You are finally ready to go on a Disney World vacation and now looking for tickets. Did you know about the different discounts available on tickets? Can you buy tickets at the gate? Do we still need to make park reservations? We will answer all this and more!
What Will a Disney Ticket Get You?
A ticket to Disney World will get you access to all of the rides and attractions in the park that you choose. In the early days, Disney World had a separate admission price and then a ticket book price where rides needed tickets like the traveling carnivals. Gone are those days! You can freely ride Space Mountain from rope drop to the kiss goodnight if that’s what would make your vacation more magical.
Disney World Ticket Prices in 2022
Ticket prices to Disney World fluctuate to meet demand. What does that mean? That means that like airlines, the higher the demand for a date, the higher the cost. Ticket prices start at $109 for a 1 day 1 park pass. The more days that you purchase, the more the base price lowers!
Food for Thought:
A 5-day park pass base price is $91 per day, equalling $455, but a 10-day park pass has a base price of $56 per day totaling $560. Think about that – There is just a bit more than a $100 difference for 5 extra days. That’s like having 4 free days!
Disney World Ticket Add-Ons
You can purchase add-ons to your base ticket to add touches of magic to your Disney World vacation. Every family and every vacation is different. What is right for some families may not be right for yours. Read about the different add-ons to decide what is right for your vacation.
Park Hopper
Park Hopping is a Disney term for visiting multiple parks in one day. Walt Disney World is comprised of 4 different parks, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom. A base ticket will grant you entry to one park per day, but a Park Hopper will allow you to enter all of the parks in the same day (after 2:00 PM).
Park Hopper can be added to your base ticket for an additional $65, however, just like the cost of the ticket lowers when you add more days, the same can be said for the Park Hopper. You can play with the number of days and park hopper prices on Disney’s website with their ticket purchasing tool here https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/admission/tickets/theme-parks/ .
IMPORTANT TO NOTE:
This applies to restaurant reservations, as well! If you have a park reservation for Animal Kingdom and booked a lunch reservation for Magic Kingdom, you need to have a park hopper to enter the Magic Kingdom.
Is Park Hopper Worth It?
This is the million dollar question, isn’t it? The answer is yes and no. If you are on a once in a lifetime trip to Disney World then it is absolutely worth it! You want to get the most out of your trip and not be limited. Park Hopper is also worth it for go,go,go trips where you plan on tackling challenges like the mountain challenge.
Times where a Park Hopper might not be worth the added expense are vacations with small children, long trips, or if you take multiple Disney trips.
Water Parks
Have you ever thought about visiting a water park while at Disney World? Walt Disney World has 2 water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. The parks are amazing, but also exhausting! Maybe a day at the relaxed water parks is the perfect idea for a break day.
Water park tickets can be purchased on their own for $69 per person or they can be added to park tickets. When you add the water park options to your ticket you are also adding other sports like golf or miniature golf. One day tickets with the Water Park and Sports option start at $179 for 1 day and just like the Park Hopper, the price for this add-on decreases with more days.
When you purchase the Water Park and Sports add-on it allows you to visit one of Walt Disney World’s theme parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom) in a day, and one Water Park or Sports location. These locations include Typhoon Lagoon, Blizzard Beach, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course Foot Golf, Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course, Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf, and Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course.
Park Hopper Plus
With Park Hopper Plus you can have the best of both worlds. This add-on will get you Park Hopper perks as well as access to the Water Parks and Sports areas. The starting price for the base tickets plus Park Hopper Plus is $194 for 1 day. The price decreases dramatically as you add days. Ten-day tickets with Park Hopper Plus are only $67 per day.
Memory Maker
Memory Maker is the ability to have unlimited photo downloads during your trip. These photos include not only those fun ride photos but also include pictures taken by Disney PhotoPass photographers throughout the parks. Gone are the days when mom is always the one taking the family photos and not in them!
There are 3 different prices for Memory Maker. The pricing depends on how long you have it for and when you purchase it. You can purchase Memory Maker for just a single day for $69. Or you can purchase Memory Maker for the duration of your trip for $169 if you purchase in advance, or $199 if purchased in Disney.
