Did Walt really intend for it to be so expensive that the average family couldn't afford it?
- Unofficial Guide reader and mother of one from Amarillo, Texas
How much you spend depends on how long you stay at Walt Disney World. But even if you stop for only an afternoon, be prepared to drop a bundle. This section will give some sense what things will cost, and more importantly, how to spend your time wisely.
Magic Your Way Tickets
Unofficial Tip
The money you can save makes researching Disney's dizzying array of ticket options worthwhile.
In an effort to accommodate vacations of various durations and activities, Disney offers a number of different options to its theme parks. These options range from the basic "One Day, One Park" ticket, good for a single entry into any one of Disney's theme parks, to the top of the line Premium Annual Pass, good for 365 days of admission into every theme and water park Disney operates, plus DisneyQuest and Pleasure Island.
Admission to Disney's theme parks and water parks is offered through an a la carte ticket plan called Magic Your Way. (Click here for details on the plan). Our explanation includes links to Disney's official site, for the latest ticket prices, as well as links to third-party ticket wholesalers, who can offer savings of around 5% for certain types of tickets.
FASTPASS
FASTPASS is a free ride reservation system designed to reduce the amount of time you have to wait at some of Walt Disney World's most popular attractions. In short, Disney offers you the opportunity to skip a long wait at an attraction you want to ride right now, in exchange for a much shorter wait later in the day. Many of our touring plans use FASTPASS to significantly reduce the time spent waiting in lines. We'll give you a complete description of what FASTPASS does, and how and why it works.
Extra Magic Hours
"Extra Magic Hours" are a perk for families staying at a Walt Disney World resort, including the Swan, Dolphin, Shades of Green, and the Hilton in the Downtown Disney resort area. During selected days of the week, Disney resort guests will be able to enter a Disney theme park one hour earlier, or stay in a selected theme park up to three hours later than the official park operating hours. (Water parks may also offer Extra Magic Hours.) Theme park visitors not staying at a Disney resort may stay in the park for Extra Magic Hour evenings, but can not experience any rides, attractions or shows.
Airport Car Rental Cost Comparison
Most airports charge hefty fees for renting cars on their property. Can you save money by renting your next vehicle from a company outside the airport, or does airport competition provide the lowest prices available.
Walt Disney World On The Web
You could explore the Web for weeks on end. Here are our picks for the best Disney-related sites available.
