How soon do we need to buy park tickets?

[alh2011]

My family is going to Orlando July 27-Aug 2. We will be doing two days at the magic kingdom and one or two days at Seaworld. How soon should we purchase our tickets online? Thanks!!

 

[PrincessJo]

I'm interested in opinions on this as well.

We're stopping at WDW after a cruise in November for just 2 days. Instead of getting a package, I booked a room only.

I wasn't sure when to buy tickets either.... great question.

 

[JimmyV]

If you are staying on site, a lot of the "My Disney Experience" functionality (especially Fast Pass+) is tied to your tickets. So you would want to have them in hand 60 days in advance so that you can link them to your account and start booking FPs when your window opens (at 60 days). It is currently not the case that you must book FPs that far in advance, and there is probably no disadvantage to having them in hand, say, 10 days in advance. But between now and July, the new Seven Dwarves Mine Train will open and that is going to be a game changer as far as FP+ is concerned. I doubt that there will be availability 10 days in advance once the train starts rolling.

If you are staying off site, then it probably doesn't matter when you get your tickets. However, off site guests are in a testing phase, and if you have tickets linked to your MDE account and one or more ADRs at Disney restaurants, certain people are getting email invitations to start booking their FPs in advance. If it were me, I would want to take the chance of getting that invitation, so I would make sure to have my ticket in hand, linked to my account more than 30 days in advance and also have one or more ADRs in place.

Edit to add: I have to say, that in typing out this post and then re-reading it, it struck me that a first-timer would not be able to make heads or tails out of what I just said. For all the hopes and praise that FP+ will make one's trip easier to plan and execute, I'm not sure how first timers can ever navigate these waters. So much for leveling the playing field and taking away the commando advantage.

 

[bastos]

I agree - with one exception.

The Anna Elsa FP+ have been going VERY quickly. If you are interested in that, make certain to have the tickets ahead of time - and link them to your room reservation. Then, when 60 days opens, book it.

 

[JimmyV]

I agree - with one exception.

The Anna Elsa FP+ have been going VERY quickly.

Good catch! We don't have any "Character Hunters" in our family, so I forgot that there has already been a game changer--The Frozen Girls.

 

[PrincessJo]

Thanks bastos and JimmyV.... great advice.

I have no idea how anyone with little Disney knowledge can understand all this either. I've been learning "Disney" since 2010 and I still have questions...

Thanks again!!

 

[alh2011]

Whew so much to consider. Thanks for the info!!