The Whistler Tickets "Wizard"

An Easy Way To Find The Best (Biggest) Discounts On Whistler Blackcomb Lift Tickets

Unfortunately, helping you find the biggest discounts on Whistler tickets and passes is not as simple as recommending one option and then sending you on your way.

Why?

Because the advice I would give you would depend on a number of factors including: how many days you will be skiing or snowboarding while in Whistler, when you are coming, the ages of the people in your party, how long your stay will be, where you live and what type of transportation you are taking to Whistler from Vancouver.

For example, the ticket option I would recommend to you if you were coming to Whistler from New York at the end of February and planning on skiing 5 days, would be different than the lift ticket option that I would recommend to you if you were coming from Toronto at the same time and skiing the same number of days.

As you can imagine, with folks travelling to Whistler British Columbia from all over the world, at different times of the season and requiring different quantities of lift tickets, the scenarios are endless.

The fact is, there are so many possible scenarios that to go through each one and recommend the best Whistler tickets option for each situation would be next to impossible.

The solution? I created the...

The sun shines down on the Wizard Chairlift with Whistler Mountain in behind.
Base of Blackcomb Mountain, Whistler BC

Loosely named after the Wizard Chairlift at the base of Blackcomb Mountain, this Whistler tickets wizard was "built" with the following goal in mind...

To get you from here (base of the Whistler Village Gondola) to...	here (up on the mountain), as cheaply and conveniently as possible, based on your personal scenario.

Whistler Blackcomb Lift Ticket Wizard

The Wizard Chairlift rising up Blackcomb Mountain
Whistler, British Columbia, Canada

Before you "jump on" the Wizard, here is a short introduction on how to use it.

1. This ticket wizard will walk you through a series of questions in order to determine what type of Whistler tickets will likely offer you the best discount based on your unique situation. In addition, it will, if appropriate, tell you where you should purchase your ticket(s), as there are a few options when it comes to suppliers.

2. You may have to go through the wizard one time for each person in your party, unless two or more of them have the same "criteria". For example, if there are two adults in your party (who are not seniors), one of whom will be skiing 5 days during your stay, the other only 2 days, you should go through the wizard once for each person. There is a good chance that a different ticket option would be best for each person.

Also, if you are purchasing ski lift tickets for children, you will have to go through the wizard and answer the questions based on their information.

3. Any prices quoted are the before tax prices unless otherwise noted. Add 12% to get the final price.

4. In most instances there are three different prices for Whistler tickets and passes depending on a person's age. When a price is quoted in the wizard you may see it written like so:

$96 / $81.50 / $48

These numbers correspond to the following age brackets:

Adult (19-64 years)  / Senior (65 and up) and Youth (13-18 years) / Child (7-12 years)

In the example above the three numbers represent the price of a single day lift ticket for Whistler Blackcomb for the three different age categories. $96 for an adult, $81.50 for a Senior or Youth, and $48 for a child.

5. Once you have finished with one person, go back to the start of the wizard and begin again for the next person.

One last piece of advice before you hop on the Wizard. Whatever decision you make regarding your Whistler tickets it is always a wise decision to...


You see, once you are in the resort of Whistler and "ticketless", most of the time they've got you! You may end up paying close to full price even if you purchase a multi-day ticket.

Even if this is the only advice that you follow, you will always achieve a discount on your lift tickets. Maybe not the best discount, but a discount none the less.

Alright, let's get going!

Children 6 and under do not have to pay for
their Whistler tickets, but they still need one
to get on the lifts

Lucky you! You get to ski and ride for free as many days as you want this season.

**Note to parents: Even though your little ones can get up the mountain for free, they still need a ticket to get on the lifts. So make sure that you pick one up at a ticket window before you get into the lift line your first day. The last thing you want is to get to the front of the lift line and find out that you have to go back to the ticket window to get a ticket for your tot.

