As we know, Disney World is switching on October 16th, 2018, to a date-based ticketing system for its theme parks. This means that when you purchase tickets for Disney World, each day will have its own individual price based on multiple factors, versus every ticket costing the same amount.
The new system will:
- Assign each individual calendar day a specific ticket price (each day will reflect a different price based on various factors like crowd levels)
- Use an interactive calendar for ticket purchasing, and to show guests the highest and lowest ticket prices within a given month or year
- Offer guests the option to upgrade to a ticket with a “flexible start date” for an added cost.
Since this news came out on Monday
, we’ve gotten plenty of great questions from our readers and social media followers about the system. And while we don’t have ALL the answers, we can at least help with a few of these!
Welcome to Walt Disney World!
Disney World Date-Based Ticket System FAQs and Answers:
What Happens If I’ve Already Purchased My Tickets?
If you’ve already purchased tickets for a date after October 16th, or you purchase tickets BEFORE October 16th for a date after October 16th, your tickets and prices will not be affected. The policy is not retroactive.
Does this Affect Annual Passholders?
At this time, no information has been released regarding updates to the Annual Passholder ticketing system. Annual Passes will likely stick around, and historically prices go up yearly.
Will Tickets Still Cost Less Per Day The Longer You Stay?
Yes. The “more you play, the less you pay per day” structure is still in place. So, if you buy a one-day ticket, it will cost more than that same day would cost if you purchased a multi-day ticket.
Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life
What If You Book A Vacation Package and Not Just Tickets?
It is our guess that you will be prompted to choose your ticket dates, or that they’ll take the dates of your hotel stay for the ticket dates. This is not confirmed.
What If I Purchase Tickets The Day Of My Visit To The Park?
You will likely be charged the cost of the one-day ticket for that particular day. If you buy a multi-day ticket, you’ll likely be charged the cost similarly to how you’d be charged on the website. This has not been confirmed.
How Does This Change Impact Park Hoppers?
You will still be able to add the Park Hopper option — either to one day, or multi-day tickets. The difference between the ticket cost itself and the price of the tickets with the park hopper option should be similar to what it is now, but is subject to change.
Stormtroopers on Parade
Should I Buy Tickets Now, or Wait Until The Change is in Place?
Disney has confirmed that some ticket prices for low-crowd days will decrease in price, while prices for high-traffic days will likely increase in price. But while there’s the chance for some ticket prices to go down, it’s likely that many will go up…and significantly. Plus, if you purchase your tickets prior to the change, you’ll be able to use them at any time — and will be able to use remaining tickets within a 14-day window after first use — instead of being locked into specific days of the year. Finally, ticket prices go up every year, and they were going to go up anyway. So we’d probably recommend buying your tickets now and confirming they’ll be able to be used through 2019 when you purchase.
How Does This Affect Authorized Discount Ticket Sellers?
Significantly. But from those we’ve spoken to, they’ll still be selling tickets and will still be able to offer a discounted rate over the price charged by Disney. The margin of savings will probably be similar to what it is now.
What do you think of the ticketing system and pricing change? Let us know in the comments! And if you have more questions, please reach out to us here on the blog, or on social media, to ask.
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Thank you for writing this! It helps planning so much.
I can’t say I feel a positive or negative way about the ticket price changes. It’s just different.
Based on everything I’ve read, am I correct in that this tiered system will NOT affect FL Resident tickets? Or we just haven’t heard yet…
I have the same question as Sara… i haven’t seen any mention yet of FL Resident 3 and 4 day select tickets. They are currently valid for 6 months after first use. I hope that sticks around!!!
Ashley and Sara: We’ll update the post as Disney releases more information!
We have already purchased our tickets for 10-29 to 11-3 2018, if the rate goes down will WDW provide a refund?
I still have five non-expiring days. Will these still be honored?
What if you have a trip planned, but don’t know the exact days you want to go to a park yet? There’s no more general 5 day pass anymore? All of these new things are making it impossible to be spontaneous on vacation! 🙁
Does anyone know if the multi-day tickets need to be used consecutively now or will we be able to skip over some days when selecting dates?
Gary, that’s a good question. You might want to contact Disney directly to ask. We have not seen an answer to this question, yet. (Let us know if you find out!) Have a great trip regardless!
Rob, Disney is expected to honor your five non-expiring days.
Jeremy, you should be able to purchase your tickets and use them within a certain timeframe. We’re still digging into specifics, though, so we’ll update as we learn more!
So disappointed in the new pricing system for tickets.
So now they are raising prices, controlling how you go to the parks, and charging more on top of tickets if you want to keep it like it is now.
They already are getting up to 3 park tickets for certain days with early morning magic, park day ticket, MNSSHP, and even more with the dessert party tickets, all for one day.
Is there no end? Not til people quit goin.
My wife and I are in our mid 60’s. Every now and then we just to to AAA and pick up multi-day hopper passes and away we go. Spur of the moment! Other times trips with children and grand children are well planned. The current plan is so simple. Buy the tickets, go when we want. This new date-specific ticketing system will do away with such spur of the moment trips. I guess the spur of the moment trips will be a thing of the past. Something so simple is being made so complicated. What if the family and I plan a date specific vacation and buy appropriate tickets. Before our departure illness, accident, weather, etc. radically changes our travel plans. What do we do then? I am NOT a fan of this new system. But until people just stop going will Disney realize they may have over complicated things. So sad…..
I know there may be benefits here like “some” days costing less, but this isn’t Walt’s Disney! Too confusing! Everything seems to be turned into an ala carte menu…… If you only want one thing you win out. But if you dare to want the whole experience, it could cost you plenty! People with school age children and let’s face it , they are a big reason for crowded, popular days in the park, are limited to when they can come to Disney without disrupting their child’s education. These people are now potentially penalized and may incur the highest pricing range. The average family often struggles to make the magic possible as it is. Now the cost might be more prohibitive. Even removing the 14 day use puts additional restrains on a family or individual or traveling party. Often built into extended stays are rest days, visits to other local sites, even visits with friends and family. Being able to spread out a ticket use was a benefit not a hindrance.
I sincerely hope more details are released soon but I also hope he powers that be consider their audience more closely. Sorry, Walt. I am a disappointed Disneyphile. : (
All these changes are nothing but greed by another large corp. Many customers including myself will no longer be able to go to the happiest place on earth due to continued increased costs. The powers that be don’t care about the customers. My days of going to Disney will be few and far between if at all.