.

 

[NewEnglandDisney]

The only drawback is that I always seem to get stuck behind the guy at McDonald's that does not understand the menu. At least with Disney I can pre-order tickets for my Magical days.

LOL, so true. I mean, I know a lot of people don't eat fast food very often, but it's SO easy...look at the pretty picture of the sandwich you want and remember the number. Decide what size you want, and what kind of drink you want.

This will certainly make me glad I've got an AP - but from what I am seeing from most people's budget, this new system is actually much cheaper and more convenient for many folks - so I hope the kinks get worked out and everyone is happy.

N.E.D.

 

[mochabean]

but from what I am seeing from most people's budget, this new system is actually much cheaper and more convenient for many folks

Yes but only those folks that know what they want. Many others will likely buy add-ons they don't need or won't use. That, I think, is where Disney will likely make up the $$ for the savings that most of us are seeing!

Although I have an AP, I am actually pretty excited for the new tickets. I think it will make explaining the ticket options to all my first-timer friends much easier.