The Walt Disney World Resort is a magical place and you'll want to make sure you do it the right way. But where to start? If you are at the very beginning stages of thinking of planning a Walt Disney World vacation, we’d recommend starting with our guide on everything you need to know to plan a Disney World trip.

Today, we're going to focus specifically on Walt Disney World tickets. There are so many different ticket options, that it may be hard to know which one is best for you. That's where our Disney World Ticket Guide comes in.

There are two main ticket types available for guests visiting Walt Disney World Resort:

1. One Park per Day Tickets
2. Park Hopper Tickets

There are also two add-on ticket options available:

• Water Park and Sports option (add-on to your 1 Park per Day tickets)
• Park Hopper Plus option (add-on to your Park Hopper tickets)

Each ticket type has its own perks and offers different levels of flexibility. As the industry leader for discount Walt Disney World vacation packages, we’re here to break down what Disney World ticket types are right for you and answer all of your questions.

The most entry-level ticket for Walt Disney World is a 1 Park per Day ticket, formerly called base tickets. 1 Park per Day tickets can be purchased in 1 to 10-day increments.

Your 1 Park per Day tickets are valid for entry into one theme park per day for each day of your ticket. You can pick a different theme park each day or any combination of the following 4 theme parks:

• Magic Kingdom Park
• EPCOT
• Disney's Hollywood Studios
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park

For example, if you have a 3-day 1 Park per Day ticket, you can choose to visit up to three of the main theme parks listed above. You could choose to visit a different park each day, or you could spend all three days at one of them. It doesn't matter what you choose, but once you enter a park for the day, you are unable to enter another theme park that same day.

Remember, you’ll also need a theme park reservation in addition to your theme park ticket in order to visit any of the Walt Disney World theme parks.

Remember theme park reservations are no longer required for date-based tickets.

Water Park and Sports Option tickets allow guests with 1 Park per Day tickets to visit other areas of Walt Disney World Resort during their vacation.

Your Water Park and Sports Option tickets are valid for entry into one of the following:

• Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park
• Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
• Disney's Oak Trail Golf Course
• Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course – FootGolf
• Disney's Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course (prior to 4:00 p.m.)
• Disney's Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course

You’ll get one “visit” to your choice of the options above for each day your 1 Park per Day ticket is valid. For example, if you have a 4-Day ticket, you’ll get four visits to use.

You don’t have to use the visits on the same day as your theme parks, but they MUST be used within your ticket expiration window, which is outlined below.

Keep in mind that some experiences are not always available and may have time or day of the week restrictions.

1 Park per Day Tickets are the most affordable Walt Disney World tickets offered. See how much a Walt Disney World vacation costs here. If you are visiting Walt Disney World Resort for the first time or need to stick to a strict budget, a 1 Park per Day ticket is a good place to start.

Many people find it a stress-free way to visit the parks because they know they are committed to one park each day of their trip. Families traveling with small kids may also feel like this ticket type works better for them.

Because Walt Disney World is so spread out, it can take 20-40 minutes to go between parks. If you're used to Park Hopping at Disneyland Resort, getting from one theme park to another may feel long to you. With the 1 Park per Day ticket, you can still leave the park and return to the same park later in the day.

Although it is the most budget-friendly of the ticket types, it is also the most restrictive since you can only visit one park per day. You may find you need more flexibility if plans, operation hours, or entertainment schedules change.

We Recommend...

We recommend at least a 4-day 1 Park per Day ticket so you can experience one day at each of the main theme parks. If you have less time, we recommend considering a Park Hopper ticket so you can still experience all four parks. Keep reading for more details on the Park Hopper ticket below.

We also recommend the Water Park and Sports Option add-on for anyone who wants to visit Disney’s Blizzard Beach or Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and wants to save a little bit of money.

If you're looking for a little more flexibility for your Disney World tickets, consider the Park Hopper ticket. Like the 1 Park per Day ticket, a Disney World Park Hopper ticket is valid for admission to all four of the major theme parks:

• Magic Kingdom Park
• EPCOT
• Disney's Hollywood Studios
• Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park

However, the big difference is that you can visit more than one park each day. For example, if you have a 3-day Park Hopper ticket, you can choose to reserve visits to up to three of the main theme parks listed above, then hop to other theme parks later in the day.

You could choose to visit a different park each morning and hop to your favorite park each night. Or you could spend one full day at your favorite theme park and the remaining days split between the others. It doesn't matter what you choose because you can enter another theme park on the same.

