Annual Passes  |  Bounce Back Pass  |  Discounts  |  E-Ride Nights  |  Finger Scanning  |  Identification  |  Prices  |  Purchasing  |  Re-Entry  |  Selecting the Best Admission Media for You  |  "Sharing" Admission Media  |  Special Events  |  Tickets  |  Transferal of Admission Media  |  Types of Admission Media  |  Ultimate Park Hopper Passes  |  Unused Admission Media  |  Upgrades of Admission Media  |  Usage of Admission Media

Annual Passes

AAA Discounts

Adults Prices

"Bounce Back" Pass

The Bounce Back Pass was designed as a way to up-sell guests that were buying one-day passes into multi-day passes.  If the guest refused the multi-day pass, the ticket seller is authorized to offer the Bounce Back Pass -- which gives additional one-day passes at a significant discount.

The catches are:

1. You still are only getting a one day pass, so park hopping is not possible.
2. You can't even use more than one of these passes on the same day (to park hop even at higher cost).
3. The passes expire, unlike the multi-day passes.  If you buy a regular one-day ticket, the Bounce Back Pass you add-on will expire three (3) days later.  If you add on a third Bounce Back Pass then they expire five (5) days later. In any case, though, the Bounce Back Pass expires seven days from the original purchase date (in other words, the Bounce Back Passes are not "good forever" like other WDW admission media).
4. The discount is really only $5 for the first Bounce Back Pass and $10 or so for a second Bounce Back Pass.
5. You must purchase the bounce back ticket before the end of the same day you used the single park ticket.  

What's in it for Disney?  Well, they get to keep you coming back to their park, and not someone else's -- so you'll buy your food and souvenirs at Walt Disney World, not at someone else's park.

What's in it for you?  Well, you get to extend a single park ticket to allow entry the next day (or for several days) at a slightly reduced price.

The actual cost of a Bounce Back Ticket may vary, so check with guest services at the park or at your resort hotel for details.  Remember, the Bounce Back Bonus works only for single day, single park tickets!

Children's Prices

Disabled Guests Discounts

Discounts

1. First, buy them from AAA if you're a member (you'll get about a 5% discount).
2. Second, buy them using your Disney Club (formerly the Magic Kingdom Club) membership if you are a member (again, about a 5% discount).
3. Third, Disney Vacation Club members get a similar discount.
4. Fourth, you can take advantage of the Bounce-Back Pass, as long as they are available.
5. Last, if you're willing to go to a timeshare presentation. I've heard that you can get some good deals that way, but the trade off is time. Furthermore, there's usually no way to know exactly what passes you'll get or what discount you'll receive until AFTER the presentation.

Jim Perry, a MousePlanet reader sent me the following note:

"Actually there is [another way to get a discount on park admissions].  Through the Shades of Green Resort, military members and their families get a discounted rate on a variety of ticket types (including some tickets that are not offered to the general public) and they are tax free.  Last year we paid $236.00 (compared to $285.00) for an adult "Length of Stay" pass."

Unfortunately, Disney owns a monopoly on selling tickets to their parks, the demand is high, and they don't have to discount them, so they usually don't.

E-Ride (formerly "E-Ticket") Nights

The charge  for an E-Ride ticket is $10.60 (including 6% tax) for adults and $8.48 (including 6% tax) for children 3-9.  You can contact Guest Services at your resort for more information or to buy tickets for E-Ride Nights.  (Note that this link takes you to a different page of the WDW Trip Planning Guide that has a bunch more information on E-Ride Nights.)

Finger Scanning

The key to using the finger scanner is "repeatability."  You want the scanner to see your fingers the same way each time, so make sure that you put your fingers against the three posts in the same location each time, make sure that you push in against the center post with about the same amount of pressure each time, and make sure that you squeeze your fingers against the outer posts about the same each time.

If all goes well, you will be allowed to pass into the park without further ado.  If not, you'll be delayed as the cast member at the turnstile decides what to do.  Sometimes they'll just pass you through.  Sometimes they'll require you to try to re-scan.  Sometimes they'll "re-flash" the image so next time it should work properly.  In some rare cases, the cast member may ask you for photo identification to prove you are who you say you are.  No matter what, such a problem will cause a delay which is an irritation all by itself.

Florida Resident Discounts

"Getting the Most" out of your Admission Media

Hand Stamps

"Hard Ticketed Events"

Identification

"Park Hoppers"

"Passes" or "Passports"

Price Increases

Disney increases prices as necessary throughout the year.  In general, there are two price increases, one in the Spring and one in the Fall.  Usually these increases are a small percentage of the total price, but they have added up to be rather significant over the last few years.

