The Ultimate Guide to SAVING on Disney World Tickets in 2022

Planning a trip to Disney World for 2022? You’ve got a lot of things to factor into your budget including hotel costs, travel costs, and ticket costs.

Mickey in EPCOT

From what we’ve seen, the prices for tickets themselves in 2022 haven’t increased, at least in terms of the range of low to high prices. But, we have noticed that MORE days in 2022 appear to fall into higher-priced categories. That means that depending on when you go, a trip that you took this year could cost you MORE next year, even if you were to visit during the exact same days. So, how can you SAVE on the price of theme park tickets in 2022? We’re breaking down all the information you need to know right here.

Tip 1: Go During the “Slow” Season

There may not be as much of a “slow” season in Disney World as there used to be, but at certain times of the year, you will find that tickets (and typically crowds) are lower than at other points. Visiting during these slower times usually equals cheaper tickets and sometimes cheaper hotels too.

Animal Kingdom

Generally, Disney experiences a slower period in mid-January, after any marathons or cheerleading competitions, as well as in September. But, if you’re really serious about going during the very cheapest days of the year, you can quite literally look through the Disney World ticket price calendar and see what days have the lowest priced tickets.

For 2022, we found some of the cheapest tickets (1 park per day, 1 day ticket — $109) near the end of August…

©Disney

…and throughout various days in September.

©Disney

Some of the most expensive tickets were during peak holiday times like around Christmas and New Year’s Eve…

©Disney

…and Thanksgiving.

©Disney

These more expensive tickets were priced in the $150s. That’s a significant difference compared to $109, especially if you multiply that across multiple members in a single party. Going during some of those cheaper/slower times could provide you with substantial savings. We know it’s not always possible given that many kids are in school during those times, but if it’s something you and your family can arrange, it might be worth the effort.

Click here to see more about the ticket prices for 2022.

Tip 2: Check for Ticket Discounts

Another huge way you can save on tickets to Disney World is to check for ticket discounts. From time to time, Disney will offer special discounts on its theme park tickets. These could be military discounts, offers for Florida residents, or just general discounts. 

This past year, we even saw a special discount offered where, if you purchased a certain package, you could get 2 additional days added to your theme park tickets for FREE.

Cinderella Castle

We’re constantly searching for these discounts and posting about them so you can make sure you get the very best deals. Be sure to check back with us for more updates on that, visit our page FULL of information about the current discounts being offered, and subscribe to our newsletter to get all of the updates sent directly to you so you don’t miss out.

Disney isn’t the only source to look for discounts on tickets though. If you work for a company that utilizes Tickets at Work, you might be able to get special deals there on Disney World theme park tickets. Be sure to see if your company has that available to you and what discounts you might be able to get.

Galaxy’s Edge

Just be sure you’re buying your tickets from a reputable source. There are lots of third-party vendors out there that sell “discounted” tickets that claim to work, but actually are not a true deal. The last thing you want is to spend your hard-earned money on “discounted” tickets that don’t work when you arrive. If you’re buying Disney World tickets, make sure you’re buying from Disney directly or reputable sources like Tickets at Work that are fully authorized by Disney to sell tickets.

Looking for the Best Ticket Deals

Another thing you can do is work with a travel agent. Travel agents stay up to date on all the latest discounts, so they can help you get a sense of what’s available and just how much you could save (so you don’t have to do all of the investigative work). We highly recommend our friends over at Small World Vacations. Their services are totally FREE and they’ve got a wealth of knowledge about Disney that could help you save time, money, and stress during your trip planning! All of their information is below if you want to reach out to them for help.

Click here to see our page full of information about the current Disney World deals and discounts.

Tip 3: Don’t Park Hop

A “standard” Disney World theme park ticket will let you enter 1 park per day. But, you can add on a “Park Hopper” option, which allows you to visit multiple theme parks in one day. The way Park Hopping works right now is that you’ll need a Park Pass for the first park you want to enter. Then, starting at 2PM each day (time is subject to change), you can hop to another park (other parks) of your choosing, provided there is availability.

Park Hopping Information

Park Hopping is a fantastic advantage as it can help you visit multiple parks and potentially get more done in one day, but it will cost you!

