Disney World is one of those entertainment places that you want to prepare for well in advance. Given the massive crowds the park attracts every day, having some tips on how to maneuver them comes in handy. One of them is how to purchase your tickets.
Something you must be wondering is what the cheaper option of acquiring tickets is. The good thing is, the ticket price is the same, regardless of where you buy them. The next question then is, should you buy them online or wait to buy them at the gate?
One very attractive perk of buying online is that you reduce the waiting time at the gate. A look at the other benefits of online tickets will reveal why it’s a better and cheaper option.
Buying Online
While the ticket price is the same, you’ll come across discount websites that offer slightly different prices. Take note that these third parties are in no way affiliated to Disney. Although they may be authorized to resell the tickets, they don’t act on behalf of Disney. These sellers would include AAA who offers tickets but not necessarily at a discounted rate nor do they offer any type of linking service.
Most of them will offer you discounted prices depending on the packages you buy. If you have a “My Disney Experience Account,” you can link your purchase here.
Genie Selections
Genie is a free service that allows you to plan your day auto-magically and enjoy a lot more magic and fun during your visit.
Even more exciting is the offers available for guests at the Disney Resort Hotels. If you book your stay there, you can take advantage of Early Morning Hours and even Evening Hours if you’re staying at a Deluxe Resort Hotel.
You’ll want to make sure you have the official Disney World App downloaded on to your phone and signed in with your tickets and hotel linked. Once this is done, Genie can start to help you plan your day and give you updates throughout such as wait times that drop or best restaurants to take advantage of.
Genie+ Selection
There are a lot of guests who get confused with Disneyland and Walt Disney World. Disneyland is located in California and consists of 2 parks: Disneyland and California Adventure. Walt Disney World is located in Orlando FL and consists of 4 theme parks and 2 water parks.
When people mention MaxPass, they are referring to the Disneyland Fastpass system which is different than Walt Disney Worlds. In fact, with the launch of Disney Genie and Genie+, both resorts utilize this service with a few differences:
Disneyland Resort – Offers Genie and Genie+ service for $20 per day per person, purchase-able via the app or when you buy your tickets online.
Walt Disney World Resort – Offers Genie and Genie+ service for $15 per day per person, purchase-able via the app or when you buy your tickets online.
Link Your Ticket to Your Disney Account
Buying your Disney World tickets online also comes with an added security feature. You can conveniently access your tickets through the card. This removes the necessity of bringing along multiple pieces of paper with you as you visit the park.
Consider linking the theme park tickets, special events, water parks, and even the annual passes. Once you link the theme park tickets you can quickly make the Genie+ selections in advance that morning. Remember that the selections should be for the cards you intend to use on each particular day.
Should something happen and you lose your card, you’re safe if it’s linked to the Disney account. You won’t lose your tickets, and you can request a replacement to access the tickets through the card. However, note that the replacement of your account card may be subject to a fee.
If you lose your tickets and don’t have an account, getting a replacement may be a tussle. It’ll take longer at the gate to prove that you have actually bought some tickets.
For any annual pass you link to your Disney account, ensure you hold on to it. You may need to show it to access the theme park complimentary standard parking if it includes parking.
You’ll also need it for food and merchandise discounts. Don’t forget to bring along a valid photo ID such as a passport or driver’s license.
Tips for Buying Disney World Tickets Online
Buying tickets online may not be an easy affair, given the many sites that claim to give discounted rates. You could get scammed. To prevent this from happening:
- Avoid buying partially used passes. For example, if someone bought a five-day ticket but only used three days, they may sell you the two remaining days. Avoid falling for such an arrangement as there’s no way to tell if the Pass has the said number of days.
- Secondly, tickets are non-transferable, and each can only be used by one person. The system at Disney uses a biometric finger scan at the gate that takes partial fingerprints. If they don’t match, you can’t use the ticket, and you might get in trouble with the authorities.
- Keep away from websites that offer incredibly low prices on Disney tickets. There’s an acceptable price range that you could agree to, but scam sites don’t seem to have this in mind. Be on the lookout for websites that use the word Disney in their URL if the site’s not operated by Disney.
Ensure you only buy from genuine discount websites to be on the safe side. This will save you time at the gate and also protect you from losing your hard-earned cash. You can also talk to agents who’ll guide you on selecting the best offers.
Final Thoughts
The price of Disney World tickets is the same, whether you buy them at the gate or online. However, there are some differences and benefits you’ll encounter when you buy online. First, buying online reduces the amount of time you spend at the gate trying to acquire a pass.
With online tickets, you’re also less likely to lose them. You can link them to your Disney Experience account and only use your account card to access the park. Some Disney ticket vendors also offer discounted prices, depending on the packages you choose.
Looking at all these advantages, buying online is cheaper as it saves you time and offers some added security. Be careful not to fall for scammers as you seek the best Disney ticket vendor online.
