Admission Tickets - Part 2

Jason writes:

"Thanks for your help, we saved a whole lot of money thanks to you guys already...and we haven't even finished reading the book! :)"

Larry writes:

"As a recent subscriber to your online book, I have to say it is indeed a fantastic publication! Very helpful and very informative for a first time visitor (April '03) to DisneyWorld.

... when going to an event that gives an Annual Pass holder special perks (such as preferred and expedited seating) do these perks apply to the entire group that is with the AP holder? (in this case, my wife and child).

Again, this is probably an obvious question but I didn't want to be sitting in the "front row" of a given event while my wife and child were sitting in the "nose bleed" seats! :)"

When you receive your Annual Pass information packet, it will list those venues which only require that one of you have the AP. For example, Pleasure Island offers a 20% discount for the passholder and up to three guests. Glad you are enjoying the book!

Kimberley writes:

"We are planning a trip for April 3-April 10, 2003... I read one of your replies to someone else about trading in your pass. How does that work exactly? If we were to purchase a park hopper and then want to upgrade to the annual pass, do they credit the original purchase price toward the pass or the price of the unused days?

Thank you so much for your time. Your book has made it possible to have a dream come true over and over again. Our first trip to WDW, we bought a package deal, because we didn't know any better. The next trip we took cost 1/3 of what the first trip cost, and now we're hoping to get as good of a deal or better this time around."

Take your pass to Guest Services and they will scan the pass to determine how many days are left. Disney will give you a credit for the remaining days that can be applied to the new pass. Disney figures out how much you paid originally and then divides that figure by the days the pass was good for. For example, if you paid $160 for a 4-Day Park Hopper, the pass would be worth $40 per day. If you have 2 days left, your credit will be $80 ($40 per day x 2 = $80). Disney would subtract $80 from the cost of your new pass.

Nancy writes:

"I just recently found out about and purchased your book. It looks great, but we are heading to Orlando next Sat. so our pre-learning period is definitely short.

My husband & I are using a timeshare exchange for the week (3.8 mi from WDW) and will be joined on Wed. by our daughter & family (husband and 2 children 4 & 2) It is the children's first trip and with only 2 days for them, we want to maximize our time with their interests in mind. It's been several years since our last visit, but we (my husband & I) can do Epcot, Universal etc. on the days before they arrive."

Go over the tours as a family and pick out the shows and attractions you really want to see and highlight them. Remember - you can't do it all!

Alice writes:

"We have 4 day park hopper passes. There was only one day available for breakfast with the Princesses during the week we will be there. It's a day we have planned to not be at Disney. Will we have to use one of our pass days to go to breakfast? The breakfast is at 7am."

Yes, admission to the park is required. See our book for character meals outside the theme parks.

Melisa writes:

"Does that mean if the child is currently 3 we shouldn't need a ticket for him. We leave on the 20th and we have annual passes from our last trip in jan. And he was 2 and didn't need one then. Will i have to buy a hopper pass for him this time or will he be considered 3. Also my husband isn't going with us - if i did need a child ticket what do you think my chances are they would change the adult a.p to a child one for the week? Thanks again. Your site is great! I have been using it for over 3 yrs."

Only children under 3 get in for free. Those 3-9 need a child ticket. Disney does not allow passes to be downgraded.

Glad you are enjoying the site!

Janet writes:

"My sister will be going to Orlando to visit her husband that has been deployed since Sept. 11. He only has 3 days off and wanted to take them all to Disney World. He is stationed at Tampa now for a while. My question is this. Where do they get one day passes to Magic Kingdom and MGM? They are new to the area and will be totally lost when they get there.

Also is there a number i can call to find out what specific characters will be at Magic Kingdom and MGM ...? My niece and newborn nephew have been away from their dad for a while now and he asked that i check on something memorable for them.

I enjoy getting my updates every Monday morning to get the latest news. I haven't been back to Disney World in 2 years and getting the itch to head back after reading some of the letters."

