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Should I buy tix for Disneyland ahead of travel?

39,439 5,562 January 26, 2017 at 03:56 PM
As in, is there an admittance limit?

I'm traveling to Anaheim for a trade show in a couple weeks and DW and the kids will be along afterward to go to Disney. We've been to Disneyworld twice, and Disney Shanghai once but man Disneyland is motherfarking expensive! I'd like to not buy the tickets ahead of time but will do so if there's a possibility that they might be "sold out" ahead of time.
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Beartrkkr
01-26-2017 at 05:28 PM.
01-26-2017 at 05:28 PM.
Sold out? Is it a rock concert? Either way, unless you buy multi-day tickets, you're gonna pay full face value whether you but them now or later.
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z2g
01-28-2017 at 03:12 PM.
01-28-2017 at 03:12 PM.
Seldom happens but there are instances when they have stopped letting ppl in due to massive crowds. I don't think it'll be an issue but i think it's always better to buy tix in advance to avoid one extra line.

I'm an annual passport holder and we go about 20 times per yr. There will be lines geting into the parking lot, security check right when you leave the garage, lines to get onto the tram, lines to buy tickets, and a line to enter the park.

So, any chance I have to skip a line, I'd do it! So, buy them at the hotel the night before.
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Last edited by z2g January 28, 2017 at 03:18 PM.
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z2g
01-28-2017 at 03:17 PM.
01-28-2017 at 03:17 PM.
By the way, make sure you take advantage of the Fastpasses AND rider switch options if you're going with kids!
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Dr. J
01-28-2017 at 06:16 PM.
01-28-2017 at 06:16 PM.
Quote from z2g :
By the way, make sure you take advantage of the Fastpasses AND rider switch options if you're going with kids!

I checked today, no FP+ there - I guess that's only a WDW thing, not WDL. WDL also does not use Magic Bands - WTF?

I started buying Disney GC's last week - I can get about 15% off, which will save around $120 on our passes.
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Joined Jul 2013
Conservative with a gun
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Novakingwai
01-28-2017 at 08:29 PM.
01-28-2017 at 08:29 PM.
Quote from z2g :
security check right when you leave the garage,
How thorough is the security check? Do they use metal detectors?
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z2g
01-29-2017 at 01:29 AM.
01-29-2017 at 01:29 AM.
Quote from Dr. J :
I checked today, no FP+ there - I guess that's only a WDW thing, not WDL. WDL also does not use Magic Bands - WTF?

I started buying Disney GC's last week - I can get about 15% off, which will save around $120 on our passes.
The Fastpasses at Disneyland work differently than at Disney World. There are not Magic Wristbands at Disneyland. So, you can't register the Fastpasses before entering the park. The way the Fastpasses work at Disneyland is by using your ticket/annual pass to get a Fastpass for each individual ride that offers Fastpasses. There will be kiosks near the ride where you can get the Fastpasses. You can then insert EACH ticket into the kiosk to get ONE Fastpass for that ride.....I mention this because a lot of newbies don't know this and will run over to the kiosk to their favorite ride with just their ticket in hand while the rest of their group hasn't entered yet. That person will only be able to get ONE Fastpass!


On the Fastpasses, it will give you the time you can get another Fastpass to another ride. So, you can't get multiple Fastpasses all at once. Also, you can't get more than one Fastpass for one ride per person.

If you're going to Disneyland, I recommend getting a Fastpass for Space Mountain the moment you get into the park. Then, after you get the Fastpass, head to Star Tours which usually has a wait of about 25 mins before noon. Then, head out to Adventure Land and Frontier Land. You can hit all those rides via the standby line because the wait are all less than 30 mins before noon. Only the Indiana Jones ride will require a Fastpass which you can get when your ticket allows another Fastpass.

Quote from Novakingwai :
How thorough is the security check? Do they use metal detectors?
Yes...very thorough. They check all bags and most will have to go through the metal detectors. Usually, if you're a family with kids, they'll let you pass without going through the metal detectors.
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Last edited by z2g January 29, 2017 at 01:31 AM.
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> bubble2 39,439 Posts
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Dr. J
01-29-2017 at 10:05 AM.
01-29-2017 at 10:05 AM.
Quote from z2g :
The Fastpasses at Disneyland work differently than at Disney World. There are not Magic Wristbands at Disneyland. So, you can't register the Fastpasses before entering the park. The way the Fastpasses work at Disneyland is by using your ticket/annual pass to get a Fastpass for each individual ride that offers Fastpasses. There will be kiosks near the ride where you can get the Fastpasses. You can then insert EACH ticket into the kiosk to get ONE Fastpass for that ride.....I mention this because a lot of newbies don't know this and will run over to the kiosk to their favorite ride with just their ticket in hand while the rest of their group hasn't entered yet. That person will only be able to get ONE Fastpass!


