Should I buy tickets now or wait?

[mshanson3121]

Our planned trip is June 2017, and we planned on buying our tickets in March 2017, when we got our IT return. However, I realize that of course there'll definitely be a price increase by then but that there's also a pretty good chance that they'll implement tiered pricing on multi-day tickets. Which honestly, if that happens, we'll probably be priced out and won't be able to go.

So, I just got a notice in the mail today that our credit card limit is being increased by $2000.... exactly the amount that tickets are going to cost us... so the wheels are turning

Should I just go ahead and buy the tickets now and put them on our credit card and I can pay them off month by month? (ETA: I'm honestly not concerned about the interest, my biggest concern is buying tickets just in case of tiered pricing).

My only fear is that if something happens (ETA: Not financial, but health-wise with our daughter) and we can't go next year. I don't really want to have $2000 tied up in tickets that may not get used for a few years. Though I'm guessing I could always sell them?

Thoughts?

 

[Disneyliscious]

Would the interest on your CC be more than the increase in ticket prices? That's something I would take into consideration. We are going in Oct. 2017 and I'm just buying 1 ticket every so often as I can with cash. You would prob be better going that route, that way you don't pay any interest.

 

[OhMari]

There has been so many changes to tickets. I think there is a sticky thread somewhere on the DIS. Don't quote me on this, but I think the tickets you purchase now, expires at the end of 2016. But you can turn them in and you will get credit for the cost and if there is a price increase, they have you pay the price increase. Believe me, I am hoping this is not true, but when there was a ticket price increase in February. There was a mad rush for the old tickets, since the new rules didn't apply to any tickets that were old yet. I think any ticket that is purchased now, the rules applies towards the tickets. Under Cover Tourist, had a few old tickets a few weeks ago, but they may have run out.

 

[Disneyliscious]

Don't quote me on this, but I think the tickets you purchase now, expires at the end of 2016.

I read they expire Dec. 31st, 2017.

 

[georgina]

This is why I hang around the DIS even though I am not planning a trip right now. I had no idea they were adding an expiration date to tickets now. We still have some non-expiring ones to use, but it is always good to know!

 

[CoP Luv]

Would the interest on your CC be more than the increase in ticket prices? That's something I would take into consideration. We are going in Oct. 2017 and I'm just buying 1 ticket every so often as I can with cash. You would prob be better going that route, that way you don't pay any interest.

This.

If you are unable to pay off the charge right away, there is no point in buying the tickets now to avoid any increase in price. Depending on your CC interest rates, and how long it would take to pay off, I would bet that you would be paying more money in interest charges than you would be saving with a price increase.

If you are able to pay a monthly portion of your tickets now, put that away somewhere where you won't spend it. Usually people on here get word of a potential price increase before it happens, and if that is the case, take the money you saved and purchase what you can at that time.

 

[mshanson3121]

This.

If you are unable to pay off the charge right away, there is no point in buying the tickets now to avoid any increase in price. Depending on your CC interest rates, and how long it would take to pay off, I would bet that you would be paying more money in interest charges than you would be saving with a price increase.

If you are able to pay a monthly portion of your tickets now, put that away somewhere where you won't spend it. Usually people on here get word of a potential price increase before it happens, and if that is the case, take the money you saved and purchase what you can at that time.

The interest on the tickets would be $25 a month, at the highest, but each month I'd be able to pay down that amount, so I would guess by the time we paid them off, we'll have paid $100-120 in interest. So still less than what the increase in ticket prices would cost us, and if they go to tiered pricing, it'd be a substantial savings.

 

[Marionnette]

This is why I hang around the DIS even though I am not planning a trip right now. I had no idea they were adding an expiration date to tickets now. We still have some non-expiring ones to use, but it is always good to know!

From Disney's website:

Tickets purchased after February 28, 2016 must be used by December 31, 2017, but the amount paid for an unused, expired ticket may be applied towards the purchase of a new ticket at the current price so long as the new ticket purchase price is equal to or greater than the amount paid for the original ticket.​

So, even if you were to buy tickets now and they expired, you would not lose the money you paid for them. You would be able to apply that amount to the purchase of a ticket at the prevailing gate price.

​

 

[OhMari]

I read they expire Dec. 31st, 2017.

Good to know. Sorry.

 

[Marionnette]

The interest on the tickets would be $25 a month, at the highest, but each month I'd be able to pay down that amount, so I would guess by the time we paid them off, we'll have paid $100-120 in interest. So still less than what the increase in ticket prices would cost us, and if they go to tiered pricing, it'd be a substantial savings.

First of all, it won't be just the interest that you would need to pay each month. You need to pay at least the minimum payment amount. To pay off a $2K debt at a modest 12% interest rate by May of next year, you would have to have almost $165 extra to throw toward it each month. Paying it down in that manner, you will have it completely paid off in 13 months and will have paid $143 in interest. If your interest rate is higher on your CC, you will have an even higher monthly payment and you will definitely pay more in interest. And this is assuming that you don't put anything else on the CC during that time period, nor will you be late with a payment or accidentally go over your credit limit (all of which will incur additional fees). And if you were to only pay the minimum payment on the CC until next year's tax refund is in your pocket, you will pay an even larger amount in interest!

If I didn't have the extra money to pay for them right away, I would not be purchasing Disney tickets right now. The possible savings just aren't there. JMO.

