Category — e. What to Budget for Walt Disney World

Hey–ticket prices went up on February 11. I’ll revise this material shortly to reflect the new levels.

WALT DISNEY WORLD 2018 ADMISSION TICKET PRICES

(This page is sponsored by the Official Ticket Center. Check them out for reliably lower-priced Disney World tickets!)

Three types of Walt Disney World prices are important to think about:

• Walt Disney World theme park admission ticket prices—the tickets that grant you admission to the parks
• Walt Disney World resort hotel prices, and
• Park and hotel food prices

This page focuses on Walt Disney World theme park admission ticket prices from now until they go up again, likely in early 2018.

MORE DETAILS ON WALT DISNEY WORLD ADMISSION TICKET PRICES  2018: HOW THE TICKETS WORK

There are multiple types of Walt Disney World theme park tickets, but the one most relevant to most first time visitors is the Magic Your Way ticket, with or without the Park Hopper option.

You buy one theme park ticket for each person who will be three years old or older at the time of your visit (kids younger than three enter the parks for free.) The tickets have two pricing levels: one for kids who will be younger than ten at the time of your visit (but 3 or older) and the other for people ten or older.

When you buy your tickets, you also say how many “days” you want—from one to ten. Each “day” you buy permits unlimited visits to one theme park on one day. If you also add the Park Hopper option, you can make unlimited visits to any of the theme parks in one day–one theme park, two, three, or all four theme parks.

• For example, if you buy a three day ticket without the park hopper option, you could make two visits to the Magic Kingdom on day one, three visits to Epcot on day two, and two visits to the Animal Kingdom on day 3
• If you have a three day ticket with the park hopper option, you could for example make two visits to the Magic Kingdom and one to Disney’s Hollywood Studios on day one, one visit to Epcot and two to Disney’s Animal Kingdom on day two, and one to Epcot and two to the Magic Kingdom on day three
• What you can’t do without a park hopper ticket is visit more than one theme park on the same day. For example, you can’t, on November 25th, use one day of your three-day ticket to visit the Magic Kingdom, and another day of this same ticket to visit Epcot that same day. More than one theme park in a day requires a park hopper

You do not have to use your days all in a row boom boom boom—e.g. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Once you use your first day, you have 14 days to use all the days on your ticket. So on a three-day ticket you could visit the theme parks Monday, Thursday, and Sunday.

• You can also add days at the same price that you would have paid had you bought all those days at once, but have to do so no later than the day you use the last day of your original ticket (and within 14 days of the first day, and before the tickets expire–12/31/2018 for tickets bought now)
• So if you buy a three-day ticket, and realize a few days later that you need more days, you can add two days and they will cost only the difference between what you paid originally for a three day ticket, and what you would have had to have paid for a five day ticket, so long as you add these days no later than the day you use your third day
• You can also add stuff like the Park Hopper during the same day window at the same price as you would have paid when you first bought your ticket

However, you can’t “subtract” days if you overbuy.

HOW WALT DISNEY WORLD PRICES ITS THEME PARK ADMISSION TICKETS

1. While Disney typically increases ticket prices at least once a year–late February in 2014 through 2016, and early February in 2017—it changes theme park admission prices based on the seasons of the year only for One Day tickets, which also have another curious characteristic–different prices for the Magic Kingdom vs the other three parks. Multi-day tickets–which most people buy–are the same price whenever you plan to visit, but as of February 12, 2017 do have an expiration date–12/31/2019 for tickets purchased in 2018 (after then, you can trade in the value of unused expired tickets towards a new ticket.)

(Note that all my prices assume you buy online; as of February 2017 most in-person purchases cost an extra $20.)

2. Disney sells tickets by the day—one through ten days. The way it prices these days, the first four days are very expensive, while days after the fourth are comparatively almost free. See the image for exact Disney World prices.

