[MissDisney]

OK, stay with me on this:

I have 8 leftover non-expiring tickets, each with maybe one or two days on them. There are four of us, and we need 7 days hopper passes each. So I know I need to buy at least two 7-day PH passes, maybe even three.

I have two questions about this:

1. Can I "trade in" the other passes toward the new ones, and is it worth it? (It would be terrible to find out that we were one or two days short late in the week! But I don't want to lose money on the deal.)

2. Also, we are going in February, which means perhaps no water park days. We have passes for one day of water parks already. But the new 7-day tickets with the water park options come with a whopping four magic days! That's four non-expiring water park days for about $40 extra. Should we spring for those and hang on to the water park tickets till next trip? We are kind of on a budget, but it seems like a really good deal.

Thanks for any help with these decision!

[DisneyTeacher]

That's a tough one. First of all, I know you can only apply one old pass toward a new one. With the new pricing I would either save the old tickets or use them for one or two people in your family, I wouldn't trade them in. If you think you might take a short trip down the road I would keep the tickets for that, they are going to be worth more to you for a shorter 3-4 day trip than a longer trip when you can add extra days for a couple of dollars.

The 4 water park days sound like a great deal for $40 but don't you have to add money to that (I'm not sure but it's between $50 and $100) to make them non-expiring?

[ddoll]

Using the leftover parkhoppers is the best deal in the scenario you present. In fact, if you have 8 passes with two days left on each, why do you need to buy 7 day hoppers?

I would count the unused pass days as being already covered, and subtract that number from the days you'll be going.
If you're on a budget, would it be easier to buy four plain 5 day hoppers with the 14 day expiration? Those are $249.21 each. The 7 day, non-expir with plusses are $363.18 each.

[MissDisney]

Originally Posted by ddoll

If you're on a budget, would it be easier to buy four plain 5 day hoppers with the 14 day expiration? Those are $249.21 each. The 7 day, non-expir with plusses are $363.18 each.

I thought about that... it's a good plan. But I would need three of them at about $750, compared to two 7-day passes for a total of $740 or so which would not expire.

I am NOT A MATH GENIUS! I barely scraped by in high school math class. And I wish there was a way to check how many days are left on passes without having to be at guest services at the parks. Grrr....

In fact, maybe the simplest solution is to wait until we are down there and then pick an easy park guest services office (like MGM maybe?) and have them count up all the days and then decide. We would also have a better idea of the weather, and whether water parks are an option for the trip...

[Erin]

As much fun as it is to plan everything in advance, I don't see how you can REALLY make a decision until you know exactly how many days you already have and what the weather is like for the water parks.

However, DT is right - you could just hold on to them for a future trip.

Also, if the water park tickets won't expire, and if you love water parks, and you'll definitely be back, you really can't loose by taking that deal. It's a good deal.

But, as far as actual numbers, you just can't know until you know what you already have.

[MissDisney]

I know there's nothing lost by waiting till we get down there and have guest services sort it all out for us. But you all know how it is... I like to have every tiny delectable detail organized in advance...

[Erin]

yes, it's sooo much fun to just think about all the possibilities, isn't it!? :c)

[ddoll]

The only thing lost is the ability to buy them at a discount. Once you're there you have to pay gate prices.