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Walt Disney World Ticket Discounts

LAST UPDATE: 5/10/24

This page is all about the best ways to get Disney World ticket deals . Multiple  Disney World ticket discounts  are available for the general public and even a few ways to get a discount on Disney World annual passes . There are special discounted Disney World tickets available for Florida residents and members of the US military. If you’re buying passes for a family, even 5% or 10% off  Disney World tickets can add up to a chunk of money!

This page is about ticket discounts for the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.  If that’s not where you’re planning a trip, perhaps you want our page about  discounts on tickets to Disneyland in California . Or you may want  information and tips for the Disney parks in other countries .

This page compiles a comprehensive list of places that offer Disney World ticket discounts and deals. Read on for the complete details.

  • If you are visiting this page for the first time, we highly recommend that you first read our Advice, Tips and Tricks for Walt Disney World Tickets and Passes page, which contains important tips that could save you money and help you avoid scams.
  • For comparison purposes, you may want to check the  regular prices of all the Walt Disney World tickets and annual passes .
  • If you live outside the USA, you will want to check out our page on Discounts on Tickets for International Visitors , which lists some options that are only available to you.

Sources for Walt Disney World Ticket Discounts

Discount tickets from undercover tourist, four-day, four-park magic ticket, special three-day, three-park ticket, advance purchase discount, discounts on annual passes.

  • Florida Resident Ticket Discounts
  • Military & Civil Service Ticket Discounts

Corporate, Government & Other Membership Discounts

Canadian resident ticket discounts.

  • DVC Member Ticket Discounts
  • University of Central Florida Ticket Discounts
  • AAA and CAA Ticket Discounts

Online Travel Agencies

Other Walt Disney World Ticket Information Pages

  • Regular Ticket Prices
  • Ticket Advice, Tips and Tricks
  • Discounts on Tickets for International Visitors
  • Discounts on Water Park Tickets

For the best discounts on multi-day Walt Disney World tickets (and other theme park and attraction tickets), we highly recommend checking out  Undercover Tourist , a reliable ticket broker offering excellent Disney World ticket discounts and outstanding customer service.

How can Undercover Tourist offer discounted Walt Disney World tickets? Undercover Tourist buys tickets wholesale directly from Disney and sells them at a slight mark-up. Undercover Tourist is a Disney Parks USA Selected Ticket Seller – Disney’s authorized program for ticket resellers.

Theme park tickets are an expensive outlay, and you should feel confident that you are dealing with a legitimate business . Undercover Tourist is a reputable company that we have recommended since 2006. Over 100,000 MouseSavers.com readers have bought and used tickets from this ticket broker. 

Tickets purchased from Undercover Tourist   have the EXACT same benefits as those purchased at the Disney gate.  You can log into MyDisneyExperience.com , create an account if you don’t already have one, and enter the numbers off your Undercover Tourist tickets and set up your Disney Genie preferences. 

Undercover Tourist prices include tax and FREE shipping. When comparing prices with Disney’s published prices, remember that Disney quotes prices without including the 6.5% tax. Undercover Tourist prices include the tax. Be sure you are comparing “apples to apples” by looking at the full price with tax!

Undercover Tourist Walt Disney World tickets are refundable! This includes e-tickets as well as physical “hard” tickets. This is a huge benefit — even Disney doesn’t offer refunds on tickets! There is a 5% restocking fee, so most of the time it’s better to change the tickets rather than refund them, but for those cases when you really won’t be able to use the tickets at all, it’s great to know you can get 95% of your ticket cost back. To be eligible for refund, your tickets must be unused and unchanged. Check Undercover Tourist for the full terms and conditions.

  • Visit Undercover Tourist to purchase discounted Walt Disney World tickets and other attraction tickets!

Exclusive Discounts for MouseSavers Newsletter Subscribers

Undercover Tourist offers its best deals on tickets exclusively for MouseSavers Newsletter subscribers. These special prices are not available to the general public and are not published here on MouseSavers.com. They are provided ONLY through private links in our monthly newsletter, which comes on the 15th of each month (or the next business day), and one Hot Deals announcement near the end of each month. Undercover Tourist offers even larger discounts on a small selection of attraction tickets in the Hot Deals Announcement, so for the absolute best deals you’ll want to subscribe to both FREE newsletters.

  • Subscribe to the FREE MouseSavers Newsletter and the optional FREE Hot Deals Announcements!   The main newsletter comes out on the 15th of each month (or the next business day) and the Hot Deals announcement with the special Undercover Tourist sale prices comes out on the final Monday of each month (or the next business day). We do not send out the private links separately from the newsletters, so please plan ahead.

For a limited time, you can purchase a Four-Day, Four-Park Magic Ticket valid for admission April 2 through September 22, 2024. Ticket expires 7 days after first use or September 28, 2024, whichever comes first. A theme park reservation is not needed for this ticket.

This is a special ticket, available for a limited time, that gets you one admission to each of the four main Walt Disney World theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios. No park hopping is allowed, and you can’t upgrade the ticket to go for more days. If you want to revisit a park on another day, you’ll have to buy another ticket. As with regular base tickets, you are allowed to leave a park and return to it the same day.

  • 4-Day, 4-Park Magic Ticket costs $421.74 – $508.01 per adult (age 10+) and $336.54 – 432.39 per child (age 3-9), depending on the date, tax included. 

You can add the Water Park & Sports option for $63.90 per ticket, tax included. 

This is not really a discounted Base ticket, but it does save money for folks who plan to visit each of the four parks for one day with no hopping, since the regular 4-day Base ticket gate prices are $484.67-$673.34 for adults and $465.91-$654.31 for children. It can be purchased from Undercover Tourist or directly from Disney.

For a limited time, you can purchase a Special Three-Day, Three-Park Ticket valid for admission April 2 through September 24, 2024. Ticket expires 5 days after first use or September 28, 2024, whichever comes first. A theme park reservation is not needed for this ticket.

This is a special ticket, available for a limited time, that gets you one admission each to Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Hollywood Studios only . No park hopping is allowed, and you can’t upgrade the ticket to go for more days. If you want to revisit a park on another day, you’ll have to buy another ticket. As with regular base tickets, you are allowed to leave a park and return to it the same day. Please note: This ticket does not include admission to Magic Kingdom. 

  • Special 3-Day, 3-Park Ticket costs $284.36 – $345.06 per person (age 3+), depending on the date, tax included. 

This is not really a discounted Base ticket, but it does save money for folks who plan to visit only those three parks for one day with no hopping, since the regular 3-day Base ticket gate prices are $362.13-$528.19 for adults and $347.43-$513.27 for children. It can be purchased from Undercover Tourist or directly from Disney.

All regular Walt Disney World tickets, including Base, Park Hopper and Park Hopper Plus tickets of 3 days or longer are $21.30 less (tax included) when purchased in advance directly from Disney online or over the phone (versus buying them at Walt Disney World ticket booths, guest services locations or Disney hotel desks). In our experience, Undercover Tourist typically has discounts that are significantly better; be sure to compare the final prices with tax before purchasing.

There are no current sources of discounts on Walt Disney World annual passes for the general public. There are, however, some discounts available for members of certain organizations or geographic areas, and there are also some special passes available for local residents that are cheaper than the regular annual passes, but come with blackout dates and other restrictions. Use these links for more information:

  • Non-discounted prices of Walt Disney World annual passes
  • Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member discounts on Walt Disney World annual passes
  • AAA/CAA member discounts on Walt Disney World annual passes
  • Florida resident discounts on regular Walt Disney World annual passes
  • Florida resident lower-cost restricted Walt Disney World annual passes

Florida Resident Disney World Ticket Discounts

In order to qualify for Florida Resident ticket and annual pass discounts, you have to show proof of residency such as a valid Florida driver’s license or Florida state ID card, showing a Florida address. These tickets and passes are also controlled using a biometric finger scan, to prevent them from being transferred to non-Florida residents. Disney has the system down to a science — trust us, you really can’t buy or use these tickets unless you actually live in Florida!

If your primary ID is from a different state, but you do own a residence in Florida, even one you only use part of the year, you can generally buy Florida resident tickets and passes by showing, for each adult , an ID from another state plus a recent utility bill or bank statement in the same name (no more than 2 months old), addressed to your Florida residence. Timeshares are not considered residences for the purposes of buying Florida Resident tickets and passes.

The only exception is small children — since Disney can’t reasonably require them to show residency through an ID, it’s technically possible for Florida residents to buy Florida resident tickets for non-resident kids. For instance, if Grandma and Grandpa live in Florida, they could accompany their grandkids who live outside Florida to Walt Disney World, and buy the kids Florida resident tickets.

If you’re not an actual Florida resident, can you just go to Florida, get a Florida ID and buy tickets at the Florida resident rate? Not legally. This scam is promoted by some websites and “e-books” that sell advice about how to save money at Disney World. Here’s what the Florida Dept of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles has to say about that: “Giving false information on an application for a driver license or identification card is a third degree felony which may result in arrest, and includes a one-year suspension of the driving privilege.”

Florida Resident Discover Disney Tickets

Florida resident tickets.

  • Florida Resident Sorcerer Pass
  • Florida Resident Pirate Pass
  • Florida Resident Pixie Dust Pass

Florida residents can buy these special limited-time 3-day and 4-day tickets, valid for admission April 2 through September 28, 2024. Like the regular Florida Resident tickets, you can visit for one day here and there during the validity period. 

  • 3-Day Discover Disney Ticket: $233.24 for all ages (3+), tax included. This ticket is similar to a discounted 3-Day Base Ticket , but with a much longer expiration. 
  • 4-Day Discover Disney Ticket: $250.28 for all ages (3+), tax included. This ticket is similar to a discounted 4-Day Base Ticket , but with a much longer expiration. 

You can add the  Water Park & Sports ,  Park Hopper  or  Park Hopper Plus options at a significant discount. Water Park & Sports add-on is $37.28 per ticket, tax included. Park Hopper add-on is $42.60 per ticket, tax included. Park Hopper Plus add-on is $58.58 per ticket, tax included.

Advance theme park reservations are required. Tickets and add-ons expire 9/28/24.

  • Florida Resident Discover Disney Tickets can be purchased at a discount from Undercover Tourist or directly from Disney at the regular price; you must have proof of Florida residency.

Florida residents can choose from several savings options for 1-4 day tickets.

  • 1-Day Florida Resident Ticke t: Florida residents pay full price for a 1-Day Base Ticket . However, you can add the Park Hopper  or Park Hopper Plus options at a significant discount. 
  • There is no 2-day Florida Resident Ticket, but the 3-day Florida Resident tickets are cheaper than the 2-day regular tickets, for all variations.
  • This ticket is similar to a discounted 3-Day  Base Ticket .
  • Prices vary daily – discount is typically 30% or so off the regular ticket prices. You have to choose specific dates to visit.
  • You can add the Water Park & Sports , Park Hopper  or  Park Hopper Plus options at a significant discount. 
  • The ticket and any add-on options expire after the final date of the range you select, just like regular Disney World tickets.
  • This ticket is similar to a discounted 4-Day  Base Ticket .
  • You can add the Water Park & Sports , Park Hopper  or  Park Hopper Plus options at a significant discount. 
  • Auto Club South (AAA) offers a discount on the 1-Day and 3-Day tickets.
  • Florida Resident Tickets can be purchased at a discount from Undercover Tourist or directly from Disney at the regular price; you must have proof of Florida residency.

Florida Resident Sorcerer Pass (formerly Gold pass)

This special pass is only available to Florida residents and DVC members. The Sorcerer Pass provides one year of admission (with a few blackout dates) to the four major parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom), plus FREE parking. Theme park reservations are required except on “good-to-go” days. You can have up to 5 theme park reservations open at any one time with this pass (when staying at a Disney resort, you can additionally have as many park days reserved as hotel stay days).

On “good-to-go” days, Annual Passholders can visit select theme parks without a theme park reservation. To see “good-to-go” dates, check the theme park reservation calendar, the Annual Passholder admissions calendar or the My Disney Experience app. New dates will be added periodically, and may be added days or weeks in advance.

Sorcerer Passholders can enter the parks on any valid date for this pass after 2 pm without a theme park reservation, except for the Magic Kingdom on Saturdays and Sundays.

All prices listed include tax.

  • First time Sorcerer Pass: $1,063.94 for all ages (3+).
  • Renewal Sorcerer Pass: $904.19 for all ages (3+).
  • Florida residents can pay in 12 monthly installments of $72/month with $205 down payment ($76/month with no down payment for renewal).
  • Unlimited PhotoPass downloads can be added to this pass for $105.44 ($90.52 for renewal).
  • The Water Park & Sports option (includes water park admission and more ) can be added to this pass for $105.44 ($90.52 for renewal).

The blockout dates for Sorcerer Passes are basically just Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Eve. Disney will occasionally adjust the blockout dates for this pass; check the Disney website for the most current blockout dates.

You must have proof of Florida residency (or DVC membership) to activate this pass.

First time Sorcerer Passes can be purchased at DisneyWorld.com (you’ll get an “unactivated” pass attached to your MyDisneyExperience account, which will activate on first entry to a park), or just wait and purchase at the theme park ticket booths. If you want a physical plastic pass, you can get one in person by visiting a ticket booth or guest services location on your next visit and requesting one.

Renewal Sorcerer Passes can be purchased at the theme park ticket booths or at DisneyWorld.com .

Florida Resident Pirate Pass (formerly Silver pass)

This special pass is only available to Florida residents. The Pirate Pass provides one year of admission (with some blockout dates) to the four major parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom), plus FREE parking. Theme park reservations are required except on “good-to-go” days. You can have up to 4 park reservations open at any one time with this pass (when staying at a Disney resort, you can additionally have as many park days reserved as hotel stay days).

Pirate Passholders can enter the parks on any valid date for this pass after 2 pm without a theme park reservation, except for the Magic Kingdom on Saturdays and Sundays.

  • First time Pirate Pass: $850.94 for all ages (3+).
  • Renewal Pirate Pass: $723.14 for all ages (3+).
  • Florida residents can pay in 12 monthly installments of $54/month with $205 down payment ($61/month with no down payment for renewal).

The blockout dates for Pirate Passes are more extensive than for the Sorcerer passes: Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years, spring break, most holiday weekends, and a sprinkling of Saturdays throughout the year. Disney will occasionally adjust the blockout dates for this pass; check the Disney web site for the most current blockout dates.

You must have proof of Florida residency to activate this pass.

First time Pirate Passes can be purchased at DisneyWorld.com (you’ll get an “unactivated” pass attached to your MyDisneyExperience account, which will activate on first entry to a park), or just wait and purchase at the theme park ticket booths. If you want a physical plastic pass, you can get one in person by visiting a ticket booth or guest services location on your next visit and requesting one.

Renewal Pirate Passes can be purchased at the theme park ticket booths or at DisneyWorld.com .

Florida Resident Pixie Dust Pass (formerly Theme Park Select Pass)

This special pass is only available to Florida residents. The Pixie Dust Pass provides one year of admission (with many blockout dates) to the four major parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom), plus FREE parking. Theme park reservations are required except on “good-to-go” days. You can have up to 3 park reservations open at any one time with this pass (when staying at a Disney resort, you can additionally have as many park days reserved as hotel stay days).

Pixie Dust Passholders can enter the parks on any valid date for this pass after 2 pm without a theme park reservation, except for the Magic Kingdom on Saturdays and Sundays.

  • First time Pixie Dust Pass: $467.54 for all ages (3+).
  • Renewal Pixie Dust Pass: $397.25 for all ages (3+).
  • Florida residents can pay in 12 monthly installments of $22/month with $205 down payment ($34/month with no down payment for renewal).