For example, a four day ticket costs (including tax) an adult $372.75, or an average of $93.19 a day. A ten day ticket would cost the same adult $468.60. The added 6 days cost in total around $96 more—or just about $16 per day. For a 4-6 day ticket, it costs $21.30/day/person to add more days–and on and after the 7th day, just $10.65/day/person to add days.

3. A park hopper costs (after tax) about $80 for all ticket lengths longer than three days..

I have also uploaded an excel spreadsheet with the same data in it as the chart, so that you can multiply by the number of members of your own family.

TIPS AND TRICKS FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD THEME PARK TICKETS

There are other ticket types than the ones discussed above—less relevant for first time visitors. For details on all of them, see this page on MouseSavers.com.

While it’s hard to find discounts on tickets, it is sometimes possible, especially for longer-stay tickets. Check sponsor the Official Ticket Center, MouseSavers.com, Triple A if you are a member, and if you have military ties, this page and also MilitaryDisneyTips.com.

Since you can add on to your tickets–days, park hoppers, etc.–but can’t subtract, it doesn’t really pay to overbuy. Start with the minimum you think you need (but at least two days) and add on later if needed.  Remember to add no later than the day you use your current last day!

All of this site’s To-Do Lists tell you exactly what ticket type you need for their associated itineraries.

FREE TICKETS ON YOUR BIRTHDAY?

Disney world no longer offers free tickets on your birthday.

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Several new Walt Disney World discounts for late February into early June came out this morning. The later April through June dates are a new offer.

If you book your vacation through partner and friend of this site Kelly B as your travel agent, she will figure out the best deal for you!! Contact her Kelly@DestinationsInFlorida.com!

The most understandable part of the deal is a room rate deal, which has various levels of discounts by room class, date of booking, and period of stay.

DISNEY VALUE RESORT DEALS

Value resort deals exclude–as usual–Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation.

DISNEY MODERATE RESORT DEALS

Port Orleans French Quarter is excluded from the deal among the moderates, and deals at Riverside are slender.

DISNEY DELUXE RESORT DEALS

All of the Disney deluxes are in the deal, although savings range from 10% of to 25%.

DISNEY DVC RESORT DEALS

Bay Lake Tower and the Villas at the Grand Floridian are excluded from the DVC resorts on offer, and at the Polynesian Villas and Bungalows, only Studios are in the deal.

For detailed reviews of every resort hotel  option, see this or get a copy of my book.

For the full set of deals that came out today, see this. Or, if you sign with Kelly B as your travel agent, she will figure out the best deal for you!! Contact her Kelly@DestinationsInFlorida.com!

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Kelly let me know that Disney World released today new discounts for 2017. Here’s the scoop:

Disney World Winter Discounts are Here. Book today to take advantage of some wonderful Disney World discounts that were just released:

• Play, Stay, Dine – save off of your entire room, ticket and dining package. Stay most nights 1/1/2017 – 1/7/2017 when you book by 12/21/2016
• Gift of Magic Room, Kid-Sized Gift of Magic Package and Gift of Family Magic Offers – save up to 25% on rooms for stays most nights 12/15/2016 – 12/23/2016 and 1/1/2017- 4/8/2017 when you book by 12/21/2016

By booking early, with Kelly B and Destinations in Florida – Dave’s fans were able to rely on our free future discount search and as of 7:00AM this morning had already saved a total of $2,285.

Contact Kelly@DestinationsInFlorida.com today to take advantage of these great Disney discount offers.

The room rate deal is a little complicated, so, trying to help, I built the following table of discounts (click it to enlarge it):

Note that in the room rate deal the values and moderates have a different calendar than the other hotels, and note the various different discount levels and exclusions.

The best choice among these deals will vary by family.  If you use Kelly as your travel agent to book the deal, she will figure this out for you!! Contact her Kelly@DestinationsInFlorida.com!

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As Steve is reporting on the MilitaryDisneyTips.com Facebook page, the 2017 Disney Armed Forces Salute became available today.