The added cost of the Park Hopper option depends on how many days you go. For a 1 day ticket, the standard price (1 park per day) starts at $109. Add on the Park Hopper option and that 1 day ticket jumps up to a starting price of $174.

How Many Parks Would You Visit in 1 Day?

Here’s a look at the prices for standard, 1 park per day tickets.

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And here’s a look at the prices for tickets with Park Hopper abilities.

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Adding on the Price Hopper can make a BIG difference, particularly if you aren’t going for very many days (the difference in cost becomes less if you are going for more days). And keep in mind that’s just a starting price — tickets will be more expensive depending on the day you visit. If you multiply that cost across even just 2 people, things can start to seriously add up.

The other important thing to keep in mind is that once you pay for a ticket with the Park Hopper option, you generally cannot remove it. You can, however, buy a “standard” ticket and add on the Park Hopper option later. But, you’ll be charged for this Park Hopper add-on for every day of your trip. Meaning, if you buy a 5-day ticket, you’ll be charged for the Park Hopper add-on for every single day.

Pandora — The World of Avatar

If you add on the Park Hopper option on day 2 of your trip, you’ll still be charged for day 1 even though that day has passed. So, if you’re going to add it on during your trip, it’s important to do so as soon as possible. If you’re going to pay for the additional cost, you might as well get as much use out of it as possible.

If you aren’t sure if you’re actually going to need to park hop, we recommend holding off on paying for that additional option. If you get to the parks and decide you need it, then you can add it on.

Welcome to EPCOT!

Not sure whether you’ll need a Park Hopper or not? Take a look at the parks you’re planning to visit, how many days you’ll be there, and just what you want to do in each park. If the number of attractions you want to see, the food you want to try, and shops you want to visit will essentially fill your entire day (which it generally can at most parks, depending on your likes/wants), then a Park Hopper might not be worth the cost for you.

Click here to see the 3 best things about Park Hopping in Disney World and the 2 worst.

Tip 4: Stick to Just the Theme Parks or Choose Your Options Carefully

This will obviously depend on your plans, but (as we mentioned above briefly) there are different types of park tickets you can buy. You can buy standard tickets that allow you access to 1 park per day. There are Park Hopper tickets that allow you to hop to multiple parks in one day. And there are also tickets that come with a water park and sports option. There are standard 1-park-per-day tickets that have a water park and sports add-on, and there are park hopper tickets that have a water park and sports add-on.

With this water park and sports option, you’ll get to visit the theme parks PLUS you’ll get a certain number of visits to a water park or sports-related option (like golf, FootGolf, and mini-golf).

Toboggan Racers at Blizzard Beach

But, getting this water park and sports option will cost you. A 1-park-per-day ticket with the water park and sports option jumps from $109 for a single day to $179 for a single day. That’s a $70 add-on. But, note that the additional price decreases as the number of days on your ticket increases.

Ticket Prices for Standard Ticket with the Water Park and Sports Option ©Disney

You’ll also pay a bit of an increase for the park hopper version with the water park and sports add-on ($174 for a 1-day park hopper, $194 for a 1-day park hopper with water park and sports). That’s actually not too bad of an increase though at only $20.

Ticket Prices for Park Hopper Ticket with the Water Park and Sports Option ©Disney

Now, if you feel like you’re actually going to take advantage of the water park and sports offerings, then this add-on could work out for you, especially considering the fact that a single-day ticket to Blizzard Beach Water Park alone costs $69 per adult and $63 per child (with no blockout dates, tickets are slightly cheaper if you buy the ones with blockout dates — $64 per adult, $58 per child).

But, if you don’t feel like you’re actually going to take advantage of what these water park and sports ticket add-ons offer or if you’re purely just trying to save money, then our recommendation is to stick to theme park only tickets.

Melt-Away Bay at Disney’s

The key here is to determine what you actually want to do during your trip, how much it would cost to pay for those things separately (i.e. just buying a 1 day water park ticket as opposed to adding it onto your ticket), and then deciding whether getting the water park and sports add-on is worth it.

And, ultimately, if your goal is to SAVE money on tickets at all costs, then skipping out on water parks and sports options altogether could be a good choice.

Click here to read more about the reopening of Blizzard Beach!

