A trip to Disneyland or Disney World is expensive. There is no getting around that. But, smart planners know how to save wherever they can. The admission to the park is one of the most expensive things you need. But, you don’t have to get stuck paying more than you need to.
Before you purchase your tickets (a.k.a. wristband) at the gate or from your travel agent, make sure you do your homework. There are some ways to save on everything you need during your Disney vacation. Some of these include:
- How to Save to Get to Disney
- Save on Foods and Beverages at Disney
- How to Save While Visiting the Park
When you get ready to purchase your admission tickets, you may want to see if any of these tricks save you a few bucks.
HOW TO SAVE ON TICKETS TO DISNEY
1. Consider the ages of your family
Children two years of age and under are free! The one thing people don’t realize is that as long as your child is two when you check in, tickets will be free! The same is true for older kids as well. As long as your child is nine at checkout, you will pay the child rate.
2. Think about the type of ticket you will use
There are base tickets which entitle you to one park per day for the number of days you have purchased. However, you may want to get the Park Hopper or Park Hopper plus.
- Park Hopper. This ticket allows you to visit more than one park in a day. To get the most of out of your day, plan to visit a park with an Extra Magic Hour in the morning. Then, hop over to another park which stays open later. Think about if “hopping” is a priority for your family and your plans. I know many people that planned on it and only ended up using it once.
- Park Hopper Plus. You get admission to all of the parks with this ticket. However, you also get admission to a water park as well as other select activities.
It may be worth the upgrade if you are planning on staying a few days. That way, you don’t purchase tickets to just one venue and realize that you wanted to spend more time at another park.
3. Special Events
Every year, Disney hosts events such as Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. These events require additional tickets. If you are visiting the Magic Kingdom during one of these events, you will have to exit by 7 pm. Your park hopper pass will not give you admission.
If you want to attend one of these events, pass on the day pass and purchase admission to the event instead. Spend the day relaxing at the pool and head to the park at 4 pm!
4. Plan a longer visit
For every day you are in the park, the price decreases. You notice this once you purchase a four-day park ticket. Planning a longer trip might result in more significant savings.
5. Annual Pass
If you plan on visiting any of the Disney parks eleven (11) or more days in a year, you might want to purchase an annual pass. The pass is valid for one year from the date of purchase.
6. Florida resident discount
Where you live can make a difference! To get this discount, you will need to provide proof of residency. You can only use the discount on your ticket. So, you cannot use the discount to buy tickets for others.
7. Military Servicemen and Women
There are reduced rates for active and retired members of active duty, reserve, Coast Guard, National Guard. Military Identification is required. You can find them on your military base.
This is a popular destination, so there are not too many discounts on your admission. However, these are some things you should know before you spend money on getting into the park(s).