Specialty Party Tickets
Disney hosts specialty parties throughout the year that shuts the park down to regular guests to have a more festive and intimate Disney experience. These parties are separately ticketed events, meaning that a regular park ticket will not gain you entry to the party. These events are exclusive and tickets sell out fast, so don’t wait!
Perks of these events are shorter lines, exclusive parades, stage shows, fireworks, snacks, merchandise, ride overlays, and even free unlimited bottled drinks and premium Mickey bars.
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, also known as MNSSHP, is Disney World’s Halloween party in the Magic Kingdom. On select days in August through the end of October, the Magic Kingdom will close to regular park guests at 6:00 PM and go until midnight.
Imagine trick or treating all down Main Street, USA and the Magic Kingdom! There are endless amounts of candy available, sponsored by Mars. You can trick or treat, no matter your age, as much or as little as you want! Adults can even dress up for the party!
Ticket prices depend on the date and vary from $109 – $199. Weekends and dates closer to Halloween will be the more expensive dates.
For more read, our Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party Guide.
Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party
Immediately following Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, also known for its crazy acronym, MVMCP. This Magic Kingdom Christmas Party runs on select nights from the beginning of November through December. Prices range from $149 – $199 depending on that date’s demand.
In addition to free bottled drinks and Mickey Premium Bars, you can also get free Christmas cookies throughout the Magic Kingdom!
For more read our Guide to Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party.
After Hours Tickets
After Hours are back in Walt Disney World! With an After Hours ticket you can enjoy a select park for 2 extra hours after closing. You can choose between Hollywood Studios or Magic Kingdom. After Hours takes place on select nights throughout the year, and tickets start at $129.
While that price may seem high, however, the crowds will be the lowest you will ever see in Disney World! In those 3 hours, you will be able to do most, if not all of your must-do list!
Villains After Hours
Villains After Hours has yet to return to Walt Disney World, but with the recent announcement of After Hours returning, we hope it’s just a matter of time. Villains After Hours was an After Hours ticket with an evil twist. Hosted by Hades, there were exclusive stage shows and fireworks just for those who prefer the dark side of stories.
Park Reservations
Once you purchase your ticket you need to make a park reservation. This reservation is the park that you wish to visit with your ticket. If you have a Park Hopper, then you only make a reservation for your first park.
The Park Reservation system was introduced during the phased reopening after the pandemic closure to help with crowd control and spacing, but Disney has reconfirmed that the system is here to stay! Disney Executives are using the park reservation to forecast demand to meet the needs of the guests.
For more read How to Make a Reservation with the New Disney Park Pass System
When Does Disney Raise Ticket Prices
It’s an unfortunate reality that Disney raises prices almost annually. Typically prices for the following year are shared in October. You can purchase your tickets and vacation packages for Walt Disney World vacations a year in advance, so you can plan and budget accordingly.
Disney Ticket Prices at the Gate
Especially with the park reservation system, we wouldn’t recommend waiting until you arrive at Walt Disney World to purchase your tickets, but tickets are available at the gates as long as there is availability. The price to purchase at the gate is the same as it would be online for that day.
Disney World Ticket Discounts
In Florida, you will see a lot of signage and businesses advertising cheap Disney tickets. Save your money. If something sounds too good to be true then it probably is, right? That being said, there are reputable places that offer legitimate ticket discounts.
Disney Tickets for Florida Residents
Florida residents save big on Disney tickets with discounts as high as 30% and 40% on multi-day tickets. One-day passes start at $109 and 4-day passes are $64 per day!
Florida residents can even save on Park Hopper, too! A 4-day pass with Park Hopper is only $296! As if you needed more reasons to pack up and move to Florida!
Disney Tickets for Military
In recent years Disney has decided to support American troops and their families with steep discounts on park tickets. The Armed Forces Salute tickets are either 4 or 5-day tickets with Park Hopper or Park Hopper Plus. Four-day Park Hopper tickets are a discounted $329! Military families are able to purchase 6 tickets in a calendar year per the military personnel’s ID card.
Unlike all other ticket options, the special military tickets are a flat rate throughout the year, no matter the date. They are valid throughout the calendar year until December 16th of the year.