And if you are skiing for more than one day, just ask for a multi-day tot pass so you don't have to go to the ticket window each day.

To take that one step further, you can actually purchase a "Full Season Tot Pass" for $15 so you don't ever have to go to the ticket window during the season.

Click here to continue on the Wizard

or

Click here to go back to the start of the Wizard



Because March is "Family Month" in Whistler, kids 12 and under ski free during the month. Well, that is, they ski free if their parents book a minimum 4 night/3 day "lift and lodging" package. One child skis for free for each paying adult.

And not only do kids ski free during March, they also rent free, transfer free, stay free and eat free in some restaurants.

Click here to continue on the Wizard

or

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In most cases if you are planning on enrolling in the Whistler Snow School while on vacation, you will be better off purchasing your lessons and lift tickets as a package.

For example, the cost of a full day adult beginner ski lesson in mid season is $179. If you purchase your lift ticket with the lesson it will only cost you an additional $20. Similar type discounts are available for lesson/ticket packages for kids 18 and under.

Click here to continue on the Wizard

or

Click here to go back to the start of the Wizard



Although I am sure you would have preferred to answer "yes" to the question about being 6 years of age or under, having some life experience under your belt has its rewards as well. Once you reach the age of 75 you are eligible for the Super Senior Unlimited Season Pass. For $209 ($159 if you purchase at the early bird price before mid October) you can ski or ride as much as you want, all season long.

Not planning on skiing more than 3 days this year? Then you may want to consider another option for Whistler tickets.

Click here to continue on the Wizard

or

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Lucky you! If you plan to get up the mountains at least 12 days this season, then a Whistler Blackcomb Season Pass might be your best bet. Click here for all the details and for help with your decision as to whether or not you should purchase a season pass or go with another option for Whistler tickets.

Click here to continue on the Wizard

or

Click here to go back to the start of the Wizard

Congratulations. You qualify for the Grade 4 & 5 SnowPass. For $22 (including tax) you can ski or ride 3 days this season at Whistler Blackcomb. (That's a savings of at least $100 for the 3 days.) And not only that, you can ski up to 3 times at approximately 150 other ski resorts across Canada, all for just $22.

The one "catch" if you will is that you can only apply for the pass once. So if you apply in Grade 4 (when you are 9), you cannot apply again in Grade 5 (when you are 10).

 Now, if you plan on skiing or boarding more than 3 days at Whistler Blackcomb, your best bet would be to combine this SNOW PASS with a children's Whistler Edge Card or a few 7-11  Whistler Blackcomb tickets.

For more information on this alternative to purchasing Whistler tickets, including how to apply, click here.

Click here to continue on the Wizard

or

Click here to go back to the start of the Wizard


If you are a post-secondary student who meets the above qualifications and are enrolled in a minimum of 3 courses, you probably will qualify for a Whistler Blackcomb Student Pass. The student pass is good for unlimited skiing and snowboarding throughout the season, except for December 27th to 30th.

If you purchase your pass before the early-bird deadline in mid-November, the cost is $469. After mid-November, the price jumps to $619. If you plan on being on the mountains at least 8 days this season, the student pass is for you. Any less than that and you may want to consider purchasing an Edge Card.

Click here to continue on the Wizard

or

Click here to go back to the start of the Wizard


You won't find this source of Whistler tickets talked about on too many websites, but it is a completely legitimate way to save between $500 and $600 on 20 lift tickets (compared to purchasing four separate adult 5-day tickets for example). In fact, unless you purchase a 10-day Whistler Edge Card (details below) it is hard to find a better deal than this one on Whistler tickets.

So what's the "catch"? Well, there's no catch per se, other than there is limited availability for these tickets so it is best to order them early in the ski season (or even better, before it starts). Find out more about these discount Whistler lift tickets here.

Click here to continue on the Wizard

or

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1. Canada
2. Washington State
3. Outside Canada and Washington State

Residents of Canada and Washington State...