 

[LISmama810]

From Disney's website:

Tickets purchased after February 28, 2016 must be used by December 31, 2017, but the amount paid for an unused, expired ticket may be applied towards the purchase of a new ticket at the current price so long as the new ticket purchase price is equal to or greater than the amount paid for the original ticket.​

So, even if you were to buy tickets now and they expired, you would not lose the money you paid for them. You would be able to apply that amount to the purchase of a ticket at the prevailing gate price.

​

Can you tell me where you found that on their site? All I found was this, on the ticket page:

Tickets and any options purchased must be used within 14 days of first use, except for Florida Resident 3-Day and 4-Day Tickets. Florida Resident 3-Day and 4-Day Tickets expire 6 months after first use or December 17, 2017, whichever comes first, and may not be used on the following blockout dates: June 6, 2016 to August 11, 2016; December 15, 2016 to December 31; 2016; January 1, 2017 to January 2, 2017; April 8, 2017 to April 21, 2017; June 5, 2017 to August 10, 2017.

I've tried finding info on Disboards, too, but haven't been too successful. I found something saying that 1-day tickets will expire, but not multi-day. (I'm trying to convert some old tickets, and I might hold off if it turns out the new tickets will expire on their own.)

 

[Nebraska_Disney]

Any "savings" would be washed away by interest on the CC. What kind of tickets are you buying (# of days, hoppers, water parks?)

I don't want to sound rude, but even the "best" of plans of floating money, short-term, on a credit card can be derailed in a hurry due to unexpected circumstances. If you don't have an emergency fund or room in your budget for anything that may come up unexpectedly, I'd be pushing any extra money into: 1)paying off existing CC debt and 2)building an emergency fund so I don't have to use CC's for things outside my budget.

 

[mshanson3121]

First of all, it won't be just the interest that you would need to pay each month. You need to pay at least the minimum payment amount. To pay off a $2K debt at a modest 12% interest rate by May of next year, you would have to have almost $165 extra to throw toward it each month. Paying it down in that manner, you will have it completely paid off in 13 months and will have paid $143 in interest. If your interest rate is higher on your CC, you will have an even higher monthly payment and you will definitely pay more in interest. And this is assuming that you don't put anything else on the CC during that time period, nor will you be late with a payment or accidentally go over your credit limit (all of which will incur additional fees). And if you were to only pay the minimum payment on the CC until next year's tax refund is in your pocket, you will pay an even larger amount in interest!

If I didn't have the extra money to pay for them right away, I would not be purchasing Disney tickets right now. The possible savings just aren't there. JMO.

I'm well aware of all the numbers. The minimum payment is a non-issue, we carry a balance anyway. We'd also have it paid off in 6-8 months. It's cheaper for us to do it now, I'm just not sure if we should in case something comes up. How good is resale etc...

 

[mshanson3121]

Any "savings" would be washed away by interest on the CC. What kind of tickets are you buying (# of days, hoppers, water parks?)

I don't want to sound rude, but even the "best" of plans of floating money, short-term, on a credit card can be derailed in a hurry due to unexpected circumstances. If you don't have an emergency fund or room in your budget for anything that may come up unexpectedly, I'd be pushing any extra money into: 1)paying off existing CC debt and 2)building an emergency fund so I don't have to use CC's for things outside my budget.

We have other savings in place for all of that. I should clarify, my concern of something coming up isn't financial, but rather, our daughter's medical issues.

The interest is cheaper than what the likely rate increase will be. Especially if they go tiered. In which case we'll save a LOT. If they tier the multi-day tickets before we buy next year, we won't be going to Disney. That's my biggest fear. But then, like I said, if something does happen with DD's health and we can't go... I dunno.

 

[Marionnette]

I'm well aware of all the numbers. The minimum payment is a non-issue, we carry a balance anyway. We'd also have it paid off in 6-8 months. It's cheaper for us to do it now, I'm just not sure if we should in case something comes up. How good is resale etc...

If I didn't have the money to pay for the tickets now, then I would not buy them right now. If you can have them paid off in 6-8 months, then set the money aside over the next 6-8 months and buy them at that time. Ticket prices just went up. It's unlikely that they will increase twice in the same year.

 

[mshanson3121]

If I didn't have the money to pay for the tickets now, then I would not buy them right now. If you can have them paid off in 6-8 months, then set the money aside over the next 6-8 months and buy them at that time. Ticket prices just went up. It's unlikely that they will increase twice in the same year.

Except for those years when they have... like 1999-2000, 2003-2004, 2006, 2013-2014... I realize that's less common, but these days with Disney... I wouldn't put money on anything.

 

[buzz2400]

Will the tickets state on them when they expire. I recently bought a ticket from undercover with last years price but it doesn't state any expiration.

 

[runwad]

I'd wait! I wouldn't count on reselling, many would be leery they are getting the real deal. Save the money you need for the tickets and watch the board for any announcements that a price hike will be on the way. Take you wad and purchase the tickets then before the increase.

..it sucks that they make the tickets expire now. It was nice to be able to buy a little at a time out of cash flow.

 

[clm10308]

Ticket prices were just increased last month. In fact I bought my tickets for this summer the day before the increase thanks to this board. Based on price increases in the past, I would not expect another increase for 6 mos or even a year, so I don't see a need to charge tickets right now as opposed to waiting until closer to your trip.

 

[HM]

I would only do it if I could pay for them now.
The fact that you carry a balance on your CC means that is a no.
Pay off the CC, then buy the tickets.

I always think about buying beforehand for a trip down the road, but I never do. Although I can pay for them at the time, I can't be sure that something will happen that will keep us from doing the trip and having a couple thousand dollars tied up in tickets. It just doesn't seem wise to spend now to save a few bucks and then later find that I really need that money I spent.