The most flexible and deluxe of all of the Disney World tickets is the Park Hopper Plus. This ticket option includes all of the flexibility of the Park Hopper, plus admission to a number of other attractions and parks inside Walt Disney World.

With Disney World Park Hopper Plus tickets, you'll get admission to many of the "extras" at Walt Disney World Resort. These extra experiences include:

• Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park
• Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
• Disney's Oak Trail Golf Course
• Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course – FootGolf
• Disney's Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course (prior to 4:00 p.m.)
• Disney's Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course

The number of extra visits is equivalent to the number of days your Park Hopper Plus ticket is valid. That means that if you purchase a 5-day Park Hopper Plus ticket, you'll get five visits. And the best part is that the visits can but don't have to be used on the same day as your park days.

For example, if you want to go to a water park in the morning, and then golf in the afternoon, it would not count as one of your theme park days, but it would take up two of your extra experience visits.

The Park Hopper Plus is by far the most flexible ticket and gives you the most value. Keep in mind that some experiences are not always available and may have time or day of the week restrictions.

Although you don’t have to use your visits on the same day that you use your theme park days, all visits must be used within your ticket expiration window. You can find the expiration window for all ticket types and lengths below.

With the Park Hopper, many people like to visit one theme park in the morning, spend the bulk of the day there, and then visit another theme park at night. Learn how to use Disney Genie+ and Lightning Lane for the best Park Hopper experience here.

Park Hoppers are an especially good idea if you are visiting during a time of year when exclusive events take place. For example, Magic Kingdom hosts Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party on select nights in August - October. Magic Kingdom also hosts Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on select nights throughout the holiday season.

These events require a separate ticket for admission and the park closes early to the public on party nights. If you have a Park Hopper ticket, you can easily attend Magic Kingdom until park closing, and then head to another open park in the evening if you don't have a party ticket.

We Recommend...

We recommend at least a 4-day Park Hopper ticket so you can start your day at each of the main theme parks in the morning. With a little bit of planning, you can really maximize your park time by being at the park in the earliest hours of the morning, and then hopping to the park with the latest hours at night. Park Hopper tickets are best for people who want a little more flexibility or enjoy spending as much time at the parks as possible.

Or, if you’re a foodie, you may even just want to hop to EPCOT for dinner from a different country every night of your vacation!

We also recommend the Park Hopper Plus Ticket if you are lucky enough to be able to stay at Walt Disney World for a week or longer. Or if you want to experience a Walt Disney World water park, especially for summer visits. Regular water park admission is around $70 per day, so the Park Hopper Plus is an awesome value.

The Walt Disney World Resort occasionally hosts events outside of regular theme park hours that require a separate ticket. Many of the seasonal events are held at Magic Kingdom, however, Disney has also held special “After Dark” events at all four theme parks.

Seasonal events that require a special event ticket include:

• Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party</li>
• Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party

Your regular theme park tickets will not work for entry into these special ticketed events. For example, if you have a 1 Park per day ticket and are visiting Magic Kingdom on a day it is hosting Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, your regular admission ticket ends at regular park closing hours that day.

In order to stay for party hours, you will need to purchase a Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party event ticket.

Now that we’ve gone over the different Walt Disney World tickets that are available, we're going to cover some of the rules that you need to be aware of that apply to all of the different Walt Disney World ticket types.

• In order to visit any of the theme parks at Walt Disney World Resort, you’ll need both a theme park ticket and a theme park reservation.
• Theme park reservations are no longer required for date-based tickets.
• You can park hop throughout the day.
• All Walt Disney World tickets must be used by the same person. You may not resell or share tickets with another person.
• All Disney World tickets are equipped with My Magic+, however FastPass+ reservations are currently not available at the theme parks.
• Child ages for Walt Disney World tickets are 3-9. If your children are 10 or older, they'll need an adult ticket. Kids ages two and under do not require a ticket or theme park reservation.
• Genie+ can be added to your ticket on the day of your visit. Read more about Disney Genie+ here.