Purchasing

There are several ways you can purchase your admission media for your WDW stay. The things to keep in mind are convenience and line queuing. If you wait until the first time you go to one of the parks to buy your passes, you will undoubtedly stand in a line for more time than you'll have patience for. After standing in the line to buy the admission media, you'll likely have to stand in line to enter the park, too. Double jeopardy, but it's you're own fault for not planning ahead.

Better ways to handle your admission media include:

• In September 2002, Walt Disney World unveiled a new advanced media purchasing system. Tickets can be ordered online at disneyworld.com, by calling (407) W-DISNEY (934-7639), through your local Disney Store, or through a travel agent. The savings varies depending on the type of media you purchase.
  • Note: If you buy directly from WDW, your passes will be mailed to you before you leave home on your trip. Delivery time will be six weeks or more, so if you choose to do it this way, plan ahead. In general, a processing fee of $3.00 and shipping charges are added, which will cut into the savings you get from buying ahead. As an alternative, you can arrange to have your pre-purchased tickets held for you at guest relations at the park.
  • If you plan to purchase your admission media the Disney Store, be aware that the media that is available at the Disney Stores is becoming more limited than in the past. For example, the Four- and Five-Day Park Hopper Passes can no longer be purchased at the discounted Disney Club rate at the stores, although other media is still available.
• You can stop in at the Disney welcome center just off I-75 in Ocala and buy your tickets (and use the rest room) there. Of course, this makes sense only if you're planning to drive through Ocala on the way to WDW...
• If you're flying to WDW, you can buy them at the airport.
• You can purchase tickets and passports at the guest services desk of any Disney-owned and operated hotel.
• "Ultimate Park Hopper Passes," the so called "length-of-stay" passes, can only be purchased directly through your Disney-owned and operated resort. Those arrangements can be made when you make your room reservations, or added later with a simple call to the resort or WDW's central reservations office.
• You can also get admission media at many non-WDW hotels. Prices are generally the same as Disney's normal prices, although it's possible that a given hotel might offer discounts in order to lure business to their establishment. It never hurts to ask...
• Go ahead and buy your passes at the park, but my suggestion is that you go over and buy them the evening before you plan to first use them. That way, you'll minimize the length of the lines you must wait in (the queues to buy tickets diminish greatly as late afternoon turns to evening). The only drawback is that you might, if you're not staying at a Disney-owned resort hotel, have to pay parking for the privilege.

No fees above and beyond the cost of the admission media itself is ever imposed by any Disney stores, resorts, or any other "official" Disney source when you are buying admission media in person. The exception is the fees charged for mail orders. Many non-Disney resorts and hotels do add extra fees, though, so make sure you know what you're buying and what you're paying for your admission media.

Re-Entry

Be aware that the Cast Members can view a display on the turnstile that show that you have been in a park earlier in the day. 

The point here is that Disney is trying to keep two people from using the same admission media in the same day.  I suppose it can happen, but I personally find this to be a pain in the neck.  Regardless, it's better to get the handstamp than be refused entry to the park.  In general, Disney will be lenient and tolerant, but you just might get in line with that one cast member that is having a bad day to make your day worse.  Don't risk it!  Get the handstamp and use the re-entry line the next time through. 

Senior Citizen Discounts

Selecting the Best Admission Media for You

Admission media can be purchased from several different legal and legitimate sources. The prices vary, though, depending on the type of media and whether or not it's included with your resort package. Further complicating things is the fact that Disney Club (formerly the Magic Kingdom Club) and Disney Vacation Club members are granted discounts.  Be aware, then, that the prices I provide here are intended just to provide you with a "ballpark" idea of what your admission media will cost you.

If you want to get the very best admission media to meet your needs (both in terms of price and function), I suggest you follow this process:

• check with your hotel (onsite or not) about available ticket packages and plans
• after you have those prices in hand, check at your local Disney Store (or call the WDW information line) to see how those plan prices compare to the cost of buying the admission media without any extras
• while you're at the Disney Store, ask about Disney Club (formerly the Magic Kingdom Club) prices and the cost to join the club (if you're not already a member)
• last, check at your own AAA (or other car club, if you're a member) or with your travel agent to see if they can land you an even better deal

The bottom line is that there is no substitute for doing your own homework if cost is your primary concern. If, on the other hand, convenience and ease are more important, a simple solution would be to purchase "Ultimate Park Hopper Passes" (perhaps as part of a larger package) from your Disney resort.

Special Events

E-Ride Nights, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Night of Joy, and other such "hard ticket" events require that you purchase a separate admission, above and beyond the regular park admission that you would use on that same day.

On those nights that such Special Events are being run, the park closes at about 6:00p.m. and "re-opens" at 7:00p.m. for those folks that have paid for the special event. (Actually, what happens is that special event attendees are provided with a wrist band that shows that they are part of the special event. Attractions "close" to anyone that does not have such a wrist band at 6:00p.m.).