The blockout dates for Pixie Dust Passes are quite extensive: Thanksgiving/Christmas/New Years, spring break, most holiday weekends, all Saturdays and most Sundays. Disney will occasionally adjust the blockout dates for this pass; check the Disney web site for the most current blockout dates.

First time Pixie Dust Passes can be purchased at DisneyWorld.com (you’ll get an “unactivated” pass attached to your MyDisneyExperience account, which will activate on first entry to a park), or just wait and purchase at the theme park ticket booths. If you want a physical plastic pass, you can get one in person by visiting a ticket booth or guest services location on your next visit and requesting one.

Renewal Pixie Dust Passes can be purchased at the theme park ticket booths or at DisneyWorld.com .

Military & Civil Service Disney World Ticket Discounts

Military salute ticket offers, ongoing military/dod discounts.

Military Salute Tickets for Visits January 1 – December 20, 2024

Active or retired US military personnel may purchase  4-Day, 5-Day or 6-Day Military Salute Tickets which include the Park Hopper option,  and can add the  Park Hopper Plus option, to be used by themselves, family members (including spouse) or friends. Blockout dates are March 24 – April 6, 2024 and November 24-30, 2024. 

  • The 4-Day Military Salute ticket is $369 per ticket + tax. The 4-Day Military Salute ticket with Park Hopper Plus costs $399 per ticket + tax.
  • The 5-Day Military Salute ticket is $389 per ticket + tax. The 5-Day Military Salute ticket with Park Hopper Plus costs $419 per ticket + tax.
  • The 6-Day Military Salute ticket is $409 per ticket + tax. The 5-Day Military Salute ticket with Park Hopper Plus costs $439 per ticket + tax.

No Base Ticket (without the Park Hopper option) is available with this offer.

Please note: With these tickets, a theme park reservation is required for the first Walt Disney World theme park you want to visit each day. 

Tickets expire and may not be used after 12/20/24. You may purchase up to 6 tickets.

The 4-Day Military Salute tickets must be purchased by 12/17/24. The 5-Day Military Salute tickets must be purchased by 12/16/24. The 6-Day Military Salute tickets must be purchased by 12/15/24. 

How to Get Military Salute Tickets

Tickets for use 1/1/24 – 12/20/24 went on sale on 10/24/23. 

Military Salute Tickets must be purchased in person, with military ID by the eligible member or their spouse.

  • You can  pre-purchase the tickets (in the form of an exchange voucher)  at a military base  (MWR/ITT office),  TAX-FREE!  The exchange voucher is then taken to a Main Entrance theme park ticket window, where it is exchanged for the actual ticket (activated).
  • Activated tickets can be pre-purchased   at Shades of Green , TAX-FREE. Thanks to Alicia R for info.
  • The military tickets can also be purchased at the Main Entrance theme park ticket windows or at Disney Springs’ Guest Relations, but if you do this, you must pay tax.

Rules for Military Salute Tickets

These tickets are for active or retired members of the US military, including the National Guard, Reservists, the US Coast Guard, the US Space Force with a valid military ID card. It also includes the Commissioned Corps of the Public Health Service (PHS) and the Commissioned Corps of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Dept of Defense (CIA, FBI, Secret Service) and Coalition Forces are not included .

The military ID will be checked when the tickets are activated. Once the tickets are activated the group can split up.

More details are available on the 2024 Walt Disney World Military Salute ticket offer page or the 2023 Walt Disney World Military Salute ticket offer page .

Where to Ask Questions About Military Salute Tickets

If you have questions about this promotion, please don’t send them to us. All the information we have is listed above. If you need more info, here are some good resources:

  • Military Disney Tips has a very long FAQ on these tickets.
  • Call  Shades of Green  (SOG) directly and ask them. They seem to have a pretty good handle on some of the issues involved with the military tickets. However, be aware that sometimes Disney’s internal policies and SOG’s policies are slightly different.

Active duty and retired military, DOD civilian employees and their dependents qualify for discounts on Walt Disney World tickets. The savings mainly come from not paying tax (6.5%).

Disney has the right to check ID at the gate. Military personnel may bring in non-military guests with the military discount as long as they accompany the non-military person(s) and at least 50% of the group are qualified for the military discount (i.e., active duty, retired, DOD and dependents). If military personnel purchase tickets and give them as gifts to non-military users that they will not be accompanying, they risk having the recipient denied entry and the tickets confiscated.

  • Discounted military tickets are available through your local base MWR/ITT office . The prices and the exact passes that are available will vary from base to base.
  • Another place where active duty and retired military can get discounted tickets is a small Navy Exchange in Orlando that has an MWR/ITT office . It is located near the airport on Tradeport & Earhart Drive. The MWR office phone number is (407) 855-0116  or you can email them at [email protected] for current hours and prices. Thanks to Cathy C & Donald G for info.
  • Those with Military ID (and their dependents) can purchase discounted tickets (including Annual Passes) at Shades of Green (SOG), the military-operated resort located on Disney World property.  Thank you to Lisa and Gale M for the info!
  • Civil Service employees of certain branches of government (such as NASA) can purchase discounted Disney tickets at their exchange shops at the same rates as military. Typically the tickets must be ordered and will take a couple of weeks to arrive. While the employee must purchase the tickets, reportedly anyone can use them. Thanks to Melissa for the info.

Employees of large companies, major government agencies, or large membership groups like unions or professional organizations (typically those with 200-plus employees or members) may qualify to purchase discounted Disney World tickets, regardless of whether the company has any direct relationship with Disney. Disney has in recent years cut back substantially on its corporate discounts, so in most cases the prices are no better the prices available from resellers like Undercover Tourist . But if you work for a large company, it’s worth checking just in case. Remember that most vendors add taxes and fees at the final checkout, so look at the final price, not the teaser price they list initially.

Tickets are typically offered through private websites operated by various ticket suppliers such as Tickets at Work and Working Advantage, which exclusively service large organizations. A password is required to access those sites. Check with your company or organization’s benefits department to find out whether your company participates and how to get the password.

If you work for a company that is a major corporate sponsor at Walt Disney World (i.e. the company’s logo is on a major attraction), you might qualify for significant discounts on tickets. Check with your Human Resources department for additional info. Additionally, employees of companies that have a business relationship with Disney sometimes qualify for deep ticket discounts. Reportedly, employees of Chase (which offers Disney Visa cards ), Kellogg’s (which does a lot of cross-promotions with Disney) and ADT (installs alarms for Disney) get ticket discounts, or did at one time. Check with your Human Resources department for additional info.

In short, it’s possible your organization or company can get you a better discount, but be sure to compare the final price (with tax. fees and shipping) to the price available from Undercover Tourist  before purchasing.

Select Walt Disney World Park Hopper passes are sold at some CAA offices. The price of Disney tickets purchased in Canada is adjusted periodically to conform to the current exchange rate, so at times it may be possible to time a purchase to benefit from a sudden change in the exchange rate . (Tickets purchased in Canada may be intended only for Canadians and there is a slight chance you might be asked for ID, so US citizens who live near the border should keep this in mind.)

Air Miles – Readers report that Canadians can redeem Air Miles for select Walt Disney World tickets. Thanks to Dawn N for info.

DVC Member Ticket Discounts for Disney World

The Disney Vacation Club (DVC) is a Disney-operated timeshare program with properties at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Vero Beach, Hilton Head Island and Hawaii.

Note that to get the various ticket discounts, you must have purchased at least one DVC contract either directly from Disney or via resale prior to April 4, 2016.

DVC Regular Ticket Discounts

Most of the time there are no special discounts on regular tickets for DVC members. When a discount is offered, it will be listed below.

DVC Annual Pass Discounts

DVC members qualify to purchase the Sorcerer Pass . This special pass is only available to Florida residents and DVC members. The Sorcerer Pass provides one year of admission (with a few blackout dates) to the four major parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom), plus FREE parking. Theme park reservations are required except on “good-to-go” days. You can have up to 5 park reservations open at any one time with this pass (when staying at a Disney resort, you can additionally have as many park days reserved as hotel stay days).

  • Sorcerer Pass : $1,063.94 for all ages (3+), including tax.
  • Sorcerer Pass Renewal : $904.19 for all ages (3+), including tax.

Discounts are valid for members of the DVC member’s immediate household only.

DVC members can call Member Services or buy tickets or passes online on the regular DisneyWorld.com ticketing page, as long as the member is logged into a Disney account that is linked to a DVC membership. For more details and links and instructions for linking your Disney account with your DVC membership, check the DVC Member website.

University of Central Florida Disney Ticket Discounts

Students, faculty and staff at University of Central Florida can purchase One Day, One Park Disney World tickets at a significantly reduced rate. There is a limit of 2 tickets per 30 days. Tickets can be purchased through the SGA Ticket Center located on the first floor of the Student Union in the Lighthouse Mall area. Be sure to buy in advance because they do sell out at times.  Thanks to Amanda for info.

AAA (American Automobile Assn) and CAA (Canadian Automobile Assn) Ticket Discounts

Aaa and caa discounts on disney world tickets.

The American Automobile Association (AAA) and Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) is subdivided into regions, with each region having a different independent affiliated club. Each regional club offers different attraction tickets. Some offer discount Walt Disney World tickets; some don’t. Some don’t have discounts, but offer a free bonus of some kind with the order, and if that bonus has value to you, that can be worth considering. Usually you’ll find that clubs in the southeastern US, especially driving distance from Walt Disney World, are the most likely to offer discount tickets. For the very latest information, you should always call your local club or check their web site to see what they offer. Obviously, you will need to be a member of AAA to get these discounts, but in many cases, a club in one region will allow members in other regions to take advantage of their discounts. It never hurts to ask!

Broadly speaking in recent years we have not seen better deals from AAA clubs than from Undercover Tourist on regular tickets for the general public, but if you are a member, it may be worth your time to check what they have. Remember to compare final prices with tax and other fees!

Auto Club South Discounts on Florida Resident Tickets

Auto Club South offices in Florida offer an additional discount on 1-Day and 3-Day Florida Resident tickets for AAA members.

The nearest office to Disney World is located at 783 South Orlando Ave in Winter Park (note that this is not very close to Disney World — it’s about 20 miles away). Call (407) 647-1033 for hours and directions. Passes must be purchased in person unless you are a member of Auto Club South , in which case some passes can be purchased online after logging into the Auto Club South website. You will be sold a voucher that must be redeemed at a Disney World ticket window, with proper Florida resident ID required. Note that Auto Club South e-ticket vouchers are emailed to you, and it can take up to three days for the email to arrive.

Most of the time, the big Online Travel Agencies (OTAs) like Expedia , Travelocity ,  Orbitz , Priceline , etc. sell Disney World tickets at full price. Every once in a while, one of them will offer a special deal on one or two tickets as a come-on, to get people to come to their site and hopefully book other things. The tickets available on sale can change from day to day (or hour to hour), but it can be worth checking these sites to see if they have a deal on the specific ticket you want. Read our caveats below before purchasing. If you’re only going to save a few dollars, we think you’re better off with Undercover Tourist . If the OTA is offering some kind of super-deep loss-leader special that’s going to save you a bunch, and you are comfortable with the various issues we mention, you may want to take that deal.

Important notes for buying tickets from OTAs:

  • Read the terms and conditions carefully. One site we looked at had a disclaimer saying they don’t guarantee that your tickets will be valid and will let you into the park (!!!).
  • Make sure you compare the final price, with any tax, fees or shipping, to other sources like Undercover Tourist. A deal that looks great at first glance may not be once miscellaneous fees get tacked on.
  • Check and recheck your information before hitting the purchase button, especially your email address. If you buy e-tickets, they will email you the codes you need and if you make a mistake with your email address it won’t go to the right place. That’s not the end of the world; you can call them and they can find your order by name and resend it, but OTAs have notoriously bad customer service.
  • Do not take the add-ons or upsells offered, especially any kind of “buyer protection” insurance. If they offer you a special limited time deal on something else like a rental car or hotel, be skeptical, and research carefully whether it’s a good deal. The main reason the OTAs offer these kinds of special ticket deals is in the hope that they can also sell you something with a better profit margin, so chances are good that any other thing they offer you will be full price (or sometimes even above full price!).
  • Stick to the big agencies you’ve heard of, that advertise widely and have a decent reputation. If you hear about a great deal from a company you’ve never heard of, we advise staying away. There are lots of Disney ticket scams out there and it’s hard to tell the real vendors from the scammers. Even a vendor that’s not a scammer may not have a reliable supply of tickets, and if their supply dries up unexpectedly while your order is being processed it might be a serious hassle. We have seen this exact situation more than once, and the people who got left holding the bag were not happy.

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  • Free Vacation Planning

Find out how to save money on Disney World tickets while avoiding scams!

James Grosch

One of the most expensive items for a WDW vacation are the tickets. The good news: It’s very easy to save big on discounted Disney World tickets any time of the year. The bad news: you need to make sure you purchase from the right company. But that isn’t bad news for you, because Guide2WDW is here to help you out with our guide to buying discounted tickets for Disney World.

In this post, I’m sharing several ways to save money on Disney World tickets, including why we always turn to Undercover Tourist to save hundreds on our WDW vacations.

Disclaimer: This article features affiliate articles, and Guide2WDW may earn a commission from sales made from links in this post. However, all the the recommendations in this article are from personal experience, and affiliate links are a way to help this website operate.

Why you need to pick the right place to buy discounted Disney World tickets

Evil Queen - Seven Dwarfs Mine Train at Disney World

Buyer beware! You should be careful when purchasing discounted Disney World tickets, because, sadly, WDW ticket scams are a tale as old as time. Nothing can make the magic of a Disney trip vanish like a counterfeit ticket, but that’s not the only thing you need to be careful about. When purchasing tickets from a third party, you want to make sure they have fast, reliable support in case there are any technical issues linking your ticket to your Disney World account.

Here’s what we recommend when purchasing Disney World tickets at a discount:

  • Always purchase from an authorized Walt Disney World Ticket Seller. Stay away from buying tickets on eBay or Facebook.
  • Make sure that delivery is speedy. I always opt for email delivery, which means I have my tickets the same day of the purchase.
  • A good return policy and responsive customer support.
  • Look for reviews online and on the Better Business Bureau.
  • If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Luckily, there are actually reputable companies that offer discount Disney World tickets. However, there is one Guide2WDW recommends over the others.

Guide2WDW’s Recommended Discount Ticket Seller: Undercover Tourist

Undercover Tourist Website - How to get discount tickets at Disney World

Whenever I need to buy a ticket for a Disney World vacation, I turn to Undercover Tourist . They are reliable, reputable, fast, and they consistently offer some of the best deals out there for Disney World tickets.

I have personally used Undercover Tourist to buy thousands of dollars of WDW tickets over the years. With such big purchases, I always make sure that I use a reputable source. Undercover Tourist is one of the biggest and most trusted Authorized Disney Ticket sellers online, and for good reason.

For many Disney World tickets, they have great discounts available. For instance, at the time of this writing, they are running a special where you buy a four day park hopper and get the fifth day for free.

For other WDW tickets, Undercover Tourist is offering between $40-$48 off 3+ day single park tickets and $42-$81 off 3+ day park hopper tickets. That’s per ticket. For a family of four, you could save between $160 to $324 on your WDW tickets. That can make a huge difference for your vacation budget.

Undercover Tourist - Discount Disney World Tickets

Note that discounts may be different in the future, but Undercover Tourist constantly has discounts on Disney World tickets.

They also sell tickets to special events, such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and the Disney After Hours events , which are also available at a lower price. The only tickets I haven’t been able to get at a discount with UT are 1 day tickets, 2 day tickets, and Annual Passes.

Another reason my experience with Undercover Tourist has been so positive is the speed. The past few times I’ve purchased from Undercover Tourist, my tickets showed up in my email within minutes of completing my order. From there, it’s a breeze to link the tickets to my Disney World account through the My Disney Experience app. Then I can go ahead and make any park reservations that I need for my vacation.

