Buying Theme Park Tickets

Visiting the major theme parks like Walt Disney World, Universal Studios or SeaWorld is not cheap so you need to think carefully before you buy your tickets and don't forget about the price of parking when budgeting for your vacation.

Where to purchase theme park tickets

Most theme parks sell tickets over the Internet as well as selling them at the gate so you can often buy them before you arrive.

The advantage of buying them in advance is that you do not need to queue at the ticket booth at the theme park and you may get a discount for paying in advance but you may have to pay shipping charges.

You can also get them from various discount ticket agents both in the USA and in your own country.

When comparing prices check on exchange rates as sometimes the rates offered may not be as good as the normal bank rates.

Types of theme park tickets

All the parks these days offer various different types of multi-day packages and deals such as the new Disney Magic Your Way tickets or the multi-park Orlando Flex tickets which include admissions to Universal Studios, SeaWorld, Wet 'n Wild and Busch Gardens Africa.

Keep an eye out for special promotions at Universal Studios, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens Africa as they often offer free day deals where if you buy a one or two day ticket you get an extra day free.

You can also buy a "Go Card" for both Orlando and Miami which gives you FREE admission to multiple parks including the NASA Kennedy Space Center, museums, gardens plus special deals on dining.

See the pages on specific theme parks for details of all the current offers.

If you are planning on trying to watch a space shuttle launch from the NASA Kennedy Space Center then you must buy your tickets in advance; if you just turn up on the day you will almost certainly not be able to get in.

Things to watch out for

Do not be tempted to buy tickets from roadside booths near the attractions. People will buy up part used tickets and then sell them on. Though they will be a lot cheaper than "new" tickets, there is always a risk.

Many visitors have been caught out by buying fake or expired tickets. It is very difficult to tell if a "part-used" ticket is still valid and many of the parks including Disney are incorporating electronic 'finger printing' at the gates to cut down on fraud.

You may also see tickets being advertised as free. In exchange for the tickets you will typically be expected to attend a presentation about vacation club or timeshare properties.

These typically last between 90 minutes and 2 hours and can be a cheap way of getting tickets if you can endure the hard sell.

See also:- Theme Park Parking | Florida Theme Parks