Disneyland (CA) Parkhoppers

[Passepartout]

Going next month. Is Mousesavers still the best- cheapest- place to get Parkhopper passes for D'land and California Adventure? I called the resort and their prices are the same as at the 'Park. How about Costco? Should I get 'em online or wait until we get to SoCal and buy them somewhere live?

Thanks!

Jim

 

[Blues]

Mousesavers doesn't directly sell tickets -- they just recommend the best deals out there. It's definitely worth it to buy tickets in advance, but few vendors do much better than buying online from disneyland.com. You can check prices at getawaytoday.com and lastminutetravel.com, but you'll probably only save a small amount. The advantage of buying directly from Disney is that you can print out the voucher at home, and bring it directly to the turnstiles, bypassing the ticket windows. There, they'll scan it, let you in, and exchange it for the same credit-card sized Parkhopper that you'd get at the ticket window. Takes no time at all.

This can be a large advantage on the mornings of those days when the ticket windows back up. AFAIK, all 3rd party vouchers must be exchanged at the ticket window, costing considerable time. It would be worth it to me to buy from Disney online; your mileage may vary.

The one exception to the above rule is AAA. It also has to be redeemed at the ticket window. And the price is no better than Disney's. What makes it worth considering is that (last I looked), they include free parking with your Parkhopper. That's worth $15 a day, if you're driving.

HTH,
Bob

 

[Passepartout]

Thanks Bob. From Mousesavers: Not a lot of discounts available, but aRes travel has the 3 day Parkhoppers for $194 vs. $224 at the gate, so that's $60 bucks toward the mandatory parking fee at Peacock Suites. We think that 3 days will give us about all the mouse we need since we've been to the SoCal parks before.

Jim

 

[Blues]

You're welcome, Jim. The price to compare against isn't the gate price, but the Disney online price at http://disneyland.disney.go.com/tickets/ There you'll see that the online price direct from Disney is $199 for the 3 day hoppers. So your discounter will save you 5 bucks per ticket. That's about average, in my experience, though there are some that will save you more.

So you have to decide on the relative value of the $10 for two of you, versus the convenience of skipping the ticket window and going directly to the turnstiles. I'd pick the convenience, but YMMV.

-Bob

 

[Blues]

BTW, Peacock Suites is on the edge of walkability to the parks. It's not a bad walk for healthy adults, but if you like to take a midday break, that's 2 round-trips per day. It can get tedious. So I'd look into getting a 3 day pass from ART (Anaheim Resort Transit - http://www.rideart.org ). $10 pp for a 3 day pass. It looks like Peacock is on Route 7. I believe you can buy them directly from the front desk at Peacock Suites.

-Bob

 

[WazzuCougFan]

I've been pricing the tickets too (we're going in June). Since we have lots of big "kids" in our group (the youngest is 18), I am looking at the various passes that will get us into more parks, like the Southern California City Pass. It's $276 for adults and $229 for kids and includes a 3-day Disney Park Hopper (with the bonus "Magic Morning"); Universal Studios; Sea World; and San Diego Zoo. It looks like the 2012 pass doesn't include the zoo without ponying up additional $$. There are also the Los Angeles and San Diego Go Cards (no Disney with those though). You will also be needing 2012 tickets, I assume. I'm hoping there will be some cheaper options once we get into the new year.

http://www.mousesavers.com/socalpasses.html#choose

All of the options make my head spin. lol

 

[Passepartout]

The price to compare against isn't the gate price, but the Disney online price at http://disneyland.disney.go.com/tickets/ There you'll see that the online price direct from Disney is $199 for the 3 day hoppers. So your discounter will save you 5 bucks per ticket.

Thanks Bob. That sounds like good math to me. Convenience trumps line-standing every time. So passes from Disney and ART bus passes for our park days is going to be the deal.

On the alternate days, there will be a whole bunch of activities- or non-activities to choose from. We don't expect SoCal to be pool or shorts weather in January, just a fairly pleasant break from cold, dreary Idaho in mid-Winter.

