Should we buy 2 or 3 day passes, and where?

[kandbp]

We are getting down the wire, and I need to get our park passes ASAP--like tomorrow! We will be at a wedding in LA on May 2nd, and then checking in to the HoJo on Sunday, May 3rd. We have 3 nights there, and will for sure be doing DL all day on May 4th and May 5th. We leave to go home on the 6th. I'm just wondering whether it's worth it to get passes for the 3rd. The only compelling reason to me to do it, is that Peter Pan closes on the 4th, so we will miss it unless we go on the 3rd. We wouldn't have a full day there, though, and I'm not sure how much more it will cost us to do 3 rather than 2 days--there are 5 of us. Other than Peter Pan, two days is probably just right for our family.

So, which would you do, and where would be the best place for me to get our passes for the best deal?

Thanks!
Kirsten

 

[bumbershoot]

If I were in your shoes, I'd go for the 3 day, and just buy them on disneyland.com, using the electronic ticket option. They send you an email with PDFs of the ticket vouchers, then you print those and take them to the parks, hand the vouchers over at the gates, and they'll print your tickets out right there.

 

[mystic_path]

If you purchase them from Getawaytoday.com they have the same idea as the disneyland website as they email you vouchers to print off and take to the park. I honestly find GAT considerably cheaper then purchasing directly through Disney. I would also say go for the 3 day. That way you might also be able to hit the Magic Morning giving you that extra hour to play.

 

[Eeee-va]

I would personally do the 3 day pass as well. Per the website, the park is open until midnight on Sunday with fireworks scheduled for Sunday, but not Monday or Tuesday. Yes, you could see them from HoJo, but you'd entirely miss any music/effects, if you don't mind fighting the crowds in the park. (Fireworks can always be canceled for winds, so I wouldn't go into the park if they were the ONLY reason, though.)

IF the schedule is correct, then Sunday is also the only day of your trip to see the Aladdin show.

If you buy a 3-day pass you also get a Magic Morning, if you can get your family out of bed for it.

Per Disneyland website prices (which I'm assuming are pretty proportional to GAT's), assuming a mix of 3-9 year old and 10 year-old+ members in your party, it would cost around $30 per person more for the extra day plus a Magic Morning. You'll have to decide if that's worth it for your family, but I make it to DL so rarely that I would always add on a part day. The more days you go to the park on a park hopper, the lower the per-day cost is, so I always think it's worth it.

(Technically you could get a 5 day pass for the same price as a 3 day pass, so if you could go to the park early on Wednesday, you could get several rides in before the crowds take over, and then get 4 days for about $30 per person more than 2 days!)

 

[wannagoback]

If you purchase them from Getawaytoday.com they have the same idea as the disneyland website as they email you vouchers to print off and take to the park. I honestly find GAT considerably cheaper then purchasing directly through Disney. I would also say go for the 3 day. That way you might also be able to hit the Magic Morning giving you that extra hour to play.

I'm not sure that this is completely accurate. From what I understand, the disneyland.com printout can be taken directly to the turnstile, but the GAT voucher must be redeemed at a ticket booth which is then taken to the turnstile (requiring the guest to stand in two separate lines). Maybe someone else can confirm this.

Also, I'm not sure how you find them to be considerably cheaper because the ticket prices are exactly the same from both places. Now, if you're talking about a vacation package, then I would agree with you.

And to the OP, the 5 days for 3 ticket is $36 more for an adult ticket (versus a 2-day hopper). If you get this, you could also go for a bit in the morning on the 6th before you leave town if you have time. Plus, as others have pointed out, you will get the benefit of a magic morning day on the 5th and since the park opens at 10 that day, arriving an hour early is definitely doable.

 

[mystic_path]

From what I understand any voucher from anywhere relating to park tickets has to be redeemed at the ticket booth to receive your actual park hopper ticket. Maybe I am missing something but I dont know why the turnstiles would be the place to give you your proper pass.

As for the tickets, maybe the prices have changed to be the same but the last time I checked the tickets were different pricing.

 

[Brady's Mom]

Mystic,
The GAT tickets are e-tickets (like airlines) you go to the ticket booth and show your ID and pick up your tickets. Then take those tickets to the turnstyles and enter DL or DCA. With GAT it is a 2 step process. For Disneyland.com it is a one step process. You print out your PDF and take it to the turnstyles and are automatically issued your ticket. You get to miss the line at the ticket booths.

I have found prices to be comparable and sometimes Disneyland.com comes out a little cheaper because of the fee GAT charges - unless you can find a code to offset it.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

If you purchase them from Getawaytoday.com they have the same idea as the disneyland website as they email you vouchers to print off and take to the park. I honestly find GAT considerably cheaper then purchasing directly through Disney. I would also say go for the 3 day. That way you might also be able to hit the Magic Morning giving you that extra hour to play.

If you are doing tickets only, GAT and DLR websites are the exact same prices. I'd go through DLR because they gave us coupons to use in the park with our tickets.

ETA: GAT doesn't charge a fee for purchasing tickets only.

 

[dznee]

If you are an AAA member, I would call one of their offices and see if they have the hopper passes. Those come with free parking as well at the M & F parking garage...$12 savings! Something to think about.