Top 10 Q & A About Disney World Ticket Options

One thing we all purchase when going to Walt Disney World is TICKETS! That’s right, we all need to have a ticket in hand (or linked to our MagicBand) to enter the magical theme parks and water parks available on Walt Disney World property. With so many ticket options, it can be confusing when purchasing tickets. Check out these top ten questions and answers about Disney World Ticket Options.

1 – Are tickets one set price for all ages?

No. You’re a princess or prince at Disney World regardless of age, but Disney has different ticket brackets depending on age. The best news here is children two and under are FREE! Children 3 to 9 years of age are slightly cheaper than an adult. An adult is considered anyone ten and up. No, Disney does not ask for a birth certificate for children, but they do request a date of birth.

2 – Which ticket option is best for me?

Disney offers several ticket options. Ask yourself how often you are planning to visit and how many parks you plan to go to.

• The 1-park-per-day ticket is exactly what it sounds like. You purchase a ticket and can visit one of the four theme parks in one day. These tickets can be valid for one day or as many as ten. No matter how many days your ticket is valid, you’ll be able to visit only one park per day.
• Water and Sports Option: Let’s say you’re happy with only visiting one park per day, but you want to add more flexibility to your plans. The Water and Sports Option allows you to visit one theme park each day of your ticket. Plus, you get a certain number of visits to other Walt Disney World fun based on the length of your ticket. For example, a 4-day ticket allows four visits, and a 5-day ticket allows five visits. For each visit, you can choose one of the following:
  • • • Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
      • Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
      • ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
      • Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course – FootGolf
      • Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course (Greens fees only)
      • Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course (prior to 4:00 PM)
      • Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course (prior to 4:00 PM)
• A Park Hopper ticket allows you to visit as many of the four theme parks as you’d like to visit in one day. This is perfect if you want the flexibility to jump from one park to another. Remember, we don’t recommend this option very often if you are a first-timer. There is plenty to do inside one park in a day.
• The Park Hopper Plus brings the Water and Sports Option together with the Park Hopper option. You can park hop and visit all the water and sports options listed above.
• Annual Passes allow guests to visit any time of the year, any parks, and hop around as they would like (unless purchasing an annual pass with blockout dates). There are multiple types of Annual Passes, as listed below.

3 – Does the ticket cost vary depending on when I visit?

Disney uses a date-based ticket system. This means that, yes, ticket prices do vary depending on when you visit. Holidays and weekends cost more than a normal weekday. The five months that generally have the lowest ticket prices are January, February, May, August, and September.

4 – How much does a ticket cost?

This is probably the most asked question as you prepare your Disney vacation budget. As mentioned above, ticket costs vary depending on when you visit, but here are a few numbers to give you an idea of what you’ll be spending.

• 1-Park-Per-Day Tickets: The basic ticket for any one of the four theme parks costs between $119 and $199 plus tax for an adult (10+ years), depending on when you go. The more days you book, the more the ticket cost is discounted per day. A child’s ticket (3-9 years) is typically $5 less than the adult ticket. Children 0-2 are free!
• Water and Sports Option: Plan to add around $70 per ticket to add this option.
• Park Hopper: Plan to add anywhere from $65-$95 per ticket for a Park Hopper addition. Pricing will depend on when you go and how many days you purchase.
• Park Hopper Plus: Want to go to the water parks? Add in “plus,” and you’ll spend roughly $80-$105 more per person, depending on when you go and how many days you purchase.

5 – Is an Annual Pass worth the investment?

To become an Annual Passholder, you’ll have to be ready to spend a pretty penny. With that in mind, if you are planning multiple trips to Disney World, an Annual Pass may SAVE you money and be an excellent investment in the long run. It all depends on how often you plan to visit and what type of flexibility you’re looking for. Click here to see the different annual pass options.

6 – What Ticket Discounts are available?

Why not save your wallet a little and get a discount if possible?

• Florida Resident and/or DVC Member: If you’re a Florida Resident or a Disney Vacation Club Member, you’re in luck! You can usually expect a discount on ticket prices, from one-day tickets to Annual Passes. The discount varies based on what special offer might be available for Florida residents. PLUS – Disney offers different ticket options for both Florida Residents and Disney Vacation Club Members. Examples include Annual Passes at a discounted rate because they have blockout dates that usually fall on major holidays. You’ll have to show a valid Florida ID when first using your Florida Resident ticket.
• Vacation Packages: Bundle and save! Disney releases different vacation packages throughout the year that are worth exploring. Most of the time, ticket discounts require a purchase of a Disney resort stay. Be on the lookout for Vacation Packages because the more you bundle, the more you save.
• Military: Are you currently in the military or retired military? Disney treats its veterans with care and offers discounted ticket prices and vacation package deals. Military ID is required to be shown when first using a Military discounted ticket when entering the park.
• AAA: Visit your local AAA office to see if they have ticket discounts available for Disney. We will say that while it’s not a very big discount, every little bit helps!

7 – What are “Special Event Tickets”?

Whether you’re an Annual Passholder or purchasing a one-day ticket, special events require a separate ticket. The most popular special ticketed events are held at Magic Kingdom, including Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. The park closes at 6:00 pm these days to all those who do not have a special event ticket. This is why it’s important to check the park calendar and My Disney Experience app prior to planning a visit to a theme park, so your day isn’t cut short unexpectedly.

 8 – Are tickets refundable?

That’s a negative! Sorry, but once you purchase your ticket… it’s yours. Disney does, however, allow you to change your ticket and ticket dates before midnight of the day before your ticket’s valid use date. Thankfully, there is no change fee unless you are planning to visit on a day when the park admission is higher.

9 – Is my old ticket still valid?

Most likely, yes, but maybe not. Ok, we can’t answer this one for you! If you have an old ticket that doesn’t have an expiration date on it, you’ll want to email Disney an image of the ticket (front and back) with your information to ticket.inquiries@disneyworld.com. You can also call (407) 566-4985. Fingers crossed, it still offers valid admission!

10 – Can’t I just purchase tickets at the window?

Before entering the park, you are welcome to purchase your ticket at the Guest Services window. We highly recommend, however, not going this route. We’d suggest booking them online at https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/admission/tickets/ at least thirty days before your park arrival date.