Water Park Trip and Ticket Questions

[Kelly014]

Hello! Our last Disney trip we went to one of the water parks for the first time. We fell in love with Typhoon Lagoon Unfortunately we ended up having to go on our departure day because our planned water park day was too cold, so we had to change up our schedule and only got about 4 hours there before we had to head to the airport. I am trying to talk DH into a quick trip this year before we go for Star Wars land next year, but we would have to squeeze it into the budget. He loves water parks and we had a lot of fun so I am thinking of doing a quick trip that focuses more on water parks.

I am wondering what the most cost effective way to do a 4 day/3 night trip in September (Friday-Monday, though I would seriously consider taking a late flight Thursday and getting in around midnight, so potentially a 4 night trip) would be. We would want at least 2 visits to the water parks, and 1-2 park days. We would probably pick Hollywood Studios to see Toy Story land, and then maybe do Animal Kingdom because we love EE, the animals, and Pandora. We have always booked packages through the Disney site. We prefer to have the dining plan, and have done free dining in the past, but our last trip we used the room discount. Would be willing to just budget for food instead since it's a short trip and the DDP is more about peace of mind than savings. Kids are 3 and 8, so this will be our first time with two kids tickets too.

Does it make more sense to book through Disney and use the park hopper plus? How exactly does the park hopper and more work? I wouldn't mind to have a park hopper as an option, but I am not 100% sure we would use it. We like to open and close parks because traveling takes a good bit of time.

Or should I look into buying discount tickets elsewhere (undercover tourist comes to mind) and booking the room on its own? Can I book discount water tickets for multiple days? We would probably stay moderate, maybe deluxe, for our room. Thanks in advance!


TL;DR because I probably type too much: What's the most cost effective way to book a 3-4 night trip at a mod with 2 adults and 2 kids where we want 1-2 park days and at a minimum 2 water park visits? Through Disney site or piece it together?

 

[klbrow11]

We are doing a trip like this in July as my husband loves the water parks. We bought a 2 day park hopper plus which gives us 2 park days with park hopping and 2 water park days. I believe if you bought a one day park hopper plus you still get 2 water park days so that could be a money saver. We got our tickets direct from disney as there was not a discount for the tickets when we were buying.
We are planning on doing morning extra magic hours and then hop to a different park in the afternoon. Alternating park and water park days.
As for the room we are DVC so not sure anymore about best route. I imagine checking for discounts frequently.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

A 2-day base ticket is $222.59. A one-day water park ticket for a summer day is $69.23, so two of those would be $138.46. The total for all of that is $361.05.

A 2-day Park Hopper Plus ticket is $318.44 and would give you two calendar days to visit the theme parks and two visits to the water parks to use on any days you want within 14 days of the first use of any entitlement on the ticket.

(All of my stated prices are per adult, at Disney's gate rate, with tax included. Kids are a few bucks less.)

 

[sharonabe]

I believe if you bought a one day park hopper plus you still get 2 water park days so that could be a money saver.

This is not true. Plus entries are the same number as the number of days on the ticket, so they would have one regular park day and one entry to a water park.

OP: There are no discount water park tickets except as a part of a park hopper plus ticket. I think some of the third party sellers have discounter park hopper plus tickets, so I'd check those sites. However, don't buy YET. September is traditionally free dining time and that promotion should come out by the end of this month. Check the prices of the discounted tickets, so you can do the math, but I think a free dining promotion will be your best bet and it will require the 2-day park hopper, so getting the plus part will make sense.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

This is not true. Plus entries are the same number as the number of days on the ticket, so they would have one regular park day and one entry to a water park.

The person you quoted was actually right. A 1-day PHP does get 2 water park visits. The idea is that the "bonus" increases the value for the price.

 

[subtchr]

This is not true. Plus entries are the same number as the number of days on the ticket, so they would have one regular park day and one entry to a water park.

OP: There are no discount water park tickets except as a part of a park hopper plus ticket. I think some of the third party sellers have discounter park hopper plus tickets, so I'd check those sites. However, don't buy YET. September is traditionally free dining time and that promotion should come out by the end of this month. Check the prices of the discounted tickets, so you can do the math, but I think a free dining promotion will be your best bet and it will require the 2-day park hopper, so getting the plus part will make sense.

