Disney Discount Tickets: Where to Find the Best Deals

Going to Walt Disney World or Disneyland can get expensive very quickly, especially if you have a larger family. Here is a list of some options for how to save money on your ticket and where you should buy your Disney discount tickets.

Ways to Save

Skip the Park Hopper

For those who are just beginning their Disney planning, park hopping means you are able to enter more than one theme park a day. Some people will only go to Disney with a park hopper ticket, while others would be better off saving that money. Families that have smaller kids or anyone who is going for a more casual theme park visit, could easily skip this option.

For reference to how much it can save you if you buy a 3-Day ticket directly from Disney, it is $305 before tax for a 1 Park/day ticket. If you buy a park hopper option it is $370 for a 3-Day ticket This clearly adds up quickly for those with a larger family. Be realistic about your family trip and if you would feel constrained without the ability to hop or if you only see yourself having the energy to do one park a day.

Eliminate a Theme Park day

One of the most obvious ways to save money on a theme park ticket is to cut down on the days you have to buy for. There is so much to do outside the theme parks from Disney Springs, resort hopping, or relaxing at the pool. If you know the first or last day of your trip will be stressful for traveling and the idea of adding a theme park visit in that day will just add to the stress, then skip the ticket that day.

Another reason people tend to skip a theme park day is if they are attending an event like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. You can get in as early as 4pm for these events so instead of buying a ticket for a full theme park day, explore Disney Springs in the morning and then head to the Magic Kingdom for the party.

It is important to know that when we are talking about getting rid of a theme park day, it doesn’t have to be at the beginning or end of your trip. When you buy a multi-day ticket, it is good for 14 days after the first day. So if it makes more sense to skip a day in the middle of the week, you won’t mess up your tickets.

Become an Annual Passholder

There are a lot of benefits to becoming an annual passholder (AP). You might be wondering how a more expensive ticket will save you money, especially if you live nowhere near Orlando. As long as one person in your party is an AP your entire party gets the benefits. You get discounts on merchandise, food, hotels, and more! This typically makes the most sense if you are going for a longer period of time or will be going more than once in a year. Disney’s annual pass is not like other theme parks. It doesn’t just count for the calendar year. It starts when you enter the park the first time.

If you are trying to decide if becoming an annual passholder is right for you, we discuss it here.

Purchase with gift cards

Disney gift cards are accepted everywhere in Disney. I don’t just mean at any merchandise location. I mean you can pay for your dinner or hotel with gift cards as well. Here are a few places you can get discounted Disney gift cards:

• Target with your Target Redcard
• BJ’s sells them in bulk
• Costo sells them in bulk
• Raise.com sells used gift cards you can buy for less than the value

I also like to earn Target gift cards through a few different side hustles like Swagbucks (which is my personal favorite) or Mypoints. Target technically isn’t supposed to allow using their gift card to buy a different gift card, however, I have never had someone say no.

If you shop at Target regularly the REDcard credit card is a great option that saves you 5% on all orders and gets you free shipping. This includes any items you might need for your trip, plus 5% off your Disney gift cards!

Use your credit card points

I plan to go more in depth with how I use my credit cards to pay for my vacations, but for now, I’ll just give you the highlights. One of the simplest ways for any credit card that offers cash back is to just simply book with your card and then apply the current level of cash back to pay for part of your trip. However, depending on what cards you have, you can actually get an even larger discount by booking through your card. Chase Ultimate Rewards actually has a travel agency that you can book your Disney vacations through. If you have a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Chase Sapphire Reserve card that allows you to book travel for 1.25 or 1.5 points more, this is a great method to use. Instead of spending $450 on tickets, you could spend $300.

There will be a much more in-depth discussion about how to use your card for your Disney trips, but just be aware your card may do a lot more than you know.

Where to find the best deal on Disney ticket discounts

Undercover Tourist

I love this website. It has everything! Crowd calendars, what is coming soon, and most importantly discounted tickets. You can save on special event tickets like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, or even Disney After Hours! You can add these right to your My Disney Experience so they are attached to your magicbands. So whether you are doing a 1-Park ticket or decide to go for a park hopper, you will always save money here.

AAA

If you are a AAA member you can book your entire trip through their travel agency or just order discounted theme park tickets. The discount is usually around 5% cheaper than buying directly from Disney. AAA does offer travel agents who can help book your trip, however, in my experience, they are not as well versed as agencies dedicated to just Disney travel. We went to book through them once and I had more knowledge of the parks than they did. This was not when I was visiting frequently, I hadn’t been to Disney is years and was still more familiar with the process than our agent.

Military

Any current US military or retired service members can receive a 4-day or 5-day promotional ticket. This includes the park hopper option! You’ll even receive the memory maker for a discounted price as well if you so choose.  To check the current promotional price and savings check out Disney’s website. If you are eligible for this discount, it is typically the best savings you will find.

Travel Agent

If planning a Disney vacation seems overwhelming getting a Disney Vacation Planner to help is always a great idea. They can answer all of your questions on where to stay, how long to go for, or even where to meet Mickey Mouse himself. Destinations in Florida is a Florida based travel agency that specializes in all the Florida has to offer. So whether you simply want to get a great deal on tickets or help planning your trip, you should check them out. You can even get a free quote online!

Florida Resident

Florida residents can get annual passes for under $300! There are various levels that include time and date limitations depending on your selection. As a resident, you have the option to pay each month instead of all at once. If you are not interested in an annual pass you can get a discount on most other options. Simply show your Florida drivers license!

Disney Vacation Club

If you are a Disney Vacation Club member this should come as no surprise. DVC members receive discounts on annual passes depending on their membership. Disney changed the rules that any resale DVC memberships purchased after a certain point no longer get the AP discounted tickets.

This also only applies to those are DVC members, not just those staying at a DVC property. If you are renting points through David’s Disney Vacation Rentals you will still need to purchase your tickets elsewhere.

Are you ready to keep planning? Check out everything you need to know before you go when planning for Disney.