UT and other ticket resellers aren't always your best ticket option...

[Marionnette]

Disclaimer: This is only a comparison of UT prices, but the same can be said for MapleLeaf, DiscountOrlandoVacation, FloridaTicketCenter, Ticketmania and the various other ticket discounters.

I know we all love UT because their prices are great and they have wonderful customer service. But, they aren't always your cheapest option. We all know that they charge more for 1- and 2-day tickets than Disney does, but I did a spreadsheet today comparing UT and buying your tickets directly from Disney using discounted Disney GCs. The results were interesting to say the least.

We all know that you can't buy discounted 1- or 2-day tickets from UT. In fact, it's cheaper to get them right from Disney. But, if you were to just take your REDCard to your local Target store and purchase Disney GCs at 5% off of the face value, you can get a 1-day MK base ticket for $106.40 OOP (gate price with tax is $112). Or, if you were to buy a discounted Target GC on a place like Raise for 8.5% off and go to your local Target to buy a Disney GC with that Target GC, you would end up paying under $103. Or, the real coup de grace, buy the discounted Target GC, use it online with the REDCard discount, buy a Disney GC and then use it to purchase your ticket, you will end up paying a little above $97.

That lead me to compare other tickets and their discounts. In every case, it was cheaper to buy base tickets using at least the 5% REDCard discount, if not the bigger GC discount methods. When it came to hoppers, the results are mixed. The 5% REDCard discount alone loses its advantage when purchasing hoppers with 4 or more days. The other discount methods continue to be a better deal than UT for all hopper tickets.

Finally, when it comes to the loaded tickets (hoppers + WPF&M), UT becomes a better deal for some tickets when compared to the REDCard discount or if you buy discounted Target GCs and then go to a Target store to buy Disney GCs. But at every level buying your Disney GCs online using discounted Target GCs and your REDCard beats out UT's prices.

It should be noted that I did not take into account the Mousesavers Newsletter discount at UT because those prices cannot be shared online. I also did not factor in additional savings that would come from using a rewards CC to make your purchases or any rebate websites that you might use. There are also other advantages of going through UT such as not tying your cash up in Target or Disney GCs and being able to return your unused/unlinked tickets for a partial refund whereas Disney does not refund ticket purchases.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Marionnette, depending on your trip date and amount spent, you can deduct another 2% for DVA

 

[Marionnette]

Marionnette, depending on your trip date and amount spent, you can deduct another 2% for DVA

It's not 2%. It's a $20 Disney GC for every $1000 spent on qualifying purchases. If you manage to spend exactly $1000, then, yes, it is 2%. But in many cases it will be much lower than that. And if you don't manage to reach that magic $1000 threshold in your spending, you don't get anything at all.

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

It's not 2%. It's a $20 Disney GC for every $1000 spent on qualifying purchases. If you manage to spend exactly $1000, then, yes, it is 2%. But in many cases it will be much lower than that. And if you don't manage to reach that magic $1000 threshold in your spending, you don't get anything at all.

Well, yes. That's why I said DEPENDING on the amount spent. And I understand it isn't exactly 2% but my point was that it's an additional incentive to buy through Disney- unless you don't intend to spend a dime while inside the parks which is entirely possible.

 

[georgina]

I get my Disney GC at Giant Eagle when they are giving 40¢ off per gallon of gas (up to 30 gallons) per $100 spent. I also get 3% back on grocery store purchases with my credit card. That's a 15% discount on them. I use them for food, merchandise, and hotel bills. And yet up to this point I have bought my 10 day non-expiring hoppers at UT because I want to. I now have 17 days of park tickets, which will last me 5 more trips. Perhaps in the future I may do something different. I doubt I would ever use something else like Raise. I don't use my Redcard at all anymore because I can get Target GC at Giant Eagle too.

 

[Marionnette]

I get my Disney GC at Giant Eagle when they are giving 40¢ off per gallon of gas (up to 30 gallons) per $100 spent. I also get 3% back on grocery store purchases with my credit card. That's a 15% discount on them. I use them for food, merchandise, and hotel bills. And yet up to this point I have bought my 10 day non-expiring hoppers at UT because I want to. I now have 17 days of park tickets, which will last me 5 more trips. Perhaps in the future I may do something different. I doubt I would ever use something else like Raise. I don't use my Redcard at all anymore because I can get Target GC at Giant Eagle too.

I don't use enough gas to make fuel perks worth my while but I'm sure that it works out as a huge savings for a lot of people. I fill my tank every 2-3 weeks. The discounts on Raise, Cardpool and GiftcardZen are a better deal for me.

 

[HM]

That's so much work!

 

[seashoreCM]

We could be comparing apples with apples but its not the same if for one of the apples you must buy an orange earlier or at the same time.