Tip 5: Consider How Many Days You’re Really Going to Need

Planning to visit Disney World for 5 days? That’s great! But, that doesn’t mean you need to buy 5 days worth of tickets. If you really want to save money, you could instead opt to buy only 3 days worth of tickets (or 2 days, or 4 days — you get the idea) and spend the other non-park days doing FREE or lower-cost things.

For example, you could spend one day at your resort enjoying the pool, doing resort activities, searching for hidden details, or just walking around. You could also (by following the proper procedures) go hop to other resorts and see what unique things they have to offer.

Wilderness Lodge is a stunner

Or, you could spend the day at Disney Springs (which is totally FREE to visit). While a visit there might end up costing you a bit of money (you may not be able to resist some of the food or souvenirs there), it could end up being much cheaper than a full park day.

So Much Merchandise!

You could also opt to spend those non-park days doing lower-cost things like playing a round of mini-golf. (Again, you’ll want to look into whether getting the water park and sports option is worth it for this, or if it would make more sense for you to simply pay out of pocket for these additional costs.)

Winter Summerland miniature golf

Ultimately, the important thing is to think about your family, what they want to accomplish during the trip, and what your budget can realistically afford.

Buying 3 days worth of tickets will be less than buying 5 days, but you will want to make sure that your family feels they can accomplish what they want to do during that time (or are okay with the idea of not getting everything done and coming back in the future).

Click here to get a look at the Winter Summerland mini-golf in Disney World!

Tip 6: Consider Going During the Week

Generally, park tickets during the week are priced cheaper than those on the weekend. If you can manage to arrange for a week-day trip, as opposed to a weekend trip, you could save some cash.

Take October of 2022, for example.

©Disney

While park tickets during the week are typically around $134 or $140 in price, tickets for the weekends are around $141-$144. That might not seem like a dramatic difference, but every penny adds up!

7 Little Disney World Mistakes That Will Cost You BIG Money

Tip 7: Consider Taking Kids When They’re Little

That’s right folks, you really gotta milk those younger years while you can! Kids under 3 can visit Disney World’s theme parks for FREE. If you’ve got a little one, visiting during their younger years could help you save quite a bit. (They might not remember much from those trips, but you will!)

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This can be especially important though if you’ve got a little one who is nearing their 3rd birthday. The cost of a trip before they turn 3 would be much less than the cost of a trip after they turn 3. If you can manage to schedule that trip for BEFORE their 3rd birthday as opposed to after it, that could help you save a substantial amount on tickets.

Click here to see 8 lessons we learned the HARD way about taking a baby to Disney World.

Tip 8: See if an Annual Pass Makes Sense for You

NOTE: New Annual Pass sales have been PAUSED for most pass types. 

Depending on how many days you’ll be going to Disney World during the year, an Annual Pass might actually offer you a good savings from a pure ticket perspective.

For example, if you’re a Florida Resident, the cheapest new Annual Pass option is the Pixie Dust Pass, priced at $399 plus tax. The pass allows you to park hop and comes with certain benefits like Passholder discounts on select merchandise and food/drinks, and free parking in the theme parks.

Annual Passholder sign

The pass does have blockout dates though — specifically weekends, peak times, and holiday periods. But, if your trips work within those blockout dates, this pass could be a could deal for you, depending on when you plan to visit during the year and how many days you plan to visit.

If you’re not a Florida resident, your options are more limited when it comes to Annual Passes. Specifically, if you’re not a Florida resident and also not a Disney Vacation Club Member, you really only have one Annual Pass option available — the Incredi-Pass for $1,299 plus tax.

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That’s not cheap, make no mistake about it. BUT, if you’re planning on visiting multiple times throughout the year, this could actually provide you with a good savings in terms of ticket price (especially if some of those trips are during peak/holiday times).

And keep in mind that only 1 member of your family needs to get an Annual Pass to get those discounts on food and beverages and merchandise, as well as the free parking. So, not every member of your party needs to pay for the Annual Pass necessarily, if that doesn’t make the most sense cost-wise.

Annual Passes in action!

You’ll have to crunch the numbers and see if it’s worth it for you depending on how many vacations you plan on taking and when you plan to visit, but it’s definitely something to consider.

