Best Park Ticket Choices (An American Needs to Know)

[iankh]

First of all, hi there! It was recommended to me on another WDW board that I start hanging out here on the DIBB.

I'm American and my other half is English. We live in Chicago.

I'm currently planning a big trip for October. We taking DDIL, DDSL and grandson (7 years old) to WDW for their first time. Actually we're taking them on a 4-night DCL cruise, followed by 8 nights in WDW, staying at a 2-bedroom in VWL (we are DVC members).

Now, among all of us, I am the only planner.

The family on the UK side of the Atlantic seem to think that going to WDW will sort of be like an outing to Alton Towers and that much planning is not required. The other half here thinks that somehow magically, this trip is going to happen all by itself and just fall into place (discounting the fact that every WDW trip for the past 20 years has been carefully planned).

I have convinced them to order the UK Disney planning DVD and may have just about convinced them to buy the Brit's guide to Disney World.

I am trying to figure out what the best deal might be for park tickets. I've looked at the Ultimate tickets available in the UK, but am wondering if, it might be better, with the strength of the pound to get a MYW ticket? I know of a couple of good brokers here in the US. Are there are there any there that anyone might recommend?

What would be the best choice for tickets for the 8 night stay?

[SusieK]

Hi & Welcome to the Dibb. I'm sure someone will be able to help you soon.

[welshwiz]

In the past we've bought th 14 day ultimate pass for around £150 from Attraction tickets direct (the best INMHO and they'll price match).

But for our third visit we don't want to do hopping just want to visit everything once so we are buying 10 day MYW base plus 6 visits with no expiration for $393 adults/$354 kids and we reckon we could stretch them to nearly three trips.

But even if it was just two trips it works out at under £400 per trip instead of £600.

Thinking of buying one AP & DDE card though just for the free parking and 20% off food etc as we plan to go Feb & Oct. :wavey:

[Leanne1977]

Hi there and welcome to the Dibb!!!!:wavey:

I am not too sure what the MYW tickets entitle you to. Are you able to park hop on them?

Us Brits generally go to WDW for 2 weeks minimum so for us the 14 day ultimate ticket is usually the best option.

It gives total freedom to come and go as you please, hopping to whichever park you like.

Now you say you need a ticket for 8 days so maybe the 14 day ultimate would be a bit of a waste for you as you wouldnt need a ticket that lasts that long.

I think you need to weigh up cost as opposed to freedom and flexibility.
What is the cost of the MYW tickets your end?

As an extra piece of info, if you are looking to purchase tickets in the UK, Attraction Tickets Direct seem to get the best reviews on here. We used them for tickets and they were great.

If you have any more questions no matter how small or silly they may seem please ask away.

We are a friendly bunch......normally!;)

[welshwiz]

First of all, hi there! It was recommended to me on another WDW board that I start hanging out here on the DIBB.

I'm American and my other half is English. We live in Chicago.

I'm currently planning a big trip for October. We taking DDIL, DDSL and grandson (7 years old) to WDW for their first time. Actually we're taking them on a 4-night DCL cruise, followed by 8 nights in WDW, staying at a 2-bedroom in VWL (we are DVC members).

Now, among all of us, I am the only planner.

The family on the UK side of the Atlantic seem to think that going to WDW will sort of be like an outing to Alton Towers and that much planning is not required. The other half here thinks that somehow magically, this trip is going to happen all by itself and just fall into place (discounting the fact that every WDW trip for the past 20 years has been carefully planned).

I have convinced them to order the UK Disney planning DVD and may have just about convinced them to buy the Brit's guide to Disney World.

I am trying to figure out what the best deal might be for park tickets. I've looked at the Ultimate tickets available in the UK, but am wondering if, it might be better, with the strength of the pound to get a MYW ticket? I know of a couple of good brokers here in the US. Are there are there any there that anyone might recommend?