However I am sure you could make a couple of trips to Target and buy the $1000. or so of qualifying merchandise in less time than I could buy just the ticket I wanted over my slow Internet line to Undercover Tourist or Maple Leaf or other ticket retailer. Not sure if UT or ML takes orders over the phone (which beats my computer at least for bill paying) but if so then that would really be the best ticket option.

 

[Marionnette]

That's so much work!

Agreed. It's not for everyone but the difference in price is pretty significant; especially if you're purchasing tickets with 4 days or less.

 

[hsmamato2]

it's not really 'a lot of work'.... ....... It's a few extra steps, but a 'lot'? Thanks OP for that interesting breakdown, since I may actually need a one day ticket (1st time in my life I've ever said that) your numbers are interesting.....

 

[Friendlyadvice2]

I don't use enough gas to make fuel perks worth my while but I'm sure that it works out as a huge savings for a lot of people. I fill my tank every 2-3 weeks. The discounts on Raise, Cardpool and GiftcardZen are a better deal for me.

You could get some gas cans.....our CR-V has a 12 gallon tank that's filled up every 2-3 weeks. Haven't paid for gas in years....fuel perks are absolutely worth our while. Even utilizing a portion of a fuel perks program will yield far better savings than the gift card portals. Now if you don't have access to a fuel perk program then the portals are a viable option.

With at least a 32% discount from gift card and credit card strategy, I havent purchased from UT or Maple Leaf in quite some time. All purchases are made directly from Disney.

 

[Marionnette]

You get some gas cans.....our CR-V has a 12 gallon tank that's filled up every 2-3 weeks. Haven't paid for gas in years....fuel perks are absolutely worth our while. Even utilizing a portion of a fuel perks program will yield far better savings than the gift card portals. Now if you don't have access to a fuel perk program then the portals are a viable option.

With at least a 32% discount from gift card and credit card strategy, I havent purchased from UT or Maple Leaf in quite some time. All purchases are made directly from Disney.

Thanks. I've done the math and gas perks are not a better deal for me. Glad it works for you and that you're realizing such tremendous discounts. That's a hefty savings!

 

[sharona]

That's so much work!

I agree. Not enough of a savings to justify the time spent, IMO. I guess if you have a large family or a really tight budget, it could be worth the work...

 

[Narnia_girl]

Gosh, I didn't think it was much work at all. Maybe 20-25 minutes invested so far. $600 in Disney cards cost me $512.

With at least a 32% discount from gift card and credit card strategy, I havent purchased from UT or Maple Leaf in quite some time. All purchases are made directly from Disney.

Now that's a strategy I'd like to know about!!

Thanks, Marionnette for working out this chart. I know the prices will change, but I've bookmarked it for future reference.

 

[kymom99]

I thought last time I looked, UT had a buy 4 days get the 5th day free special. Maybe it is over?

 

[CalDisneyMomof2]

Gosh, I didn't think it was much work at all. Maybe 20-25 minutes invested so far. $600 in Disney cards cost me $512.

I don't think it's very much work either 20-25 minutes is even a stretch. For me, it's more like 5-10 minutes? I need a total of $1,200 for tickets and another $1,000 for food. I'll have saved about $400 when it's all said and done!

 

[Friendlyadvice2]

Gosh, I didn't think it was much work at all. Maybe 20-25 minutes invested so far. $600 in Disney cards cost me $512.



Now that's a strategy I'd like to know about!!

Thanks, Marionnette for working out this chart. I know the prices will change, but I've bookmarked it for future reference.

Here ya go Narnia_girl, ask and you shall receive. This is utilizing a double fuel perks program offered at Giant Eagle, but most other programs are similar. I often get over 35% savings when I can find $200 Visa/MC/Amex gift cards that have less fees (I sometimes find them at GE's GetGo Stations), but they aren't consistently stocked. If they would stock $500 cards I'd be in better shape yet:

1. Purchase Visa/MC/Amex gift cards at GE in no less than $100 increments (my GE carries only $100 max) with your Amex (Blue cash preferred). The $100 cards have a fee of $5.95. So a $1,000 in GC would cost you $1,059.50 and you would get back from $63.57 from Amex plus $126 in free gas ($1,050/$50*.20*30 gallons = $126). Your cost after step 1 is $1059.50-$63.57-$126=$869.93 for $1,000 in GC or 13% savings.

2. Purchase Target GC at GE with the Visa/MC/Amex GC you just purchased. So $1,000 in GC would yield another $120 in free gas or 12%. You're total cost is now $869.93-$120=$749.93 or total savings of 25%.

3. Purchase Disney GC with the Target GC using your RedCad default payment online to save another $50 or 5%. You're total cost is now $749.93-$50=$699.93 or 30% total savings. If you can actually get cash back by logging into Target through a Portal such as eBates, then you can add that amount to this also, but since it's not consistent for everybody, I didn't include it.

