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Old 09-07-2003   #1 (permalink)
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park hoppers

My family and I will be at OKW 9/25-10/3. We puchased points off a friend and have a two bedroom and a studio as this was cheaper and easier to reserve than a grand villa. Things (finances) have become very tight for us after purchasing our tickets to get to Florida and have begun to think that "at least we'll be at Disney even if we can't afford to go to the parks" but I just keep thinking of the faces of my grandchildren if we can't figure out how to do the parks. $200 for a four day hopper pass times 7 adults is something we just can't do. I had heard that Disney was trying to entice larger families by offering additional discounts or shorter hopper passes at almost convention type prices but can't find out any info. At first we were told it was for groups of 10 or more, but now are being told 10 rooms or more!
HELP!! any suggestions? :)
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Old 09-08-2003   #2 (permalink)
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this might sound ridiculous but can you charge it? I would hate to see you go all that way and not be able to go in the parks. i am heartbroken after reading your story. Maybe you can do 2 days instead? that would be 100.00 pp. hmmm. I will keep thinking.
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Old 09-08-2003   #3 (permalink)
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Barbara,

Sometimes the prices of the disney tickets came seem overwhelming. These tips below came from Mousesaver which is a very good source for all things disney www.mousesavers.com

Short-Stay Hoppers

Most people don't know (because Disney doesn't advertise it) that there are special short-stay passes available that are not sold at the gates. Most of these are sold directly to conventions, groups and local hotels that want to put together weekend packages. If you will be going to Walt Disney World for a short stay or can only go for the end of a day, these passes can be a great value.

3-Day Hopper PLUS and 4-Day Hopper PLUS

3-Day and 4-Day Hopper PLUS passes include one "Plus" feature, which can be used for admission to Pleasure Island or a water park. They are an excellent value for people who are planning a short trip.
Like the better-known 5-, 6- and 7-Day Park Hopper PLUS passes, unused days and "Plus" features on these passes never expire.

The 3- and 4-Day Park Hopper PLUS passes are not available at the gates. If you call the main Disney phone numbers or ask at the gates, the agents will deny these exist. (In fact, they probably don't know they exist! Disney is a huge company and one hand often doesn't know what the other is doing.)

However, there are legitimate sources of the 3-Day and 4-Day Hopper PLUS passes:

Online Ticket Brokers

There are online ticket agencies that offer discounted Walt Disney World tickets. They buy blocks of discounted tickets and resell them at a slight mark-up.

The online ticket brokers listed in the yellow boxes below (Ticket Mania and Florida Orlando Tickets) sell new, unused Walt Disney World passes. They offer discounts that are better than Disney's "advance purchase" prices on Hopper PLUS Passes.

With either of these brokers, you can buy your tickets online through a secure server and have them delivered to your home. Both have a toll-free number for questions. Both sites are members in good standing of the Better Business Bureau.

Theme park tickets are an expensive outlay, and you should feel confident that you are dealing with a legitimate business. I have had many, many positive reports from readers who have used both of these agencies and I have been recommending both of them for over two years. You can buy from them with confidence. I do not receive any compensation from either agency for my recommendation.

Ticket Mania http://www.ticketmania.com/discounttickets.shtml

Sample prices: 5-day adult Park Hopper PLUS for $260; 6-day adult Park Hopper PLUS for $290; 7-day adult Park Hopper PLUS for $315; DisneyQuest adult $24; Pleasure Island $16.

All prices include tax and FREE shipping by US mail to the US, Canada or UK.

Ticket Mania frequently offers special deals on tickets exclusively for MouseSavers.com newsletter subscribers. These deals are not available to the general public and are not published here on MouseSavers.com. Click here to subscribe to the newsletter.


Florida Orlando Tickets

Sample prices: 5-day adult Park Hopper PLUS for $254; 6-day adult Park Hopper PLUS for $283; 7-day adult Park Hopper PLUS for $305.

All prices include tax. Shipping and handling is $7 per order for US Priority mail, $16.25 for Express mail, $25 for international shipping (outside US). No refunds.






2 and 3 Day Passes

Is your trip only 2 or 3 days? You can still get a discount. If you don't plan to "hop" from park to park on the same day, and if you have no plans to visit the water parks, Pleasure Island or Disney Quest, the one-day/one-park passes are your best deal. Buy your first day's ticket at the regular price. Either at the same time, or before the end of the day, show the one-day pass at the ticket window and buy your second day's ticket for $5 off. If you need a third day, you get a $10 discount ($5 per day). Total savings over buying three separate days' admission is $10.65 per adult when you add in the tax savings. (See the prices here.)

With these one-day/one-park passes you can only go to one park per day -- you can't "hop" from park to park on a given day. Also, the second day expires 4 days after purchase, and the third day expires 6 days after purchase. Still, it's around $25 per adult cheaper than the 2 or 3 day Ultimate Park Hopper passes, and you don't have to stay at a Disney resort to qualify for the one-day/one-park passes.

