Should we buy hoppers and upgrade?

[XTinabell]

Dh and I are going for a ten day trip to DL in November and were planning to buy AP's and go again September 2008. However, as we get closer to November it's looking like the parks are going to be busier than normal so we're thinking EE might be nice to help us utilize fast pass.l

We're not staying onsite and AP's don't give you EE, and I've heard you can buy hoppers and upgrade to an AP. Has anyone done this before? Would you recommend it for my situation? If I do buy hoppers how many should I buy and at what point do I upgrade? How do I upgrade?

Thanks guys.

 

[4bugzinarug]

IMO, this would definitely work well for your situation. I would buy the 5 day parkhoppers, use them through the 3rd or 4th day (long enough to use up your early entry) ... and then upgrade. Take your tickets to City Hall, and they will have you pay the difference between what you paid for the parkhoppers (I think you can get them for $189 right now?) and the cost of the annual pass that you choose. The Deluxe pass runs $239 for adults and children. If you have little ones, you can add a stroller pass to one of the passholders for about $50 - which gives you one stroller per day for every day you are there.

Hopefully someone else will chime in with more info, as my brain is running on 4 hours of sleep, LOL! Remember the Disney commercial "I'm too excited to sleep!". That applies to grownups too

 

[XTinabell]

Awesome, thanks for getting back to me so quickly. Are EE days offered on Tuesday? We arrive on a Monday but not until 6 pm, so Tuesday would be our first morning there. If they offer EE on Tuesday, we could use EE that morning, and upgrade that afternoon so we're not missing out on our dining discounts. Oh how wonderful!

 

[tammie33]

We did this on our June trip. We actually did it because we were there over a Saturday (black out day). We waited until the blackout day was over and upgraded our passes. It was no hassle at all.

 

[Master Mason]

I think that the EE only comes with hoppers of 3 days or more, so make sure you check that out as well

 

[Hound 109]

I think that the EE only comes with hoppers of 3 days or more, so make sure you check that out as well

This is correct AND of course VERY important. If you are getting the hopper for EE, get the 3 day. (then do as others suggest to get the AP).

And if you haven't found it yet, EE days are Mon., Tue., Thurs., & Sat. (& have been those days for a couple of years now).

One other comment (regarding a 10 day visit). If it was me......Maybe stay a couple of days at a DLR hotel to get a couple of extra days of EE. They have some good AP rates being offered. FWIW. Have fun.

 

[XTinabell]

I think that the EE only comes with hoppers of 3 days or more, so make sure you check that out as well

We'd probably buy 5 day hoppers to allow us some time to upgrade incase we decide to do Thursday's EE as well.

 

[Anater]

To add onto the prior comment re strollers - if you are going to need strollers you can also apply for a Disney Chase Visa - that will allow you two stroller rentals a day for free. Over ten days that would save you some $$. You also get character meets and greets daily with a 5x7 photo.

 

[Hound 109]

We'd probably buy 5 day hoppers to allow us some time to upgrade incase we decide to do Thursday's EE as well.

As long as your park hoppers are 3 or more days, you get ONE day of EE. But only ONE day (if you are not staying at one of the 3 DLR hotels).

So the 5 day hopper is fine as far as giving you more time to trade up for the AP, (but it won't get you another day of EE).

This is why i mentioned after trading up to AP......consider a night or two at a DLR hotel (if it made sense). For example, you could stay a Monday night at a DLR hotel & enjoy EE on a Monday AND on a Tuesday (with just the one night at the hotel). This is in addition to your other EE day.

I'm not suggesting you do this....but it could be an option for someone staying a long time (like you) & for someone who will have an AP - and get AP DLR hotel rates (like you could).

hound -

 

[XTinabell]

This is correct AND of course VERY important. If you are getting the hopper for EE, get the 3 day. (then do as others suggest to get the AP).

And if you haven't found it yet, EE days are Mon., Tue., Thurs., & Sat. (& have been those days for a couple of years now).

One other comment (regarding a 10 day visit). If it was me......Maybe stay a couple of days at a DLR hotel to get a couple of extra days of EE. They have some good AP rates being offered. FWIW. Have fun.

hmm, that's a thought. We've got the entertainment rate at HoJo's so it may be difficult to convince dh to stay onsite (even for a day or two) at the higher cost. But I'll see what I can do, I think it's a good idea. Do you think I could still get the AP rate? I know you've done conceirge and loved it, can I get concierge with the rate? Oh and if I'm not getting the AP until I'm there can I book the room with the rate without the AP, as long as I show them the AP when I arrive?

