Ticket purchase options

[terrilt]

I was about to purchase 10day tickets on UT for $414, but checked allears.net - they have a link to MapleLeaf Tickets - and they were $408. Still an authorized WDW seller.

 

[dmband]

Also check Park Savers, they were cheaper than UT when I recently bought park hoppers!

And official ticket center via TP.com Over the Last 9 months or so everything I look they are cheaper then both for 8plus days anyway

 

[AngiTN]

I was about to purchase 10day tickets on UT for $414, but checked allears.net - they have a link to MapleLeaf Tickets - and they were $408. Still an authorized WDW seller.

Just make sure you are comparing after tax prices. Some of these sites include tax in their price and some add it on later. I know UT and I believe PS, include tax in all their prices

 

[terrilt]

Just make sure you are comparing after tax prices. Some of these sites include tax in their price and some add it on later. I know UT and I believe PS, include tax in all their prices

yes. . . after tax

 

[cheryterese]

And, again, if you are staying ON-site with an AP, you ARE allowed to book advance FP+ for the number of days of your stay.

We are staying on-site and are planning to purchase AP's. So this means I can book FP+ for all 12 days of our stay 60 days ahead of time?

 

[AngiTN]

We are staying on-site and are planning to purchase AP's. So this means I can book FP+ for all 12 days of our stay 60 days ahead of time?

What ticket will you have prior to the AP upgrade? Your FP will be limited to that ticket length

 

[Robo]

We are staying on-site and are planning to purchase AP's. So this means I can book FP+ for all 12 days of our stay 60 days ahead of time?

Yes.

 

[Robo]

What ticket will you have prior to the AP upgrade? Your FP will be limited to that ticket length

I don't believe cheryterese mentioned anything about "upgrading" to AP.

 

[cheryterese]

Yes.

Excellent, thanks!

 

[familyfirsttimer]

Changing my post as I mis-read. Continuing to get quoted, I got it and understand my mistake!

 

[Alesia]

See this is the part I don't understand, for $6 difference, dows not seem worth the hassle to me. I see the OP found a much bigger difference and that makes sense but for $6 X4 $24 total, I just always booked through Disney and never had to worry about linking or returns, etc. Gues sI will have to keep it in mind for next trip to always compare and not assume

The post you quoted was comparing UT to Maple Leaf. The tickets from Maple Leaf are $32 less than gate price. For 4 tickets, that's $128. You don't think spending less than 2 minutes to link the tickets to MDE is worth saving $128?

 

[familyfirsttimer]

Yes, I do, Thank you for pointing that out!!!!!! I will definitely keep in mid for next trip.

The post you quoted was comparing UT to Maple Leaf. The tickets from Maple Leaf are $32 less than gate price. For 4 tickets, that's $128. You don't think spending less than 2 minutes to link the tickets to MDE is worth saving $128?

 

[cassie58]

I was about to purchase 10day tickets on UT for $414, but checked allears.net - they have a link to MapleLeaf Tickets - and they were $408. Still an authorized WDW seller.

I also bought at last year's price from Maple Leaf through Allears on Monday - UT would have been a little cheaper for mine, but I missed the old ones through there due to not pulling the trigger quick enough. (Really wish I had hopped on the SW Vacations deal last fall when 6 days would have been $368!) Still got nonexpiring 5 day hopper for $405, which would now be $495 with 2018 expiration, so great deal, and ready to go if good room discount and flight collide with timing DD and I can work!

See this is the part I don't understand, for $6 difference, dows not seem worth the hassle to me. I see the OP found a much bigger difference and that makes sense but for $6 X4 $24 total, I just always booked through Disney and never had to worry about linking or returns, etc. Gues sI will have to keep it in mind for next trip to always compare and not assume

The $24 saving she mentioned was between UT and and Maple Leaf - both of those are considerable savings over Disney's gate price. Assuming he got the ones that were still at 2016 price, they would have been $426 I believe, so another $18x4=$72, and more if he bought hoppers, plus the savings over the new price! Definitely worth checking if you are doing room only or off site. We have been able to get free dining most trips, so needed package tickets, but did UT on off site trip w/in-laws.

 

[Dis703]

I've yet to find the tickets we were interested in to be cheaper than buying them directly from Disney for us. But we use discounted gift cards and the DVA to pay for our trips so we don't actually pay the full price of the tickets. I just checked again and for the 3 or 4 day tickets we'd likely use for upcoming trips and UT starts out less than a dollar cheaper for the 3 day and less than $3 cheaper for the 4 day. But once I adjust for the savings we'd get using our discounted gift cards and such we end up saving at least $21-24 per ticket buying them from Disney. In the past we've saved as much as 17% with the cards so that would more than double that savings.

