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MissMinnieFan
11-12-2016, 05:57 AM
I need help making a decision on Annual Passes...Our son lives in the LA area, we visit twice a year, and typically spend 2 or 3 days at Disneyland. Is it worth it to just get the Annual Pass, or continue buying a 3day hopper pass?? Of course, I want to get the most "bang" for our buck!:cool:

olegc
11-12-2016, 08:01 AM
It always depends on which pass you buy and how much you'll really park hop.and which days u plan to be there may dictate which pass u can buy. Then look at prices (of course u may consider discounts as a benefit too).

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3Princesses1Prince
11-12-2016, 09:16 AM
Definitely run the numbers.

candles71
11-12-2016, 08:38 PM
2 3day hopper tickets is currently 590 gate price.
A Deluxe AP is 599.
Previously the Deluxe was $1 cheaper than 2 3day hoppers. So I had to go look.
Now your difference in $9. Will you spend more than $90 for food? 10% off that amount is your $9.
We also like that we feel freer to do half days on arrival or departure days as well. We don't feel like we are wasting a day, so will pop in for a ride or 2 and dinner when we arrive. We are 8 hours away.

3Princesses1Prince
11-12-2016, 10:23 PM
Also look at black out dates.

candles71
11-12-2016, 10:32 PM
Also look at black out dates. This. We work around blackout days.

potzbie
11-13-2016, 12:04 PM
Q. Did you see my spreadsheet?

3-day park hopper = $295.
That is equivalent to $98 per day.

Lowest level Annual Passport is "Disney So. Calif. Select Passport", at $329.
That is equivalent to $109 per day.

Difference is $11.

Q. Does the $11 difference justify the 3-day park hopper savings?

Well, it is a choice.

The 3-day park hopper misses out on the Annual Passport perqs, like:
• Discounts on food and merchandise.
• Newsletter
• Special offers (e.g., hotel off-season discounts)
• Special events (e.g., early screening, or early entrance, to new movies or new rides).

But no AP includes one special perq of 3-day park hopper, namely "Magic Morning" (early entry).

For me, the $11 "investment" is modest. I'd rather hold an AP so that I may enjoy the perqs.

If you cannot do week-days, and must do week-ends, then you have no choice. You must do the 3-day park hopper, and avoid the blockout days of the low-level Annual Passport.

MissMinnieFan
11-14-2016, 05:23 AM
Thank you so much for the info...we are comparing the two, and appreciate all of your input!

potzbie
11-15-2016, 11:42 AM
Regarding my spreadsheet.

Ignore "Annual Passports" for now, and just think about traditional tickets -- single day vs. multi-day. -- single-park vs. parkhopper

Take ONE MULTI-DAY PARKHOPPER (ADULT) ticket, and divide by the number of visits (days), to figure the "per day" equivalent.
(as of 2016 November)

PER DAY EQUIVALENT

2-day Parkhopper (adult)
1 = $235.00
2 = $117.50

3-day Parkhopper (adult)
1 = $295.00
2 = $147.50
3 = $ 98.33

4-day Parkhopoper (adult)
1 = $320.00
2 = $160.00
3 = $106.66
4 = $ 80.00

5-day Parkhopper (adult)
1 = $335.00
2 = $167.50
3 = $111.66
4 = $ 83.75
5 = $ 67.00

Compare the "per day" equivalent to buying a SINGLE DAY (ADULT) ticket.
(As of 2016, Disneyland now charges a variable dollar amount, per market demand for the season, for all ONE-DAY tickets. Note that the prices for multi-day visits are still fixed.)

SINGLE-DAY, PARKHOPPER (ADULT):
"__VALUE" = $155
"REGULAR" = $160
"___PEAK" = $169

SINGLE-DAY, SINGLE-PARK (ADULT):
"__VALUE" = $ 95
"REGULAR" = $105
"___PEAK" = $119

Thus, the theoretical lowest price you can get for a SINGLE-DAY visit would be:
(a.) Single park = $ 95
(b.) ParkHopper = $155

Observation:

IF you were to buy a 5-day Parkhopper (adult) ticket, and
IF you were to "waste" 3 days, and visit only 2 days,
THEN nonetheless, your "per day" equivalent beats the price of one SINGLE DAY PARKHOPPER "PEAK" (ADULT) ticket.
(i.e., $167 beats $169)

IF you were to buy a 5-day Parkhopper (adult) ticket, and
IF you were to "waste" 2 days, and visit only 3 days,
THEN nonetheless, your "per day" equivalent beats the price of a SINGLE DAY PARKHOPPER "VALUE" (ADULT) ticket.
(i.e., $111 beats $155)

IF you were to buy a 5-day Parkhopper (adult) ticket, and
IF you were to "waste" 1 day, and visit only 4 days,
THEN nonetheless, your "per day" equivalent beats the "value" price of one SINGLE DAY, SINGLE-PARK (ADULT) "VALUE" ticket. -- You beat the theoretical minimum price!
(i.e., $83 beats $95)

Sure, it would be great to use up 100% of your 5-day Parkhopper. (i.e., $67 per day equivalent!)
But if you don't, you will have saved money over a single-day Parkhoper ticket if you limit your "loss" to one or two days.

olegc
11-15-2016, 12:02 PM
Thanks. That;s a lot of math. But you've made the point others have made. If I upgrade my pass for $200 to a SignaturePlus I effectively pay $100 for each day compared to 167.50 for each day if I choose a 5 day hopper. AND - I get additional days through Jan 2nd (though I probably won't go between xmas and new years). And - it doesn't matter if its peak or regular or value.

danyoung
11-17-2016, 04:17 AM
Keep in mind that if you plan your trips right you can get THREE trips out of the one card. If you go for instance during the 2nd week in June, then again at Christmas, next year go the FIRST week of June, when your pass is still active. If you can manage that, an AP is a no brainer!