Disney Tickets: How to Buy, Ticket Types, and What's Worth It
Park Hopper, base ticket, or Genie+? Compare the ticket types and find out which one fits your itinerary.
5 min read
Types of Disney tickets
Disney sells tickets by number of days, and the per-day price drops the more days you buy. The main options are:
- auto_awesomeBase ticket: one park per day, the most budget-friendly option.
- auto_awesomePark Hopper: lets you visit more than one park on the same day.
- auto_awesomePark Hopper Plus: adds water parks and other resort attractions.
- auto_awesomeGenie+ and Lightning Lane: separate add-on purchases that cut down wait times.
When to buy
Buy 2 to 6 months ahead of your trip. Besides locking in your dates during busy periods, you protect yourself from exchange-rate swings and the annual price increases that typically happen in the second half of the year.
How to avoid scams
Only buy through official channels or authorized agencies. Partially used tickets resold by third parties get flagged at the turnstile, and Disney does not issue refunds in those cases.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Park Hopper worth buying?
It's worth it on short trips or if you want to grab dinner at EPCOT after a day at Magic Kingdom. On longer trips, a base ticket is usually enough.