Disney Tickets Are Going to Date-Based Pricing on October 16th
As of this morning, official information is starting to be shared by the Disney Company of a new ticket pricing structure arriving October 16th. The pricing specifics have yet to be announced, but we do know that a Date-Based Ticket and Pricing structure will be adopted on October 16th.
Beginning on that date, guests will have to purchase tickets that are priced based on the date that they choose to visit the parks. The ticket buying process will essentially use a calendar of different prices (based on the date) where guests can choose their travel dates. Tickets will need to be used during a specific time period, as planned by the dates they select.
Ticket expiration timeframes will also change.
1 Day base tickets will be valid for admission on the specific date selected. Multi-day tickets are only valid for the start date selected and must be used in an extremely limited time period. Here’s the breakdown of expiration we know so far:
1-Day Tickets: only on the date selected
2-Day Tickets: any 2 days within 4 days of the chosen start date
3-Day Tickets: any 3 days within 5 days of the chosen start date
4-Day Tickets: any 4 days within 7 days of the chosen start date
5-Day Tickets: any 5 days within 8 days of the chosen start date
6-Day Tickets: any 6 days within 9 days of the chosen start date
7-Day Tickets: any 7 days within 10 days of the chosen start date
8-Day Tickets: any 8 days within 12 days of the chosen start date
9-Day Tickets: any 9 days within 13 days of the chosen start date
10-Day Tickets: any 10 days within 14 days of your originally selected start date
For example, a 6-day ticket is only allowed to be used November 1st through November 9th if the the selected start date is November 1st.
If you choose to buy the park hopper plus option, it will extend the period for which you can use your ticket by one day. In the example listed above, if you add the park hopper plus option, your ticket will be valid any 6 days November 1st through November 10th.
The only exception to the expiration timeframes are if you are staying at a Walt Disney World resort. Packaged ticket and resort stay bundles will have a valid ticket use period of the package resort check in date to the package resort check out date. You will receive whichever timeframe is longer concerning expiration.
According to Disney, the expiration changes “better align with observed guest ticket usage patterns.” If you do want added ticket flexibility, a “Flexible Date Ticket” option will be available. The cost of that option has yet to be released.
This is a change that we have expected for quite some time, but it has not arrived in the typical ticket pricing change timeframe. There is only one way around this and that is to book now if you possibly can. If you do want to book a trip before all of this changes, contact our friends over at Destinations to Travel (which also helps us out) or head on over to Disney’s site before October 16th.
The ticket buying change is one that will change the booking experience drastically and is likely to accompany increased costs across the board. Sadly, it’s an unfortunate change but one that we will soon be facing for upcoming Walt Disney World vacations.
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