Why buy tickets ahead of time?

[teambuffy]

We're staying at Wyndham Palace March 28 to 31. I'm trying to decide if I should by our 3 day Base ticket w/park hopper option ahead of time, online or at the local Dis Store or if I should wait and buy them at the hotel or one-day at the entrance gate. What is the bonus of buying ahead of time? You save $1 a ticket?? Is there a risk that during this Easter week we won't be able to buy tickets at all?

Thanks, Jackie
Beach Club - Aug. 2003

 

[GoldenOldie]

In your case, there is no advantage to buying ahead of time unless you find a really good deal from a ticket wholesaler. There is no advance purchase price on any MYW ticket less than 5 days in length. The price will be the same from Disney for this ticket by phone, online, at the parks or standing at your resort.

 

[mickeyluv'r]

The only advantage is that you won't have to wait in line when you get there. With so many people buying ahead of time, the line often isn't too bad, but with so many choices, I imagine the line would move painfully slowly. Once, we had a problem with one of our tickets, and although there were only a couple of people ahead of us, it took over an hour and a half! The people ahead of us were clueless, and the computer system wasn't working properly. Plus, on your vacation - time is money.

 

[Chicago526]

Plus, on your vacation - time is money.

That there is your advantage. If you have the tickets ahead of time, you can check in, toss the bags in the room and head straight for a park. Why wait in line to buy tickets when you could be rideing Splash Mountain?

 

[Toni300z]

That there is your advantage. If you have the tickets ahead of time, you can check in, toss the bags in the room and head straight for a park. Why wait in line to buy tickets when you could be rideing Splash Mountain?

I so agree!

Its so convenient to have them.

I did a Will Call pick up at UNiversal Studios, and there was only one person in front of me and I had to wait 45 minutes until i could get heloed. COme to find out I was supposed to go to a machine and print them out. So, I can just imagine the regular ticket line. Ughhh

 

[MrsPete]

I like to buy tickets ahead of time because I can get a slightly better price and because I don't have to waste vacation time standing in line to purchase them.

It did backfire on me once (at Busch Gardens in Wilmington, Virginia -- not Disney). I purchased tickets ahead of time, and they sent me un-activated tickets -- at least I think that was the problem, but it's been about three years ago and I'm not 100% sure. Fortunately, I had saved the receipt that came with the tickets. Unfortuantely, it was back in the car and we had to wait while my husband hiked back up to get it. I was really mad because it took them the better part of an hour to straighten out THEIR mistake, and they were nasty to my husband. We lost the advantage of being there early in the AM, and we could've spent less time just buying our tickets that morning. I wrote and complained later, and their attitude was, "Well, you got in, didn't you?" Wonder why I have not been back there?

We're going to SeaWorld this summer, which is a sister park to BG. I will not be purchasing my tickets ahead of time.