Since I have everything linked, I can just go straight to the turnstiles, tap my Magic Band (or Apple Watch), and get into the theme parks.

You can find their deals on Disney World tickets at UndercoverTourist.com .

More ways to buy discounted tickets for Disney World

Disney World Gift Cards

Buy Disney Gift Cards at a discount: Disney Gift Cards are the ultimate cheat code to saving money at Disney World. We have strategies that allow us to consistently save between 5-20% on Disney Gift Cards, which you can read here.

You can use discounted Disney Gift Cards to save on everything on your Disney World vacation, including food, merchandise, hotels, and even tickets. You will have to purchase through Disney directly in order to use the gift cards. If you have multiple gift cards, you will need to merge them into a single gift card on DisneyGiftCard.com in order to be able to use them to purchase tickets and vacation packages, since Disney’s website only has the ability to use one gift card per payment.

Costco or Sam’s: Both Sam’s and Costco memberships offer Disney World discounts in different ways.

  • Sam’s Club offers discounted WDW tickets directly: Sam’s Club Disney World Tickets
  • Costco Travel offers good deals on vacation packages that include Disney World tickets. You can find the Costco Disney World vacation packages here.

Military Discounts:  Active or retired military personnel can purchase Disney World tickets at a discount at a military base or at Shades of Green tax-free. Military discounts are also offered at the ticket booths at each park and Disney Springs, but these charge tax.

tourist cheap disney tickets

Look for Official Disney Deals: Disney often runs seasonal deals for special tickets and vacation packages. While you may be paying “full price” for the ticket, a discounted vacation package may save you a ton of money in other ways, such as getting a discounted rate on your hotel. These are definitely worth considering if you are looking for a way to save money on your Disney World vacation. You can find Disney World’s current deals here.

Work with a Travel Agent: One of the best ways to save money on your Disney World tickets is to work with a travel agent. They have the inside scoop on the best deals, and they are often able to get you even more savings – even if new deals come up after you book your vacation. Plus, they can do all the planning for you. Click here to work with our friends at Vacationeer, the official travel agency of Guide2WDW.

Save even more at Disney World!

Magic Kingdom Castle - Disney World

Navigating the ins and outs of discounted Disney World tickets can feel like trying to find a short line at Seven Dwarfs Mine Train during the holidays. But don’t worry, Guide2WDW here to guide you through the labyrinth. In this article, we’ve discussed our favorite way to save money on Disney World tickets – using Undercover Tourist. By following our advice, you can save hundreds of dollars on your WDW vacations and enjoy your magical trip without breaking the bank.

However, remember that tickets are just one part of the equation. There are numerous other ways to save on your Disney World vacation that we cover on our site. Check out our Disney World Money Saving Tips and our comprehensive Disney Gift Card Guide to discover additional strategies to keep more cash in your pocket. And don’t forget to take advantage of discounted Disney Gift Cards to further reduce the costs of food, merchandise, hotels, and even tickets during your trip.

In the end, saving money on your Disney World vacation is about being savvy, doing your research, and utilizing all the resources at your disposal. As always, we at Guide2WDW are here to assist you in crafting your perfect and budget-friendly Disney experience. Make sure to check out our other articles on how to save money at Disney World , so you can make the most out of your magical journey.

Let me know in the comments below: do you have any questions on how to save money on Disney World tickets?

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James Grosch

James is a lifelong Disney Parks fan. While at the parks, he loves finding new details, learning more about Disney World history, and taking pictures. His favorite WDW attractions include Rise of the Resistance, Spaceship Earth, and Tower of Terror. James is a filmmaker and writer based in Atlanta, GA.

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Why We Recommend Undercover Tourist For Disney Deals

If you’ve read even a small fraction of our content, you probably have noticed that we mention Undercover Tourist frequently as a place to get discount Disney World tickets ,  discount Disney World hotels , and discount Disneyland tickets .

First, it’s natural to worry about the legitimacy of any discounted Disney product. No one wants to spend hundreds, even thousands, of dollars and find out they got ripped off. So, there are plenty of searches done online for things like “Is Undercover Tourist legit?”

undercover-tourist-main-street.jpg

Yes—Undercover Tourist is legitimate. They are an authorized seller of Walt Disney World tickets (and hotel rooms) , and they sell them at decent discounts. The goal of this post is to talk a little more about Undercover Tourist to help you understand why we recommend them so much.

Always Compare Prices

We also want to remind you that you should always compare prices across legitimate theme park ticket sellers. You also don’t want to fall in the trap of thinking prices are the same throughout the year. If you can be flexible, some months are cheaper than others at Walt Disney World .

Undercover Tourist Sells Disney Tickets At Reduced (“Wholesale”) Price

Undercover Tourist is most popular as an authorized seller of Walt Disney World tickets. They’ve also added Disneyland tickets to their offerings. They sell these tickets at a discounted price. In short, the reason we recommend them is because they offer great (often the best) discounts and have good service and a great reputation.

As a quick example, we personally saved $126 one trip by buying our tickets through Undercover Tourist . They’re able to sell at a discounted rate because the tickets are what are known as “wholesale,” meaning Undercover Tourist has purchased a bunch of them from Disney at a low rate, and now they're passing some of that discount onto you.

Wholesale Tickets Aren’t Any Different Than Gate Tickets!

If you’re worried that wholesale tickets are different than tickets you’d get through Disney online or at the gate, worry no more! When it comes to how you use them, benefits you get, and restrictions on when they can be used, the rules are the same as any other Disney ticket. Once you purchase the ticket and link it to your My Disney Experience account, no one gives any attention to how you acquired them.

Wholesale Tickets Can Be Bridged

Ticket bridging is when you upgrade a discounted Disney ticket to an annual pass. You’re credited the gate price of the ticket when you do this, so you’ve essentially saved on your annual pass. Disney Tourist Blog has a great post on ticket bridging . We bridged to get our Disney World annual pass .

The Savings Are Pretty Good

As we discuss in our post on discount Disney World tickets , these discounts are usually around 8% to 10%, and a family of four on a five-day trip can expect to save around $150 buying tickets through Undercover Tourist. For example, we saved $126 or 8.4% buying tickets through Undercover Tourist.

Disney tickets are one of the hardest items to save on when it comes to planning a trip. But Undercover Tourist’s Disney World ticket prices are a decent discount on this expensive part of your trip.

tourist cheap disney tickets

The savings are best when Disney raises ticket prices, as wholesale sellers like Undercover Tourist are able to sell some of their old supply at the prices they were previously offering.

Finally, Undercover Tourist sometimes has tickets for special events, like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party , though discounts on these are rare.

Undercover Tourist Often Has Great Hotel Prices

When it comes to booking hotels, Undercover Tourist is really no different than any other third-party site like Expedia or Hotels.com. Our limited, anecdotal experience is that Undercover Tourist often has prices that beat these sites. (You’ll also always want to consider renting DVC points if you're considering a deluxe stay.)

In any case, it’s definitely worth checking out when booking your Disney hotel. We once booked an Art of Animation stay through them and saved $50 vs. Disney’s prices when other sites weren’t even able to offer us Little Mermaid rooms.

What’s more, Undercover Tourist often beats Disney’s own deals. Here’s a 2024 example where a room at Pop Century was deeper discounted on Undercover Tourist than during a seasonal Disney offer:

tourist cheap disney tickets

$973.36 on Undercover Tourist…

tourist cheap disney tickets

…vs $1038.57 on Disney

That $65 savings isn't huge, but what’s notable is that these savings were available while Disney had a room offer going on! No site is always going to beat another on price, and certainly no site will always beat another on the mix of price and inventory. But if you're not at least checking Undercover Tourist before booking your Disney World hotel, you're potentially missing out on big savings.

(FWIW, Undercover Tourist also markets car rentals, but we’ve never used them for that.)

Undercover Tourist Purchases Easily Connect to Your Disney Account

Note: The details (i.e. screenshots) of this section may not match the specifics of the website designs today, but the overall process of linking has remained mostly unchanged.

If you’re a master Disney planner, you know how important it is to link your tickets and your hotel room to your Disney account well in advance of your stay .

Happily, Undercover Tourist makes it easy to link these items to your account. First, you need a ticket number. If you buy and ship physical tickets, the ticket number is on the back of the ticket. If you purchase an E-Ticket, you'll get a "Reservation #" that can be found by clicking a link they email you or through your Undercover Tourist account:

ticket number.JPG

When you navigate over to your My Disney Experience "My Reservations and Tickets" page, you'll have the option to "Link Tickets."

tourist cheap disney tickets

Then just enter the reservation number (or the ticket number from a physical ticket)...

tourist cheap disney tickets

And choose who to link the ticket (or tickets) to...

specify person.JPG

And congrats, you're done!

congrats.JPG

Linking hotel rooms is even easier. When we made our last reservation with Undercover Tourist, we received an email with a reservation number...

Screen Shot 2018-05-08 at 10.35.41 AM.JPG

...which we just went ahead and entered into the Disney website's "Link a Resort..." page.

tourist cheap disney tickets

While we cover this a little more below, you might notice one difference between a third-party room reservation and one made through Disney:

tourist cheap disney tickets

When you compare the Polynesian reservation we made (through Disney online), to our Art of Animation reservation through Undercover Tourist, you'll notice cancellations to third-party bookings have to be made by calling Disney. We can't see why this would be a problem, though.

Once our tickets and hotel reservation were linked to our account, we had no problem checking in online or accessing our tickets.

Undercover Tourist Has a Proven Track Record (Including With Us)

The #1 reason we recommend Undercover Tourist is simply that we actually use them (as we mentioned twice in this post already). Prior to becoming annual passholders, we exclusively used Undercover Tourist once we’d learned about them. We bought Disney tickets and Universal tickets, and we always got great deals on real tickets. Overall they were always a great way to save money on our family vacation.

Beyond us, we have friends, family, and readers who have used them, and countless sites also swear by them. Again, we’re not saying you should buy tickets or hotel rooms from them no matter what. You always want to get the best price you can for a legitimate product. We're just here to clarify that Undercover Tourist is totally legitimate, easy to use, and offers good discounts.

The Downsides To Using Undercover Tourist

Yes, there are some downsides to using Undercover Tourist. While we don’t think they are a big deal, we do think they're worth pointing out so you can evaluate for yourself whether Undercover Tourist is right for you.

No Access To Packages / Disney Offers

This isn't a downside, per se. You should always book the deal that makes the most sense for you, whether its a package through Disney, a room through Undercover Tourist, or a room through some other site.

No free dining when you book through a third party. But you can still eat. (Sorry if that's confusing.)

No free dining when you book through a third party. But you can still eat. (Sorry if that's confusing.)

But, for example, if you’re interested in a Disney dining plan , you wouldn’t be able to get a free dining promo on a room booked through Undercover Tourist (or any other third party). You wouldn’t have even been able to add dining plans to these rooms. If there’s a discount on a package (room + ticket) through Disney and you book the room through some other third party, you won’t be able to get the “package” discount just by buying tickets through Disney.

Processing Times

It can take up to 24 hours for park ticket orders to be processed. When we made a $2000 order with six tickets (three Walt Disney World, three Universal Studios), we were delayed a bit more when they required us to call and confirm our order. Personally I think this was a good thing for them to do, as it was a big, relatively complex order.

Hotel Deposit Policy

This is probably the most significant difference between booking through Undercover Tourist (or any third-party site) and booking through Disney directly. If you book a hotel room through Disney directly, you only have to pay a deposit up front. You pay the balance of your room when you arrive.

If you book a Disney hotel room through Undercover Tourist or any other third-party site (like Expedia), you’ll often have to pay the entire balance up front. For some people, especially people who like to make speculative bookings early on in planning, this can be a real nuisance.

Conclusions

This post has been a little longer than intended, but with good reason. We want to make sure you're as comfortable as possible with the advice we give. What this boils down to is a mix of a few things. Yes, they are a legitimate agency that offers great discounts. No, we aren't an affiliate of Undercover Tourist. And, indeed, we use them for a lot of our bookings because they're discounted and very convenient.

All Your Other Disney World Planning Questions Answered

Don't be overwhelmed by Disney World planning! Take a second to check out our most important content and you'll not only be an expert, but you'll save big $$$ along the way.

Just starting out? Check out our Walt Disney World planning guide! If you're still picking dates, we've got everything you need to know about Disney World crowd calendars . For picking your hotel, check out our Walt Disney World hotels guide.

When it comes time to book we’ll help you find discount Disney World tickets . Decide whether you need a dining plan in our Complete Guide to Disney World Dining Plans ! And don't forget to book those Disney World Advance Dining Reservations !

Don't forget to master your Disney World Genie+ and Lightning Lane strategy a few months in advance. We'll keep you out of long lines so you can maximize the magical time in the parks! We've got park-specific guides as well: Magic Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes , Epcot Genie+ and Lightning Lanes , Animal Kingdom Genie+ and Lightning Lanes , and Hollywood Studios Genie+ and Lightning Lanes .

Know what to ride with our guides to: Magic Kingdom rides , Hollywood Studios rides , Epcot rides , and Animal Kingdom rides ! Plus learn about the water parks with our guide to Blizzard Beach and our guide to Typhoon Lagoon ! And for some some fun prep, check out our Ranking of Every Ride at Walt Disney World .

Finally, before you head out, be sure to check out our to-the-point packing list, 10 essentials you forget to pack for every Disney trip . And if you're interested in saving, there's no better list than our 53 Ways to Save on your Disney trip from start to finish .

tourist cheap disney tickets

Your Ultimate Guide to Walt Disney World Tickets

Discounts, savings and promotions on walt disney world tickets.

Before we jump into all your saving options for Walt Disney World Tickets we’re going to go over the tickets themselves and what options you have when buying your admission. This can make a big difference on how you experience the parks and how many days you end up spending in the parks.

Walt Disney World Resort Tickets Breakdown

Base tickets.

Walt Disney World Base Tickets provide access to one of the most magical places on Earth, offering entry to one of the four theme parks within the complex: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom. These tickets allow visitors to explore their chosen park and enjoy a wide array of attractions , entertainment, and dining options.

With the flexibility to customize their visit and experience the magic of Disney in their own way, Walt Disney World Base Tickets are the perfect choice for those looking to immerse themselves in the enchanting world of Disney.

Water Park Sports & More Option

Icy water slide at sunset

Experience the ultimate fun and excitement at Walt Disney World with the Water Park Sports & More ticket option. Enjoy a thrilling day of water adventures, featuring exhilarating water slides, lazy rivers, and wave pools. With Sports & More tickets, you can also access a variety of recreational activities such as mini-golf, basketball, and beach volleyball.

Whether you’re seeking relaxation or adrenaline-pumping thrills, this ticket provides the perfect combination of entertainment for all ages. Dive into a world of endless entertainment and make unforgettable memories at Blizzard Beach Water Park or Typhoon Lagoon Water Park .

Park Hopper

Park Hopper Tickets allow visitors to hop between all four theme parks in a single day. This versatile ticket option provides flexibility and convenience for guests looking to make the most of their visit by easily switching between Magic Kingdom , EPCOT , Disney’s Hollywood Studios , and Disney’s Animal Kingdom . With the ability to customize their itinerary and explore multiple parks in one day, visitors can enjoy a seamless and magical experience at the renowned Walt Disney World Resort.

Park Hopper Plus

Park Hopper Plus Tickets offer an incredible opportunity for visitors to experience the magic of multiple theme parks in one day. With the Park Hopper option, guests can hop between the four main Disney parks – Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom – as they please. Additionally, the Plus option includes access to the water parks, golf courses, and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex.

This flexible ticket allows guests to customize their Disney experience and make the most out of their visit by exploring a variety of attractions and activities across the resort.