4. Spend the $1,000 via a DVA and get another 2% back for a toal of 32% savings.

My gift cards are used for everything including items such as DVC dues, tickets, food, etc........all at 32+% discount. Now if UT offered gift cards sold via Target, that would be an option too!!

 

[Friendlyadvice2]

I agree. Not enough of a savings to justify the time spent, IMO. I guess if you have a large family or a really tight budget, it could be worth the work...

IMO the value of time spent is extremely relative and therefore different for everybody. I personally spend very little time generating my savings. I've found over life that employing money savings strategies and not overpaying for items has enabled me to never have a tight budget; that varies greatly from employing these strategies because of being on a tight budget, although I feel doing so in both instances is prudent.

Disney vacations are no different. In fact, they seem so similar to purchasing airline tickets.....if you think about it, the person in the resort room or airline seat next to yours paid a completely different price for the same exact experience......it has always amazed me! I always try to be the guy paying the lesser amount, but as I said initially, the value placed on the time spent doing so is relative to each of us.

 

[kymom99]

Here ya go Narnia_girl, ask and you shall receive. This is utilizing a double fuel perks program offered at Giant Eagle, but most other programs are similar. I often get over 35% savings when I can find $200 Visa/MC/Amex gift cards that have less fees (I sometimes find them at GE's GetGo Stations), but they aren't consistently stocked. If they would stock $500 cards I'd be in better shape yet:

1. Purchase Visa/MC/Amex gift cards at GE in no less than $100 increments (my GE carries only $100 max) with your Amex (Blue cash preferred). The $100 cards have a fee of $5.95. So a $1,000 in GC would cost you $1,059.50 and you would get back from $63.57 from Amex plus $126 in free gas ($1,050/$50*.20*30 gallons = $126). Your cost after step 1 is $1059.50-$63.57-$126=$869.93 for $1,000 in GC or 13% savings.

2. Purchase Target GC at GE with the Visa/MC/Amex GC you just purchased. So $1,000 in GC would yield another $120 in free gas or 12%. You're total cost is now $869.93-$120=$749.93 or total savings of 25%.

3. Purchase Disney GC with the Target GC using your RedCad default payment online to save another $50 or 5%. You're total cost is now $749.93-$50=$699.93 or 30% total savings. If you can actually get cash back by logging into Target through a Portal such as eBates, then you can add that amount to this also, but since it's not consistent for everybody, I didn't include it.

4. Spend the $1,000 via a DVA and get another 2% back for a toal of 32% savings.

My gift cards are used for everything including items such as DVC dues, tickets, food, etc........all at 32+% discount. Now if UT offered gift cards sold via Target, that would be an option too!!

Do you fill 2 cars? Or what on earth do you drive that holds 30 gallons?

 

[sharona]

Here ya go Narnia_girl, ask and you shall receive. This is utilizing a double fuel perks program offered at Giant Eagle, but most other programs are similar. I often get over 35% savings when I can find $200 Visa/MC/Amex gift cards that have less fees (I sometimes find them at GE's GetGo Stations), but they aren't consistently stocked. If they would stock $500 cards I'd be in better shape yet:

1. Purchase Visa/MC/Amex gift cards at GE in no less than $100 increments (my GE carries only $100 max) with your Amex (Blue cash preferred). The $100 cards have a fee of $5.95. So a $1,000 in GC would cost you $1,059.50 and you would get back from $63.57 from Amex plus $126 in free gas ($1,050/$50*.20*30 gallons = $126). Your cost after step 1 is $1059.50-$63.57-$126=$869.93 for $1,000 in GC or 13% savings.

2. Purchase Target GC at GE with the Visa/MC/Amex GC you just purchased. So $1,000 in GC would yield another $120 in free gas or 12%. You're total cost is now $869.93-$120=$749.93 or total savings of 25%.

3. Purchase Disney GC with the Target GC using your RedCad default payment online to save another $50 or 5%. You're total cost is now $749.93-$50=$699.93 or 30% total savings. If you can actually get cash back by logging into Target through a Portal such as eBates, then you can add that amount to this also, but since it's not consistent for everybody, I didn't include it.

4. Spend the $1,000 via a DVA and get another 2% back for a toal of 32% savings.

My gift cards are used for everything including items such as DVC dues, tickets, food, etc........all at 32+% discount. Now if UT offered gift cards sold via Target, that would be an option too!!

Now that level of return I can see being worth some effort. We don't have Giant Eagle around here but I guess Stop and Shop offers similar gas points rewards. I just don't buy my gas from them because it's crap so that savings wouldn't work for me. YMMV. I usually get my GC's from Staples using my Ink Bold to get 5X Chase points which, IMO, can be worth more than the cash equivalent when used advantageously.