As long as your park hoppers are 3 or more days, you get ONE day of EE. But only ONE day (if you are not staying at one of the 3 DLR hotels).

So the 5 day hopper is fine as far as giving you more time to trade up for the AP, (but it won't get you another day of EE).

This is why i mentioned after trading up to AP......consider a night or two at a DLR hotel (if it made sense). For example, you could stay a Monday night at a DLR hotel & enjoy EE on a Monday AND on a Tuesday (with just the one night at the hotel). This is in addition to your other EE day.

I'm not suggesting you do this....but it could be an option for someone staying a long time (like you) & for someone who will have an AP - and get AP DLR hotel rates (like you could).

hound -

Thanks for letting me know about only one EE. I didn't think of it, I know last year we had 7 day hoppers and only got one EE but it didn't even occur to me this time

 

[bumbershoot]

My question is, how is this plan helping you utilize Fast Pass (you said it would help use FP during EE)? From what I've read, FP machines aren't on until regular park hours. Is this correct?

Another thing to think about is that if you buy APs through disneyland dot com, you get a voucher for some good discounts, which might be worth more to you than the one EE you'll get from buying a 3+ day parkhopper. If I hadn't already bought a package with a 5 day PH (that we're going to upgrade asap b/c we're staying onsite and don't need the ticket's one EE), I would have just bought the APs online, to get that discount voucher.

 

[XTinabell]

My question is, how is this plan helping you utilize Fast Pass (you said it would help use FP during EE)? From what I've read, FP machines aren't on until regular park hours. Is this correct?

Another thing to think about is that if you buy APs through disneyland dot com, you get a voucher for some good discounts, which might be worth more to you than the one EE you'll get from buying a 3+ day parkhopper. If I hadn't already bought a package with a 5 day PH (that we're going to upgrade asap b/c we're staying onsite and don't need the ticket's one EE), I would have just bought the APs online, to get that discount voucher.

I believe you're correct and the FP machines aren't on until the park officially opens, we were just planning to be at the machines first thing to get early return times instead of fighting with the lines at the gates at 10 am, we'll already be in the park with FP in hand.

I'm not familiar with the discount voucher. I know the AP's will give us discounts on dining (without a voucher). We're only getting the deluxe annual pass, not the premium. Does the voucher apply to either AP?

 

[Hound 109]

hmm, that's a thought. We've got the entertainment rate at HoJo's so it may be difficult to convince dh to stay onsite (even for a day or two) at the higher cost. But I'll see what I can do, I think it's a good idea. Do you think I could still get the AP rate? I know you've done conceirge and loved it, can I get concierge with the rate? Oh and if I'm not getting the AP until I'm there can I book the room with the rate without the AP, as long as I show them the AP when I arrive?


Thanks for letting me know about only one EE. I didn't think of it, I know last year we had 7 day hoppers and only got one EE but it didn't even occur to me this time

After all the posting this morning, i started to think the same thing....HEY, I MIGHT NEED AN AP....I SHOULD LOOK AT PP CONCIERGE TOO.

So I've posted a question as well. Maybe the hound family will be there when you are.

hound

 

[XTinabell]

After all the posting this morning, i started to think the same thing....HEY, I MIGHT NEED AN AP....I SHOULD LOOK AT PP CONCIERGE TOO.

So I've posted a question as well. Maybe the hound family will be there when you are.

hound

lol, it's quite likely. If you're going anytime in November you'll probably be there at some point the same time we are. This ten day trip is great, we're getting there from the 12th and staying until the 21st so unless you're going at the very beginning or the very end we'll be there

 

[bumbershoot]

I just looked at the site again, and the wording that was there doesn't seem to be there. Maybe they aren't doing the offer anymore. It was a separate discount than the normal AP discount, it was recently discussed in the forum, but I can't remember what the discount was.

 

[victorandbellasmom]

Not too sure, but I think I know what bumberhoot is talking about. We just renewed and received our APs in the mail this past week. Enclosed with the APs was a voucher/coupon for 20% off a $50+ purchase on merchandise at DLR. I think if you ordered the APs online and did the e-ticket option it also lets you print out a 20% coupon.

 

[JenDisneylandlver]

We upgraded in June, since were going again in October, and plan on one trip probably next June as well before they expire. It worked out really well for us.

Oh and we also upgraded on a blacked out Saturday. They gave us extra "one" day passes to get in to the park for the rest of the day. So no worries about upgrading on a black out day.

 

[Rapunsel]

upgrade with in 30 days of expiration of the pass and you can get $20 off the pass..