Most Special Events include some special entertainment or themeing that truly makes the night a special one.

Be aware, too, that special events have a limited number of tickets and they DO sell out!  If you want to enjoy such an event, get your tickets ahead of time!

"Tickets"

Transferal of  Admission Media

Admission Media can not be legal transferred to someone else.  Once someone has used a multi-day pass or an annual pass, that someone is the ONLY person that legally can use that pass on succeeding days.  If you buy partially used passes, you probably won't get caught...but you're committing a misdemeanor in the State of Florida.  That's not the kind of lesson you want your kids to learn, now is it?

Another example is that many people every day buy tickets from illegal vendors, having been told that they have 2 or 3 days left.  When they come to the gate, they find they have NOTHING.

And that's what Disney does for the hapless folks.  Nothing.

It is simply not worth the risk, and it's very unlikely you'll be able to find the con artist to get your money back.  Besides, it is not fun spending 45 minutes talking to Disney security on why you're from Michigan trying to use someone's from Massachusetts.  Disney knows all the info on that ticket, including where it was purchased.

Simply put, you can't buy and use previously used admission media, and you can't "share" admission media among your party...and you risk much if you attempt to do so.

Note: Laws vary by state to state.

Types of Admission Media

1. A Ticket is accepted at one park only and for one day only.  A new type of ticket, the "Two-Day, Two-Park" and "Three-Day, Three-Park" allow you to save some money if you buy tickets for multiple days, but you are limited to visit only one park in any given day (i.e., you can not "park hop.")  This is the only admission media listed here that does NOT include unlimited use of WDW transportation (since, as Disney sees it, you don't need to commute from one park to another).  Tickets may be purchased for the water parks and other "minor" attractions, also.
2. Park Hopper Passes are accepted at each of the major parks and for multiple days.  Currently four-day and five-day park hopper passes are available.  (Note:  The term "park hopper" means that you can "hop" from park to park throughout the day while using only one day's credit on the pass.  For example, you can go to the Magic Kingdom first thing in the morning, switch over to Animal Kingdom in the late morning, then -- after your afternoon break -- go to the Studios late afternoon before finishing the day at Epcot to see IllumiNations... all of that with using only one day's credit on the park hopper!)
3. Park Hopper Plus Passes are accepted at each of the major parks and for multiple days.  In addition, the Park Hopper Plus Pass provides two or more "plus options."  The "plus options" are a one day admission to Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, River Country (Note: all water parks open seasonally), Pleasure Island, or Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.)   Park Hopper Plus Passes are currently available as a 5-day Park Hopper Plus Pass (which includes two "plus options") the 6-day Park Hopper Plus Pass (which includes three "plus options") and the 7-day Park Hopper Plus Pass (which includes four "plus options"). Note: Neither the admission to the major theme parks nor the "options" ever expire! See Unused Media below for more details.
4. Ultimate Park Hopper Passes are valid for the entire duration of your Walt Disney World stay. Only Disney-owned and operated resorts offer Ultimate Park Hopper Passes.  Costs vary depending on the length of your stay and include unlimited use of the major parks as well as Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, River Country, Pleasure Island, Wide World of Sports, and DisneyQuest.
5. Annual Passes, or APs, permit entry to the major parks for an entire year.
6. Premium Annual Passes permit entry for an entire year dating from the date of purchase to the major parks as well as Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, River Country, Pleasure Island, and Wide World of Sports.

Annual Passes and Premium Annual Passes permit entry for one year dating from the date of purchase (assuming you buy them at the park just before you use them).  You can stretch the time frame a little bit by buying APs online or via mail (or at your local Disney Store), in which case you will actually receive a certificate that you must redeem for your actual annual pass when you get to the park. The clock starts ticking on the year that the pass is valid from the date that you receive the actual pass (even if you don't actually go into the park that day!)

However, annual pass renewals are valid for one year from the expiration date of the old pass (just like a magazine subscription renewal).

Ultimate Park Hopper Passes

Unused Admission Media

In general, old, but unused admission media can always be used -- even several months or even years after it was purchased.  (The exception is the very old coupon books that were used to ride individual attractions in the Magic Kingdom.  Since the park no longer operates with those "A," "B," "C," "D," and "E" tickets any more, the only way to get the residual value out of them is to cash them in... although as a collectors item they may be worth more than their face value.)

Alternatively, you can have the pro-rated value (the value is determined from the time you purchased the old admission media, not it's "current" value) of older admission media applied to the purchase of new admission media as long as the user of the new admission media and the name on the old media are the same.  (Note that you can't "trade in" aunt Mildred's old ticket from her 1989 visit for credit on new admission media that YOU will use, but Aunt Mildred can trade that ticket in for credit on a pass that SHE will use.)

