Hi Carlos,
Welcome to planDisney, and thank you for stopping by with your question. A vacation to Walt Disney World Resort in March sounds like an unforgettable way to spend time with your family. With four incredible theme parks, endless dining and entertainment options, and memorable experiences around every corner, there’s something for everyone!
One of the things I appreciate about Walt Disney World is how flexible the ticket options are. Whether you’re planning your days around theme park thrills, dining around the world at EPCOT, or cooling off at the water parks, there’s a ticket type to match every vacation style and budget.
Before I dive into when to buy your tickets, let’s take a quick look at the types of tickets available:
- One Park Per Day Tickets are a great option if you’re planning to explore one park each day at your own pace.
- Park Hopper Option allows you to visit more than one theme park per day, giving you the flexibility to start your morning on Kilimanjaro Safaris and end your night watching fireworks over Cinderella Castle.
- Water Park and Sports Option adds extra admissions to experiences like the Disney Water Parks, ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, or even a round of mini-golf.
- Park Hopper Plus Option combines the best of both worlds: hopping between theme parks and enjoying additional activities like the water parks or golf.
Now, to your question, when should you purchase your admission tickets? Most Guests opt for what are called date-based tickets. These tickets allow you to select a start date and the number of days you’ll visit the parks. The great thing is that no theme park reservations are currently required for date-based tickets, so once you make your purchase, those tickets will be safely stored in your MyDisney account. On your first day, you're ready to head straight to the park of your choice.
You have flexibility here. You could purchase your tickets today, wait a bit, or even buy them once you arrive at Disney Springs or outside the gates of your first park. That said, I always recommend purchasing sooner rather than later. Getting this step out of the way early helps you spread out the cost of your vacation, and lets you focus your budget on other important things like DOLE Whips and Mickey Waffles!
Another big perk to buying ahead of time is access to Lightning Lane options. Guests with tickets linked to their MyDisney account can begin purchasing Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass selections seven days before arrival if staying at a Disney Resorts Collection hotel or three days before arrival for other Guests. These passes can significantly cut down on wait times and help you get more out of each day. My family just returned from a trip where we used the Lightning Lane Multi Pass, and it made our days so much smoother. We loved being able to plan a few key attractions in advance and still take our time soaking in all the sights, snacks, and shows along the way.
I hope this helps, Carlos! Feel free to submit another question anytime as you continue planning your trip. I’d be happy to recommend a Disney Resorts Collection hotel that fits your family’s style, help build out a Lightning Lane strategy, or even send over a few of my go-to dining picks.
Brent