But if I wasn't interested in going the GC route I'm not sure I'd bother with a 3rd party site for only a few bucks. I'm sure others do it for the use of the packages and the ability to pay $200 down and then not pay the rest until 30 days before their trip. Paying for all of the tickets at the time of purchase isn't ideal for everyone. Especially, if they suspect plans may change.

 

[AngiTN]

I don't believe cheryterese mentioned anything about "upgrading" to AP.

Sorry, my mistake.

 

[AngiTN]

I've yet to find the tickets we were interested in to be cheaper than buying them directly from Disney for us. But we use discounted gift cards and the DVA to pay for our trips so we don't actually pay the full price of the tickets. I just checked again and for the 3 or 4 day tickets we'd likely use for upcoming trips and UT starts out less than a dollar cheaper for the 3 day and less than $3 cheaper for the 4 day. But once I adjust for the savings we'd get using our discounted gift cards and such we end up saving at least $21-24 per ticket buying them from Disney. In the past we've saved as much as 17% with the cards so that would more than double that savings.

But if I wasn't interested in going the GC route I'm not sure I'd bother with a 3rd party site for only a few bucks. I'm sure others do it for the use of the packages and the ability to pay $200 down and then not pay the rest until 30 days before their trip. Paying for all of the tickets at the time of purchase isn't ideal for everyone. Especially, if they suspect plans may change.

Because you are purchasing so few days. This is not the case with longer stays

 

[Dis703]

Because you are purchasing so few days. This is not the case with longer stays

I didn't price it out with current rates, but we have in the past for 8-10 days as well and it was still cheaper using our discounted cards and buying from Disney. Those trips our savings with cards was 15% or more. It's not always that high though, only when I take advantage of a special sale. At the lower range it might not save more than going with UT.

ETA: Okay, I went and took a look at an adult 10 day base ticket. UT price was 451.36 and Disney was 468.60. After using my current GC discount to pay, Disney would cost me an actual price of 435.80 so even for longer tickets it seems it can be cheaper to go the GC through Disney route.

 

[AngiTN]

I didn't price it out with current rates, but we have in the past for 8-10 days as well and it was still cheaper using our discounted cards and buying from Disney. Those trips our savings with cards was 15% or more. It's not always that high though, only when I take advantage of a special sale. At the lower range it might not save more than going with UT.

ETA: Okay, I went and took a look at an adult 10 day base ticket. UT price was 451.36 and Disney was 468.60. After using my current GC discount to pay, Disney would cost me an actual price of 435.80 so even for longer tickets it seems it can be cheaper to go the GC through Disney route.

Today, for that ticket, sure. The 3rd party ticket prices vary all the time by different promotions. The main thing to learn for anyone, don't assume one way is the cheaper way. Check. Go with whatever works for you. No right or wrong way to do it.

 

[Dis703]

Today, for that ticket, sure. The 3rd party ticket prices vary all the time by different promotions. The main thing to learn for anyone, don't assume one way is the cheaper way. Check. Go with whatever works for you. No right or wrong way to do it.

Exactly. OP didn't seem to understand why anyone would buy through Disney so I just shared how I found it to be cheaper for us. I'm sure others do it for various other reasons. If they are happy with how they did it that's all that matters.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

One (potential) drawback is some resort discounts require a ticket purchase from Disney, e.g. "free" dining. But I've always come out ahead by booking a "room only" discount and purchasing tickets from UCT.

I'm going to disagree on this point. While it may have been best for you, that doesn't mean it is universally always the best deal for everyone.

Finding the best deal involves a number of variables:
a. date you are traveling vs. WDW pricing seasons vs. weekend/weekday rates
b. which hotel and room category within that hotel
c . make-up of you party, especially kids vs. adults. vs infants (infants eat free at buffets, but are charged for meals at non-buffets)
d. the value you place on cancelation policies, and conversely the ability to pre-pay
e. hopping, Dining Plan
f. other variables, like airfare, rental cars, when you can take time off from work. In some cases, taking advantage of a WDW discount means.

In the past, one small drawback of getting tickets via UT was waiting for them to arrive in the mail, but that isn't a factor much these days.

Another potential variable is how one plans to pay for their vacation. For someone planning on paying with something like credit card points or their tax refund, waiting might be better.