Visiting Walt Disney World can be expensive, with tickets alone for the average size family setting you back hundreds of dollars. Unfortunately, big Disney discounts are hard to find (discounts on Orlando’s other theme parks are much easier to come by). Still, if you plan ahead, you can save a few bucks.

Here are some strategies to stretch your ticket buying dollar:

Check the prices on Disney’s website first, before you buy tickets from a reseller so
you can be sure you’re actually getting a bargain and they’re not quoting
your “savings” by comparing a multi-day pass price to the price of several individual single day tickets (the most expensive way to buy).

Plan your vacation days before you buy, so you don’t buy a pass with more (or fewer) days admission than you’ll actually use.

Don’t buy more ticket than you need. If you’re not going to be visiting one of Disney’s waterparks or Pleasure Island and only want tickets to the theme parks a regular pass will do just fine without more expnsive options.

If you’ll be making several visits that year, or an extended visit of longer than a week’s park hopping, consider buying an annual pass instead of a park hopper. (Annual Passholders are eligible for some special perks and discounts beyond park admission — for current programs check the Walt Disney World website or ask at Guest Services.)

If you fit into any of several select groups, you may be eligible for other programs offering even better deals:

US Military. Active duty, retired military, and DOD employees are often eligible for discounts (sometimes even free tickets, with deep discounts for family members, during Disney Armed Forces Salutes.) Before you go, check with your local base MWR.

AAA Members. Discounts are often available to members of AAA on multi-day passes, but you have to buy them at a participating AAA office. Discounts may vary by region. Check with AAA for prices and eligibility.

Conventioneers. If you are attending a convention in Orlando you may be eligible for discounts or unusual pass combination options through that convention. Check with your convention’s promoter or travel agency or at the tourist information desk in the convention center.

Florida Residents. Disney offers Florida resident discounts on annual passes and sometimes offers special deals such as discounted “Play 4 Days” passes or other discounts. Check the Florida Residents area of the Walt Disney World website (the link is near the upper right hand corner) for programs and details. (Proof of Florida residency required).

Employees of Corporations Sponsoring Disney Attractions. If you work for Coke, GM, or another company that sponsors a Disney attraction, or a company that contracts with Disney, see your Human Resources Department before you go and ask about any current programs.

Disney Employees. Of course, if you work at Walt Disney World you know about their programs already…
Scams and Scalpers

You may be approached in Orlando (or see ads on eBay) by someone trying to sell the unused days on a multi-day pass. Unfortunately, if you read the fine print on the back of a Disney ticket, you will see that they are non-transferable and cannot legally be sold in this way.

While you might be able to get away with using one (but don’t bet on it, as Disney now uses fingerprint recognition ID), you can’t read on a pass how many days are actually left on it — that smiling guy in your hotel parking lot who says this pass has two days left on it won’t be there when you put it in the turnstile to give you a refund if it turns out that all days have been used and the pass has actually expired. You also have no way of knowing if such a pass is stolen or even counterfeit and, since you were engaging in an unlawful transaction to begin with, don’t expect much help or sympathy from Disney or the Orlando Police if you get taken. Scams happen: know your seller, preferably an authorized reseller.

You may also see advertising for ticket sellers offering deep discount, or even free, tickets. Such deals are possible but usually involve spending hours listening to a timeshare presentation and a hard sell before you can get them. It’s fine if you want to spend the time, but if a deal looks too good to be true be sure to find out up front what the catch is so you know what you’re getting into.

By Teresa Plowright

For the busiest, and least busy, weeks in the Disney World theme parks, read on, below.

Remember, though, that the Best Times to Visit Disney World aren’t just about crowds: park hours and special events count too. For example, during the least-crowded weeks, the theme parks close early; whereas at peak times, The Magic Kingdom stays open ’til midnight, with extra fireworks and parades.

Below are the periods of lowest, moderate, and highest attendance; no surprise, the school year schedule is the main influence.

Most Crowded Times at Disney World (Based on historical attendance*)

February: Presidents Week
Presidents Day is a national holiday in the US, on the third Monday in February; many schools extend the long weekend into a “Presidents Week” break.