If you are a resident of Canada or Washington State (you will need proof of residency and photo ID, not just your word, sorry) then 9 times out of 10 your best option for getting the biggest discount on Whistler tickets is to purchase a Whistler Blackcomb Edge Card. Edge Cards come preloaded with 1, 3, 5 or 10 days of skiing/snowboarding. With a 1 or 3 day Edge Card you will end up paying somewhere between $76 and $82 per day for skiing/snowboarding, which represents a 15% to 20% savings. With a 5 or 10 day Edge Card you can pay as little as $53 per day.

Click here to get the exact details about Whistler Blackcomb Edge Cards including how much more you can save by purchasing them before the season starts.

Is the edge card always your best option? No, but this is a rare case.

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or

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1. Just one day
2. Two or more days

If you are only planning on skiing one day while at Whistler Blackcomb, your best bet is to purchase a discounted lift ticket from a 7-11 store in either Vancouver or Squamish. Prices for 7-Eleven Whistler lift tickets are $82.95/$71/$43 all season long. Click here for the complete run down on these Whistler tickets including where you can purchase them.

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*For example, if you are arriving in Whistler on February 12, but your first day on the mountains won't be until February 13, click on the time frame that includes February 13.

November 24 through December 11

December 12 through December 18

December 19 through January 1

January 2 through February 12

February 13 through April 12

April 13 through April 22

Whistler Tickets - Arriving Between November 24 and December 11

You will be arriving at Whistler Blackcomb resort in early season. Expect some "snowy" days and a decent discount on Whistler tickets. Your best bet at this time of year is to go with a multi-day lift ticket.

How to get the best discount: In order to receive the biggest discount you will have to pre-purchase your multi-day lift ticket. You can do this directly through the resort, or in some cases when you book your Whistler accommodations. Both options will give you a similar discount.

How much will you save?: The more days you ski, the more you save. For example, a 2-day lift pass will save you ($21 / $17.75 / $10.50) or 22% per day. On a 5-day pass you will save ($27.80 / $23.50 / $13.90) or 25% per day. But make sure you remember to purchase your tickets before you arrive in Whistler or you will miss out on the bulk of these savings.

Click here to see a complete run down of Whistler Blackcomb lift ticket pricing for this time frame

Try a different time of the season?

or

Go back to the start of the Wizard

Whistler Tickets - Arriving Between December 12 and December 18

You will be arriving in Whistler BC the week before the Christmas Season starts which means you will get a bit of a break on the prices for Whistler tickets (certainly more of a discount than you will get over the Christmas season). And more importantly, this can be a great time of year to ski.

Our family always tries and get a few days of skiing in at this time of year because the snow is usually fabulous and the weather even co-operates sometimes. Here is a photo of our son Callum on the deck at the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain this past December. The sun is shining over the peak of the mountain and people are enjoying their lunches outside while soaking up the sunshine.

Mid-December: the sun shines over the peak of Whistler Mountain as folks enjoy their lunches
on an outside deck at the Roundhouse Lodge

How to get the best discount: To save yourself the most money, make sure that you pre-purchase your lift tickets before you arrive at the resort. You can do this directly from Whistler Blackcomb, or, in most instances through your accommodation provider. Discounts are identical through both sources.

How much will you save?: The more days you ski, the more you save. For example, a 2-day lift pass will save you ($12.50 / $10.50 / $6) or 13% per day. On a 5-day pass you will save ($18.60 / $15.70 / $9.20) or 15% per day.

Try a different time of the season?

or

Go back to the start of the Wizard

Whistler Tickets - Arriving Between December 19 and January 1

If you are arriving during the Christmas season, unfortunately the discounts available on Whistler lift tickets are few and far between. But, there is still a way to save some money each day.

How? 7-Eleven Whistler Blackcomb discount lift tickets.

How to get the best discount: Simply drop in to a Seven Eleven store on your way through Vancouver (or Squamish) and purchase your tickets ahead of time. There are separate prices for adults, seniors & youths, and children.