What would be the best choice for tickets for the 8 night stay?
What American brokers would you recommend?

I only know of mapleleaf & kgs plus ticketmania and not many Brits use American brokers as they seem to stick to the 7/14/21 day ultimate passes.

From what I can see there's not much difference in the price of 4/5/6/7/8/9/10 day MYW tickets apart from the add on no expiration price, infact 8/9/10 all the same price hence they'll last us two trips.

:wave:

[iankh]

We have APs now, but in the past bought MYW park hoppers through Ticket Mania, Mapleleaf or Undercover Tourist.

Looking at the regular USD price on the Disney site an 8 day MYW hopper with water parks, would be $290.

I was looking at the Ultimate pass, which for 7 days is 169 pounds, I think the 8 day MYW converted to pounds is only about 149.

Will Disney not sell the MYW tickets to UK residents, because that seems like it might be the best deal of all, once you convert the dollars to pounds.

[welshwiz]

We have APs now, but in the past bought MYW park hoppers through Ticket Mania, Mapleleaf or Undercover Tourist.

Looking at the regular USD price on the Disney site an 8 day MYW hopper with water parks, would be $290.

I was looking at the Ultimate pass, which for 7 days is 169 pounds, I think the 8 day MYW converted to pounds is only about 149.

Will Disney not sell the MYW tickets to UK residents, because that seems like it might be the best deal of all, once you convert the dollars to pounds.

We can get the 14 day ultimate for £159 but as I mentioned in my earlier post by getting the 10 MYW plus PARKS & NO EXPIRY they will last us 2 trips, hence at least £200 cheaper per trip.

Some people say they like the convenience of the ultimate pass for inclement weather etc but on a shorter trip you'd struggle to visit each big park more than once anyway so a wastse of an unltimate pass INMHO.:wavey:

[Sue F]

I would recommend Ticketmania in the US. We used them recently and received our tickets (not vouchers) within 10 days. We bought a 5 day MYW hopper ticket for $243.00 (5 days for the price of 3) and a 4 park Flexticket for $187.00 - At current exchange rates it worked out at apx £230 per person, which I thought was great value. They also sent us a media pack with loads of the free brochures, park maps etc. so that we could read up before we go.

[DisneyLynsey]

welcome to the dibb!!!!

[disneyx5]

Last year we used undercover tourist, to buy MYW tickets. We were going for 9 nights and I put my foot down about the waterparks as I always burn no matter how much sun cream I use!! So we got the MYW base ticket, I think they worked out to about only £110 each for 6 days (no park hopping and no waterparks). This worked out a lot cheaper compared to the UK tickets.

This year we are going for 16 nights and buying the 7 day Premium ticket for £159 each, we could of got the equivalent ticket with all the hopping and waterparks etc from undercover tourist for £153. But for the sake of £6 each we wanted to go through the travel agent this time so I could get my nectar points (loyalty points).

By the time we do Universal, Busch and Kennedy, it seemed a bit of a waste getting a 14 day disney which we wouldn't fully use.

[iankh]

Well, at least we're not lacking for choices! Who would have ever thought that buying theme park tickets could be so complicated!:pgig:

[Jan]

Welcome to the Dibb, Ian.

You say you're at WDW for 8 nights, so you might only need tickets for 7 days, bearing in mind that you will be travelling to WL on the day of your first night, and only 6 days if you're not intending to visit a theme/water park on the last day. For us, park-hopping would be a good idea but you possibly need to consider if the family might return to WDW and whether you should get a no-expiry option or not. (We still have two days left on tickets which we bought years ago, before the introduction of MYW.) As you know(!) there are four theme parks and two water parks in WDW. Do you think you will be wanting to visit them all or are you planning on not going to a water park at all and going somewhere like Universal instead? Are the family going to want a "shopping" day?

Once you have got all your ideas sorted in your head, (and perhaps on paper too!), it will probably be easier to decide which tickets to go for.

Good luck.