Tickets and Annual Pass Questions - Please add your ticket questions to this thread

[PolyRob]

@xjillianpaige are you staying onsite? If you upgrade to a package the tickets will be good for length of stay or their traditional expiration window. Whichever is later.

Otherwise I don't see any other possibility besides what @Tatebeck outlined.

 

[lanejudy]

@xjillianpaige you might also run the pricing for a 1-day (1/8) plus a 2-day (1/12-13 or 1/13-14). You may find it isn’t a big difference, especially if you didn’t plan to hop all 3 days.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Hi! Looking to clarify how tickets work... My friends and I want to do a 3 day hopper: our hope was to start with a park day on Jan 8 and then park days on Jan 12 and Jan 13 or Jan 14. The problem is that 3 day hoppers look like they expire Jan 12 if they start on Jan 8. Is there either a ticket that isn't limiting in dates or (and this is what I understood from the first page of this thread), can we go on Jan 8 and Jan 12 and then we get some sort of "credit" for the unused third day that we can put toward a single day ticket purchase?

Are you staying at a Disney Resort for the length of your trip?

 

[xjillianpaige]

Are you staying at a Disney Resort for the length of your trip?

We're not. We're staying at an airbnb nearby.

 

[Brian Noble]

I suspect a single day/single park ticket plus a two-day hopper will end up being fairly close to a three-day hopper. However, if you definitely know you want to hop all three days, it is possible that a four-day hopper will end up being cheaper. Price them out both ways and see---and don't forget to look at the authorized third-party sellers; they might be able to get you enough of a deal on the four day for it to make sense.

Of course, if you can talk yourself into four park days, then this is much easier. ;-)

 

[mrjack5]

Looking for some insight on purchasing out of state AP's.

My girlfriend and I go to Disney World 3-4 times a year and I am pretty sure we would save money purchasing annual passes.

My concerns are we always use bounceback offers to book the next trip and sometimes we have additional family members join us on trips.

When it comes to booking vacation packages through Disney doesn't everyone in the package have to have the same ticket type? If we have AP's and other family members have just regularly purchased tickets will we run into problems booking vacation packages? bounceback offers? Lighting lanes. reservations etc? Am I missing any other downsides?

Thanks in advance.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Looking for some insight on purchasing out of state AP's.

My girlfriend and I go to Disney World 3-4 times a year and I am pretty sure we would save money purchasing annual passes.

My concerns are we always use bounceback offers to book the next trip and sometimes we have additional family members join us on trips.

When it comes to booking vacation packages through Disney doesn't everyone in the package have to have the same ticket type? If we have AP's and other family members have just regularly purchased tickets will we run into problems booking vacation packages? bounceback offers? Lighting lanes. reservations etc? Am I missing any other downsides?

Thanks in advance.

First, depending on how long your 3-4 trips are per year, APs may not be a savings. If you just go for a few days, purchasing tickets may be less - you would need to price it out.

If you book a room only BB, you're fine as they don't include tickets.

Everyone in a room needs to be on the same package so if you attempt to purchase a package that includes room, tickets and possibly dining plan then yes, everyone in the room needs to be on the same package and purchase the same items.

LL reservations are based on arrival date so not really ticket related.

 

[mrjack5]

First, depending on how long your 3-4 trips are per year, APs may not be a savings. If you just go for a few days, purchasing tickets may be less - you would need to price it out.

If you book a room only BB, you're fine as they don't include tickets.

Everyone in a room needs to be on the same package so if you attempt to purchase a package that includes room, tickets and possibly dining plan then yes, everyone in the room needs to be on the same package and purchase the same items.

LL reservations are based on arrival date so not really ticket related.

Thank you for the quick reply.

So if the math did work and we purchased AP's.

The only way to add other family members to the hotel room would be to purchase tickets seperately and add them to the room as day guests?

 

[PolyRob]

Thank you for the quick reply.

So if the math did work and we purchased AP's.

The only way to add other family members to the hotel room would be to purchase tickets seperately and add them to the room as day guests?

No, you would book a room only reservation or "basic package" which is just a room. No tickets. You would add all appropriate family members to the room at time of booking like you have in the past. You're just not getting them tickets in the package.

You would then purchase whatever tickets you wanted separately for these family members. That could be directly through WDW or a third party reseller. You would need to link those tickets to each guest in My Disney Experience prior to your LL window.

If you do room only, you pay the first night deposit and you get no "magical extras" like luggage tags and free mini golf. In return, you get an eight day cancellation policy. If you book a basic package your deposit will still be $200 (like a package with tickets) and you will still get the luggage tags and free mini golf, but your cancellation window without penalty is 30 days.

 

[mrjack5]

No, you would book a room only reservation or "basic package" which is just a room. No tickets. You would add all appropriate family members to the room at time of booking like you have in the past. You're just not getting them tickets in the package.

