Ticket question for 3 year old (NOT what you think!)

[zakatak]

Hi!

We are heading to the world 7 weeks from today! I am in a quandry about what to do with my dd's ticket. She will turn three 3 weeks BEFORE we go, so we will get her a ticket (no questions, no flaming, period). The question is what type?

The rest of us (me, dh, ds (7) & dd (4)) all have APs which expire in October. We will be in WDW for 10 days (counting arrival day but not departure day). Since we are used to just hopping about, not counting days, hitting a parade or dinner or whatever... we don't want to be counting her days. So that leaves a child's AP or Length of Stay (UPH?). I think the UPH is more and she doesn't need the plus features. Now, my dh and ds are planning on Typhoon Lagoon, so they need the extra park admission. So... is an AP my only option for her? Or get two 5 day hopper passes and have my son use one PLUS for his Typhoon Lagoon admission?

Any brilliant ideas here?

P.S. I have come to the conclusion that Disney should raise it's age for admission to 4 and up since some 3 year olds AREN'T 40 inches or even if they are, they are not ready to ride the e-ticket rides while most 4 year olds REACH the height requirement AND are ready to ride those rides! My idea for what it's worth!

P.S.S... If we end up with an AP for her, can we reserve an AP discount with a child's AP only? Thanks!

Karen

 

[slp87]

This is the link to a page that will help you with your decision.

http://www.wdwig.com/breakeven.htm

 

[Terk-1]

If you go at least once a year, I would probably get a child AP for your DD. This way you don't have to worry about counting days. I think this option would make your life alot easier.

 

[deedeetoo]

I don't have advice on the AP but I agree with you about three years olds buying tickets. I actually think they should sell tickets and measure you for rides at the same time. If you are over 40 inches, you need a ticket and you get to go on the rides. If you are under 40 inches you don't need a ticket and you can't go on the rides.

Deedeetoo
(mom to a very short five year old who still may not be tall enough for e-ticket rides depending on how they measure)

 

[dgaston]

I have read a post on the boards where someone was able to use a child's AP to receive the AP room discount.

Now to muddy the waters just a little. Ticketmania has the 5-day hopper plus 4 options available. They can't advertise it. I usually have one or two of these that DH and I use for water parks, even tho we have APs because one of our college age kids can always use the park admissions.

 

[DisneyKidds]

Will you be renewing your AP's? We had a similar situation last year. Me and the DW had AP's that expired in November. We were making a trip in May, on which our DD was finally old enough to need a ticket. We had to decide whether to get her an AP, or a park hopper. Since we didn't want to have AP's with staggered expiration dates (to much trouble to keep track of) we decided to get her a hopper for the May trip. Our decision was easier as the May trip was only five days and the park hopper was less than the AP. Even though getting her an AP is probably the most economical option, for convenience sake I'd opt to get all your AP's on the same schedule if you will be renewing AP's in the future.

 

[zakatak]

We more than likely WON'T be renewing the APs that we have already due to the "Disney'd Out Dad Syndrome". More than likely, we will wait until Easter of 2005 and get some more for Easter 2005 (before the cruise) and Spring 2006. That would give my poor dh two years off to recuperate! lol (I'm probably dreaming, though... lol)

Anyhow... her AP will expire by then, so the new ones will be on the same schedule. The only way to REALLY make her AP pay for itself is to use our Southwest air credit ($245), and our APs before they expire and go see MNSSHP again (we saw it last year). Hmmm. a quickie weekend away... It could be me and the kids, we could do AllStars (value season), all have APs, eat cheap in FoodCourt ($50 day)... hee hee SEE HOW THIS BEGINS WITH THOSE APs! They do NOT save you money in the least!!!

Well, now I have to check prices for this October weekend (lol)... But still help me out on this issue... I thought about the 5 day PH plus 4 (because they never expire) but it would still leave us with only 2 tickets with them... Hmmm... Not a bad idea, though... She would use up the 10 days on the Hopper part, ds would use up 1 plus option, leaving 7 options for later use (with the APs in 2005/2006 it might work... then we only have to pay for 1 child into Typhoon Lagoon)... Does that math work out? Of course, then our October trip is down the tubes... lol

HELP!!!

Karen

 

[zakatak]

OK, this is bad... I need help!

Total of $1022 for 3 kids and I to go down from Wed to Sun, Oct 1st - 5th... Here's the breakdown:

$112 MNNSHP tickets
$360 air ($604 - $245 credit) southwest air
$200 food (yes, we can do $50/day)
$260 value season ASMu (hoping $59 AP rate)
$90 transfer from MCO

Well... see, nothing like "saving" some money with an AP! But the thought of a 4 day quickie trip for about $1000 is attractive... but I know dh won't go for it. So... oh well... if it was MVMCP instead (which we haven't been to) he might.

Just knowing that credit is sitting there on SW (good until Feb) is killing me!!! Gotta Fly Somewhere... why not WDW?

Ok... so should I go AP (and risk spending another $1000) or go 5 day PH with 4 plusses and save the plusses...

Thanks!

Karen

 

[Imelda in TX]

We have the same situation. My DD turned 3 right after our previous trip in Dec. Our APs are going to expire mid-June. I didn't want to keep track of staggered renewal dates either. The cost is $275.

* Ten (10) days of admission to the MAGIC KINGDOM Park, EPCOT, DISNEY'S ANIMAL KINGDOM Them Park, Disney-MGM Studios, DISNEY'S BLIZZARD BEACH Water Park, DISNEY'S TYPHOON LAGOON Water Park, DOWNTOWN DISNEY Pleasure Island, DISNEYQUEST Indoor Interactive Theme Park, and DISNEY'S WIDE WORLD OF SPORTS Complex (valid only on event days; some events require an additional admission charge). Each day the Ten (10) Day World Ticket is used at any park or attraction constitutes one full day of use.

* One (1) Traditional Resort Breakfast or Disney Character Breakfast at participating restaurants located within the WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort. Each breakfast includes choice of juice, one (1) main breakfast dish, one (1) hot beverage and one (1) bakery item OR full breakfast buffet. Applicable gratuities are included. (Priority Seating is required). Excludes the following locations: Cinderella's Royal Table at the MAGIC KINGDOM Park and The Crystal Palace at the MAGIC KINGDOM Park.

* Use of the WALT DISNEY WORLD Resort transportation system (includes monorails, ferry boats and motorcoaches).

* The Ten (10) Day World Ticket expires 20 days after the date of first use at park or attraction.

Just another option which may work for you.

 

[4greatboys]

I was gonna say 10 day pass also. She can do everything with that pass and get a free breakfast. If you get her an AP she is only going to get 1 use out of it unless you guys renew yours and go again.