Early Bird Discounts

Riverboat on water near a dock

To take advantage of early bird discounts on Walt Disney World tickets, consider booking your tickets well in advance of your visit. Keep an eye out for special promotions and limited-time offers that can provide significant savings. Research reputable websites and travel agencies that offer discounted tickets and compare prices to ensure you are getting the best deal. Remember to book early, as these discounts may have limited availability.

Early booking benefits for Walt Disney World Tickets

Jungle Cruise attraction signage

When it comes to Walt Disney World tickets, booking early brings several benefits. By securing your tickets in advance, you can take advantage of early bird discounts, ensuring significant savings. Additionally, booking early allows you to secure your preferred dates and ticket options, avoiding potential sell-outs or limited availability. Plan ahead and enjoy the advantages of early booking for your Walt Disney World experience.

Tips for finding early bird discounts on Walt Disney World Tickets

Tickets fanned out in front of castle

To find early bird discounts on Walt Disney World tickets, consider the following tips:

  • Check the official website for promotions and special offers.
  • Sign up for newsletters or follow social media accounts for updates on discounts.
  • Look for authorized ticket resellers or travel agents offering discounted rates.
  • Consider visiting during off-peak times when ticket prices may be lower.
  • Keep an eye out for package deals that include tickets and accommodations for added savings.

Bundle Deals

Maximizing savings through bundle deals.

When it comes to maximizing savings on Walt Disney World tickets, bundle deals are a great option. By combining tickets with accommodations, you can enjoy additional value and discounts. Look for combo ticket options that allow you to experience multiple parks and attractions at a discounted price. Authorized ticket resellers and travel agents often offer these bundle deals. Take advantage of them to make the most of your visit and save money.

Annual Passes

Disney Vacation Club Annual Passes

Benefits of Walt Disney World annual passes

Annual passes offer a range of benefits, including unlimited park entry for a year, discounts on food, merchandise, and special events, discounted Genie+ , and complimentary parking. This pass is perfect for frequent visitors who want to make the most of their time at Walt Disney World and save money on tickets in the long run.

Choosing the right annual pass for your visit

When choosing the right annual pass for your visit, consider factors such as how often you plan to visit, the blackout dates, and the level of benefits you desire. Take into account your budget and prioritize the perks that are most important to you, such as free parking or discounts on dining and merchandise. Plan ahead and make an informed decision to maximize your savings and enjoyment at Walt Disney World.

Off-Peak Visits

TRON Lightcycle Run Sign at Night in Tomorrowland at Magic Kingdom in Walt Disney World

During off-peak times, visitors can enjoy several advantages at Walt Disney World, including shorter wait times for attractions and lower crowd levels. To save money on tickets, choose to visit during these less busy periods. Check the park’s official website for a calendar of peak and off-peak dates. Planning your trip accordingly can help you maximize your savings and minimize stress during your visit to the magical world of Disney.

Advantages of visiting Walt Disney World during off-peak times

During off-peak times at Walt Disney World, visitors can enjoy shorter wait times for attractions and lower crowd levels, allowing for a more relaxed and enjoyable experience. This means less time spent in line and more time experiencing the magic of the parks. Plan your visit during these times to make the most of your trip.

Saving money on tickets by choosing off-peak dates

To save money on Walt Disney World tickets, it’s crucial to choose off-peak dates for your visit. During these times, ticket prices tend to be lower, allowing you to enjoy the same magical experience at a discounted rate. By planning your visit during off-peak periods, you can maximize your savings and make the most of your budget.

Discount Websites

Space Mountain in Tomorrowland in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World

Top websites for scoring deals on Walt Disney World tickets

Utilizing discount websites is a smart way to save money on Walt Disney World tickets. These websites offer discounted prices and exclusive deals, allowing you to enjoy the magic of Disney at a lower cost. Some top websites for scoring deals on Walt Disney World tickets include Undercover Tourist , Boardwalk Ticketing , and Costco Travel . Be sure to check these websites regularly to take advantage of the best discounts available.

Oga's Cantina in Star Wars Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World

Overall, there are several insider tips for getting the best deals on Walt Disney World tickets. By taking advantage of early bird discounts, bundle deals, annual passes, and visiting during off-peak times, you can save money on your tickets. Additionally, utilizing discount websites such as Undercover Tourist and Official Ticket Center can help you score even better deals. Follow these strategies and enjoy a magical and budget-friendly visit to Walt Disney World.

Summary of insider tips for getting the best deals on Walt Disney World tickets

To summarize, there are several insider tips for getting the best deals on Walt Disney World tickets. Take advantage of early bird discounts, bundle deals, and annual passes. Visit during off-peak times and utilize discount websites like Undercover Tourist and Official Ticket Center. Follow these strategies for a budget-friendly visit to Walt Disney World.

Additional savings strategies and final recommendations

Haunted Mansion in Liberty Square in Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World

Additional savings strategies and final recommendations for getting the best deals on Walt Disney World tickets include using travel reward credit cards to earn points, considering multi-day tickets for added value, and keeping an eye out for special promotions and discounts. It’s also recommended to book accommodations at Disney Resort hotels for added convenience and benefits. Planning ahead and researching various ticket options can help maximize savings and make the most of a visit to Walt Disney World.

tourist cheap disney tickets

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How to Go to Disney World for Cheap

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Many, or all, of the products featured on this page are from our advertising partners who compensate us when you take certain actions on our website or click to take an action on their website. However, this does not influence our evaluations. Our opinions are our own. Here is a list of our partners and here's how we make money .

Ever tried to plan a trip to Walt Disney World? The sticker shock is real. Theme park tickets, meals, hotels and transportation all add up to a vacation cost that may take you years to save up for.

But it doesn’t have to. Here’s how to go to Disney World for cheap.

Flights to Disney World

Plenty of people choose to make a road trip out of their vacations, but if you’re a fair distance away from Orlando, Florida, you may be wondering: Is it cheaper to fly or drive to Disney World? The answer to that question varies, but if you’re committed to flying, there are certain approaches you can take to find cheap Disney World flights.

Remain flexible. Being flexible with your dates can save you hundreds of dollars per person, as can flying from a hub rather than a regional airport.

Travel in a group. If you’re flying as a family, consider paying for Frontier Airlines’ Discount Den program. Although it’s a paid membership, it entitles you and your companions to discounted tickets. More important, it also allows children to fly for free — with a Discount Den membership, one child under 15 can fly for free with each paid adult.

Spend strategically. For maximum savings, snag a travel rewards credit card and use the points to fly at deeply discounted rates. Round-trip flight costs vary, but you can fly off-peak on most domestic U.S. airlines for under 10,000 miles each way — and oftentimes even cheaper. This includes Southwest , Alaska , United , American and Delta .

» Learn more: The cheapest ways to fly to Disney World using points and miles

Disney World tickets

Even though it’s not really possible to find cheap Disney World tickets, there are still ways you can save money.

Discount sites. Websites like Undercover Tourist sell Disney tickets at a slight discount. For example, you can save about $30 per person on a four-day park hopper ticket.

Military discounts. Active-duty and retired service members are eligible for Disney’s military salute tickets , which can cost less than half the price of a general admission ticket.

You may also want to consider visiting during non-peak times. Disney World charges a variable rate for admission based on demand, which means that traveling during a low period can save you some money. For example, a weekday in September will cost you $174 for a one-day park hopper ticket. A weekday in December, meanwhile, can cost as much as $224 for that same one-day park hopper ticket. That’s a difference of $50 per person.

Finally, if you have a credit card that allows you to redeem your points for statement credits, you can do so to offset the cost of your park tickets. Many credit cards feature this ability to some degree, but you’ll want to check the value your card issuer will give you for your points — it isn’t always worth it.

» Learn more: The best way to buy Disney tickets

Disney World hotels

Orlando is rife with hotels. From modest motels to the Waldorf Astoria, you can find every type of accommodation in the Orlando area. This can work in your favor, as you can reliably find clean and cheap Disney World hotels for under $100 per night.

Seek out special rates. If you’re looking to maximize your time at Disney World, consider staying on the property. It can be difficult to find affordable Disney World resorts, even when you’re booking the cheapest properties, but there are some ways to save money. Look for a time when Disney is offering specials on its room rates. These happen often and can feature substantial savings.

Book with points. Of course, we can’t mention discounted Disney World resorts without talking about the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin — the only two hotels on Disney property for which you can redeem points. Located right near Disney’s Boardwalk and with close access to Epcot, you can book these hotels using your Marriott Bonvoy points at a rate of 40,000 points per night during off-peak times.

If you’re using Marriott Bonvoy points, stay for five nights and pay for four by taking advantage of Marriott’s fifth night free policy on award stays.

Other tips to book a cheap Disney World trip

Beyond points and miles, there are other tried-and-true ways to lessen the financial hit of a Disney World vacation.

Enjoy your character dining off the property: Many hotels around Disney World feature character meals, in which costumed Disney characters come by and greet your family. They often pose for photographs and sign autographs. Disney also offers character breakfasts at its parks and resorts — but they’re much more expensive. Save money by indulging in this luxury at your off-the-property hotel rather than at the parks.

Consider buying an annual pass: Although Disney has temporarily stopped selling its annual passes, when it does resume sales, consider purchasing one for a member of your family. Annual passholders are entitled to additional discounts on hotels, merchandise and food. Depending on how many people are in your party and how long you’re staying, purchasing a pass can actually save you more than you spend for the pass itself.

Look into free activities. Wander Disney Springs, walk along Disney's boardwalk or visit Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge to view exotic animals like giraffes and zebras. There are even more free things to do around Disney World, and thoughtfully scheduling these kinds of activities can help keep your expenses in check.

» Learn more: How to plan a trip to Walt Disney World

Make your Disney vacation affordable

A vacation to Disney World can be expensive, but planning your trip with points and miles can lower the price tag. Tickets can sometimes be purchased for a discount, and you can find flights and hotels that are eligible for award redemptions in your preferred travel loyalty program .

How to maximize your rewards

You want a travel credit card that prioritizes what’s important to you. Here are some of the best travel credit cards of 2024 :

Flexibility, point transfers and a large bonus: Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card

No annual fee: Wells Fargo Autograph℠ Card

Flat-rate travel rewards: Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card

Bonus travel rewards and high-end perks: Chase Sapphire Reserve®

Luxury perks: The Platinum Card® from American Express

Business travelers: Ink Business Preferred® Credit Card

Chase Sapphire Reserve Credit Card

on Chase's website

1x-10x Earn 5x total points on flights and 10x total points on hotels and car rentals when you purchase travel through Chase Travel℠ immediately after the first $300 is spent on travel purchases annually. Earn 3x points on other travel and dining & 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $900 toward travel when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Chase Sapphire Preferred Credit Card

1x-5x 5x on travel purchased through Chase Travel℠, 3x on dining, select streaming services and online groceries, 2x on all other travel purchases, 1x on all other purchases.

60,000 Earn 60,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That's $750 when you redeem through Chase Travel℠.

Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

1x-3x Earn 3X points on Southwest® purchases. Earn 2X points on local transit and commuting, including rideshare. Earn 2X points on internet, cable, and phone services, and select streaming. Earn 1X points on all other purchases.

50,000 Earn 50,000 bonus points after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening.

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Walt Disney World Discounted Tickets

Disclosure: This Disney World tickets page contains affiliate links. Read  full Disclosure Policy .

This is the Internet’s most comprehensive resource for cheap Disney World tickets. 

Most people will look at the Disney ticket price listed at Walt Disney World’s official website and assume that is the price. 

Here’s the good news about Disneyworld prices: 

If you follow this guide, you’ll discover that the question: “How much do Disneyworld tickets cost?” often has an answer that is surprisingly cheaper than what you’ll find from Disney World’s site… or if you buy tickets at the gate. 

Let’s take a look at how to get the absolute best Walt Disney World ticket price for your upcoming vacation.

Table of Contents

Disney world ticket price checker.

  • Types of Disneyworld Tickets

How to Save Money on Disney World Tickets

  • Where to Buy Discount Disney World Tickets

More Ways to Save Money on Disney World Tickets

Select your ticket type and number of days to see the lowest available price:

* Prices updated as of August 30, 2021

2 Day Disney World 1-Park Per Day

Note : Ticket prices change by the day. The prices shown here are for comparison purposes and specific to the date shown. For exact price on your desired exact date, click on the vendor’s link below and modify the date on the vendor’s site to see exact prices.

2 Day Disney World Park Hopper Per Day

3 day disney world 1-park per day, 3 day disney world park hopper per day, 4 day disney world 1-park per day, 4 day disney world park hopper per day, 5 day disney world 1-park per day, 5 day disney world park hopper per day, 6 day disney world 1-park per day, 6 day disney world park hopper per day, 7 day disney world 1-park per day, 7 day disney world park hopper per day, 8 day disney world 1-park per day, 8 day disney world park hopper per day, 9 day disney world 1-park per day, 9 day disney world park hopper per day, 10 day disney world 1-park per day, 10 day disney world park hopper per day, types of disney world tickets.

Park Hopper A Park Hopper ticket allows you to go back and forth between various Disney World parks on the same day. Non-Park Hopper or 1 Park Per Day Pick one park and enjoy it all day long.

For Disney World, I don’t often recommend getting the Park Hopper, as the parks are huge and quite far apart from each other. There is enough to do at any given park, that most families don’t need to move between parks on the same day.

Wait…Is it Even Possible to Get Discounted Disney World Tickets?

This might be a surprise to some. It was to me.

You CAN save money on Disney World tickets … if you know where to go and what to buy .

Here are three tips for saving money on Disney World tickets:

1. Go for More than Just One Day

There’s so much to see and do at Disney World parks that just one day doesn’t cut it.

Personally, I think that 5-6 days is about perfect, but that depends on your appetite for all things Disney, your budget, the age of your kids, and so on.

Five or six days gives you a chance to experience each park fully, the shows, parades, all of the attractions at both parks, all at a relaxed and reasonable pace. It also allows you to go back and enjoy your favorites from one or two of the parks with the bonus days.

Also, one day tickets are never discounted. The more days you stay, the more you save. No surprise there.

2. Always Compare Disney World Prices

Walt Disney World has a few authorized resellers who are able to offer discounted Disneyworld tickets at prices lower than you will find at the Disney website or gate.

Note: The one day tickets are never discounted.

However, you can save on ticket bundles of 2 to 5 days.

Since these authorized resellers are competing for your business, they often offer Disneyworld tickets at a lower price than the gate price.

Prices from these vendors can change regularly, so…

Always compare Walt Disney World ticket prices before purchasing. You can save a lot of money with a simple check.

To make price comparison easy, we have created the Disney World Ticket Price Checker above.

3. Only Buy Discounted Disney World Tickets from an Authorized Reseller

It was a wonderful day when I discovered you can buy tickets from authorized Disney World resellers .

I used to think I had no choice but to purchase Disney World tickets from Disney. Discovering an alternative that would help me to save money on tickets was exciting!

In this article, I will highlight two legit, authorized Disney ticket reseller with great customer service:

Get Away Today

Undercover tourist.

(You can read more about each of them below.)

Each has been in business for decades. You’re safe to purchase from them in confidence.

Tickets are Same as Buying from Disney

Tickets purchased from these vendors have the EXACT same benefits as those purchased at the Disney gate.

Avoid These Places when Buying Disney World Park Tickets

With so many people wanting to know how to save money on Disneyworld tickets, it’s no surprise that there are plenty of places trying to scam those people out of their money.