You would then purchase whatever tickets you wanted separately for these family members. That could be directly through WDW or a third party reseller. You would need to link those tickets to each guest in My Disney Experience prior to your LL window.

If you do room only, you pay the first night deposit and you get no "magical extras" like luggage tags and free mini golf. In return, you get an eight day cancellation policy. If you book a basic package your deposit will still be $200 (like a package with tickets) and you will still get the luggage tags and free mini golf, but your cancellation window without penalty is 30 days.

Understood thanks Polyrob I appreciate your and scrappingontarios help.

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[Cyberc1978]

The gift card offer is set to expire Sept 30th are the AP prices expected to increase as well?

I have a Sorcerer AP that expires in late May, I’m expecting a trip in early to mid May. My next trips would be Sept 2026, Dec 2026 and either May or Sept 2027.

Should I renew when the AP expires or would it be worth it to lock in the AP price and buy a new AP now and then activate it in Sept 2026?

 

[CarolynFH]

The gift card offer is set to expire Sept 30th are the AP prices expected to increase as well?

I have a Sorcerer AP that expires in late May, I’m expecting a trip in early to mid May. My next trips would be Sept 2026, Dec 2026 and either May or Sept 2027.

Should I renew when the AP expires or would it be worth it to lock in the AP price and buy a new AP now and then activate it in Sept 2026?

That’s a tough one, but I don’t think the $75 GC you’d get for buying a new one now (and holding it for almost a year) would cover the difference in cost between the new one now vs. a renewal next May. Of course, I’m just guessing that the prices of new and renewal won’t skyrocket between now and then. I haven’t looked at the amount of last year’s price increases so can’t speak to that. And also, if Disney’s park attendance projections continue to be soft, they might not want to discourage more AP renewals and purchases by huge increases now. Sorry, I know my speculations aren’t helpful!

 

[Cyberc1978]

That’s a tough one, but I don’t think the $75 GC you’d get for buying a new one now (and holding it for almost a year) would cover the difference in cost between the new one now vs. a renewal next May. Of course, I’m just guessing that the prices of new and renewal won’t skyrocket between now and then. I haven’t looked at the amount of last year’s price increases so can’t speak to that. And also, if Disney’s park attendance projections continue to be soft, they might not want to discourage more AP renewals and purchases by huge increases now. Sorry, I know my speculations aren’t helpful!

Thanks.

But if I buy new now and wait until Sept 2026 with activation then I’ve locked in the price haven’t I? Assuming i can wait 1 year with activation.

If I renew in May 2026 then it will be at the renewal price at that time which could be more than a new pass today.

Additionally if I buy new now and wait until Sept 2026 then I get June, July and August on top as “extra” months vs a renewal in May.

But you right if the attendance continues to be soft then I would assume the same as you.

 

[CarolynFH]

Thanks.

But if I buy new now and wait until Sept 2026 with activation then I’ve locked in the price haven’t I? Assuming i can wait 1 year with activation.

If I renew in May 2026 then it will be at the renewal price at that time which could be more than a new pass today.

Additionally if I buy new now and wait until Sept 2026 then I get June, July and August on top as “extra” months vs a renewal in May.

But you right if the attendance continues to be soft then I would assume the same as you.

Yep, you’re right, you’ll have locked in the price and would be able to extend the use for several months longer than a May renewal.

If you buy the new one today, you’d have until 9/22/26 to activate it (use it for the first time), and it would be good for a year from first use.

 

[lanejudy]

AP prices have increased in October for the past couple of years. Last year was approx. 7%-8% increase. For reference the price increase for Sorcerer last year was $80, and in 2023 I believe the increase for Sorcerer was $50. I don't know if anyone can extrapolate from that what WDW will do this fall for price increases.

The renewal rate is usually ~15% off. If I'm doing my math correctly, that is likely still greater savings than the current $75 gift card offer even if there is a price increase between now and May. But you'll need to decide if it's better for you to have an AP that expires in May or Sept.

 

[Cyberc1978]

AP prices have increased in October for the past couple of years. Last year was approx. 7%-8% increase. For reference the price increase for Sorcerer last year was $80, and in 2023 I believe the increase for Sorcerer was $50. I don't know if anyone can extrapolate from that what WDW will do this fall for price increases.

The renewal rate is usually ~15% off. If I'm doing my math correctly, that is likely still greater savings than the current $75 gift card offer even if there is a price increase between now and May. But you'll need to decide if it's better for you to have an AP that expires in May or Sept.

Current renewal price is $929 + tax. New pass is $1,079 + tax

It’s a 14% discount vs buying new or $150

Back in Oct 2024 the increase were $80 for both new and renewal.

tbh I don’t care if my pass expire in May or Sept. only requirement is that I get minimum 2 trips otherwise it’s not worth a pass.