Tickets!

Earlier today I was rummaging through my wallet when a co-worker noticed my Disney tickets stored neatly away.  When she endearingly remarked that I had better keep those safe, it got me thinking about the various tickets that Disney has to offer!  I am quite aware that this solidifies my dorkiness... there is no need to point this out to me the next time we speak.

Walt Disney World offers tickets that can be modified by opting to add on certain features, and all tickets require 

Magic Your Way

The base ticket, known as Magic Your Way tickets, are just what you'd think - a base ticket.  Purchasing a Magic Your Way Ticket allows you to enter one theme park for one day.  You are allowed to leave the park, and return to the same park on the same day, however.    

Park-Hopper

If your family decides that they would like to visit more than one Disney theme park in one day -- perhaps visit Animal Kingdom in the morning while the animals are more active, then visit Magic Kingdom in the afternoon for thrill rides, and finish the evening at Hollywood Studios for Fantasmic! -- then you could add the Park Hopper option to your ticket.

If you choose to add this option, you will be able to come and go as you please through all four of the parks at WDW on the same day.  The cost for the Park-Hopper option is an additional $35.00  for a one-day ticket, and $55.00 for 2-10 day tickets.  

My opinion...I know you want to hear it...is to ALWAYS add the Park-Hopper option to your ticket if your itinerary allows it (plan for more than one day!).  For the extra $55 - because you should spend more than one day at Disney! - you get a built-in pass to relax.  With the added freedom to come and go as we wish, I usually find that we are not as crazed to accomplish everything in one fail swoop.  We typically hit the parks hard in the early morning, and return to our rooms for a midday rest.  Then strike back to a different park in the evening.  Adding the Park-Hopper option also allows you more freedom with dining options.  You won't have to be as miticulous in your dinner reservations if you have the ability to visit each park as often as you like each day.  You could essentially (and I've done it) have breakfast, lunch, and dinner in a diiferent WDW park!

Water Park Fun and More

If you are seeking more than theme parks, you may enjoy adding the Water Park Fun and More option to your base ticket.  With this add-on option, you gain admission to your choice of Blizzard Beach water park, Typhoon Lagoon water park, Disney Quest, a round of golf at Oak Trail Golf Course, or Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex.  The number of visits depends on the length of your ticket, i.e. a one-day ticket allows 2 visits to one of the options mentioned, a 10-day ticket allows for 10 visits.  The cost for this add-on is $55.00 per ticket.  When combined with the Park-Hopper option, the rate is $110.00 per ticket.    

My husband and I have added this option only once while staying at WDW, and it was worth it for that visit.  Since having small children, we have not seen the need for adding this option as the theme parks are enough entertainment for our family.  We did find Disney Quest to be a very entertaining, and enjoyed touring the Wide World of Sports Complex - it was nearly empty when we visited, save for a high school wrestling tournament that was being held at the facility.  

No Expiration 

The Magic Your Way base tickets (and any added options ) expire 14 days after their first use.  If you choose to add the no expiration option, you are free to come back and use any remaining tickets at any time.  These tickets NEVER expire.  I recently heard of a gentleman who just returned to WDW to use his ticket from the late 1970's.  (Now there's a real Disney Dork!)  The cost for this feature depends on the number of days of your tickets and ranges from $25 for a 2-day ticket, to $225 for a 10-day ticket. 

We have contemplated purchasing the No Expiration option to actually save some money on our Disney tickets.  If planned correctly, you could purchase tickets for two trips at WDW in one purchase (assuming you had that much extra cash on hand...have I mentioned that my husband and I are BOTH teachers?).  The cost of Disney tickets decline as you add more days to the ticket.  A 5-day adult base ticket costs $270, yet you can buy a 10-day pass for $310.  By adding the No Expiration option, you actually save a tiny fraction (like $5), but you will also have stored up tickets for a family vacation down the road -- and Disney is notorious for raising their prices each year.       

Annual Pass

Perhaps you come down with a terrible case of Disney Fever more than once a year and plan to visit WDW when the feeling strikes.  Purchasing an annual pass permits one year of unlimited admission to all four major theme parks, along with free parking.  The cost for a first time adult annual pass purchase is $560, and can be renewed for $510.  

With the options that Disney has for creating a truly magical experience at the theme parks (and more!) your family should be able to find an option that works best for you!  And for the record, the 3 tickets stored in my wallet are Magic Your Way Base Tickets.  No added options.  Used April 2011.  Just another testament to the Disney Dork -- Keeping them in a place I'll see them often so I can dream about our next visit.