Avoid these places:

  • Any site that uses the word “Disney” in the URL (that isn’t clearly a Disney-owned site). Disney doesn’t allow its authorized ticket sellers to use their brand in their website URL.
  • Any broker selling 1-day tickets at a discount. Disney doesn’t allow this by its authorized sellers.
  • Anyone selling you partially used tickets. First of all, you can’t be sure if the pass will work until you arrive at the gate. Second, if the ticket does NOT work, Disney won’t help you because tickets are non-transferrable.
  • Craigslist and eBay. Scammers will try to sell you stolen or used tickets.
  • Any site requiring you to pay with any method other than credit card.

Where to Buy Discounted Disney World Tickets

Disney Parks has authorized each of the following companies to resell Disney World tickets.

Here’s what you need to know about each:

Company History

One of the certified ticket partners with Disney Parks, Get Away Today is an ideal ticket vendor for getting your Disney World tickets at a slightly discounted rate.

In business since 1990, Get Away Today has been planning Disney Parks trips for over thirty years.

tourist cheap disney tickets

They pride themselves on communication between their travel experts and guests, working to meet the needs of everyone in your party and addressing any issues that come up along the way.

Not only can you get Disney World tickets through Get Away Today, but you can book all the other aspects of your trip as well.

This is where the big savings comes in – Get Away Today can help you save hundreds with your accommodations, on or off Disney World property , including getting complimentary nights at some of the Good Neighbor hotels . 

How to buy Disney World tickets from Get Away Today

Dealing exclusively in Disney eTickets , Get Away Today allows you to buy your tickets through their website, and also shows you the potential discounts compared to the actual Disney World ticket price. 

Get Away Today offers discount Walt Disney World tickets.

Once you have purchased your ticket, you’ll receive your eTicket directly to the email you provided.

You can then print the ticket, scan them into the Disney World app, or just open the email – the same way you would with a ticket purchased directly from Walt Disney World. 

Screenshot of buying discounted Disneyworld tickets on the Get Away Today app

Starting their company in 2000, the “Frog Family” of Undercover Tourist has worked to bring magic to family vacations.

In conjunction with their blog giving all the best tips and tricks, travelers can also purchase authentic park tickets, book hotels, and find their rental cars through Undercover Tourist.

With the personal touch of dealing directly with a small business, their customer service helps to make your vacation magical from the beginning.

Undercover Tourist is consistently highly ranked with the Better Business Bureau.

How to buy discounted Disneyworld tickets from Undercover Tourist

It is easy to get your tickets – just purchase them online through the Undercover Tourist site and the eTicket comes straight to your email.

Undercover Tourist shows you all the taxes and fees up front, and you have your tickets the same day since they are digital tickets.

You do not need to exchange the ticket at the gate, simply scan and go!

You can also pair these tickets with your other plans in the Disney World app. Undercover Tourist also shows you the exact savings amount compared to the Disneyworld price.

Screenshot of Undercover Tourist site

Undercover Tourist also shows guests the exact steps needed to check park availability for Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios, as park reservations are still required for entry.

It is important to check if there are still reservations available before purchasing the ticket, to ensure that you will be able to use the ticket on the day you wish to enter the park.

4 Easy Steps to Obtain Your Park Pass Reservation from Undercover Tourist

Military Discount Tickets

If you are a member of a branch of the United States military, there are often special discounts available to you.

For the most current information, my friend Steve from Military Disney Tips is an expert on all military discounted Disney World tickets . Check out his resources there!

guest

2024 Disney Park Tickets Tips & Tricks

tourist cheap disney tickets

Our 2024 ticket buying guide covers how to save money on park admission at Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and other theme parks. This covers info & tips on the best deals & time-saving add-ons for Florida, California, Paris, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Hong Kong–every park in the world! ( Updated January 17, 2024. )

The first thing you need to know is that Disney typically raises ticket prices each year in February. This usually impacts a variety of park ticket durations, with off-season ticket prices usually not increasing much (or at all) to keep base prices the same (and thus conceal the increase). For example, the lowest price dates at Animal Kingdom have not increased at all since 2018–but all other parks at Walt Disney World have increased significantly, especially during peak season.

Multi-day prices and popular dates (e.g. Spring Break, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s) typically increase by much larger amounts. Unfortunately, with the date-based system, it’s easier to obfuscate the increases. The good news here is that the 2024 ticket price increase has not occurred at Walt Disney World or Disneyland. At least, not yet .

The bad news is that ticket prices at Walt Disney World did not increase at all last year, meaning that it’s highly likely–almost a sure thing–that there will be significant increases in February 2024. Accordingly, we’d recommend buying now from Get Away Today to lock-in current savings, beating the next price increase and get the lowest rates.If you’re looking for the short and sweet version of that post, that’s it–buy now from an authorized discount ticket seller to save up to $75 per ticket!

Disneyland is a slightly different story, as ticket prices increased there in October of last year. Sometimes, tickets increase in both October and February, and that may be the case this year as the California parks have continued to experience pent-up demand. However, with nothing new on the horizon in 2024 and signs of ‘revenge travel’ exhausting itself, our expectation is that Disneyland probably won’t raise rates in February 2024. We’d put the chances of it at under 50/50, whereas Walt Disney World is above 90%.

tourist cheap disney tickets

In this post, we cover other ways to score legitimate discounts on Disney Parks tickets. We cannot stress the “legitimate” part of the above enough. There’s a plague of fake and unauthorized tickets being sold for the parks. Roadside stands, eBay, Craigslist, shady websites, etc–there are many Disney ticket scams to which budget-conscious guests fall prey. Worse yet, if you innocently purchase invalid tickets from a scam, you’re going to pay twice, because Disney isn’t going to accept the fake tickets.

Suffice to say, if a ticket deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. While it is possible to save money on Disney tickets, most savings are of around $5 to $50 per ticket, with the biggest savings being on multi-day tickets for 5 days or more. (Sometimes, 10-day tickets are discounted by $80 or more.) However, you will never find legitimate, half-price tickets.

Tickets are often one of–if not the–most expensive aspects of any Disney vacation, so we understand the desire to save as much money as possible. However, you have to be smart about it. Spending money on a shady but “great deal” that turns out to be a scam will cost you more in the long run. Our Disney ticket tips & tricks cover only the best, legitimate ways to save money on Disney tickets, and authorized sellers from which to buy those tickets.

With that out of the way, let’s start by discussing the options for discount Walt Disney World tickets…

Walt Disney World

tourist cheap disney tickets

Walt Disney World has myriad ticket choices that enable you to buy exactly what you need and nothing more or less. It’s a complicated, date-based system that can be difficult for a first-time Walt Disney World guest. Disney representatives often only make matters worse, as they upsell or subtly “encourage” guests into buying the more expensive tickets.

To underscore just how much you can save by knowing which type of tickets to buy and from which authorized discount ticket brokers to buy them, Get Away Today currently has select multi-day Walt Disney World park tickets discounted by up to $75 off! This will save you a lot of money over buying park tickets directly from Disney. Use code DTB23 at checkout for even bigger savings.

Another excellent ticket seller we recommend is  Undercover Tourist . These two typically compete with each other on prices, and are usually within a few dollars of one another. Which is better often depends upon the ticket type and when you’re searching. Both sellers offer huge savings on 10-day tickets with all the add-ons, but that’s an extreme example–more common savings are around $35 to $40 for multi-day base tickets.

tourist cheap disney tickets

You can order tickets for use now through December 31, 2024, and you will receive confirmation codes via email for My Disney Experience. In our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post, we discuss which add-ons you should and should not get, how many days you might want tickets, and also compare prices among the four reputable Orlando discount ticket brokers.

Simply knowing about the different options so you don’t purchase unnecessary add-ons and buying from the discount sellers with the best price on particular tickets can save you a lot of money, and significantly cut down on the cost of your park tickets. It’s pretty easy to do, especially since many guests (especially those families with small children) don’t truly need Park Hopper or other add-ons.

tourist cheap disney tickets

Disneyland Resort park tickets are slightly more straightforward. Since there aren’t water parks and only two parks–Disney California Adventure and Disneyland–it’s a pretty simple process. It’s basically a question of whether or not to get the Park Hopper option, and how many days to stay in the first place. (There are also various ticket tiers with different pricing, which effectively means you’ll select dates for visiting when buying the tickets.)

AAA, Safeway, Costco, and a handful of other SoCal retailers have small discounts of a couple dollars per ticket in store from time to time, but those savings are usually smaller. Additionally, there is a Southern California resident special on tickets from now through June 2, 2024. If you’re not a Southern California local (with ID to prove it), your best option is purchasing online via authorized discounted sellers.

The best deals for buying Disneyland tickets safely and securely via Get Away Today , which is an authorized seller of Disneyland tickets with the best prices and customer service that we’ve found. They have tickets that are valid for admission from now until December 31, 2025.

One thing to note here is that Disneyland tickets are available through the end of 2025, not just 2024. Although we’re uncertain that a price increase will happen this February, we’re pretty confident one will happen in February or October 2024, and there’s a 99.99% or higher chance that Disneyland will raise prices before December 31, 2025. Buying now locks in current prices, and could mean avoiding between one and three price increases! If you already know how many days worth of tickets you need and are looking for the best price, that’s all you need to know.

If you need more assistance with determining how many days to buy tickets, if you should get the Park Hopper option, and whether a Magic Key might actually make sense, check out our Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets post.

Tokyo Disney Resort

tourist cheap disney tickets

Your options are pretty limited when it comes to tickets for Tokyo Disneyland and DisneySea, but the good news is that park tickets there are significantly cheaper than for the US Disney Parks. The Japanese parks most definitely are locals’ parks, so the pricing strategy there is to charge a premium for Annual Passes and less for one to four day tickets.

Not only are the single and multi-day ticket prices lower, but for Americans, the dollar-to-yen exchange rate is excellent right now, making park tickets for us a relative steal. Of course, you still have to pay for airfare to get there in the first place. Read our Money-Saving Tips for Tokyo Disneyland Park Tickets post for our full recommendations on buying the best tickets–and at the best prices–for Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea!

Although not at a discount, you can purchase Tokyo Disneyland & DisneySea park tickets in advance from Klook . This is what we  strongly recommend  doing because the official TDR website has issues with foreign credit cards. (Some work, most don’t. If you run into a problem, it’s them–not you!)

Unfortunately, these are the exact same price as buying directly from Tokyo Disney Resort. However, the big difference–and huge advantage–is that you can actually buy them with a U.S. credit card and purchase them before you arrive. While buying tickets upon arrival is an option (physical credit cards  do  work once you’re on the ground in Japan), that’s only if tickets don’t totally sell out. Not worth the gamble when flying halfway around the world, in our estimation.

Hong Kong Disneyland

tourist cheap disney tickets

Hong Kong Disneyland has by far the easiest ticket system. There are 1-day and 2-day park tickets (no Park Hopper since there’s only one park), and three tiers of Annual Passes: Silver (valid for 250 days per year), Gold (valid for 340 days per year), and Platinum (valid for 365 days per year). Each of these passes also offers discounts on food, merchandise, and hotels. The break even point on the Silver is 3 days, with the other passes having varying break even points of ~6-10 days based upon whether you’d buy 1 or 2 day tickets.

About the only way to save on single day Hong Kong Disneyland tickets of which I’m aware is to buy from Klook, which will save you about $8 per ticket , and will allow you to instantly print your ticket. You can also use the coupon to purchase a discounted meal voucher for Hong Kong Disneyland .

Disneyland Paris

tourist cheap disney tickets

It used to be the case that Disneyland Paris Annual Passes were a bargain, and we recommended those over regular tickets to anyone spending at least 3 days in the park. Despite living in the United States, we were Disneyland Paris APs for several years. That has changed in the last couple of years due to massive price increases.

Disneyland Paris has also adopted surge pricing on regular tickets, meaning that single day ticket prices vary based upon anticipated attendance. This makes things a bit more complex, since there are three tiers of normal single day tickets now: Mini, Magic, and Super Magic.

Note that only the single day tickets are subject to the tiered pricing. If you purchase a multi-day ticket, the tiers are irrelevant. However, even if you are going for multiple days, you should look at the tiered pricing calendar, as 2 Mini tickets (if you’re going during a slow season) is actually a cheaper option than one 2-day ticket. Zut alores, très compliqué!

For multi-day tickets, there are also some money-saving options available, particularly for Europeans. Americans might have a more difficult time scoring deals, but we cover all the ways to save in our Disneyland Paris Park Ticket Tips & Info post.

Shanghai Disneyland

tourist cheap disney tickets

The good news is that park tickets for Shanghai Disneyland are inexpensive as compared to the US parks, especially during their low seasons (they also have surge pricing); the bad news is that prices have already increased and upcharges have been introduced since Shanghai Disneyland opened two years ago.

Fortunately, there are now discounted 1-2 day tickets available via Klook . Depending upon the ticket season, you’re looking at a savings of around $5-10 per ticket. Not huge savings, but considering that tickets are in the $65-75 range, that’s not bad–and it all adds up.

Regardless of how you purchase your Shanghai Disneyland park tickets, we recommend getting digital tickets. Once you have them, take a screenshot of the ticket (for safety in case the internet is down) as well. Make sure to bring your passport in case the Cast Member requests to check your ID (you should always have your passport on your person when traveling internationally).

Shanghai Disneyland also offers “Disney Premier Access” which is a paid, digital FastPass service for its most popular attractions. If you only have 1-day in Shanghai Disneyland and don’t arrive at rope drop, this can be a good, time-saving purchase. If you do rope drop, stay late, or have multiple days in the park, we view this as unnecessary.

Planning a visit to one of the Disney theme parks? Check out our Disney Parks Trip Planning Guides for everything you need to start planning a trip to Walt Disney World, Disneyland Resort, Disneyland Paris, Tokyo Disney Resort, Hong Kong Disneyland, and Aulani in Hawaii.

Your Thoughts

As for tickets, what are your preferred type of tickets to get? Do you purchase optional add-ons, like Park Hopper or MaxPass? Do you have an Annual Pass? Any tips or tricks of your own to add? Any questions? Hearing feedback about your experiences is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!

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Written by Tom Bricker

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Do you know when will the park tickets go on sale for December 2025?

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Is there a reason those authorized ticket resellers are charging more than the 6.5% sales tax rate on tickets for Orlando, FL?

The advertised ticket price is less than Disney, but the “taxes” are 1.5x as much even though they say they follow the sales tax rates for the county where the tickets will be used. It ends up making the total cost higher than Disney. Just wondering if they’re allowed to charge an additional 3% in tax if it’s not required by the state, or if there’s some other tax they’re collecting.

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I just purchased tickets through Get Away Today and found out they were $24 more expensive for 2 day tickets for four adults than buying directly through Disney. I should have checked the prices at Disney before I purchased from Get Away Today. Buyer Beware!

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Did you go all the way thru on the Disney website? I thought they were cheaper on Disney when I compared, but had to go to the checkout for the taxes to be added and then they ended up be more expensive than Get Away Today (which was about the same price as Undercover Tourist for 3 day park hoppers).

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Hi Tom! Quick question… I know we don’t have a crystal ball. But given the recent roll out of reduced park ticket prices, do you think it would be wise to wait on purchasing park tickets for June of 2025? I know we run the risk that prices go up in February of 2025. I’m leaning toward waiting. Thanks!

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Hi, Does Disney ever offer ticket specials for December? Something like the the current 3 day special that runs til September 2024?

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Hey Tom, nice post here. What do you recommend now for obtaining the best value on tickets to Disneyland Paris ? Considering the recent changes in pricing structure, particularly about the surge pricing on single-day tickets. With the impact on the affordability and benefits of Annual Passes, it is getting complicated! ‘Good day

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Thanks a lot, you always provide a helpful information.

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How can this be? Get away now tickets for two days are half the price than tickets directly from WDW. In fact, the price is less than the price of buying tickets for one day at MK. This can’t be real lol. I’m a bit hesitant to buy because of the price.