How much will you save?: The tickets cost ($82.95 / $71 / $43) per day.

Compared to single day lift tickets purchased at the resort, your savings will be ($13.05 / $10.50 / $5) per day.

Compared to a pre-purchased 2-day Whistler Blackcomb lift pass you will save ($12.05 / $10 / $3.50) per day (roughly 10% to 13%).

Compared to a 3-day or longer pre-purchased pass you will save ($7.05 / $5.60 / $2.25) per day (roughly 5% to 8%).

Not much, I agree, but if you have a family of four skiing or boarding for 5 days you might save enough for a casual dinner one night while in Whistler.

Our son Thomas enjoying a french fry at Earl's Restaurant, Whistler Village.
Earl's is one of our family's favourite casual Whistler restaurants.

Save $10 more per day on adult tickets.

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Whistler Tickets - Arriving Between January 2 and February 12

This time of year is considered the "Regular Season" and some fairly decent discounts on Whistler tickets are available. Depending on the number of days you are going to ski or snowboard, your best bets are 7-Eleven lift tickets or pre-purchased multi-day tickets.

How to get the best discount if you are only skiing/snowboarding 2 days: If you only plan on skiing/snowboarding for two days while in Whistler, then your best bet is to purchase your Whistler tickets from a 7 Eleven Store in Vancouver in Squamish.

How much will you save?: By doing so you will save $5 / $4 / $1 per day compared to a 2-day pre-purchased Whistler lift ticket.

How to get the best discount if you are only skiing/snowboarding 2 days: If you plan on skiing/snowboarding for three or more days, a pre-purchased multi-day lift ticket (which you can purchase from the resort or, in most cases, when you book your Whistler accommodation) is your best bet. And the more days you ski, the more you save.

How much will you save?: A 5-day pre-purchased lift pass will save you ($20.40 / $17.30 / $10.20) per day (approximately 21%) while a 3-day pre-purchased lift pass will save you ($12.30 / $10.40 / $6.16) per day (approximately 13%).

Try a different time of the season?

or

Go back to the start of the Wizard

Whistler Tickets - Arriving Between February 13 and April 12

If you are arriving in the resort of Whistler during "Mid Season", significant discounts on Whistler tickets for skiing and snowboarding are hard to find. Your two best bets for lift tickets (depending on your number of ski/snowboard days) are 7-11 Fast Tracks tickets and multi-day tickets.

How to get the best discount if you are skiing/snowboarding 2-5 days: If you are planning on skiing /snowboarding between 2 and 5 days, 7-11 Whistler lift tickets will be your best bet.

How much will you save?: Compared to a 2-day pre-purchased lift ticket you will save ($8.55 / $7 / $3) per day. Compared to a 5-day pre-purchased ticket you will save ($5.45 / $4.20 / $1.20) per day. As I said above, discounts at this time of year are harder to come by.

How to get the best discount if you are skiing/snowboarding more than 5 days: If you are planning to ski/snowboard more than 5 days, a multi-day pass is your best bet.

How much will you save?: The more days you are on the mountain, the more you save per day.

Save an additional $10

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Whistler Tickets - Arriving Between April 13 and April 22

If you are arriving for a little spring skiing in Whistler BC, then much like arriving in the early season, there are some decent discounts to be had on Whistler tickets. And on top of that, the skiing and snowboarding can be excellent at this time of the season. Here's a photo I took looking up the towards the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain in mid-April. Beautiful snow and a little sunshine as well...

Your best bet for getting the biggest discount this time of year is to pre-purchase a multi-day lift pass from either the resort or from your lodging provider.

How much will you save?: By pre-purchasing your multi-day tickets you will save between 21% and 24% on 2 to 5 day tickets, and 34% on 6-day Whistler tickets and higher.

Try a different time of the season?

or

Go back to the start of the Wizard

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