As it turns out, actually using the media to enter the park may be more worthwhile than "cashing" it in.  Since the value that you'll be given toward new admission media is prorated, you may find that just using the pass is a better deal.

Keep in mind, too, that if you have very old media, you very likely will have to exchange it for new tickets (as magnetic stripped passes are used now for park entry -- and you need the new media to take advantage of Fastpass, too).

In the past, the policy was that any old media that was purchased before any one (or more) of the existing parks was opened was restricted from being usable at those newer venues. (For example, if you have an old pass that pre-dated the opening of Animal Kingdom, you would be able to use that pass to park hop among the other parks... but not to enter Animal Kingdom.) Now, however, the policy is that any old admission media can be exchanged for new media that works anywhere. The type of media remains the same (you can't turn in an old one-day/one-park pass and expect to receive a park hopper in return), but you can use the new pass at any park you choose.

Finally, note that on the currently available Park Hopper Plus Passes neither the admission to the major theme parks nor the "options" ever expire!

Upgrades of Admission Media

Upgrades from existing media can be done within a seven day "grace period" of its' first usage. This is another relatively recent change from the previous policy. (It used to be that the seven day grace period was in effect, but also that you had to request the upgrade before the day on which the admission media "runs out."  For example, if you were using the last day of a 5-Day Park Hopper Pass and wanted to upgrade to an Annual Pass, you would have been out of luck.  Since you've already entered the park on that last day, the pass was considered to have zero residual value.) However, apparently WDW now figures that allowing upgrades within that entire "grace period" is a competitive advantage.

Note, too, that if you upgrade from multi-day pass to an annual pass, the AP will be dated from the day you first used the multi-day pass... NOT the date of the upgrade!

Note that residual value that exists in any admission media (for example, an unused day of a multi-day pass) can ALWAYS be cashed in at it's current value.  (See Unused Admission Media above.)

There are two ways of upgrading from an annual pass (AP) to a premium annual pass (PAP):

1. A regular upgrade. If you have an Annual Pass and you want a PAP and want the same expiration date, you pay the straight difference. This can be done ANYTIME you have an annual pass.
2. Your ticket will be given a remaining "cash" value. The Remaining value will be applied to the purchase of your PAP. You're PAP will expire one year from the date of upgrade.

In any case, you can not simply renew an annual pass (or PAP) more than 30 days out from expiration. Your new pass is not accepted in the turnstiles until your current expires.

Unfortunately, Disney frequently changes their policy on such matters.  The bottom line... if you're faced with an upgrade situation, don't settle!  Keep asking questions and work the CM until you get what you want to get.  In some cases, you will simply be told "no," but if you're adamant (without being rude), you just might get a deal that works better for you than the "usual policy" -- whatever that is.

Usage of Admission Media

Be careful when considering the different media that are available, since different features can be included in any admission media purchase. For example, since the "Park Hopper Passes" do not include admission to the various "minor" parks and attractions at Walt Disney World (i.e. the water parks, Pleasure Island, etc.) you have to decide if you'd like to purchase the more expensive "Park Hopper Plus Passes" instead.  It really just depends on what you and your party will be doing during your trip.

The "Ultimate Park Hopper Passes", that can be purchased only by Disney Resort guests, are valid for the entire length of your stay. That means that they can be used starting the morning of your arrival (even if you didn't sleep at the resort the night before) and are valid until midnight of the day you check out. Consider the possibilities here: You can stay at a less expensive off-site motel the night before you begin your Disney stay. Early in the morning, you can go over to the resort at which you will be staying and pick up your passes (it's almost a certainty that you won't be able to check-in to your room yet, but the passes will be available nonetheless). On the day you check out, you can spend the day in the parks, then drive over to the budget motel, again, for your final night in the Orlando area. This strategy can maximize your pass value, but has the disadvantage of requiring a couple of motel moves.

"Ultimate Park Hopper Passes" provide the most flexibility to see the parks, the water parks, and the other attractions at WDW. Check to see if Annual Passes might be less costly, though. For a very lengthy trip, the daily cost of Annual Passes might be cheaper than length-of-stay passes.

Also, if you're planning to come back to WDW within a year of another trip an "Annual Pass" can be a financial boon. On one occasion, for example, I was sent to WDW on business (believe it or not). When we were there in November, we decided to buy Annual Passes that we used for both the business trip and our already-planned-trip the following April. The Annual Passes would never have paid for themselves for either trip by themselves, but were a big savings when the trips were combined. Plus, it allowed us to visit the parks in the evening during the business trip which we otherwise wouldn't have been able to do.  Another strategy that I've used is to plan one year's trip to begin late one month and the NEXT year's trip to end before the Annual Passes expire, so we get in two trips for the ticket price of one.

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