disney world  resort guide

search
message boards
Disney store
email
Ticket FAQ

 

 

Where can I buy passes?
You can buy passes from Disney CRO (Central Reservations Office) 1-407-W-DISNEY, & they will mail them to you. Passes can be bought from any Disney Store. If you want to wait until you get there, you can buy passes from any Disney Resort, at the Parks, or from other hotels in Orlando. Discount passes can also be bought from Maple Leaf Tickets. Ultimate Park Hopper passes can only be bought from a Disney Resort or through Disney CRO.

Which pass should I buy?
If you're going for 1 day, just buy a one day, one park ticket. You will only be allowed entry to one park with this ticket, you won't be able to park hop.
If you are going for 2 or 3 days, you have 2 options. You can buy 2 or 3 one day, one park tickets. Or you can buy a bounce back ticket, see below for an explanation.
If you are visiting for four days, consider buying a 4-day park hopper.
If you are visiting for 5 days, consider buying a 5-day park hopper, unless you want to visit one of the minor parks, in which case it may be cheaper to buy a 5-day park hopper plus, see below.
If you are visiting for 6 or 7 days, buy a park hopper plus pass.
If you are visiting for 8 days or more, consider getting an annual pass, or a premium annual pass.
If you are staying at a WDW Resort, it may be better value to buy an Ultimate Park Hopper pass. Although at a certain point it becomes cheaper to buy an annual pass, or a premium annual pass.
Work out how many days you want to spend at the parks, & if you want to visit any of the minor parks. Then study the prices on the ticket page & work out which is the cheapest option for you.

What is a bounce back ticket?
Bounce back tickets are for people who have a one day, one park ticket, who decide they want to visit the next day. You must purchase the bounce back ticket before the end of the day on which you used the one day ticket, you cannot buy it the day after. You can extend the ticket for one or two days more. The pass will cost less than if you buy two separate one day tickets, but will expire two or three days later.

Who can buy the Ultimate Park Hopper?
The Ultimate Park Hopper (formerly the Unlimited Magic Pass) is excusively for guests staying at a Disney Resort. They provide unlimited admission to the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, Animal Kingdom, River Country, Blizzard Beach, Pleasure Island, Disney Quest and Disney's Wide World of Sports complex. They must be purchased for the full length of your reservation & by all members in your party. They are to guests staying at any Walt Disney World Resort, the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resorts, and Downtown Disney area resorts. They expire at midnight on the day that you check out of the resort.

I'm staying for 2 weeks, which is the best pass to buy?
It depends how many days you intend to spend at WDW parks. If you will be spending every day at a Disney park, the annual pass is the best option. If you also want to spend time at the minor parks (e.g. the water parks, Pleasure Island), then a premium annual pass will probably be the best option. Annual Pass holders also get certain discounts, and can get rooms at Disney resorts at discounted rates on certain dates. If you are planning to return to WDW within a year, you will be able to use the pass again, so it can prove to be of very good value.

What is the difference between the annual pass & premium annual pass?
The annual pass gives unlimited admission to the Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. The premium annual pass also includes admission to Pleasure Island, Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, River Country and Disney's Wide World of Sports complex.

Multi-Day Passes
MK
MGM
Epcot
AK
water parks
DisneyQuest
Pleasure Island
Wide World of Sports
Ultimate Park Hopper
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
Park Hopper Pass
*
*
*
*
       
Park Hopper Plus Pass
*
*
*
*
plus 2 visits to any of these parks
Annual Pass
*
*
*
*
       
Premium Annual Pass
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*

 

What is the difference between the Park Hopper & Park Hopper Plus?
The Park Hopper Pass gives unlimited admission to the Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney-MGM Studios; and Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. The Park Hopper Pass gives admission to these parks, plus extra days at your choice of - Downtown Disney Pleasure Island; Disney's Water Parks: Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, and River Country; and Disney's Wide World of Sports complex. The number of options vary according to the number of days on your ticket. If you have a 5 day Park Hopper Plus pass, you get two options. So, for example, you could have one day at a water park, and one day at Pleasure Island.

Can I visit more than one park on the same day with a park hopper pass?
Yes. For example, you can visit Epcot in the morning, then Magic Kingdom in the afternoon. You could even visit all four parks on one day if you have the energy! You must get your hand stamped when you leave each park. You don't have to use the pass on consecutive days, & unused days never expire.

I have a hopper pass left from my last visit, which still has a few days left on, can I exchange it for a new full pass?
You can use the pass as credit towards buying a new pass. If you have one day left on your pass, and it's worth $30, then you can use that pass as $30 credit towards your new ticket. You'd then get $30 off the price of the new pass. ($30 used as an example, not the actual price of a pass). You can also use up the days on your hopper pass as they never expire.

I'm only going for a couple of days, so it's not worth buying a park hopper pass. I've seen passes advertised for sale, that have a couple of unused days on them, sould I buy one of these?
My advice would be to stay well clear of them. Firstly, Disney passes are non-transferrable, and certain older passes had the users photo on them. Secondly, how do you know for certain that there are days still left on the pass? You have no way of telling until you get to the turnstiles at the park!

My friend has an annual pass, can I use this when I visit WDW?
No. When somebody activates an annual pass, an image is taken of their fingers. Every time they use the pass to enter a park, they have to scan their fingers to identify themselves. They may also be asked for ID (passport, driving license).

Do I have to pay for my 2 year old?
No. Children under the age of three can enter the parks free. You only pay for children aged 3 and over.

Can I get discounted passes?
You can get discounts on passes if you are an AAA member, or if you are a DVC member. Discounted passes can also be bought from Maple Leaf Tickets.

Are there any concessions for senior citizens or the disabled?
No.

Can I upgrade my pass?
Yes, as long as you do so before the end of the day that your pass expires. For example, if you have a 4-day park hopper & want to upgrade to a 7-day park hopper plus, you must buy the upgrade on or before the fourth day that you use the pass.

I've bought an annual pass, but have only been given a voucher, where do I get the actual pass?
If you buy your pass through the mail or from a Disney Store, you will be given a voucher. You must exchange this voucher at the guest relations window outside one of the four main parks.

Does my pass allow me entry into one of the special events, such as Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party?
No, events such as Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party, & Night of Joy are known as 'hard ticketed' events, and tickets must be purchased separately.

 

Recommend this page to a friend

Discuss this at the message boards.

 

 

 

 


Disney World - The Online Guide is not affiliated with, maintained by, or in any way officially connected with the Walt Disney Company.

Walt Disney World & it's theme parks, resorts, attractions & area names are trademarks of The Walt Disney Company. All information contained in Disney World - The Online Guide, including prices, dates, times, availability, is subject to change & not official. Joanne will not be held liable for any information (valid or invalid) presented on any page in this site, and will not be held responsible for anything that happens as a result of following advice or information on this site, and does not represent the Walt Disney Company in any manner.

© text, photos, background images, artwork are all copyright Disney World - The Online Guide 1998-2002.
Text and/or photos & artwork may not be used in any way, shape, or form without permission from Joanne.