Check out our article on the Armed Forces Salute tickets to get the full details on pricing, where to get them, and who qualifies here.
How Much Are Disney Tickets Through AAA?
Who knew that there were more perks to having a AAA membership beyond free towing and roadside service?! Turns out that your membership can also save you $30 per ticket on the gate price.
How Much Are Disney Tickets Through Costco?
Costco doesn’t sell Disney World tickets separately, and therefore do not offer discounts on tickets specifically. However, if you book your entire trip through Costco’s travel agency you can receive discounts on the package. By booking through Costco you can receive room upgrades, waived resort fees, etc.
DVC Ticket Discounts
In past years Disney Vacation Club members would have access to discounted park tickets, but Disney has slowly transitioned to offering exclusive DVC events in lieu of ticket discounts. For now, there are no discounts on park tickets for 2022 or 2023 for Disney Vacation Club members.
Go to Disney Without a Ticket!
Did you know you can go to Disney World without a ticket for the theme parks! Disney Springs is a Disney shopping area in Walt Disney World that doesn’t require a ticket to enter. This area comprises high-end shopping, Disney shopping, dining experiences, cocktail hours, live entertainment, and once in a lifetime experiences.
Read more on 20 Things to do at Walt Disney World without a Ticket
Common Disney Ticket Questions
Are the parks at full capacity?
We are happy to say that as of 2022, the parks are almost completely back to normal! While Disney is no longer limiting capacity, there are still limits for the parks. The maximum capacity for Magic Kingdom is roughly 100,000, so it’s safe to say that park availability isn’t usually an issue.
You may experience issues making park reservations for exceptionally busy days like holidays. Christmas, Thanksgiving, and New Year’s Eve are the busiest days each year, especially for the Magic Kingdom.
Is there a limit to the amount of tickets you can purchase?
There is a limit of 10 adult tickets and 10 child tickets to purchase online. If you have a party that is larger than that, you should contact Disney directly to speak with a group vacation specialist.
Are there rain checks for bad weather?
This may be a hard pill to swallow. Disney World is expensive, you plan and budget extensively, and it might have the audacity of raining… a lot! Walt Disney World is located in tropical central Florida, so you want to plan for a lot of humidity and rain. Disney will not give rain checks even if it rained all day long.
Pack your crocs and ponchos and enjoy the indoor attractions. Usually the rain will only last an hour, but the longer it goes, the more the park empties out, so you can enjoy less crowds. You may actually enjoy seeing rain in the forecast!
Does Disney World close for bad weather?
Speaking of central Florida, hurricane season is a real thing. But should you worry about the parks closing during your trip? No. There’s a lot to stress about, but this isn’t one of them. Disney has only closed a handful of times EVER, and only twice due to weather.
Can I purchase Park Hopper for just one day?
Park Hopper tickets are kind of funny. If you want it for your trip, then you must purchase Park Hopper for your ENTIRE trip. You cannot buy Park Hopper for just one day.
Can you Buy an Annual Pass for Disney World?
After looking at ticket prices for an extended trip, you may realize that it would be cheaper to purchase an annual pass. Unfortunately, we are still waiting to hear from Disney as to when guests can purchase new annual passes. For now, we just hear *crickets*.
Guests who currently hold active annual passes are able to renew them just the same. However, if their passes lapse, then they cannot repurchase.
See our article all about when DIsney Annual Passes will return here.
When is the best time to go to Disney World?
Every time is the best time to go to Disney World! But if you are looking for lower wait times and good weather, January – March is our favorite time. Most kids are in school, the weather is temperate, and Disney prices are a bit lower! It’s always a good idea to avoid major holidays and summer, if you can avoid them.
I am a mother of three that has refused to grow up. Adulting is for the birds, so I go to Disney World every chance I get for that magical escape from reality. I believe that Haunted Mansion is the best ride in all of the Disney Parks, and I am fervently in team Happily Ever After for fireworks spectaculars, (sorry, not sorry, Enchanted). Finally, I hope I never grow tired of skipping down Main Street, USA, and my dream come true would be “friends with” the Fairy Godmother in my old age.