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Are you sure you’re looking at the correct tickets? Get Away Today has good prices and discounts—especially on longer duration tickets, but nothing THAT good.

(Your instinct to second guess anything that sounds too good to be true is right, at least!)

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I recently moved to Florida and am looking to book an 8th birthday trip for my daughter in Jan 2024. Do you have a guesstimate about when and if there will be Florida Resident ticket deals ?

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I have the same question regarding possible release dates of Florida resident tickets in January!

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Hi Tom, I followed your hyperlink to getaway travel for Walt Disney world tickets and tried to use your promo code. It was not take as valid. Can you check on this and offer a valid code? We are needing to buy our tickets very soon for April 2023 trip. Thanks Bell

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Hi Tom Do you or anyone have any details of wheelchair accessible transport? Myself and 6 others are staying at Art of Animation April 23rd to May 9th We would like a day trip to Seaworld for my young grandson Virgin Holidays have quoted us $33 per person each way $462 in total I was also told we had to have 2 taxis as the wheelchair accessible one coud only take a maximum 4 people. Any help would be awesome

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We have four adult tickets to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party on Tuesday, October 25. We would like to switch to Sunday, October 23. Does anyone want to switch with us?

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Hello Tom, thank you for this fantastically informative website! I’m going to be in Florida for work in early September (I live in the UK) and I have one free day in Orlando so I was thinking of going to WDW. Did you know that Disney has forbidden the sale of day tickets to UK residents? You must purchase a minimum of 7 days – and it’s two days minimum for other European countries. I find this a poor business practice and frankly borderline discriminatory. Any thoughts on that? Thanks!

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When will tickets for Mickeys Halloween party 2022 be available for purchase? Also where do I purchase them? Thank you

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Hello, I have an expert question I need help with! I have rented DVC points and booked an upcoming stay for the Boardwalk to try a premium location at an affordable rate. Now, if I buy tickets through an authorized reseller like Get Away Today, will we have the same perks as if we booked a stay and bought our tickets directly from the Disney World site, or do we lose those benefits? Trying to decide if I need to purchase tickets at face value from Disney’s site, or if I can save some and still enjoy the benefits of an authorized reseller. THANKS!

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Hello so I am 51 years old and decided that I wanted to take disney off my bucket list of things to do and I read you blog and my my continues to spin and go into over load. But I do have 1 question I keep hearing how disney doesn’t really cater to the guests anymore…so are there any perks for someone who is going for the 1st time I have heard in the past that disney gives first timers some special perks and my travel agent has informed my resort we are first time goers do you know of any special perks or savings ??

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First timer! :o) You’re in for a fun adventure.

You can stop by Guest Services or possibly your onsite lobby to let them know it’s your first visit. Likely they’ll give you a personalized 1st visit pin. That’s about all you can expect for sure. The idea is that other Cast Members may see it and join in the fun. Maybe they Pixie Dust you and give you a few cake pops at Starbucks like they did on my Birthday. Maybe you ask a question when exiting Spaceship Earth and the CM asks if you’d like to ride again. Sometimes people get a free dessert after dinner when wearing a special occasion pin.

There are no specific perks and pixie dust is never guaranteed. You may get several but possibly none. Usually you’ll at least get a shout out or high five in passing. The reality is every months over a million visitors pass through WDW and many are celebrating something.

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Hi Tom! Last Year, we purchased tickets through Get Away Today as you recommended. I remember using a coupon code that you published in this post which made GAT the cheapest option, but now I can’t find it! Am I crazy? Do you have a coupon code for Get Away Today? And thank you for all your tips, tricks and in depth analysis. All the info in your posts made our trip to Disney World absolutely magical!! THANK YOU!!!

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I want to follow this blog by email

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I live in Florida and haven’t been to Disney in 5 years. Because of Covid and all the new regulations Disney has made, it is not appealing to go. I have been going to other parks in the area that are less stress free. Last time I was at Disney there was construction walls and I said I would not go back until some of those walls was gone. I felt I was paying to see construction. The new prices for Florida residents, that just came on, is a great deal for people that can take off work, since the tickets are only good for Monday through Friday. It doesn’t sound like Covid is going away anytime soon, and Disney will continue to not be like it used to be. The increases in food and etc., is understandable and people shouldn’t complain, because we are having to pay more everything, and they cannot expect Disney to be any different. I don’t mind paying more if I am getting what I pay for. I just don’t like all the changes they have made.

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The Park Prodigy

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I change or modify my reservation?

tourist cheap disney tickets

How to Get Disney World Tickets Cheap?

magic-kingdom-in-september-cheapest-time

This article is the complete guide on how to get cheap Walt Disney World tickets!  This is one of my favorite topics to write about, as I have helped thousands of families pick out the best Disney World tickets for their trip while working as a vacation planner at the Magic Kingdom Park in Disney World. During that time, I have picked up some tips and tricks on how to get the cheapest Disney World tickets, including timing your purchase, understanding the usage window, bundling your water park tickets, and so much more!

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re looking for the best time to visit Disney World, check out our Disney Crowd calendar!

 Disney World Crowd Calendar

How To Get the Cheapest Disney World Tickets

best-time-to-visit-disney-world-least-crowded

Let’s start this guide with the most popular question: how do you get the best deal on Disney World tickets? As a general rule of thumb, buying park tickets in advance is the easiest way to get the cheapest Disney World tickets. This is the easiest tip and trick because it will help you save money even if you decide to buy your tickets directly from Disney and not from a travel agent who can help save you money like The Park Prodigy. Guests will save money by buying their tickets online in advance vs the park gate. The other reason why we love this tip is because it’s also true that one-day tickets are rarely discounted, which you will see later in this post.

Outside of buying your park tickets in advance, the most important thing that I found during my time selling tickets at Magic Kingdom Park as a Disney World cast member was asking yourself the right questions to make sure that you are purchasing the best-fit ticket for your family. Listening to the experts or seeing what your friends and family purchased can be so easy; however, that might not always fit your family’s goals for your trip. So I always suggest starting with these simple questions when shopping for discount Disney World tickets : which Walt Disney World theme parks should I visit? Do I want to visit more than one Disney theme park per day? And do I want to see any of the Disney World water parks? It’s also important to remember that Walt Disney World can be overwhelming, and it might be difficult to do it all in one trip. Be realistic about your goals and remember, no matter what, to have fun! You’re in Walt Disney World!

How to get cheap Disney World tickets?

  • Spend time researching the right fit Disney World tickets
  • Purchase your Disney tickets ahead of time
  • Understand how to use one-day ticket prices to your advantage
  • Plan around peak season
  • When in doubt, buy the cheaper day
  • Start with the Disney World base ticket
  • Bundle your hotel and tickets together
  • Use your validity window on multi-day Disney tickets
  • Pay for your tickets with discount Disney gift cards
  • Take your kids before they turn three
  • Get a park hopper plus if you want to visit a water park
  • Consider buying your discount tickets from The Park Prodigy

Related Post: Best Time to Visit Disney World

Spend Time Researching the Right Fit Disney World Ticket

disney-world-ticket-for-admission-to-disney-theme-park

As discussed above, one of the best ways to make sure you get the best deals on Disney World tickets is by doing research and making sure you’re buying the best fit Disney World ticket. From my experience, selling tickets to thousands of families I have found that not purchasing a ticket option that you don’t need is one of the easiest ways to save money. This is especially true when it comes to Disney World, where they sell the Disney park hopper , park hopper plus, and water park and more tickets. An additional benefit to researching the best-fit ticket for your Disney World vacation is it will also save you time once you get down to Orlando, as you won’t have to stop by one of the ticket booths to figure out what tickets you really need.

What are the Disney World ticket options?

  • Disney World: Base Tickets Disney World: Park Hopper Tickets
  • Disney World: Park Hopper Plus Tickets
  • Disney World: Water Park and Sports Tickets

Related Page: Guide to Disney World Park Hopper Tickets 

Purchase Your Disney Tickets Ahead of Time

disney-world-travel-agents

One of the most popular questions we receive is, are Disney World tickets cheaper at the gate? And Disney tickets are always more expensive when buying them at the park vs. buying discount Disney tickets online. In fact, one of the easiest ways for us to show you how to get cheap Disney World tickets is to help you shop for discount Disney tickets in advance. Not only will this automatically save you up to $21.00 per person vs. the ticket prices at the park gates, but it also allows you to research and select the best-fit ticket for your family as discussed above. Overall, we find the benefits of being prepared, and looking for the best Disney World ticket deals going into your Disney World vacation will not only save you money but time as well as you won’t have to waste time standing at the ticket booths the morning of your first visit.

How Far In Advance Should I Buy My Disney World Tickets?

Based on our experience, we typically don’t see the benefit of waiting to purchase your Disney World tickets, as regular admission tickets rarely come down in price and almost always go up as time goes on. The only exception to this rule would be if Disney releases a Disney World ticket deal or if you are shopping around specific days when companies such as The Park Prodigy would be more likely to run deals such as Black Friday . It’s important to note that if Disney does release a ticket deal, it’s more than likely to have restrictions on how the tickets can be used or which parks guests can visit, so if you’re looking for the ultimate flexibility, we don’t see the advantage to trying to time your ticket purchase.

Related Post: Magic Kingdom in One Day

No Discounts on One or Two Day Tickets

tourist cheap disney tickets

Another one of the most common questions we receive is, how can I get a discount on a one or two-day Disney World ticket? In our opinion, the only way to save money when buying a one- or two-day Disney World ticket is to buy your tickets online in advance. Outside of that, these two options are always the most popular ticket option when guests visit Walt Disney World and for that reason, Disney has no incentive to discount these tickets. I would also say that this is especially true for guests looking to purchase a one-day Disney World ticket to the Magic Kingdom park, as this was by far the most popular ticket that I sold when I worked for Disney. It’s also obvious based on the new tier and date-based single-day pricing structure that Disney World recently released, which we will cover next. It’s important to note that guests can always use our Disney World crowd calendar to try to figure out the cheapest single-day tickets, even if purchasing directly from Disney.

Understand How to Use One Day Ticket Prices to Your Advantage

Disney recently changed the way one-day tickets to Disney World are sold, by it adapting date-based pricing based on the specific theme park you plan to visit. This means that 1-day tickets to the Magic Kingdom will be the most expensive, with tickets to EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom being less expensive. Because of this, guests might find that they could receive a better Disney World ticket deal on their day at Magic Kingdom by upgrading to a discount 2-day ticket, which could be used at any of the four Disney theme parks.

Related Post: What is the Best Age for Disney World? 

Plan Buying Your Disney World Tickets Around Peak Season

what-is-the-genie

If you’re visiting for a few days, another tip to ensure you know how to get cheap Disney World tickets is to visit during off-peak season which will typically be January, February, the end of August and all of September. Using our Disney World Crowd Calendar   can not only save you time in the parks, but it can help you get the best price Disney World tickets.  We’ll help you plan your vacation around the least crowded days, which will also be the cheapest Disney World tickets. The reason is Disney ticket prices now fluctuate based on the date. So, one of the easiest ways to figure out how to get Disney World tickets for cheap is to pay attention to which dates are projected to have the lowest crowds.  

What Is The Cheapest Month To Go To Disney World?

As a general rule of thumb, the cheapest month to buy Disney World tickets will always be in September. We find that Disney World tickets will always be the cheapest the two weeks right after Labor Day, mainly because this is when kids throughout the U.S. have all gone back to school after summer break.

Related Post: What is the Best Age for Disney World?

When in Doubt, Buy the Cheaper Day or Base Ticket

tourist cheap disney tickets

As a general rule of thumb, the Disney World base ticket will always have the  best prices for Disney World tickets. So, if you’re unsure if the park hopper is the right fit for you, we would suggest starting with the base ticket, as you can always upgrade before your trip or once you are in Disney. Guests also do not have to make a theme park reservation for the park they plan to park hop over to so there isn’t much of a benefit to buying this benefit if you’re unsure if you will use it.

This is also the same thing regarding the price per day calendar. It’s important to note that Disney will not refund you if you purchased theme park tickets for an expensive day and then decided to use them during a less expensive period. If you feel you might cancel your trip, purchase a Walt Disney World vacation package instead of Walt Disney World tickets for 2024. This will allow you to cancel the package (hotel & tickets) until the cancellation deadline at no cost. Disney will charge you for the difference if you purchase the least expensive ticket and use it during one of the costly days.

Related Post: Is the Disney Dining Plan Worth It? 

Use Your Validity Window on Multi-day Disney Tickets

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The new Disney World ticketing system also allows guests to take advantage of cheaper Disney World tickets based on the specific week and days they might visit. All multi-day Disney World tickets have expiration windows of 2-10 days from the selected start date. However, you do not have to use your first day in the parks on the first day of your start window. The most important thing to consider is when you will use your actual admission days to the parks. 

So, if you’re trying to decide how many days to spend and Disney World and you decide to visit for three days on a Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday, you have flexibility on your start date. If tickets starting on that Sunday are cheaper, you can purchase those tickets. The most important thing is to ensure you use up all your days within the validity window. Overall, this is one of the most helpful tips we have picked up when figuring out how to get cheap Disney World tickets.

Related Page: Best Day to Visit Each Disney World Park 

Bundle Your Hotel and Tickets Together

tourist cheap disney tickets

Another popular question we receive when guests are looking for the cheapest Disney World tickets is, is it cheaper to book a Disney World package? As a general rule of thumb, you will not automatically get a discount when booking a Disney World vacation package. However, Disney is more likely to run Disney World deals and promotions on Disney World packages when compared to Disney World ticket-only reservations. Many times these deals might be 25-30% off your total hotel room stay or free Disney dining , which is now back as of 2024 and has been an extremely popular promotion in years past. 

Another benefit of booking a Disney World vacation package for many families is that guests can book their package for as little as $200 down when booking more than 30 days in advance. And although this isn’t necessarily a direct savings, it does allow guests to come up with a payment plan and pay their Disney World hotel and tickets off over time, making the trip more feasible than paying for your tickets all at once.

Related Post: Best Disney World Resort Pools

Pay For Your Tickets With Discount Disney Gift Cards

Which Disney Resort Is Most Expensive

Another very popular trick that people use when trying to figure out how to get the cheapest Disney World tickets is to purchase your tickets using Disney gift cards. This is specifically true for guests who can purchase discounted Disney gift cards from one of the large box retailers such as Costco or Sam’s Club. We have seen families purchase their Disney gift cards for a 5-10% discount and then use those gift cards to purchase their Disney World tickets directly from the Disney website or from a travel agency like The Park Prodigy. 

Now it’s important to note that although this will save you money when buying your Disney World tickets, it will be more steps, especially if you have multiple people in your family and you will be purchasing multiple tickets. The reason is Disney gift cards are only sold for up to $1,000 in value, and you can only enter one Disney gift card per transaction online or two over the phone. So for this reason, many times, families will have to use multiple Disney gift cards and place multiple orders for their Disney World tickets.

Related Post: Best Way to Plan a Disney World Trip

Take Your Kids Before They Turn Three

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Another popular tip and trick when saving money on your Disney World vacation is taking your kids before they turn three. The main reason is that all children under three will get into Walt Disney World for free. This is true regarding regular Walt Disney World tickets and any Disney special event tickets or after-hour events. So this could be a great tip and trick for families who might not live that far away from the theme parks but have not wanted to spend the extra money on Disney World tickets with their children being so young.

Related Post: EPCOT for Kids

Get The Park Hopper Plus If You Want To Visit A Water Park

tourist cheap disney tickets

This tip and trick is another simple one; however, it can be a great way to save money when buying Disney World tickets , and that is always consider upgrading to the Water Park and More or Park Hopper Plus ticket if you plan to visit one or more of the Disney water parks. A one-day water park ticket is around $75.00 per person. However, guests can upgrade to the water park or more options for right around the same price, depending on the ticket length. However, the benefit of upgrading to the water park or more options is that you will get multiple admissions to the water parks for this price. So this can be a great option for families visiting in the warmer months and prefer spending their spare time at the water parks vs. their hotel pool.

