when to buy park tickets?

[traveler_t]

We plan to be in WDW in a couple of months. When to buy the park tickets? If I buy now there is always a risk we'll need to cancel and tickets are not refundable. Hard to say if/when we could visit again. If we wait with purchase - can prices go significantly up? can they ever sell out a date? We aim for a very busy week if that matters.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Ticket prices will likely increase in February.

Are you planning to stay onsite or offsite? Only asking as I’m not sure if you are planing to purchase only park tickets or, a package that includes a Disney resort reservation plus park tickets?

 

[traveler_t]

I already reserved an on site hotel (connected to monorail). I did not bundle the park tickets together so I will need to buy them separately.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I would recommend calling to see if you can change to a package? If you purchase a package it’s your room and tickets together for a $200 deposit. If you purchase everything together as a package, everything g is fully refundable until 30 days before your trip.

If you purchase tickets separately they are non-refundable if you cancel and a credit will be in your account until you choose to visit another time.

 

[traveler_t]

I did not know that, thank you!

 

[Tom_E_D]

I already reserved an on site hotel (connected to monorail). I did not bundle the park tickets together so I will need to buy them separately.

The question of whether to book room-only vs. a package isn't simple. Both have pros and cons. Here's a webpage discussing the differences: https://www.mousesavers.com/walt-di...-room-only-reservations-vs-vacation-packages/

Personally, I book room-only unless I get a package discount. Also, if you booked your room-only reservation with a discount, and that discount is no longer available for new bookings, look into whether they'll let you keep that discount if you convert to a package. I'm not sure if they will or not.

If you decide you don't want a package, and don't want to get just a credit for future use if you cancel your tickets, Undercovertourist.com offers a partial (95%) refund for most unused tickets purchased through them.

 

[lanejudy]

To answer a couple of the OP’s questions…
Yes, there is a chance tickets may increase. WDW has often increased prices on Feb. Now with date-based pricing it can be harder to see it unless you have been regularly watching prices for a certain date(s) and it is rarely announced in advance.
Is it possible for day-tickets to sell-out? I would say yes. Theme park reservations are no longer required of date-based tickets, but I believe that only means WDW has found a way to estimate daily crowd levels based on ticket sales. A highly popular time of year may sell out certain dates.

 

[bluecastle]

If you let your tickets expire, you can modify them to another date on MDE. Since you said you are going at a high crowd time, you should know that if you end up modifying them to a lower rate time you will not get a refund for the difference. If you modify to more expensive tickets (based on time of year or just from a ticket price increase) you will have to pay the difference.
I always buy tickets and room-only. I like to separate my expenses and I like the 5 day cancellation policy of room-only.