Ticket & other questions

[Karin1984]

My Disneyland trip is over a year away, but I like to plan
We first go to San Francisco, after DL we go to Los Angeles, then on to WDW and end with a Disney Cruise.

The plan for Disneyland:
- Day 1: Fly from SFO to SNA, arrive around 3:30pm on a Thursday, take Uber or Lyft to Castle Inn & Suites. Plan to be in the park around 5:30 - 6:00pm (too optimistic?)
Going by the calendar for this year, DCA will be open till 9pm, DL will be open till 11pm.
We won't need a park hopper for this day, but would Maxpass be of any use at either park?
- Day 2 - 4: Full park days with park hoppers and Maxpass.
- Day 5: 95% sure no park, but lengthy, expensive breakfast with princesses at Napa Rose. After breakfast take Uber/Lyft to Los Angeles, leaving whenever we are ready.

So what I am looking for:
1 day ticket, no park hopper, no Maxpass & 3 day tickets with park hopper and Maxpass.
Is there any economic way to purchase these tickets? Or would the best advice be, buy a 4 day-single park ticket, and then upgrade it on day 2?
If yes, how does upgrading your ticket work, just go to a ticket booth? (I am an AP holder at Disneyland Paris, I don't even have a clue about tickets at my own park, let alone other parks ;-) )
Would it be worth it to buy Maxpass on the arrival day to have the Photopass included?

I am quite sure we will be able to see/do everything we want in 3,3 days, however... what if at the last moment we decide on the last day, we would like to go into the park on day 5 and go to Los Angeles later in the day?
If we upgrade the tickets on day 2, can you upgrade them a second time 5-day tickets?

Final question for now: If we have a few hours available on Day 1, any preference if we should just get a taste of DCA or DL? What would you do?
(Goal of this vacation is to tick off the final Disney castle on my friend's bucket list)

 

[Malcon10t]

First off, it will be cheaper/easier to just buy a 4 day hopper.

A 1 day one park is $149, and a 3 day hopper is $355, so about $500. A 4 day hopper is $380. If you buy a 4 day 1 park, and upgrade after the first day, it is the same price. Just buy the 4 day hopper. (A 5th day is $15.)

Maxpass probably won't be helpful on the first day, other than pics. But it might be easier to just get it on all days so it is preloaded, and since it is a Thursday, you might get a couple rides with it.

 

[BadPinkTink]

leading on from @Malcon10t advice about just buying a 4 day hopper.

Check out the authorised discount sellers such as undercover tourist and last minute travel club.
I have used last minute travel club for the last few years and have saved $50 compared with buying direct from Disney. With last minute travel club they send you an eticket with a bar code. I print out this e ticket, and go direct to the entrance turnstile. The CM scans the barcode, takes my photo and the entrance machine prints the regular Disney ticket, the same as at Disney land Paris.

When you buy a 3 day or longer ticket online in advance, either direct from Disney or from one of the authorised discount sellers, you are eligible for the early access on 1 of your day at Disneyland Main Park. The early access days alternate between California Adventures and Disneyland Main Park. However ONLY onsite guests have access to early access in California Adventure.

You should check out my trip report from this year
https://www.disboards.com/threads/t...any-firsts-mixed-with-old-favourites.3758518/

 

[goooof1]

Just to be clear..... the upgrade to a hopper is the same price regardless of 2,3,4,5 days. I'd go with the 5 day hopper (not much more $ than a 4 day) and that will give you more flexibility... a few extra hours on the last day is always fun !

 

[SOCALMouseMommy]

I would buy a 3-day hopper in case you have travel delays or are just too tired when you arrive. You can upgrade it any time before the last day of the ticket, so if you end up going on your arrival evening, just upgrade.

 

[Jimsig]

My Disneyland trip is over a year away, but I like to plan
We first go to San Francisco, after DL we go to Los Angeles, then on to WDW and end with a Disney Cruise.

The plan for Disneyland:
- Day 1: Fly from SFO to SNA, arrive around 3:30pm on a Thursday, take Uber or Lyft to Castle Inn & Suites. Plan to be in the park around 5:30 - 6:00pm (too optimistic?)
Going by the calendar for this year, DCA will be open till 9pm, DL will be open till 11pm.
We won't need a park hopper for this day, but would Maxpass be of any use at either park?

Not sure if you are looking at current flights and going by that or just hoping for a flight that arrives around 330p but being a year away that flight time could change as airlines will adjust times. It could be a matter of minutes or could be longer. For example last year when I flew to LAX my flight arrived around 2p. This year same airline and flight number and that flight now arrives around 11a. But this year and last year the airline has a flight that departs LAX at 6a.