Ticket purchase - shipping/handling costs?

[mcm574]

So I'm trying to spread out the expenses for our April 2016 while keeping extra charges to a minimum. I'm paying for our house rental in four quarterly installments, and I'm buying $50 Disney cards once every month or two and hoarding them to pay for in-park dining, souvenirs, etc.

Of course, that leaves the one other MAJOR expense - the tickets. We will be buying three 5-day Park Hoppers, two adult and one child. I want to try to buy one now, one in the fall, and one at the beginning of 2016 (also hoping to ensure we purchase before any 2016 price increase!).

I know if I buy direct from Disneyland, the cost is higher, but there is no cost for shipping if I get my tickets delivered by email. I'm wondering if others can weigh in regarding the authorized third-party sellers out there (way, cheaptickets, etc.) - would any additional costs they add on (S&H, "convenience" fees, etc.) just wipe out their cost savings if I am making three purchases instead of one?

Or does anyone have any other tips for how I can spread out these expenses (without incurring huge credit card finance fees, of course)?

 

[bumbershoot]

Disneyland tickets do expire, and they generally do that at the end of the calendar year. I would be very VERY careful about doing this if I were you. They DO let you use an expired ticket to purchase a new ticket, but there goes your price-savings.

 

[mcm574]

On Disneyland.com, it indicates that tickets purchased there today are good through December 31, 2016, but that brings up a great point - would the same be true for the third party resellers? I'm really thinking that my best bet is to just purchase through Disneyland, but I want to make sure I've thought it through!

 

[mcm574]

Actually, more specifically, it says:

The first day of use of multi-day tickets must be on or before December 31, 2016. Multi-day tickets must be used within 13 days of first use or by January 13, 2017, whichever occurs first.

This is at https://disneyland.disney.go.com/tickets/ - just in case it's helpful to anyone else!

 

[Girimama33]

Your plan will work if you buy them from DL.com. If it were me...that is what I would do. I wouldn't worry about the small savings you may get from the 3rd party agencies unless you know when their expiration date is.

 

[whistlinmickey]

Your scenario might be a good candidate for using a Disney Vacation Account. https://disneyvacationaccount.disney.go.com
It requires a small initial payment from a credit card or bank account. But the remainder of the deposits can be done with Disney gift cards. Assuming you're buying gift cards at a discount, then your savings is built in there. Plus, they offer bonus gift cards for every $1000 you spend using your DVA. So there's a little extra savings there. We use it mostly as a way to conveniently bundle gift cards that we accumulate. The DVA can be used to purchase park tickets on Disney's web site or over the phone. Then the remaining balance can be used to purchase one or more larger-value gift cards so you don't have to carry a large stack of $50 cards around with you in the parks.
If you do look into using a DVA, just make sure you carefully read and understand their terms. There are certain minimum time periods required in order to use your funds, or to purchase gift cards, or to request bonus gift cards.