Steve has the details on both the 2016 and 2017 Armed Forces Salutes here, but here’s the basics:

• The salute is valid from January 1, 2017 through December 19, 2017, but excludes April 9-23.
• For 2017 it includes not just deeply discounted 4 day tickets, as it has the past few years, but also deeply discounted 5 day tickets. Unless your kids are younger than 5, the 5 day option is the one to choose, as it permits two days in the Magic Kingdom and a day each in the other three parks.
• Also available again as part of the 2017 salute are room discounts—30% off value resorts, 35% off moderates, and 40% off deluxes.
• Note that the two deals are not linked–you can get the ticket deal, the room rate deal, or both

Some of the most popular room types (e.g. Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation) are excluded, and availability elsewhere is very limited (more rooms may be added).

S0 those aiming to use the room rate deal for a visit before May (remembering the excluded April dates!) should book right away.

The ticket deal is available only directly from various base sources. But Kelly can book the room rate deal for eligible military families.
Contact her at KellyB@DestinationsInFlorida.com or 980-429-4499.

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Kelly let me know this morning that for those who have Disney Visa cards, two new Walt Disney World deals for late 2016/early 2017 came out today. Similar deals for the general public should be out October 4.

Here’s what she sent me:

It’s a perfect time to book your Winter Disney vacation. Disney just released two discounts (Available to Disney Visa card holders today – with an expected release for the general public next week).

Get a discount on your entire package with Stay, Play and Dine – Check in Dates 1/1 – 3/7 (Minimum 3 nights, must be booked by 12/21/2016 – Offer excludes campsites, 3-bedroom villas, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort –The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms and Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.)

If you don’t need a complete package the Winter Room Discount may be right for you – Check in 12/15 – 12/23 & 1/1 – 4/8 (Offer excludes campsites, 3-bedroom villas, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms and Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.

Contact KellyB@DestinationsInFlorida.com or 980-429-4499 today. (Not only will you get a great savings, but when you book a qualifying vacation with Destinations In Florida all of our services are FREE and you’ll get a FREE copy of the latest edition of Dave’s Easy Guide to Walt Disney World).

If you book your Disney World visit with Kelly she’ll work with you to get you into any of these deals you are eligible for! Contact her at KellyB@DestinationsInFlorida.com or 980-429-4499.

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Today Disney World came out with room only discount for many nights in November and December.

Except at the deluxes, these savings are available for stays November 6th to November 10, November 16 to November 22, and November 26 to December 23. At the deluxes, savings appear to exclude November 6th through November 10.

These deals must be booked by October 8th, but availability will be narrower with each passing day.

To get these savings, contact Kelly B at KellyB@DestinationsInFlorida.com or 980-429-4499.

Value resort discounts:

• 10% off: All-Star Movies, Music and Sports; Pop Century; Art of Animation family suites
• Excluded: Art of Animation standard Little Mermaid rooms

Moderate resort discounts

• 15% off: Caribbean Beach, Coronado Springs, Port Orleans Riverside, Cabins at Fort Wilderness
• Apparently excluded: Port Orleans French Quarter (not listed by Disney as excluded, but not on its discount list, either)

Deluxe resort discounts (11/16 to 11/22 and 11/26 to 12/23):

• 10% off: Beach Club, Contemporary and Polynesian Village
• 20% off: Animal Kingdom Lodge, BoardWalk Inn, Grand Floridian, Wilderness Lodge, Yacht Club

DVC resort discounts:

• 10% off: Beach Club Villas, Studios at Polynesian Village
• 20% off: Jambo House and Kidani Village villas at Animal Kingdom Lodge; BoardWalk Villas; Old Key West; Saratoga Springs; Villas at the Wilderness Lodge
• Excluded: Bay Lake Tower; Villas at the Grand Floridian; Bungalows at the Polynesian

To get these savings, contact Kelly B at KellyB@DestinationsInFlorida.com or 980-429-4499.

Follow yourfirstvisit.net on Facebook or Google+ or Twitter or Pinterest!!