Related Post: Blizzard Beach vs. Typhoon Lagoon

Consider Buying Your Discount Tickets From The Park Prodigy

Our goal at The Park Prodigy has always been to be the best place to buy Disney tickets online. We always go above and beyond to ensure you have the most amazing Disney vacation possible with our added benefits, such as Free Disney park plans! Plus, you are guaranteed to save with our discount Disney World tickets vs. booking directly with Disney! 

Are You Ready to Plan Your Next Disney World Trip?

Planning a family vacation to Walt Disney World? Let our Disney travel experts plan a hassle-free vacation for you with a no-obligation quote,  or call us at 321-966-4300. Every family who books their Disney World vacation package through The Park Prodigy will receive a dedicated planner who manages every Disney vacation aspect. This includes help with Disney dining reservations, navigating the Disney Genie+ system, personalized park plans based on your children’s ages and height restrictions, and price monitoring to ensure you always get the best deal! Let our team of travel experts take all of the pressure off of planning your next Disney World vacation!

Disney World Deals and Discounts

Don’t forget to join our Disney community to learn about any additional deals and promotions on discounted Disney World tickets. All community members are always guaranteed to save vs. buying their tickets directly. Plus, you can opt into our concierge service, which includes custom Disney park plans to save up to three hours each day, dining recommendations, and price monitoring to ensure you always get the best Disney World deal!

Who We Recommend

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Ticket Subtotal: $325.45

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* Your magic rewards program points are automatically calculated into all theme park ticket prices!

tourist cheap disney tickets

Michael Belmont

Michael Belmont is the owner at Theparkprodigy.com, an authorized Disney and Universal travel agency which has won the award for the fastest growing online travel agency by Travel Quest Network. He specializes in Disney and Universal theme park tickets and vacation packages, as well as daily park plans to help optimize vacation time. Michael and The Park Prodigy have been featured on ABC’s Florida affiliate, WTFV, as well as over 10 Disney focused blogs. As owner, Michael manages The Park Prodigy blog and social media, a Disney themed podcast, and a Disney and Universal focused YouTube channel. Prior to starting The Park Prodigy, Michael was a long time Disney and Universal enthusiast, frequent visitor of the parks, and even served as a Walt Disney World Cast Member in Orlando, Florida!

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Is a Disney Theme Park Vacation Still Worth the Price?

As Disney has raised the cost of tickets and hotel rooms at its theme parks, and added pricey, difficult-to-navigate tools, even its most loyal fans are asking themselves if they should rethink their vacations.

In an illustration, dollars with a silhouette of Mickey Mouse in the center float through the air in front of a roller coaster with a car shaped like a dog and in the background the familiar Disney castle.

By Tariro Mzezewa

Earlier this year, Jake Williams, a filmmaker and content creator in Toronto, made his long-awaited return to one of his favorite places on earth: Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fla. After traveling to Disney World and Disneyland multiple times a year since childhood and becoming an annual pass holder as an adult, Mr. Williams hadn’t been to a Disney park since 2019.

“As someone who went all the time, it’s crazy to me that I hadn’t gone to a Disney park in that long,” he said in a phone interview. “It’s a special place. ”

Before his trip, Mr. Williams heard about some changes at Disney World, but he didn’t anticipate how different things would be, starting at the airport. Since his last visit, the company had gotten rid of the Magical Express, a free bus that for more than 15 years shuttled people from Orlando International Airport to their Disney resorts. Guests must now take a shuttle that costs between $23 and $30 per adult each way, depending on the time of year, use a ride share service or rent a car.

To Disney-goers, the end of the Magical Express speaks to a larger issue: The cost of being at the happiest place on earth is going up while the perks are going away. As the company has raised the price of tickets and hotel rooms, and added costly, difficult-to-navigate tools to book rides as replacements for previously free products, even its most loyal fans are asking themselves if it’s still worth it.

Mr. Williams said that a day in the Orlando parks and a one-night stay at Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside Resort cost a “jaw-dropping” $886.34 for two adults. He decided to calculate how much the same trip cost in 2017 — a year when he visited the park several times. The cost: $567.90. Even accounting for inflation, he was stunned.

“It’s hard to justify going to Orlando rather than, like, Iceland,” he said. “When you have a budget like this, you can go a lot of places and see and do a lot of things. You could even do a Disney cruise for less than that.”

Epcot’s Italy, or Italy?

He’s not alone. Len Testa, president of Touring Plans , a site that helps travelers organize Disney trips, and a co-author of “The Unofficial Guides to Walt Disney World and Disneyland,” said that he increasingly hears from Disney lovers who are now planning other types of vacations.

“At some point a Disney vacation starts competing with ‘Let’s go see Europe’ and I think that’s what a lot of people are doing,” Mr. Testa said. “I’ve had a number of people in the last few years say, ‘We priced it out and we could take our children to eat pizza in the Italy pavilion in Epcot or for the same money we could actually go to Italy for two weeks. We’re going to go to Italy for two weeks.’”

For Mr. Testa, collecting data about Disney is a passion. In the late ’90s, as a graduate student in computer science he decided he wanted to build a computer program that could help people navigate Disney World as efficiently as possible. That research continued through his Ph.D and the program he created turned into Touring Plans. His team of developers and data scientists model what’s going on at Walt Disney World on a minute-by-minute basis every day. The data they’ve collected in recent years shows that the cost of a Disney World trip, on average, has gone up almost 25 percent since 2019. Seventy percent of that increase is for services that used to be free.

The prices of parking and entry tickets have consistently risen in recent years. In 2022 ticket prices went up two times. In 2023 annual passes saw a $30 to $50 increase, depending on the tier, while multiday tickets also went up. A one-day ticket to either of Disney’s U.S. parks now costs $109 for anyone over the age of 10.

One analysis concluded that between 2014 and 2025, the base price for tickets has gone up 32 percent and increased by 90 percent for the highest-priced tickets. In 2025 the base price for an adult one-day ticket will be $119 and the higher tickets will be $199. Hotel prices have also risen. The cheapest hotels at Disney World now cost an average of $187 per night, according to Disney Magic Guides , a resource for planning trips to the parks.

In an earnings call this week , Disney’s leaders acknowledged that they’ve seen a slowdown at the parks and that, because of the economy, lower-income visitors are financially stressed, while higher-income guests are traveling internationally. And Disney is not alone: Tickets for Universal Studios in Florida and in California often cost as much as Disney tickets. In July, Comcast said Universal’s revenue fell by 11 percent in the prior quarter, with visitors turning to cruises and international travel.

In an email, a spokeswoman for Disney said the company is always trying to offer guests an array of tickets and experiences. To the company, and its most loyal fans, she said, the value of the experiences is worth the price.

“We are purposeful about creating more ticket and hotel price points than ever before to provide guests a variety of opportunities to visit our parks,” she said, adding that “a visit to a Disney theme park is a 10- to 16-hour experience with attractions, entertainment and more.”

Apps overload

For many guests, price isn’t the only hurdle. Visitors now have to navigate several new apps and tools if they want the best chance at getting on the most popular rides. In the past, they could get a free FastPass, which allowed them to go to the front of a line for a ride. In 2021, Disney replaced the FastPass with a digital feature called Genie+ that park goers had to pay for and that was supposed to make booking rides more efficient. Instead, it caused so much confusion that content creators started making videos that showed viewers how to “hack” the tool.

To get the best out of Genie+ guests had to buy the app early in the morning ( avid park-goers recommended doing so at 6 a.m.) and then, at 7 a.m., they would book rides for the day. They could only book more rides after they’d completed their first activity or two hours after making their first reservation. And they couldn’t choose what time they wanted to get on a ride — Genie+ would do it for them. Mr. Testa said all of this led to “Disney complexity fatigue.”

“ God forbid on your vacation, you want to go back to your hotel and take a nap,” Mr. Testa said. Others said having to always be on their phones took away from the experience of being on vacation.

Disney heard the complaints. In July, Genie+ became Lightning Lane Multi Pass, which makes it possible for people to reserve rides ahead of time, instead of on the day they are in the park. The new system, which starts at $30 a day, is an attempt at mixing Genie+ and FastPass, but only those willing to pay extra can use all the features. The Disney spokeswoman said that so far, guests are “very pleased” with Lightning Lane Multi Pass. Reviews on social media show that it may be too soon to tell. On Reddit, reviewers lamented the different prices for Lightning Lane passes, with one person saying she “despised the process” of booking in the new system so much she felt like throwing her phone.

Jeremy Sonkin, a Chicago-based content creator who makes videos about theme parks, was at Disney World on the first day the new system was available. He said the new app is less confusing than Genie+, but it doesn’t feel like an upgrade.

“The idea and thought behind trying to bring back the ‘Fast Pass plus’ system is correct, but it’s not a level playing field and I can see this causing just as much, if not more, frustration from guests,” he said.

Greg Antonelle, the managing director of MickeyTravels , a travel agency that focuses on booking Disney trips, said his company is having a great year, with travelers looking to experience new rides like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure , which replaced the old Splash Mountain ride. He said that complaining about Disney is par for the course.

“We’ve been in business for 13 years and we’ve heard complaints about cost for 13 years,” Mr. Antonelle said. “It’s nothing new.”

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

An earlier version of this article misstated the starting month of the Lightning Lane Multi Pass at Disney World. It started in July, not June.

How we handle corrections

Tariro Mzezewa, a former national correspondent at The Times, is a reporter who writes about culture and style. More about Tariro Mzezewa

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Lake Como, Italy:  Stars like George Clooney frequent this scenic corner of northern Italy, but you might be surprised by how affordable it can be. Here’s an insider’s guide .

South of France:  Horses, bulls and birds of all types live among the pink marshes of the Camargue, a rugged landscape shaped  by the relentless push and pull of sea and river.

Disney Theme Parks:  As Disney has raised the cost of tickets and hotel rooms at its theme parks, and added pricey, difficult-to-navigate tools, even its most loyal fans are asking themselves  if they should rethink their vacations.

Helsinki, Finland:   Explore the stunning architecture  of the new central library, browse treasure-filled shops in the Design District, sweat in a wood-burning sauna, sip cocktails on a schooner and trek across islands in the surrounding archipelago.

Salzburg, Austria:  The compact Austrian city of medieval alleys, majestic Alpine views and just 150,000 residents bursts to life in the summer .

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Disney has a price problem. It has ambitious plans to fix that

D isney recently announced a huge slate of projects for parks and cruises in front of 12,000 of its most loyal fans, who will almost certainly return to Disney’s theme parks to experience those new offerings, no matter what it costs.

But whether a frequent visitor or a first-timer, Disney’s price hikes combined with a global inflation crisis left many families unable to afford trips to witness the technological feats and fantasy immersion the “Happiest Place on Earth” promises.

“It is not news that a Disney trip is expensive, but the magnitude and speed of price increases over roughly the past five years was jarring to many respondents, and we do not believe similar increases over roughly the next five years are feasible,” a Raymond James survey of 20 Disney “superfans,” travel agents and Orlando-area business owners found.

Disney warned in its August 7 earnings report that domestic parks attendance was underperforming expectations as visitors become more price-conscious. US parks profit fell during the last quarter, between April and July. Disney CFO Hugh Johnston said on the company’s earnings call that there may be a couple of quarters of similar results.

To keep its customers coming through the gates, the company will keep providing a range of pricing and options, said Josh D’Amaro, chairperson of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, in an interview with CNN.

“What we will continue to do is make sure we provide as much access and flexibility as we possibly can, so as many of our fans can experience these things as possible,” D’Amaro said.

In response to criticism about high costs, Disney has consistently touted lower-priced ticket options and “value season” deals at its resort hotels to allow families to visit, even if they’re on a tight budget.

Disney isn’t the only company struggling with customers who are spending less. Demand for the travel industry is softening, marking the end of the “revenge travel” fad in the months after pandemic restrictions were lifted. With stimulus money padding their bank accounts, people had been spending more freely then, making up after a year of missed vacations.

D’Amaro said he’s confident Disney can navigate these bumps in the road.

“We have proven ourselves to be incredibly adept at managing through situations where there’s some change in consumer behavior,” he said. “We have even more sophistication in our ability to deal with any of these fluctuations, whether it’s through precise promotional deployment, or management of cost or engagement with our guests.”

What the new announcements mean for ticket prices

The new announcements promising guests a chance to ride through the “Encanto” “casita,” to fight a battle in Wakanda or experience an ominous land themed to villains, are all part of a $60 billion investment in parks and cruises that Disney has pledged over the next decade – an investment that will need to be paid for over time with consumer dollars.

But that massive investment doesn’t mean Disney will immediately hike ticket prices, said Tom Bricker, co-founder of DisneyTouristBlog.com . It’s economics 101.

“Costs will rise as demand rises, which can happen as a result of new additions. Right now, demand is flat or falling,” Bricker said, in reference to the latest earnings report that suggested the moderation in attendance might last into 2025. “With 2025 also being the opening of Universal’s Epic Universe, there will likely also be negative impacts on Walt Disney World attendance. It won’t be catastrophic—Epic Universe will draw new visitors to Orlando, who will also visit Disney—but it will be damaging in the near term.”

As a result, Bricker said park visitors may see new parades and shows, and discounts in the coming year, as Disney tries to keep people coming, especially as the new lands and rides will still be under construction for some time.

Still, the price of Disney tickets today compared to past years prices out some families.

Shortly after Disneyland in California opened in 1955, guests could buy admission plus 10 rides for a total of $2.50. Adjusted for inflation, that $2.50 would be $28.74 today. When Disney World in Florida opened in 1971, admission plus a book of tickets for seven rides was $8 in total. In 2024 dollars, that would be $61.66.

Currently, the cheapest one-day tickets to Disneyland or Walt Disney World during the “value” season are $104 and $116.09, respectively.

But the admission prices when the parks first opened were for entry into a single park, with far fewer attractions than what a Disney guest experiences today. Today, Disneyland Resort has two parks with more than 65 total attractions; Disney World has four theme parks and two water parks with more than 150 attractions.

“Value” tickets have increased less than 1% annually in the last 10 years, noted Don Munsil, who runs MouseSavers, a travel website that maintains historic records of Disney prices. But the number of dates on the calendar when these prices apply has diminished.

On the high end, Munsil said the most expensive single-day ticket to only one park during peak season at Disneyland in California ($194) has increased an average of about 7% each year over the last decade. A similar peak season ticket at Disney World in Florida ($201.29) has increased an average of 6.4% each year during that time.

The increases on these peak tickets outpace inflation over the same period.

According to MouseSavers, tickets for a family of four to hop between the Walt Disney World parks for four days during peak season costs about $3,098 in 2024, without factoring in additional services like access to faster “Lightning Lanes,” which used to be free.

That’s about double what they cost 10 years ago, and 3.6 times the price 20 years ago.

Paid access to Lightning Lanes, which first debuted at Disney World in 2021, can cost another $17-$41 per person, per day, depending on the park and the season.

Certain popular rides aren’t included, however. Using the Lightning Lane specifically for “Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance,” for example, would cost about $25 extra per person.

But Munsil points out that this is the cheapest of any theme park “express” service on the market. He said Universal charges $105-$310 per person, per day, for their express pass, depending on number of parks and options. Cedar Point charges $95-$120 per person, per day. Busch Gardens charges $60-$150 per person, per day.

The grievance from the fan community is that this used to be free at Disney parks. Transportation from the Orlando airport to Disney World property also used to be included for Disney hotel guests, but that service has been discontinued.