On the Fastpasses, it will give you the time you can get another Fastpass to another ride. So, you can't get multiple Fastpasses all at once. Also, you can't get more than one Fastpass for one ride per person.

If you're going to Disneyland, I recommend getting a Fastpass for Space Mountain the moment you get into the park. Then, after you get the Fastpass, head to Star Tours which usually has a wait of about 25 mins before noon. Then, head out to Adventure Land and Frontier Land. You can hit all those rides via the standby line because the wait are all less than 30 mins before noon. Only the Indiana Jones ride will require a Fastpass which you can get when your ticket allows another Fastpass.



Yes...very thorough. They check all bags and most will have to go through the metal detectors. Usually, if you're a family with kids, they'll let you pass without going through the metal detectors.

ahh so the fast pass is like the old wdw fast pass from 10+ years ago! Thanks for the tips. I will be there a few days ahead of the family so I can go over to the gate and buy the tickets ahead of time.
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Joined Jul 2005
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z2g
01-29-2017 at 10:47 AM.
01-29-2017 at 10:47 AM.
Quote from Dr. J :
ahh so the fast pass is like the old wdw fast pass from 10+ years ago! Thanks for the tips. I will be there a few days ahead of the family so I can go over to the gate and buy the tickets ahead of time.
Note, most hotels in the Anaheim/L.A. area will sell amusement park tix in the SoCal area. So, you could probably purchase them at your hotel the day before you plan on going to the park instead of going to Disneyland just to buy tix.
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Dr. J
01-29-2017 at 12:02 PM.
01-29-2017 at 12:02 PM.
Quote from z2g :
Note, most hotels in the Anaheim/L.A. area will sell amusement park tix in the SoCal area. So, you could probably purchase them at your hotel the day before you plan on going to the park instead of going to Disneyland just to buy tix.

but do they accept disney gc as payment? probably not
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Joined Jun 2008
Life = YMMV
> bubble2 1,970 Posts
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teenbean
01-30-2017 at 08:46 AM.
01-30-2017 at 08:46 AM.
Quote from Dr. J :
I checked today, no FP+ there - I guess that's only a WDW thing, not WDL. WDL also does not use Magic Bands - WTF?

I started buying Disney GC's last week - I can get about 15% off, which will save around $120 on our passes.

Do you mind telling how you are saving so much on the GC's? I am going to WDW in July and was planning on buying them with my Target red card to save 5%.
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Joined Aug 2005
Baldilocks
> bubble2 41,172 Posts
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emelvee
01-30-2017 at 09:12 AM.
01-30-2017 at 09:12 AM.
OP, absolutely, positively, unequivocally, do NOT do this. Anyone that suggests otherwise is an absolute fool and/or idiot.


edit: I changed my mind. go ahead and buy in advance.
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Joined Nov 2005
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> bubble2 39,439 Posts
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Dr. J
01-30-2017 at 09:39 AM.
01-30-2017 at 09:39 AM.
Quote from teenbean :
Do you mind telling how you are saving so much on the GC's? I am going to WDW in July and was planning on buying them with my Target red card to save 5%.
BJ's warehouse club.

Here's the math:

- They sell various GC's; Disney is about 4% off FV: e.g. $25 is $24.97, $50 is $47.97.
- $75 of GC is $72.94
- Use $5 off $50 coupon brings total down to $67.94
- I use my BJ's CC which gives another 5% back, net price = $64.54
$64.58/$75 ~ 14% off (I was guessing @ 15%)

Rinse, repeat 10 times for ~ $750 (the total cost for 4 passes for 2 days is about $78X) ~ $105 in savings (again $120 was a guess)
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Life = YMMV
> bubble2 1,970 Posts
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teenbean
01-30-2017 at 10:39 AM.
01-30-2017 at 10:39 AM.
thx. We don't have a BJ's.
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implode
01-30-2017 at 11:41 AM.
01-30-2017 at 11:41 AM.
Quote from teenbean :
thx. We don't have a BJ's.
Thats my problem too...I mean no wholesale club of courseLMAO
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