I've not seen discounts from third party sellers on one or two day tickets, only for longer lengths.

 

[sharonabe]

I believe if you bought a one day park hopper plus you still get 2 water park days so that could be a money saver.

The person you quoted was actually right. A 1-day PHP does get 2 water park visits. The idea is that the "bonus" increases the value for the price.

My apologies! I'd never seen that particular perk. Thanks for correcting me, ravenclawtrekkie.

 

[Polybound]

Hello! Our last Disney trip we went to one of the water parks for the first time. We fell in love with Typhoon Lagoon Unfortunately we ended up having to go on our departure day because our planned water park day was too cold, so we had to change up our schedule and only got about 4 hours there before we had to head to the airport. I am trying to talk DH into a quick trip this year before we go for Star Wars land next year, but we would have to squeeze it into the budget. He loves water parks and we had a lot of fun so I am thinking of doing a quick trip that focuses more on water parks.

I am wondering what the most cost effective way to do a 4 day/3 night trip in September (Friday-Monday, though I would seriously consider taking a late flight Thursday and getting in around midnight, so potentially a 4 night trip) would be. We would want at least 2 visits to the water parks, and 1-2 park days. We would probably pick Hollywood Studios to see Toy Story land, and then maybe do Animal Kingdom because we love EE, the animals, and Pandora. We have always booked packages through the Disney site. We prefer to have the dining plan, and have done free dining in the past, but our last trip we used the room discount. Would be willing to just budget for food instead since it's a short trip and the DDP is more about peace of mind than savings. Kids are 3 and 8, so this will be our first time with two kids tickets too.

Does it make more sense to book through Disney and use the park hopper plus? How exactly does the park hopper and more work? I wouldn't mind to have a park hopper as an option, but I am not 100% sure we would use it. We like to open and close parks because traveling takes a good bit of time.

Or should I look into buying discount tickets elsewhere (undercover tourist comes to mind) and booking the room on its own? Can I book discount water tickets for multiple days? We would probably stay moderate, maybe deluxe, for our room. Thanks in advance!


TL;DR because I probably type too much: What's the most cost effective way to book a 3-4 night trip at a mod with 2 adults and 2 kids where we want 1-2 park days and at a minimum 2 water park visits? Through Disney site or piece it together?

We love the water parks as well and Typhoon Lagoon is our favorite by far. Even in September, the water parks can get really crowded on weekends. Just like the other parks, the earlier you go, the easier it is to find chairs in a good location, the smaller the crowds will be and the more you can get done. We normally try to arrive at rope drop and leave by 1:00 PM. That's usually plenty for us. If you're staying on property and don't have a car, I'd highly recommend Uber, because Disney transportation to and from the Water Parks stinks. We normally eat snacks at the park, skip lunch, head back to our resort for a quick change then head to a park in the late afternoon, spending the rest of the day using what ever FP's we have.

 

[Kelly014]

Sounds like the Disney site is probably the way to go. I'm hoping for a free dining promo but not crossing my fingers because it seems to get more and more limited every year! But we will see. At the end of the day all I really want is to be standing in the sand at Typhoon Lagoon with a cold beer and Mickey ice cream in hand

 

[SL6827]

We love the water parks as well and Typhoon Lagoon is our favorite by far. Even in September, the water parks can get really crowded on weekends. Just like the other parks, the earlier you go, the easier it is to find chairs in a good location, the smaller the crowds will be and the more you can get done. We normally try to arrive at rope drop and leave by 1:00 PM. That's usually plenty for us. If you're staying on property and don't have a car, I'd highly recommend Uber, because Disney transportation to and from the Water Parks stinks. We normally eat snacks at the park, skip lunch, head back to our resort for a quick change then head to a park in the late afternoon, spending the rest of the day using what ever FP's we have.

Planning on arriving early to ensure finding seating with shade, (without have to pay for it) and using Uber to get there and back.