• Extra Magic Hour is now known as “Early Theme Park Entry” and is available for Walt Disney World Resort Hotel guests and select neighboring properties. This 30-minute early entry happens at the 4 main Walt Disney World theme parks each day
• Extended Evening Theme Park Hours are also available for guests of Disney Deluxe Resort Hotels or Disney Deluxe Villas—experiencing select attractions after regular park hours—in select theme parks on select nights.
• Memory Maker (A Disney PhotoPass product) can be pre-purchased and added to any of the ticket types. You’ll want to purchase Memory Maker at least 3 days prior to your visit in order to save $30. Current pricing is $185 if you buy 3 days before you arrive, and will increase later on.
• All ticket types can be purchased in 3 to 10-day increments with Get Away Today.
• All Disney World tickets are on a pricing tier and prices fluctuate according to your first date of admission. Our Get Away Today representatives can help you discover the best ticket options for you.
• Walt Disney World tickets will have different expiration dates. Please see the window in which each ticket length must be used:
  • 1-Day tickets must be used for the specific theme park selected and the start date selected.
  • 2-Day tickets must be used within 4 days of the selected start date.
  • 3-Day tickets must be used within 5 days of the selected start date.
  • 4-Day tickets must be used within 7 days of the selected start date.
  • 5-Day tickets must be used within 8 days of the selected start date.
  • 6-Day tickets must be used within 9 days of the selected start date.
  • 7-Day tickets must be used within 10 days of the selected start date.
  • 8-Day tickets must be used within 12 days of the selected start date.
  • 9-Day tickets must be used within 13 days of the selected start date.
  • 10-Day tickets must be used within 14 days of the selected start date.
• Park Hopper and Park Hopper Plus Disney World tickets have a lengthened time of use, extending their expiration date up to two additional dates.
• Walt Disney World tickets purchased with a stay on-property will also have lengthened time of use that matches their stay. For example, a 3-Day ticket with a 6-night stay would be valid within the 7 days of the stay instead of the usual 5 days.

• Although Walt Disney World tickets not purchased as part of a Walt Disney World Resort vacation package are now refundable, you can make changes to your tickets before use although there may be a fee. This includes modifying them to different dates and lengths, or even upgrading to Park Hopper and/or Water Park options.
• Just be aware that if you choose less expensive dates or opt for a less expensive ticket, you will not be refunded the difference.
• Walt Disney World Tickets never lose their value. If you need to use the tickets after they expire, you’ll be able to apply your ticket price to the current ticket rate.
• If you decide to reschedule your tickets to a busier time than the ticket was purchased for, you will be able to pay the difference for the higher ticket price. However, no refunds will be given for those switching to tickets with a lower price value.

If you have more questions about Walt Disney World tickets, we’re here to help. Scroll through these frequently asked Walt Disney World ticket questions.

How much do Walt Disney World tickets cost?

Base Tickets are the most affordable way to experience the theme parks at the Walt Disney World Resort. This ticket allows you to visit one park per day for the number of days you choose. You can view current multi-day base ticket prices here.

What is included in Walt Disney World tickets?

With your Walt Disney World ticket, you will gain access to one or more of the following theme parks:

• Magic Kingdom park
• EPCOT
• Disney’s Hollywood Studios
• Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park

With your valid theme park ticket and reservation, access to attractions and entertainment are included.

Can I buy Walt Disney World tickets in advance?

Yes, we recommend you buy Walt Disney World tickets in advance here.

Can I use a Walt Disney World ticket on consecutive days?

Yes, Walt Disney World tickets can be used on consecutive days, as long as the ticket is valid for the number of days you plan to visit and you have valid theme park reservations. For example, if you purchase a 5-day ticket, you can use it to visit the parks for 5 consecutive days with valid theme park reservations.

How do I upgrade my Walt Disney World ticket?

You can upgrade your Walt Disney World ticket by calling 1 855 GET AWAY prior to your vacation. The cost of the upgrade will depend on the type of ticket you currently have and the type of ticket you want to upgrade to.

What happens if I don't use all the days on my Walt Disney World ticket?

Unfortunately, any unused days will not be refunded. If your ticket is wholly unused, contact us at 855 GET AWAY to discuss rescheduling your vacation.

We hope this article helped you narrow down what would be best for your Disney World vacation. You can begin making your theme park reservations as soon as you have your Walt Disney World tickets, so we recommend purchasing your tickets as soon as you know you’ll be going.

Whether you're looking for Walt Disney World tickets or the whole package, our team would love to help. You can purchase all of our Walt Disney World tickets at a discount online, or you can call our Disney experts 855-GET-AWAY. If you’re considering booking a Walt Disney World package, which we highly recommend for the most flexibility, you can call our office, or book online. Our team would love to share our Walt Disney World expertise and help you plan your perfect vacation.