If you want to "hop" from park to park on the same day and/or visit the water parks, Pleasure Island and/or DisneyQuest, and you are staying at one of the Disney resorts, you can buy an Ultimate Hopper Pass for a stay as short as 1 night/2 days.


I wish you the best and I hope you find tickets that suite your budget.
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Old 09-08-2003   #4 (permalink)
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Thanks guys for your replies. I have checked the main disney sites (mousesavers etc) and we may have to do the Alamo deal where you can get 3 day hoppers. I wish I could charge the tickets, but when you're talking 7 adults, I just don't have the funds, and if I did less than all 7, how would I decide who to help and who not to?!? The one day tickets are good, but I know we were hoping to hop from AK over to Epcot for Illuminations. Keep thinking, and thanks for your thoughts.
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Old 09-09-2003   #5 (permalink)
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Hey, why do you have to buy all the adult tickets? How old are they? Shouldn't they help out? I just want you to go so badly I am thinking of anything I can. Good Luck!
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Old 09-09-2003   #6 (permalink)
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Adult tickets - are not just for adults - isn't is over 9years old?
Any way - if they are "grown ups" or even teens - maybe they can help out with tickets. Let them know now that they have just a few weeks to add $$ to the ticket fund.
Even Older children can mow lawns, baby sit, wash cars, do yard work,recycle cans for cash, and break open piggy banks.

Several years ago when the budget was tight and we needed a WDW fix we spent one full day doing the time-share thing and were able to get free tickets to WDW and Universal. It was a pain, while we were sitting through the sales pitch, but we now joke about the free breakfast, lunch and tickets. We actually drove up and down 192 comparing deals.

There are many, many weekends that DH and I just get up and go to WDW (I don't count these as vacations, because they are unplanned, boy would my list be long ) Some times we don't even go to the parks. We enjoy the relaxing, themed resorts. There are lots of "free" things to do.
Go to the boardwalk at night - this place is a blast after dark, street performers, games and you can see the Epcot fireworks.
Go to Fort Wilderness - there is a petting zoo, campfire & movie.
Visit the Poly - You have a perfect view of the MK fireworks from the beach. and there is the water parade.
Hotel Hop - visit them all
Ride the monorail

Good Luck


:) :)
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Old 09-09-2003   #7 (permalink)
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While some people advise against it, (I am a bit leary myself) you might try looking on ebay for partially used passes. Unused days never expire & you might be able to save some money.

Technically only the person who purchased the pass can use it however, I have had friends in similar situations do exactly this.

I would be sure to check any sellers feedback rating & be sure to use paypal so that you have a little more security in your transaction.

I too would hate to see you go down & not be able to enjoy at least one park.

Just a thought!!:)
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Old 09-17-2003   #8 (permalink)
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I mean this in the best possible way so please do not take it wrong. Couldn't the parents of these grandchildren help out a little bit? Going halfs with you would be a wonderful savings to say the least. You are footing the rest of the bill and taking the kids on vacation. I just think it would be a nice jester for them to offer to pay something. If I have spoken out of turn, I apologize. Your story was just too much for me. I can feel how badly you want to take your grandchildren to the park and I figured I be the one to ask the obvious. Again, my apologies.:)
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Old 09-17-2003   #9 (permalink)
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Good new everyone. I didn't know it but my children were planning to buy their tickets and mine!!! What a great surprise. They wanted to keep it a secret but saw I was stressing too much. Thanks for all your input. I'll let you know how the trip goes. LESS THAN ONE WEEK TO GO!!!
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Old 09-17-2003   #10 (permalink)
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HOW WONDERFUL!!!!!! I'M SO HAPPY FOR YOU.

:) :) :) :) :)
Please post a trip report when you get home and settled. I can't wait to hear how your trip went.
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Old 09-18-2003   #11 (permalink)
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That is so wonderful, Barbara!!

What a relief for you....I know you will have a magical trip!! Please fill us in on all the details when you return back home!
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Old 09-20-2003   #12 (permalink)
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That is certainly wonderful news. I have been to Disney many times when I had to watch every penny. Many of us have never had the leisure to eat at the expensive restraunts and all. Now, you are staying in a terriffic place and have your tickets too. Please come back and share your trip with us here at DC!
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Old 09-20-2003   #13 (permalink)
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Great!! Have a good time.
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Now that we live in near WDW, we stop by every couple weeks!

"Of course I don't look busy...I did it right the first time!

2005 - Moved 20 miles from WDW POR (Oct) Fort Wilderness (Dec)
2004 - Pop Cent. (Feb, April) POR(Oct,Dec) Caribbean (Oct)
2003 - All Star Music (Feb.) All Star Sports (April), POR (Oct), CSR (Dec)
2002 - Fort Wilderness (Dec), POR (Oct), AKL (Aug), off site (may):(, CSR (April), Caribbean (Feb)
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Old 09-20-2003   #14 (permalink)
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Must have been that Disney "magic." Have a wonderful time & make sure we get a really detailed trip report when you get back.
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Old 09-20-2003   #15 (permalink)
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Enjoy every moment Barbara! I needed to hear a story like this today. You'll love OKW! It's beautiful!
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