Food and souvenirs at the parks also cost a lot more.

A Mickey ice cream bar cost $2.59 15 years ago, according to Disney Food Blog . If only adjusted for inflation, it should cost $3.78 in 2024, but instead, the price is $6.29.

Light-up specialty balloons were $15 in 2015 . If adjusted for inflation, that type of balloon would cost $19.60. In 2024, that balloon costs…$20. So not everything at the parks outpaces inflation.

Is it worth it?

“I always joke that three things in life are certain - death, taxes, and Disney parks raising ticket prices,” said Mindy Marzec, who runs thisfairytalelife.com. “Prices are going to go up no matter what, so when you hear all about these exciting projects in development, it feels like the price is more worth it.”

Prices of regular tickets have not increased at nearly the same pace as annual passes, Munsil points out. He said the hardcore fans are the ones who are often quoted feeling jaded, because they go frequently and see the prices of their passes go up.

But he said the primary audience, especially for Disney World, are first-time visitors who are amazed and delighted by the incomparable entertainment and detail that they see. The cheapest available ticket to Disney World has remained the same price as it was in 2019, and is $15 more than it was in 2013.

“I think the Disney parks are a huge bargain,” Munsil said, noting that the cheapest available ticket at about $110 a day (or less, with seasonal discounts), gives someone more than 10 hours of entertainment, depending on one’s stamina.

“The Disney parks have some of the most amazing, technologically sophisticated rides and experiences in the world. It’s a totally unique, magical place,” Munsil said. “What’s that worth? The only comparable place is Universal Studios, and it costs about the same, and for (IMO) parks that are just a little less amazing (though still worthwhile).”

For frequent visitors who balk at paying more for the products and services they’re accustomed to, the question is whether the experience is still worth the money. Following the D23 announcements of upcoming developments, many devotees are saying “yes, ”even if it may mean saving up for fewer trips.

Content creator Victoria Wade, said, “In recent years, there has been a feeling that the fans have been nothing more than dollar signs and that our feedback wasn’t taken seriously since the return to normality with the pandemic.”

Wade said the perceived instability of Disney leadership, and adding paid services and experiences that were once free, “led to a lack of trust between the company and the community.”

But Wade said that the major announcements made at the Disney fan convention, D23, gave her the feeling that the company is listening to feedback, like adding a new nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom, which loyal visitors had requested for a long time.

Munsil said the Disney parks are “expensive, yes, but there’s nothing else on Earth like them.”

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Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse balloons fly in front of Cinderella's Castle at the Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World.

This Disney restaurant marked a Michelin first: What to expect at Victoria & Albert's

Portrait of Eve Chen

Picture a Michelin-starred restaurant . Places like The French Laundry in California’s Napa Valley or Jean-Georges in New York may come to mind, but don’t forget Walt Disney World.  

This spring, Victoria & Albert’s at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa became the first restaurant owned and operated by a U.S. theme park to be awarded a coveted Michelin star, according to The Walt Disney Company. 

"A lot of times people think about Mickey Mouse ice cream bars, which I had as a little boy with my grandparents coming here, and turkey legs, which are fun and amazing, but there's this great gastronomic opportunity that we're, as chefs here at Walt Disney World, striving to achieve,” said Chef Matthew Sowers , chef de cuisine at Victoria & Albert’s. 

Here’s what guests can expect from the renowned restaurant:

Does Victoria and Albert's have a Michelin star? 

Yes. So does Capa at the Four Seasons Resort Orlando, which is also at Disney World but neither owned nor operated by Disney. 

“Michelin's inspectors are passionate about highlighting worthwhile dining experiences, regardless of location or setting,” Michelin Guide's chief inspector for North America said in a statement, maintaining anonymity for reviews. “ ’Starred’ restaurants are always visited several times by different inspectors to ensure consistent quality and the satisfaction of our five criteria ,” which are all related to cooking. 

Stars are awarded solely on food, but Victoria & Albert’s longtime maître d’hôtel Israel Pérez was also honored with the 2024 Michelin Guide Florida Service Award.  

“The inspection team found the service to be excellent, with friendly and attentive servers who were very polished and well-informed on the menu,” Michelin said. “They feel the service experience is well-orchestrated without feeling stiff or rehearsed.” 

Perez, who started at the Grand Floridian as a busboy 36 years ago, called the honor a dream come true. 

“It's just something that you've been working on your entire life without even knowing that you're working for it,” he said, sharing credit with the entire staff.

What makes Victoria & Albert’s special?  

There is only one seating each night, so every guest is special, and every meal is an event. 

“We memorize names ahead of people coming in,” Perez said, noting that roughly 80% of the restaurant's guests are first-timers and 20% are repeat diners. “We do have a way to just ask questions ahead of your visit to make sure that your experience is not a transaction, that we know who you are, that we greet you, that we make you feel comfortable.” 

He said the restaurant has the highest ratio of servers to guests on the property, with one server to every four guests in the Dining Room. 

“There's a list of about 200 different little rules that we go by that you’ll probably never notice unless you ask us about it,” he added. “We always talk about not being intrusive, but the servers really can share so many stories about food, about wine. They know every single ingredient.”  

Sowers gets excited when different ingredients come in season, like ramps in the spring and white truffles in winter.  

“We're always trying to allow for the ingredients to drive the menu,” the chef said. He changes the menu roughly every three months. “They’re a moment in time that you capture and you showcase that to the guests that maybe haven't had an opportunity to enjoy that before.” 

How to try new foods 

Knowing that some flavors may be unfamiliar, Sowers said the restaurant tries to be approachable, particularly at the start of a meal.  

“Once we're able to kind of gain their trust, they're going to be more receptive to some of the more exotic ingredients that we may be inspired using later,” he said. Michelin described Sowers’ cuisine as contemporary with “influences spanning from Asia to the Nordics.” 

Sharing stories also helps guests connect. 

Introducing a mocktail called La Vie en Rose, chef Gabriella Syvaniemi, who crafts the restaurant’s zero-proof offerings, said, “La Vie on Rose means to see the world through rose-colored glasses and to live life with positivity. My grandma used to farm rhubarb and she loved roses, so this kind of stemmed from that." Cold-pressed rhubarb juice and rose water are among the pink drink's ingredients.

The restaurant guides guests on culinary adventures while respecting dietary wants and needs. 

“Whether it’s in a vegan menu or whether it's someone who only wants to do seafood or someone that doesn't want to do seafood, we're able to capture a dining experience that's multiple courses where we can tailor it to what their sensibilities are,” Sowers said. 

How much does dinner cost at Victoria and Albert's? 

Victoria & Albert’s is only open for dinner. Prices vary depending on the dining venue and experience. There are three venues within the restaurant, each serving a prix-fixe menu with multiple tasting courses. 

The prix-fixe menu starts at $295 per guest in the main Dining Room, $375 in the more intimate Queen Victoria Room, and $425 at the exclusive Chef’s Table, where guests spend the evening interacting with chefs beside the bustling kitchen.  

“Sometimes they're really engaging and wanting to know every little thing. We're to shepherd them through the experience,” Sowers said. Only one party of up to six guests may partake in the Chef’s Table each night. 

Wine pairings and zero-proof pairings cost extra. Guests can also pair courses with different waters from around the world, from the restaurant's water menu. 

Does Victoria and Albert's have a dress code? 

Yes. Its website states: “Victoria & Albert’s is an exquisite and intimate upscale dining experience and the culinary crown jewel of Walt Disney World Resort. Guests are expected to dress accordingly in semi-formal/formal attire that respects the restaurant’s elegant and opulent aesthetic.” 

What is the minimum age for Victoria and Albert's? 

The restaurant welcomes guests 10 years old and older. 

What park is Victoria and Albert’s in? 

Victoria & Albert’s is not located in a theme park but inside the Victorian-inspired Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. The restaurant is named after Britain’s Queen Victoria and her husband, Prince Albert.

The restaurant and resort are a short monorail or ferry ride from Magic Kingdom. Valet parking is also available and complimentary with dining reservations at Victoria & Albert’s. 

Disney bubble: Disney fans love staying on-site to keep the magic going, but are Disney hotels worth their cost?

How far in advance can you book Victoria and Albert's? 

Reservations open 60 days in advance. Guests staying at Disney’s resort hotels can book reservations for their entire vacation window, up to 10 days, starting at 60 days before their arrival.  

Guests should note the Chef’s Table may only be booked by phone by calling Victoria & Albert’s directly at (407) 939-3862. The Dining Room and Queen Victoria Room may be booked through the My Disney Experiences app . 

Additionally, guests with food allergies are asked to alert the restaurant at least 24 hours in advance so chefs can modify menus accordingly. 

“If you have an allergy that looks as simple as something like onions, there might be onions in almost every sauce,” Perez said.  

How long is a meal at Victoria and Albert's? 

Guests should expect to spend around three hours on the tasting menu at Victoria and Albert’s, though they are welcome to stay longer. 

“A few days ago, the Chef’s Table for example, they were with us for seven hours,” Perez said. That occasion was a bit unusual, with one of the restaurant’s regular guests celebrating a milestone anniversary. “We are always going to follow your timing.”

What’s next for Victoria & Albert’s? 

The restaurant isn’t resting on its laurels. 

“It is personal. It is our work. We really strive to have craftsmanship in what we do and we put ourselves into the work,” Sowers said. “Day after day, try to get 1% better and make sure that that results in a way where guests can come back year over year and watch us continue to evolve and continue to get better and grow.” 

Victoria & Albert’s has been consistently named a AAA Five Diamond Award restaurant and a Forbes Travel Guide Five Star establishment. 

“Every single guest for us is the same,” Perez said. “Every single guest for us is Michelin or Forbes or AAA.” 

The reporter on this story received access to Victoria & Albert’s from Walt Disney World. USA TODAY maintains editorial control of content.  

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Is Splurging on the Blue Bayou Fantasmic! Dining Package Worth It?

Fantasmic! front row

Fantasmic! is easily one of Disneyland's best and most popular nighttime spectaculars. This classic show takes place on the Rivers of America and combines elements of Disney storytelling with physical sets like the Mark Twain Riverboat, Sailing Ship Columbia along with larger than life water projections.

Watching Fantasmic! from the front row is easily my favorite way to enjoy this experience so on every Disneyland trip we splurge on a Blue Bayou dining package for reserved seats.

I recently enjoyed the Blue Bayou Fantasmic! dining package at Disneyland and our experience was better than ever from the themed restaurant inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride plus front row views for the show.

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Front Row Fantasmic! Viewing

Before I dive into the details of the Blue Bayou Fantasmic! package, check out that front row view we enjoyed from this experience. I was seated directly in front of the rail and was as close as you could possibly be. This means that the view of the boats drifting past, the water projections, and the stage were easy and clear to see.

I love sitting front row for experiences like this but especially for Fantasmic! since the show relies on so much action on stage and on the boats used on the Rivers of America.

How Much is the Blue Bayou Fantasmic! Package?

The Blue Bayou Fantasmic! dining package works like many of the  other dining packages at Disneyland. You pay for a pre-fix meal that comes with a voucher to a reserved viewing area for Fantasmic! Since Blue Bayou is the premium restaurant in the dining package lineup, you will get the best view for the show with centered seating alongside the Rivers of America.

This is a splurge experience with the cost of this dining package being $89 per adult and $35 per child ages 3-9. This can add up quite quickly! Kids younger than three are free and can eat off your plate. Pricing does not include tax or gratuity either.

This package is a perfect option if you want to dine at Blue Bayou, which is a historic Disneyland restaurant located inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, and want to see Fantasmic! Since this is a higher end restaurant, you will already be splurging for a meal so adding a few more dollars on to make it a Fantasmic! dining package is a valid move. As you dine you will watch the boats from the Pirates of the Caribbean ride pass by which is why I recommend requesting a water side table for the best view.

Blue Bayou Fantasmic! Pre-Fix Menu

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The Blue Bayou Fantasmic! pre-fix menu includes a diverse range of options including Pistachio Lemon-Basil Pasta for the vegetarians! I'm always thrilled to see a vegetarian option that isn't simply a mushroom offering which is very common.

As you can see, you can add on wine pairings but Blue Bayou also serves a speciality Hurricane cocktail. This is one of the few restaurants in Disneyland that serves alcohol.

Bread Service Returns to Blue Bayou

I have been positively screaming about wanting the bread service to return to Blue Bayou. Well, that joyous occasion has arrived and was offered with our meal at no extra cost. The bread was the exact same as before and we were so happy to see such a simple pre-COVID offering return.

Blue Bayou Offers Diverse Salad Options

We both enjoyed the Heirloom Tomato and Watermelon salad which is a fun, refreshing summer option. This is a great offering especially if you have those in your group looking for something a bit different than a traditional salad.

Finally, More Than Just Mushrooms for Vegetarians

This mushroom hating vegetarian was thrilled to order the Pistachio Lemon-Basil Pasta. Often many restaurants incorporate mushrooms as an alternative to meat for their vegetarian dishes. The pasta was light but also plenty filling.

I tend to be a picky eater and I enjoyed this dish but of course, those looking to get more out of the pre-fix menu might want to order something a bit more encompassing like the chicken or fish. And you can add $10 more to upgrade to the ribeye and shrimp or the filet mignon.

Fantasmic! Themed Dessert

You can't have a Fantasmic! dining package without a themed dessert option! I always enjoy a good themed dessert and you have the option of picking this Chocolate Decadence Tart from the menu. This one is for the chocolate lovers as this was a very rich and full flavored chocolate item.

Time to Get Our Front Row View for Fantasmic!

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After our meal, we were given vouchers to the viewing area alongside the Rivers of America for Fantasmic! Since Blue Bayou is the premium package, we were seated directly in the middle across from the stage. If you want to be directly in front of the rail, plan on lining up to be allowed into the viewing area right at 8PM.

Your voucher guarantees you a spot regardless so if you don't want that absolute front row spot then you could show up later. I tend to like to be front row for things like this so I don't mind arriving early.

Close Up of Pirate Ship

The Sailing Ship Columbia makes for an impressive moment in the show as it sails past with the characters from Peter Pan. We were so close to this pirate ship that it was nearly overwhelming as it sailed past and we looked directly up to see Captain Hook and Peter Pan sword fighting from the ropes.

Clear View of Fantasmic! Stage

One of the best parts of the Blue Bayou Fantasmic! dining package is being able to see the Fantasmic! stage so well. This is often the trickiest part of viewing the show especially if you watching from further back in the crowd. Well, with a front row spot this is no trouble at all.

Is Blue Bayou Fantasmic! Dining Package Worth It?

READ MORE –  10 of the Craziest Food Items You Can Get at Disney Parks

This is a splurge experience at Disneyland so it is important to acknowledge that! The cost for me and my teen was $170 before tax or gratuity. That is a hefty price tag for a meal and a viewing spot.

The cost is worth it to me because this viewing spot is just so spectacular. You are front row for the show and you also do not have to worry about others crowding you for a spot. Even better, you can remain seated for the duration of the show as opposed to the other non-dining package viewing areas where guests have to stand.

I typically enjoy the Blue Bayou Fantasmic! dining package once or twice a year and have done so as part of our family Disneyland tradition since 2017. Every single time, I feel it is worth ever penny.

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About Lindsay Brookshier

Lindsay is a college English instructor and has years of writing experience through various nonprofits, charities, newspapers, and online magazines. As the content director of Mickey Visit, she oversees article content and leads our fantastic team of writers to meet guest vacation needs. You can still find her writing weekly content to help make your Disney Parks trip fantastic here on Mickey Visit and Disney Dose- you can also view her recently featured posts on Disney Parks travel on Visit Anaheim, Nerd Wallet and SFGate. Lindsay comes from a dedicated Disney family and enjoys taking her son to the Disney parks as often as possible.

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