Click here to learn more about the Annual Passholder program in Disney World.

Tip 9: Consider What You Place as Your Start Date

Next, we’ll talk about an important secret to saving some cash on your park tickets! Let’s say you’re planning on visiting Disney World in February and want to visit the parks from February 10th through the 13th. You’ll be buying a 4-day 1-park-per-day ticket for your trip.

Your natural inclination is probably to select February 10th as the start date for your tickets when buying them. That would make your total ticket price $488.32 per ticket.

©Disney

But, did you notice how far out that blue ticket range extends? Tickets can actually be used on non-consecutive days within a certain range, and that range may actually go past the days you actually plan to be there.

By buying a 4-day ticket and choosing a start date, you’re actually able to use it on non-consecutive days from February 10th through February 16th.

Goofy is shocked!

So, what happens if you move that “start date” up a little bit? Well, if you actually select a start date of February 7th, you can use your tickets on non-consecutive days (if you want) from February 7th through February 13th. That still covers your trip dates (10th -13th), but the cost is actually LESS.

Instead of $488.32 per ticket, the cost is actually $463.16 per ticket! Multiply that savings across multiple tickets and it could make a big difference.

©Disney

So, be sure to play around with those start dates to see how to get the best deal. Just make sure the date range it covers will work for your trip dates.

10 Problems You’ll Have To Solve In Disney World RIGHT NOW

Tip 10: Plan Your Water Park Days Carefully

If you do decide to visit a water park, the first thing you’ll want to see is whether getting a ticket with the water park and sports option is your best value. That’ll depend on how many days you’re buying park tickets for and how often you were planning to visit the water parks (or do those sports options). If it is the best deal, then that will probably be the way you want to go.

Cross Country Creek

But, if it doesn’t make sense from a financial perspective, then it’ll be best for you to buy that park ticket alone. If you are going to buy the water park ticket on its own, see if you can schedule that water park date to be on one of the more expensive theme park ticket dates. Water park tickets are not on a date-based system, unlike theme park tickets. So they’re essentially the same price for any day you buy them, there’s only a difference between some that have blockout dates and some that don’t.

If you can, try to schedule your theme park tickets (and the start date for your park tickets) so that you can visit the parks during the cheapest time of your trip, and leave the water park day for the date when the theme park tickets were most expensive.

Ski Lift

Depending on how many days you’re visiting, this could result in some savings. It’s just something you may have to play around with.

Passholders Can Score a BIG Discount on Water Park Tickets in Disney World

Tip 11: Utilize Disney Gift Cards If Possible

You can get Disney gift cards at a discount in certain stores. For example, at Target, if you have a Red Card, you can utilize your Red Card savings to get 5% off. So, you could get a $100 Disney gift card for $95. That savings is small, but if you’re able to buy multiple cards and combine their values, you might be able to utilize them to pay for your tickets or other aspects of your trip and really take advantage of those savings.

Gift cards can help you budget for your trip!

If you have a Disney Visa credit card, you may also be able to utilize any points you’ve acquired, turn those into a Disney gift card, and again use that to help you pay for your tickets or other vacation needs.

And those are our tips to help you SAVE on tickets for your Disney World trips. Want to hear some of the BEST Disney World tips of all time? Check out our video below!

Want to partner with someone to help you find the best deals and make your trip planning much less stressful? Check out our friends over at Small World Vacations. Their services are totally FREE and they can help you save time, money, and headaches when planning your trip.

We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more discounts, tips, and tricks, and we’ll be sure to share them all with you!

Our favorite people over at Small World Vacations are ready to help you save time, headaches, and best of all, money, when you book your Disney trip or cruise. 

Their agents compare current offers to find the best deal for you -- they've literally saved their guests millions of dollars since 1996. Plus, their services are 100% FREE FOR YOU! (They're DFB's recommended travel agency, and you can see why here!)

So book that trip now, then sit back and enjoy planning your Disney World Trip with a DFB-approved expert! Click here for a no obligation price quote today, and let them know DFB sent you

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Are you planning a trip to Disney World in 2022? Tell us in the comments!

The post The Ultimate Guide to SAVING on Disney World Tickets in 2022 first appeared on the disney food blog.

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