Jim

 

[nightnurse613]

As a word of warning, there are other prices available out there-I know Disney sells a SoCal pass but you need to be able to produce a SoCal ID - if your brother lives in one of the zip codes and is going with you, that works. Also, the military sells park hoppers (and there is even a special rate for them but someone better have a military ID)!! I am not sure if there is a restriction on the Southern California Pass that Costco sells - I thought I heard once that there was!! Years ago I remember people on ebay selling unused days but you had to know when the pass was first used or some other fact (Disney's way to discourage sales). I will have to look the next time I am on ebay!!

 

[heathpack]

As a word of warning, there are other prices available out there-I know Disney sells a SoCal pass but you need to be able to produce a SoCal ID - if your brother lives in one of the zip codes and is going with you, that works. Also, the military sells park hoppers (and there is even a special rate for them but someone better have a military ID)!! I am not sure if there is a restriction on the Southern California Pass that Costco sells - I thought I heard once that there was!! Years ago I remember people on ebay selling unused days but you had to know when the pass was first used or some other fact (Disney's way to discourage sales). I will have to look the next time I am on ebay!!

Jim can't get the SoCal annual pass unless HE has a drivers license/ID with a SoCal zip code.

I agree Disney online sales is the way to go.

I did not know there was a mandatory parking fee at Peacock Suites. How much is it? We are always wondering about Peacock Suites- it seems "ok," but maybe worthwhile for a long weekend. A big parking fee could push that line of thought rightnout the window.

When we get "over Dineyland-ed," we love a brief respite in the Hearthstone Lounge at the Grand Californian. A libation and snack in a civilized atmosphere can really hit the spot at times....

H

 

[Passepartout]

I did not know there was a mandatory parking fee at Peacock Suites. How much is it? We are always wondering about Peacock Suites- it seems "ok," but maybe worthwhile for a long weekend.
H

$8/day going to $10 1/1/12. I really don't understand, but the concierge told me it was the city of Anaheim's charge. I'm not fond of it, but it's not a deal killer.

Jim

And yes, I'm aware that we aren't eligible for SoCal resident, military, AAA, or any other 'special' discounts at Disney, so online- in advance will have to do it.

Thanks everyone

 

[heathpack]

$8/day going to $10 1/1/12. I really don't understand, but the concierge told me it was the city of Anaheim's charge. I'm not fond of it, but it's not a deal killer.

Jim

And yes, I'm aware that we aren't eligible for SoCal resident, military, AAA, or any other 'special' discounts at Disney, so online- in advance will have to do it.

Thanks everyone

Have you been to Peacock Suites before? Like it?

The parking might become a deal killer for us- if we just use the Fri-Sat-Sun portion of the week but wind up having to pay $70 for the full week's parking. At some point it just makes more sense for us to drive down for the day.

H

 

[Passepartout]

Have you been to Peacock Suites before? Like it?
H

Have not. We are not particularly fussy, so for 17K RCI points we think it will be fine. The reviews are about what we expect. I worked for a company that's HQ was on Disneyland's back lot in the 80's, so have been to the area many many times. This trip is just for a mid-winter, post-holiday break for us.

I may be speaking about what I have no knowledge of, but if you are only using 3 days' parking, you should just pay 3 days' parking. Ask them at 714-535-8255.

Jim

 

[heathpack]

Have not. We are not particularly fussy, so for 17K RCI points we think it will be fine. The reviews are about what we expect. I worked for a company that's HQ was on Disneyland's back lot in the 80's, so have been to the area many many times. This trip is just for a mid-winter, post-holiday break for us.

I may be speaking about what I have no knowledge of, but if you are only using 3 days' parking, you should just pay 3 days' parking. Ask them at 714-535-8255.

Jim

If it ever came up as an option, we would for sure call and ask the parking question.

Have fun at the Happiest Place on Earth!

H

 

[Passepartout]

If it ever came up as an option, we would for sure call and ask the parking question.

H

I'll post after we return- or while we are there (wi-fi is free). They said it's a liability thing because of the 'tightness' of the parking. It's mandatory valet parking.

Jim