Mid-March to Mid-April: Spring Break
“Spring Break” typically means ten days off school; dates vary but typically fall mid-March to mid-April. (College spring break is a very different thing…)

May: Memorial Day Weekend
The last Monday in May is is a national holiday honoring those who died in military service. It’s also the kick-off for summer and a big holiday weekend.

Mid-June through Mid-August
Prime summer vacation time. Many kids have school holidays until Labor Day, the first Monday in September; but in some districts, especially in the southeast, schools re-open earlier, and crowds may ease in the last weeks of August.

November: Thanksgiving Weekend
On the fourth Thursday in November, families criss-cross the country to get together, and many meet up at Disney World. Thanksgiving starts the Holiday Season; the theme parks are decorated and Disney Christmas events are on.

December: Christmas through New Year’s Day
Peak season crowds; many Disney Christmas events to compensate.

Lowest Attendance

January and Early February
From after New Year’s Day, until just before President’s Week.

Fall
Kids are back to school; a quieter period continues until just before Thanksgiving. Families with preschoolers might check for special promotions in September.

Weeks Between Thanksgiving and Christmas
Disneyphiles in the know have loved this period: Christmas decorations were up, yet crowds were less. Lately, however, it seems that more people have discovered this sweet spot.

Moderate Attendance

Late February, Early March
Between high-volume Presidents Week and high-season Spring Break.

Late April to Early June (except Memorial Day Weekend)
After Spring Break, attendance settles down until schools begin summer vacation. (Dates vary in different school districts.) Watch out, though, for Memorial Day Weekend’s huge spike in May.

First Part of Thanksgiving Week
You’ll be cutting it fine before the masses arrive; but Christmas decorations are going up earlier, so you might squeeze in some less-crowded days in holiday-bright theme parks.

Busiest Days of the Week, for Different Theme Parks*:

Volume also varies on different days of the week. Below are some hints about busy days, from the Walt Disney World site.

Magic Kingdom: Monday, Thursday, and Saturday
Epcot: Tuesday and Friday
Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Sunday and Wednesday
Animal Kingdom Theme Park: Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday

Also check which park has Extra Magic Hours: every day, one or more theme parks either opens early or stays open late, for guest of Disney World resorts; theme parks tend to be more crowded on their “Extra Magic Hours” days.

If you are not restricted by the school calendar, there is a best time to visit Disney World. You can save a lot of money by going in the off season. The off season begins the 2nd week of September and goes through May, with the exceptions of holidays and spring breaks for schools and colleges. June, July, and August—when schools are out—are busy months.

If you have children who start to school after Labor Day, or who get out earlier in the spring, that is a best time to visit Disney World too. Going then can mean good hotel discounts—and comfortable weather. You may find reduced park hours, but that will be offset by reduced crowds and less waiting in lines. You may run into more attractions being renovated, and some stores closed.

As a former Disney employee here is the scoop about when to start your vacation if your vacation time is flexible. Plan to arrive to the Disney World area on Thursday. Both Friday and Saturday are transition days for park visitors, especially in the summer months. Saturdays do draw in more annual pass holders to the park, but that is the major day that people either arrive or leave the area. This causes attendance figures to be down, making it a best time to visit Disney World parks. (Disney does not publish attendance figures.)

If you are planning to have a day of rest in your vacation, by arriving on Thursday you can enjoy two days of parks with reduced crowds and then use Sunday to rest. Sunday attendance figures tended to be the highest of the week when I worked for Disney due to people starting their vacations and local annual pass holders going to the parks. If during those first two days you are planning to visit the Magic Kingdom, plan to do it on Friday. Attendance figures pick up for that park on Saturday.

You will be able to do more attractions in the first two days while you are revved up, and then it will allow you to relax and enjoy the park on the more crowded days.

If you have your heart set on going to a certain water park, check the web site for that park to make sure it is not closed for maintenance.

By following the tips on the best time to visit Disney World, you will make the most of your vacation time.