Should we drop a day?

[disneyfam23]

Right now we have 7 day park hoppers + water park tickets. On Day 2 of our trip we have plans to go to one or both water parks. I assume we will likely make a day of it - maybe not shut down the parks but we will probably be there most of the day. Then we have an ADR for HDD at 8:30 (we are staying at the fort). I am thinking we probably won't be able to fit much if any of a park in that day? If we don't go to a park that day, I will end up with an unused park day though. I know it's only about $60 for our family of 4 to have that extra day but I don't know if I should keep it or not for "just in case". I could buy something with $60 I guess!! I had kind of thought we may try and hit HS or something for a couple of hours then go back and get dressed and ready for the HDD but I am betting a little down time would be welcome too! What would YOU do? And is it even possible to drop a day? We are at day 61 and haven't made our final payment yet.

 

[luvgoing2disney]

I would keep the day. What if you go to the water parks, then rain comes in and looks the day may be a washout? You could still use the park ticket and do some attractions even with wet weather. If you are at the water parks and it begins to storm with lightening, then you can't get in the water anyway.

 

[Mom2darlingboys]

The answer to that should always be no!

Seriously though, I would probably keep it, although it makes sense to drop it. I'd be worried that some freak cold front could blow in and, oh my goodness, we might find ourselves with nothing to do! End of September you're pretty much guaranteed hot weather, so water parks would be great. If you decide not to water park it (or the temperature suddenly plummets!) you can always add on another park day at the gate at that time.

 

[disneyfam23]

Oh good thinking! I forgot about mother nature!! And if that doesn't happen I can be like "GET ON THE BUS Y'ALL!! WE ARE RIDING ROCKIN ROLLER COASTER"

 

[disneyfam23]

I already know my family is going to hate me but I don't care!!

 

[Klayfish]

I'm pretty sure you can add a day for the same $60 that you'll save if you drop it now, right? If that's the case, and you're certain you plan to do a water park day, then I'd drop it. If it turns out the day is going to be a washout, then add the extra day back in that morning. But if it's a nice day, there's $60 you can use somewhere else. Sometimes when we do water park days, we'll do evenings at Disney Springs.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

There's no advantage to keeping days you don't use, or don't plan to use. You can't get a refund, and you can't convert them to non-expire. On the other hand, you can always ADD a day mid vacation.

IMO, keeping it now is throwing away $60. If you can modify them, then you should do it.

Keeping an eye on weather is always a good idea. Wait until that morning to decide. If you end up in the park, then modify your tickets later that day, or even a few more days into your trip.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

One more tidbit...if you ONLY plan to go to the water parks ONE time (and use no other pluses), then it would be slightly less $ to buy one day tickets at the water park.

It sounds like you bought a WDW package, as opposed to buying tickets from an outside vendor. If you bought your tickets directly from WDW, then you didn't get any discount on the water park part.

The plus option costs $76.68 per ticket, and you get admission to water parks, mini-golf, the ESPN complex, golf, and DisneyQuest (until it closes). But those only hold value if you actually use your entitlements. At the end of your trip, they expire. If you have 7 day tickets, you'd get 7 entitlements, but most people don't use all 7.

If you ONLY expect to go to a water park on one day, you can buy stand-alone water park tickets. For adults the PEAK SEASON cost is $63.90, $57.51kids (ages 3-9). Peak season is May 28- Aug 28. If you are outside those dates: $58.58 adult, $52.19 kids. So you'd save at least $12 per adult and $19 per child, or more.

In addition to costing less, I don't see any expiration listed. NON PEAK tickets would still be subject to NEXT year's summer exclusion, but they wouldn't automatically EXPIRE if you end up going to HS that day.

[WDW ALSO sells WP Annual passes for $122.48, If you KNOW you'll be going again inside of a year, and ONLY want water park admission.]

 

[disneyfam23]

That's a good idea too! We just bought the WP and more option. We do have a "free" day planned to make up for things we missed and may do more water that day OR we may go on our check out day too. But that is a good thing to keep in mind!!

 

[mickeyluv'r]

WDW does their best to sell the plus option.

If you really think odds are good you'll use two pluses on this trip, then the plus option may be way to go.
If you think odds are high you'll return to WDW, AP's may be the way to go. Your future WDW trip only has to be about a week shy of a full year away from your current trip to make that a value option.

The water parks are nice, but it does take time to go there and back. For us, if we want to swim, the hotel pools (with water slides and fun features) is usually more convenient, and costs less.

 

[DisneyWishes14]

I would drop the park day and add it back onsite if you choose to tour an extra day. As PP pointed out, if you only plan on going to 1 water park on 1 day, I would also drop the WPFM option from your ticket. If you keep the option, a fun way to spend two entitlements in 1 day is to visit Blizzard Beach and then play WinterSummerland mini golf before you head back to your resort. In fact, that's what I would do before HDD instead of heading to a theme park.

 

[SBWB48]

I'm pretty sure you can add a day for the same $60 that you'll save if you drop it now, right? If that's the case, and you're certain you plan to do a water park day, then I'd drop it. If it turns out the day is going to be a washout, then add the extra day back in that morning. But if it's a nice day, there's $60 you can use somewhere else. Sometimes when we do water park days, we'll do evenings at Disney Springs.

I would drop the park day and add it back onsite if you choose to tour an extra day. As PP pointed out, if you only plan on going to 1 water park on 1 day, I would also drop the WPFM option from your ticket. If you keep the option, a fun way to spend two entitlements in 1 day is to visit Blizzard Beach and then play WinterSummerland mini golf before you head back to your resort. In fact, that's what I would do before HDD instead of heading to a theme park.

This was something we were considering as well, potentially adding a day if we needed to once we are there. As the OP asked, if we add mid vacation, is the cost to add the same "discounted multi day rate" (I.e. Right now, if you buy more than 3-4 day tickets, each additional day is ~$15 per person)? I wasn't sure if the multi day date is only if you purchased before arrival?

 

[GrumpyDad1974]

First response never drop a day... Then thinking about it, if your going to spend all day at water parks then yeah drop one day and save the $60. A whole day at a water park is too much for us. How about keeping all your park days, doing two separate mornings at water parks then go to a park after a break?

 

[disneyfam23]

This was something we were considering as well, potentially adding a day if we needed to once we are there. As the OP asked, if we add mid vacation, is the cost to add the same "discounted multi day rate" (I.e. Right now, if you buy more than 3-4 day tickets, each additional day is ~$15 per person)? I wasn't sure if the multi day date is only if you purchased before arrival?

I'm pretty sure as long as you buy it before the end of the day on your last park day you are good and you do pay the same as you paid by adding it to a package at the front. That is what I gather from what I have read here and from my TA.

 

[harrowgirl]

I would drop it and add it there if you end up needing it.

 

[Lynzer4]

On a 7 day trip... I would drop it and enjoy a park free day. Hit the water parks and then just spend some downtime if you get done. You don't want your family exhausted.

You can always add a day if you decided that you want to go to the parks.