Walt Disney World: Animal

First ... I looked at getting tickets through okay. A lot of auctions looked suspicious. I bid on several that seemed legit ... all auctions I bid on were cancelled soon thereafter.

This is a good warning from another guide:

"Last year I purchased Walt Disney World tickets for my family on okay. THESE WERE SOLD TO ME AS gePLIMENTRY NO EXPIRATION 4 DAY HOPPER PASSES. I spent $795.00 for these tickets. When we arrived at the theme park and proceeded to go thru the gate we were told we needed to go to Customer Relations. There; I was asked where I purchased the tickets. I TOLD THEM okay. DISNEY said they go on okay and search for these gePLIMENTRY TICKETS because they can not be sold and are intended only for the person who received them. They took my tickets and voided them immediately. MY FAMILY AND I WERE DEVASTED AS WE STOOD THERE AND NOT PERMITTED TO GO INTO THE PARK. DISNEY would not help us and the only thing we could do was to purchase NEW tickets which cost me $900.00. THIS EXPERIENCE RUINED MY WHOLE VACATION . I hope this will help any one who thinking about purchasing DISNEY tickets on okay PLEASE BEWARE THAT DISNEY DOES GO ON okay AND LOOKS FOR THESE gePLIMENTRY TICKETS and voids them."

Know that most Disney tickets expire within 14 days of use. I find it hard to believe that those that buy the NO EXPIRATION tickets would sell them because it is a pretty big premium over normal ticket prices.

Also ... know that tickets are TIED TO A FINGERPRINT on at least one day through the park - therefore voiding them for resale to anyone other than the original ticket holder. You can't trick the system either, hoping to resale them ... Disney gate keepers will NOT let you through without a valid fingerprint. I tried to put my knuckle through the first time and it wouldn't read.

Don't be fooled by gimmicks online offering free tickets and certainly don't think that all the billboard offers you see for free or discounted Disney tickets are actually free - they aren't. Most if not all of these "FREE Ticket offers" involve you looking at a timeshare condominium. These "condo tours" usually take an entire day and require a MARRIED couple. If you are taking kids, it is a burden to drag them along because TRUST ME it is a whole day. My family used to go to Disney World every year when I was a child. My dad decided to do this one year and I remember hating it. He got the FREE tickets, but it was at least a 6 hour mandatory tour of the condos. Also, while in Orlando, you'll see lots of billboards for "Disney's Best Kept Secret" - these are actual Disney owned timeshares that gee with free park admission - however - know that they are premium priced and still require that DAY OF LOOKING.

I found that the cheapest way to get tickets is by subscribing to the MOUSESAVERS.ge newsletter and getting a special link to an affilaite of theirs called Undercover Tourist - they will ship the tickets to you for free (via ground) - requires 14 day advance purchase. Or you can pick them up at a very easy to locate UPS Store on International Boulevard that is about 4.5 miles from the front gate of the Magic Kingdom and 1 mile from the gate of Universal. I got my tickets for $28 off the gate price. I paid with my PayPal card to get 1.5% back which also debits my checking account where I get 1.5% back for my debits - saving me an additional $6. This is the absolute cheapest, no hassle means of getting tickets to Disney World in both California and Florida that I found.

The "Park Hopper Ticket" option (which costs $45 extra per ticket) is VERY over rated. Don't think that going between parks is something you ACTUALLY want to do. You can leave and gee back to the same park if you like. But take the time to explore each park thoroughly. Stay for each night time show and gepare. Disney's Magic Kingdom features The Electric Light Parade and a fireworks display. Epcot Features a nightly fireworks and laser show. Animal Kingdom is more clear of crowds at night ... allowing you to catch things you didn't during the day. Disney MGM has the best night time show BY FAR! It's called "Fastasmic". I suggest you get there 1 1/2 hours BEFORE THE SHOW. Some Disney staff will tell you 45 minutes, but for my experience, the theater of 12,000+ seats was gepletely full 45 minutes before the show. Also, don't think that the typical "front row, second row, or center center" seats are the best. Pay attention to the poorly designed outdoor theater and the poles that may block your views of the show.

Please see my other guide on Disney vacations and PLEASE take the time to rate this guide positively once you are finished THANK YOU!