Park Admission Required.
Don’t Forget Your Tickets!
One of the most important parts of planning a Disney vacation is deciding which types of tickets to get. There is a ticket type for any experience, and sometimes, you simply need an add-on to get the features you are looking for. You CAN, technically, walk up to the ticket booth and buy a ticket, but that is not the most efficient way to do it, although it is the most expensive. I DO NOT recommend this strategy!
Disney offers Annual Passes, Dated Tickets, Water and Sports Options, Park Hopper Add-ons, Resort Packages, etc. My favorite way to purchase tickets is in a package that includes a resort, and for that all-inclusive feel, you can go for a dining plan package as well. Whatever you need, Disney has you covered. Check out all the different ticket types below, and reach out to me to get insight on which ones you need and to help you purchase.
Redeem Your Tickets
Magic Bands
Disney MagicMobile
Key to the World Card
Ticket Types
Base Tickets
Admission to 1 Park per Day
This is the most basic because it is exactly as stated: A guest can visit one park for one day. If you scan in, you have used your ticket. You can come and go from that park as much as you please for that one day, but when that park closes for the night, you are no longer a ticket holder for that day. That ticket has now been used and is expired.
You simply have to choose how many days you are going, choose which parks you want to visit, and buy a ticket that corresponds.
For example: If you want to go to all four parks, and you have four days to do it, buy a 4-day base ticket (1 park per day). Then, stay in the park you scan into all day long, coming and going from that park as you please. Repeata for the remaining days.
Park Hopper Option
This is one of my favorite options, but it is not for everyone. A park hopper add on allows you to go to more than one park per day. After 2:00, you can park hop to any other park you want, as many times as you want! And yes, you could potentially do all 4 parks in one day!
If you go to WDW a lot, and you want to focus on your favorites and hope around, this is a good option. This is also good if you have older kids or are on an adult only trip, and you can move super quickly!
Park Hopper Plus Option
This add-on features the park hopper option as well as access to several other Disney experiences on property! This is a wonderful option if you like to spend a good deal of time at the water parks or if you have some golfers in your party but you also want to park hop! You get one entry to one of these other experiences per number of park days on your ticket package.
For example: A 4-Day Park Ticket would give you 4 passes to one of the following options below. You get to choose one experience per day, so each day of your tickets, you get access to one of these experiences one time.
This option gives you access to the following:
1 entry to Blizzard Beach per day
1 entry to Typhoon Lagoon per day
One round of golf at Disney Oak Trail Golf Course (clubs not included)
1 entry to ESPN Wide World of Sports (Does not include tickets to any events going on)
1 round of Winter Summerland Miniature Golf (before 4:00pm)
1 round of Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf (before 4:00pm)
Water Park and Sports Option
This add-on gives access to water parks as well as several other Disney experiences on property! This is a wonderful option if you like to spend a good deal of time at the water parks or if you have some golfers in your party! You get one entry to one of these other experiences per number of park days on your ticket package.
For example: A 4-Day Park Ticket would give you 4 passes to one of the following options below. You get to choose one experience per day, so each day of your tickets, you get access to one of these experiences one time.
This option gives you access to the following:
1 entry to Blizzard Beach per day
1 entry to Typhoon Lagoon per day
One round of golf at Disney Oak Trail Golf Course (clubs not included)
1 entry to ESPN Wide World of Sports (Does not include tickets to any events going on)
1 round of Winter Summerland Miniature Golf (before 4:00pm)
1 round of Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf (before 4:00pm)
Water Park Tickets
1-Day Water Park Ticket: Gives you access to either one of the water parks for one day only. Come and go to that one park as you please, but you will not have admission to any theme parks. Once the park closes, your ticket is expired.
Water Park Seasonal Pass: Visit both water parks (based on availability) an unlimited number of times during the season with this pass! No blockout dates!
1-Day Water Park Ticket with Blockout Dates: Exactly the same as the 1-Day Water Park Ticket, but this a little cheaper and it has block out dates, so you will miss out on some of the days with this pass, but you will still be able to go often!
Season Pass: For only $79, you can get a season pass to the water parks! There are very few block out dates for this pass.
If you want to visit all four park in one day, this is the way! There is a lot of flexibility with a park hopper option. You also have a better chance of doing all of the activities you find interesting, and if you find yourself with extra time, you have the ability to fill it. This also helps when park pass reservations are in place because you can reserve an available park, then hop to your original choice after 2:00pm if that reservation is unavailable. Park hopping helps with special event days as well. If you do not have tickets to the event, you can get out of there and experience a different park while the event park fills up. I recommend getting a park hopper if you are a seasoned guest and only want to do the things you love in a quicker way or if you have a limited number of days of travel and want to visit all four parks.
The park hopper option is expensive, so unless you are ready to rapid fire to the parks, you may be wasting money. Unless you park hop a couple times, at least, during your stay, it may not be of monetary value. Park hoppers also add a bit of pressure because you will feel like you have to rush. Transportation can be a factor when park hopping, so I do recommend it if you are on a Skyliner or Monorail resort, but if you are further away, it may take too much time to park hop because of buses. My recommendation is for seasoned guests to park hop because they may be focusing on their favorites, but I do not recommend park hopping with children under 4 or for first timers. You need to take your time and experience the magic! But for those who can do it all and do it fast, add it!
Annual Passes
All passes come with standard parking passes and discounts on dining, merchandise, and more! You can also add special add-ons to any annual pass: Disney PhotoPass Downloads and Water Park & Sports Option
Pixie Dust Pass
Florida Residents Only-
Or $19.99/mo. for 12 months after down payment of $205
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Admission on most weekdays, excludes weekends
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Some Block Out Dates Apply, during holidays and peaks
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Hold 3 park reservations at a time
Pirate Pass
Florida Residents Only-
Or $50/month for 12 months after down payment of $205
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Includes most weekdays and weekends
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Some Block Out Dates Apply, during holidays and peaks
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Hold 4 park reservations at a time
Sorcerer Pass
Florida Residents & DVC-
Or $69/month for 12 months after down payment of $205
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Includes most weekdays and weekends
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Less Block Out Dates Apply, during holidays and peaks
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Hold 5 park reservations at a time
Incredi-Pass
All Guests-
Or $108/month for 12 months after down payment of $205
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Includes ALL weekdays and weekends
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NO Block Out Dates Apply for this Pass
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Hold 5 park reservations at a time
Additional Information
Kids are characterized as being 3-9 years of age. Ages 10+ is considered an adult. Kids ages 2 and under do not require a ticket.
Ticket packages have expiration dates. You will need to select the date for your tickets to start, and it will display the expiration date.
Memory Maker can be added to any ticket type, and there is a discount for purchasing this feature ahead of time ($30 off).
Link your Park Tickets to MyDisneyExperience
Tickets can be linked using the Desktop MyDisney website or using the MyDisney Experience App.
On the website via Desktop, sign into your MyDisneyExperience Account, and hover over the MyDisneyExperience Tab on the top right. Click on “My Plans.” Next, scroll to where it says “Park Tickets,” and hover. Click “Link Tickets” This will allow you to put in the Reservation number of your purchase, and then, you can add and assign each ticket to each traveler in your party.
On the MyDisneyExperience App, after you sign in, click the hamburger menu (three lines) on the bottom right of the screen. Select “Tickets and Passes.” Click the blue + in the top right, and select “Link Tickets & Passes.” You can do this with your camera by scanning them or by entering in the ID. This is when you will be able to assign each ticket to each user in your group.
If I am your Travel Advisor, I can purchase these tickets for you and link them as well to save you the hassle. Just reach out!
So Many Choices!
