So Cal CityPass questions...

[travelwith4kids]

We know we want/need to get the pass as it will save us heaps of $ but I've got a couple of questions for anyone that might know/have experience with...

We will be visiting Universal, DL, SeaWorld, SD Zoo and possibly (but not probably) Legoland. I have read that the pass cannot be shipped to Aus but also that extras (as in zoo/legoland) can only be added online. So being that we need to collect in person at Universal does that mean we cannot add the extras and will have to pay full price for these?? I'm sure other Aussies have come across this and can set me straight, is there a way around it that I'm not thinking of?

Also we want to add an extra day at DL and I have read that it is fine to upgrade our 3 day to a 4 day before leaving the park on our 3rd day. Can anyone confirm this is correct and/or have semi recent experience with this?

Thanks in advance

 

[ssour]

I don't have any personal experience it could you order it online and have it sent to your first hotel?

 

[travelwith4kids]

I did think of that ssour but wasnt sure if that is the 'done thing' in regards to safety. The tickets will be worth about $2000, do you think this would be ok? Our first accommodation will be in LA.

 

[PrincessInOz]

We know we want/need to get the pass as it will save us heaps of $ but I've got a couple of questions for anyone that might know/have experience with...

We will be visiting Universal, DL, SeaWorld, SD Zoo and possibly (but not probably) Legoland. I have read that the pass cannot be shipped to Aus but also that extras (as in zoo/legoland) can only be added online.

If you want to add the SD Zoo and Legoland to the SoCal City pass, you can only do so via the official SoCal City pass website. The official website will ship to a hotel address and a bunch of countries. The last time I looked, Australia was not one of those countries.

You can buy the standard SoCal City pass from a number of places or website; some of which offer a discount (ARes, Sam's Club, Costco all offer the pass at a discount). None of these other places or websites will allow you buy the extras. That benefit is reserved directly for SoCal City Pass website directly. For that benefit, you have to pay the standard retail price for the City Pass.

So being that we need to collect in person at Universal does that mean we cannot add the extras and will have to pay full price for these?? I'm sure other Aussies have come across this and can set me straight, is there a way around it that I'm not thinking of?

I am assuming from the above that you were thinking of purchasing the pass from Universal; which is why you're collecting it in person at Universal (and starting your 14 days at Universal).

As mentioned above, if you are buying the passes from Universal, you won't be able to add the extras.

FWIW - If you buy from the SoCal City pass website, you will be able to start your 14 days from any park.

Also we want to add an extra day at DL and I have read that it is fine to upgrade our 3 day to a 4 day before leaving the park on our 3rd day. Can anyone confirm this is correct and/or have semi recent experience with this?

Thanks in advance

I haven't done this myself but I do know that this is a common question asked on the Disneyland section of the forum. From the responses there, this is true. Disney will allow to add extra days to your ticket providing you do so before leaving the park on your last day. I believe that there is even a published rate somewhere that Disney will 'credit' for the SoCal pass and that when you add the extra day, you pay the difference between this published rate and the gate price. You might want to google and find out what this rate is so that you know what the difference is likely to be; rather than assuming that Disney will credit the pass as a standard 3-day ticket.



ETA. One other thing and you probably already know this...but just in case. We are coming up to the end of the year. From memory, the SoCal Pass usually is valid to the end of the calendar year. If you are planning on using this in 2015, you might want to wait until the 2015 tickets are released.

 

[travelwith4kids]

Thanks PrincessInOz,
Yes, for use Sept. 2015. Not planning to buy yet, just researching. We wont buy tickets and such until we have our flights.

Our first park we visit will be Universal so unless we figure out a way to buy online and receive delivery of tickets we will have to buy there.

I wonder if the other websites that offer discounted rates for the pass post to Australia? Might make it easier and absorb some of the extra $ for buying zoo and legoland at full price...

So I think our options are to do the above

or... buy at Universal and pay for zoo/legoland at the gate

or... buy online with added extras (by far the cheapest) at citypass and have shipped to hotel.

I found on the citypass site confirmation that we can easily upgrade to a 4 day and they provided the price guide you mention.

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[CityPASS]

Hi there,

Looks like PrincessInOz has answered most of your questions, but thought I would add one thing. Both Legoland and San Diego Zoo will you give you 10% off admission when you present your CityPASS card at the gate. So, if you're not comfortable ordering the whole bundle from citypass.com and having it shipped to your hotel, you could purchase upon arrival and still get a (smaller) discount.

Hope that helps!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Thanks PrincessInOz,
Yes, for use Sept. 2015. Not planning to buy yet, just researching. We wont buy tickets and such until we have our flights.

Our first park we visit will be Universal so unless we figure out a way to buy online and receive delivery of tickets we will have to buy there.

I wonder if the other websites that offer discounted rates for the pass post to Australia? Might make it easier and absorb some of the extra $ for buying zoo and legoland at full price...

So I think our options are to do the above

or... buy at Universal and pay for zoo/legoland at the gate

or... buy online with added extras (by far the cheapest) at citypass and have shipped to hotel.

I found on the citypass site confirmation that we can easily upgrade to a 4 day and they provided the price guide you mention.

Thanks for your thoughts!

Have you considered looking at the San Diego Go Pass for the SD zoo and Legoland tix?
http://www.smartdestinations.com/san-diego-attractions-and-tours/_ptd_Sdo-p1.html

I took the liberty of taking a look at their customisable ticket option, which allows you to select a minimum of 2 SD attractions. The adult price for entry to the SD zoo and Legoland tix is $105, a savings of 20%.

It might be a little more pricey going with a standard SoCal City Pass and this Go SD option than going with the combined SoCal City Pass, but it might give you the ticket pick-up security you're looking for.

 

[PrincessInOz]

BTW - I remembered that I should have mentioned this last night.

I know you said your dates are September 2015. If you find you are travelling in October, San Diego runs a Kids Go/Eat Free in October promotion.
For this year, both the SD Zoo and Legoland offered free kids entry as part of the promotion.
http://www.sandiego.org/promotions/kids-free.aspx

I will add that if you are going to the Zoo, it is free entry. But it doesn't include the buses and cable cars. You might have to pay 14 for kids so that they can get on the buses and cable car.

 

[travelwith4kids]

Thanks for the info!
So CityPASS, we can purchase the pass at Universal Studios gate and it will include Universal, Disneyland and SeaWorld and then when we get to the zoo if we show the pass we will get 10% of gate price?
That sounds like what we will do then... if I'm understanding correctly.
We have decided to skip Legoland and the difference with either adding the zoo to the pass or buying it at the gate for us is $50 (and 10% off gate price, if I have it right, will only be about 1/2 that!). I would rather not worry about it being sent to hotel.