Only Disney sells one-day passes. Your sister's husband can buy them right at the park window.

Disney lists the characters and the hours to meet them in the Times Guide which you receive upon entry into the park. See the Character Location Matrix on the Disney Goodies page at our private site for character locations and an idea of who will show up.

Andy writes:

"I've seen a five day Park Hopper Plus ticket on eBay. The seller is in Canada. Do you know of any limitations put on the tickets sold there. I read in your book that Disney was offering special deals in Canada, but would I, a non Canadian, be able to use the ticket without a problem?"

I would not buy a used pass from any country. You have no way of knowing if or how many days are unused. Only Disney can scan the pass at Guest Services and tell you if the pass has any days left.

Sandy writes:

"Traveled to Orlando from central PA March 23-31. Just wanted to thank you for hooking up with the [your ticket agent]. He is fantastic and I would recommend that everyone buy their tickets from him. He was charming and very helpful with all of our questions, and will do what he can to save you money on your tickets! We had a great time!!!! Thanks again."

Thomas writes:

"John, My son turns 3 two days into our stay at Disney World. Do I need to get him a park pass for the remaining days?"

Disney's policy determines price of admission by the age of your child when you first arrive. You should not have to pay and be sure to remind them of their policy should you be questioned about it.

Ted writes:

"I have had the annual pass for many years. In past years you received a voucher to start your new year the next time that you came to orlando. Now the renewal starts the next day. Is it better to renew an annual pass at the discount rate and lose 2 months before you use it again or wait to buy it at full price and have a full year from your return day to use it?"

Disney only discounts the annual pass about $42 when you renew. You'll have to decide if saving $42 is worth losing two months worth of use.

To Purchase Walt Disney World Tickets at a Discount, see
Secrets To An Affordable Walt Disney World® Vacation!

Sandra writes:

"Our neighbor ... , a Florida resident, ... wants to use her Florida residency discount [to buy WDW tickets for us]. My husband and I are a little concerned about this. Do they check your residency at the Disney gate. She says no, that as long as we have the tickets in our hands, no one will question us. What have you heard about this type of situation? Thanks so much for the valuable information you've put together."

Disney's policy is that each adult in the party must show a valid Florida ID:

• valid Florida Drivers License

• valid ID card issued by the state of Florida which shows your Florida address

• utility statement with your name and address + a photo ID

• valid Voters Registration Card + photo ID

• valid Military ID from a Florida Military Base

• valid College ID from a Florida college

Florida Resident tickets may only be used by Florida Residents. Florida residents may not buy Florida Resident tickets for friends or family living out of state.

A visitor asks:

"Any idea how to find out how many days left on a pass? I have 2 that expire [soon] and want to know what I have left. I asked Disney and they said the only way to find out is to bring them to the gate in Orlando. I live in Rhode Island. Kinda hard!"

You can also take them to Guest Services at WDW and they will scan them. No other way to tell.

Mary writes:

I just received a price list from Omar re: WDW Passes. My question now is - Would it be to my advantage to buy an annual pass for myself, while the other 4 guests who will be traveling with me get 5-day park hoppers, since the Annual Pass includes free parking? We will be off premises from 2/1/03-2/8/03. We have no interest in getting the Plus Passes, and we plan on taking in some dinner shows in the area.

You're staying 7 nights. Parking costs $7 per day, so you would spend $49. Compared to the 5-day park hopper, an annual pass costs $148 more. So you would lose $99!

Kim writes:

"My family of two adults and two children under nine is planning on going to Disney the Summer of 2003--June to be exact. I have received your e-book and I have been reading it meticulously. I just have one question and it concerns tickets.

Would it be beneficial for us to use our free vacation gift certificate and stay there the night that we arrive instead of at Disney??

You have no idea what you mean to us--the people who have never been to WDW before. The tickets, the resorts, and the parks are so confusing and you make it so easy. Also thank you so much for all of the info. that you provide us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

You can use the free vacation gift certificate, but you have to spend two nights. Glad we were able to help!

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