[AA961JESTER]

I recently joined DVC becoming an owner in Saratoga Springs. We are begining to plan our first trip for July 4, 2005. This will be the first time my two girls see Disney (6/5 yoa). I am already very excited for them. My question is what is the best way to buy park tickets. I know I get 10% off the ultimate park hopper, but does Disney ever have ticket "sales" or discounts? If so, what time of year are these sales usually run? I obviously have a year to shop and buy. Any help would be appreciated.

[lawwin]

As far as I know, Disney does not offer ticket "sales" or discounts other than those offered to DVC members or those who live in the state of Florida. It is bad that the 10% only applies to the UPH, because we don't use those tickets. We are DVC members (Saratoga Springs, going in Oct.) and we prefer the Park hopper plus tickets. The days and plusses you don't use on those tickets never expire, whereas the UPH is only good for length of stay. You can also buy the PHP tickets at your local D-store which means that you can do it like us. Buy one at a time when you have the money saved for it. UPH can only be bought online from Disney with a shipping charge, and I think you have to get them all at one time. You might want to get your tickets before March when they usually increase the ticket rates every year. Hope this helps.

[skwak]

Lawwin has provided some great info!

The only thing that I would add is that there are some ticket brokers that sell at a slight discount. Mapleleaf is one that is always highly recommended at DC.

[pbharris4]

Ditto on all the above. I recently was sent a DVC member survey asking questions about things like tickets, etc. So they may be looking in the future to give discounts on other tickets as well. I told them I wanted to see a discount on all forms of tickets for DVC member as well as making any discount for a DVC Member a 25% across the board discount. It's they least they could do for all the $$ spent there!! 10% isn't much! Like that will ever happen though!

[BDavis932]

Welcome to DC...we are glad to have you here!! My sister and her in-laws just bought in to DVC / SSR a few months ago...we are going to stay there next May and cannot wait!

How many days will you be staying? You might look into an Annual Pass. You can get a 4 park annual pass for $379/adult, $322 per child. They also have "premium" annual passes which include admission to the water parks, pleasure island, and disney quest. You can buy them in advance and wait to activate them when you get to WDW. They are good for one year from the activation date (be sure to let the person you are buying them from know this in advance so they don't activate them for you).

If you opt not to do the annual pass, if you buy the park hoppers in advance you receive a discount. You can buy them online at www.disneyworld.com or from your local disney store. (or a travel agent, like www.mouseketrips.com ...I think!) A seven day park hopper advance purchase runs $316/adult, $253/child.

Check out the info at http://www.mousesavers.com/wdwtixadvice.html and to find out if annual passes are right for you, click here: http://www.mousesavers.com/wdwtixadvice.html#ap

We found that we can stay in a DVC Old Key West studio for 98 points for 7 nights in May or early June and then go back the following spring break (mid-march) for 5 night for 55 points and get two vacations out of our AP's and not have any money out of pocket (except the price of 3 points) so basically on our second trip, all we have to pay for is transportation (we drive from Austin Texas) and food....that's it!!

[wdwjeff]

Originally Posted by skwak

Lawwin has provided some great info!

The only thing that I would add is that there are some ticket brokers that sell at a slight discount. Mapleleaf is one that is always highly recommended at DC.

Believe it or not, it's cheaper at WDW's website than at mapleleaf for hopper plus tix!

[skwak]

Originally Posted by wdwjeff

Believe it or not, it's cheaper at WDW's website than at mapleleaf for hopper plus tix!

For some I've heard that is true. For 7 day PH+, which we buy, I think that Mapleleaf is cheaper. We actually just ordered ours from Hotwire Savings Club and saved $163 over the advanced Disney prices on 5 tickets.