In what will be seen as a confusing change, Walt Disney World is moving to date based pricing on single day and multi-day theme park tickets. The pricing will be determined by start date, but can be affected by how many days are on the ticket. Here’s the details.
The new change will occur on October 16, 2018 for Walt Disney World tickets and price increases are expected to occur on that date as well. Disney World will eliminate the extra cost for the single day ticket for the Magic Kingdom, and level out all single day tickets. All four parks will cost the same amount for single day tickets.
“This approach to pricing tickets by date is modeled off of consumer demand and is part of our effort to better distribute attendance throughout the year to improve the Guest experience.”
Guests will choose their 1 Day tickets for a specific date of visit and the multi-day tickets will be valid for admission from the start date through a specific string of dates.
| Ticket Length | Valid Use Period |
| 1-Day | Only the start date selected |
| 2-Day | Any 2 days within 4 days beginning on the start date |
| 3-Day | Any 3 days within 5 days beginning on the start date |
| 4-Day | Any 4 days within 7 days beginning on the start date |
| 5-Day | Any 5 days within 8 days beginning on the start date |
| 6-Day | Any 6 days within 9 days beginning on the start date |
| 7-Day | Any 7 days within 10 days beginning on the start date |
| 8-Day | Any 8 days within 12 days beginning on the start date |
| 9-Day | Any 9 days within 13 days beginning on the start date |
| 10-Day | Any 10 days within 14 days beginning on the start date |
Another option will include a “flexible dates” option that will allow you additional time to spread out visits for an additional cost. The Disney website showed the additional cost as $100. Any ticket already purchased will continue to be valid by the terms stated on that ticket.
If you have already booked a Walt Disney World vacation by October 16, you’re cost is locked in at the current pricing.
So how will this affect my family vaca ? We are about to buy tickets prob today, heading down mid January for 5 days ?
It won’t affect you at all, if you buy now
Just another way Disney is pricing the middle class right out! I started taking my kids in 2010 and have been 7 times since then. In 2010 it cost us around 1200.00 or so for a 7 day ticket. That same ticket is 2000.00 for our family of 5 in 2018! I guess there goes my budget. Now they will be like the hotel business. If they want to charge more on a given day, they can! Disney is not being run the way Walt intended. Greedy people!
I think the flexible date is 50 per ticket. If you zoom in on that screen it looks like 2×50=100.
Kind of confusing. I’m wondering how this will affect purchasing tickets at a military base or even if the salute to military ticket will continue.
I planned a trip for a very slow period almost a year away. What happens if the tickets actually end up less than what I paid?
It looks like the increase in cost is what it would be to go to Magic Kingdom. So really Epcot, HS, and AK are getting price increases and not MK.
Is this for florida resident tickets too?
So they are lowering the usage period and you only get 14 days if you have a 10 day ticket?
I believe that all tickets currently have to be used in 14 days. This will be shortening the time available to use the ticket, for all tickets less than 10 days.
Hmmm… so now they will know when we are coming. (Off-property guests) I wonder how this will affect “practicing” on the app for FP reservations. I used to enjoy doing that once my ticket was linked, since they never knew my true arrival date.
Please let us know if you hear any AP chatter? I was planning to buy for a January trip. Looks like I should purchase soon.
I understand that they keep increasing prices and people keep paying, but at some point do you think it comes up in conversation that enough is enough. (Like in decision meetings) I mean I know a lot of people that Disney will probably never happen for because of price. It’s not like they aren’t making money here. Why the greed?
The problem here is people continue to expect more. Cast members want more and better pay. Guests want new experiences, new lands, new attractions, new restaurants. Each new area increases the expenses Disney incurs, they arent going to start lessening their profit margin, so more attractions means more money.
The year our campsite increased from $89 to $140-160 per night we stepped back and said no more. We were going a minimum of twice a year and more than that when we had our annual pass. We received nothing more and was in the same site. Only difference was the time of year. We raised our kids with annual trips and then our grandchildren. We priced a Disney trip for five over the weekend and couldn’t bring ourselves to book
Do you think this will mean lower ticket prices during non-peak season (and, conversely, higher prices during peak seasons)? I’m just curious…that was my first thought reading the headline, but it’s all very confusing.
No, I don’t believe they will lower the pricing. Higher for all seasons seems more plausible.
What about 3rd party sellers like Tickets-at-work or Undercover Tourist? Any idea how that might work once the new tickets start?
I’d assume they will have to follow the same structure
Can I buy an AP now and not activate until next Nov? How much do you think the APs will go up. Not sure i want to lock up 2k+ for over a year, but might consider it to save 500$. It would be the gold AP Through DVC
Same dilemma here!
I’m wondering a similar thing… We have a trip planned in March, but room only as we are planning to purchase APs. Now, I’m wondering if the cost will be affected by the date of purchase or the date of activation? Also, my gut is telling me that the current AP price will go up on October 16th
I bought my AP early this year and will activate next week. I spoke with a cast member about this before I bought.
How do you think this will affect upgrading to a season pass?
That’s what I want to know. I have a10 day PH… that im going to upgrade in nov.
Will this be for Disneyland as well or just for Disney World at this point?
At this time, it is only for WDW.
DLand tickets are already more expensive, so I sure hope not. They should just raise prices like usual next year.