Cheap Tickets?

One of the top questions that people will ask when they are planning a Walt Disney World vacation is where they can get cheap tickets. The answer to that is simple; you can’t. Walt Disney World tickets are expensive, it’s as simple as that. That doesn’t mean that they aren’t worth every penny, because in the long run they are an incredible value. Here are a few dos and don’ts that you should keep in mind when it comes to purchasing tickets.

Do:

Buy your tickets directly from the Walt Disney World website. Plan to stay a couple of extra days if possible, and you will pay less per day.

Don’t:

Purchase tickets from places near Walt Disney World that sell “cheap tickets”. These tickets could be used or counterfeit. Either way, they won’t get you into a park, and Disney will not refund you because you didn’t purchase anything from them.

Do:

Look for an Authorized Walt Disney World Ticket Seller. You won’t save a lot this way, but you might save a few dollars. If the company selling the tickets doesn’t have the official logo, do your research before you buy.

Don’t:

Buy tickets online from eBay, Craigslist, or a similar site. There are far too many scams out there.

Do:

Consider buying an Annual Pass for at least one member of your party. You will then be eligible for benefits such as free parking (if you’re staying off property), merchandise discounts, some food discounts, PhotoPass downloads, and more. Benefits may vary, and not all Florida Resident passes include PhotoPass.

Don’t:

Buy an Annual Pass if you haven’t looked at the benefits on the Walt Disney World website. For some parties buying one AP makes sense, but for others it will not save money in the long run.

Do:

Consider buying a ticket at your hotel’s front desk or in a local store such as Publix (grocery store) or Walmart. If you don’t already have tickets, these are convenient places to pick them up. If you are staying off property and buy from your hotel, they still need to be an authorized seller.

Don’t:

Purchase a Florida resident ticket if you don’t live in Florida. (You can find these tickets in some stores near the parks.) You will be asked for proof of residency when you redeem your ticket.

Timeshares:

Not all of the places that offer “cheap tickets” are selling bogus admission. Some of them will give you less expensive tickets (or possibly even free) in exchange for sitting through a timeshare presentation. Whether or not you decide to do this is totally up to you. Be warned, though, that it is a high pressure sales pitch. They will not want to let you out of the office until you have agreed to some type of a purchase, even if you just buy a weekend getaway instead of the full timeshare membership. Before you agree to hear the presentation, decide whether or not you really want to take time out of your vacation. This does not refer to the presentations for Disney Vacation Club. They handle things much differently, and have more respect for your time.