Here's one of the few ways to get a Disney World ticket discount

There are many Disney discount scams out there, but there is a way to get legitimate deals on park tickets.

May 17, 2025 - 16:30

Here's one of the few ways to get a Disney World ticket discount

There is travel you have to do — for business or family commitments — and then there is travel you want to do.

Likewise, there is magic, and then there is Disney magic, the kind that hits you when you catch a glimpse of Sleeping Beauty's Castle or see the electrical parade for the first time.

No matter your age, there is just something special about screaming your lungs out on Space Mountain or taking a selfie with Minnie Mouse.

Visiting a Disney theme park is practically a rite of passage in the U.S., so if you've never been, or haven't been in a few years, consider this a sign that it's time to go check in with Donald, Mickey, Belle, and Moana.

While magic might be timeless, planning a trip to a Disney park requires planning and budgeting.

Fortunately, The Walt Disney Company even has some sweet deals for 2025 and 2026 for both Walt Disney World and Disneyland, including "kids eat free." There are some other ways to score discounts on tickets and lodging.

Mickey Mouse is a beloved Disney icon.
Image source: Getty Images

Disney discounts for military, teachers, and Florida/So. California residents

A visit to a Disney park is expensive. There are no two ways about it.

A single day can cost between $500 and $1,200 per person when you account for a park ticket, hotel room, and three meals ($20 per meal).

Disney (DIS) has faced criticism in recent months because it increased prices for annual passes by between $30 and $100, depending on the pass type, and raised prices on many menu items as well. CEO Bob Iger even acknowledged publicly that the cost of a ticket into one of the company's parks may be one reason visits have declined.

In response, the company has a host of special deals and some freebies planned for 2025 and 2026.

But if the offers don't work for you, there are a couple of other ways to get a break on the price of tickets:

Military members buy a 4-day Military Salute ticket to Disney World starting at $399. A 3-day Park Hopper ticket to Disneyland/California Adventure starts at $295.
Teachers who are members of the National Education Association (NEA) can get up to 40% off the cost of tickets to Disney parks.
Florida residents can get a 1-day park pass for Disney World for $60. ID is required.
Southern California residents can get a 3-day 1-park pass for $199 or a 3-day Park Hopper pass for $289. Residents must live in 90000-93599 and have a government ID showing proof.

Beware of common Disney scams

Unfortunately, scammers are also everywhere these days. Plenty of them prey on people who dream of visiting the Happiest Place on Earth.

When it comes to Disney tickets, there are few scams that are fairly common.

Selling a Military Salute ticket to someone without a military ID. As I mentioned earlier, Disney makes some pretty generous offers to service members and their families. Scammers will try to pass off fake tickets as military tickets.
Selling fake or counterfeit tickets. Disney park tickets are regulated and tracked, but scammers will nonetheless print counterfeit tickets and try to sell them to unsuspecting visitors. Signs of a counterfeit ticket include a ticket that looks faded or blurry, has an expiration date that looks like it's been altered, or has spelling errors.
Selling partially used tickets. Sometimes people will buy multi-day tickets and not use up all of the days and then attempt to sell the remaining days at a discount price. However, Disney tickets are not transferable, and the company uses a type of fingerprinting upon park entrance to make sure the person holding the ticket is the original owner.
Selling complimentary cast tickets. One of the perks of being a Disney employee is being able to share tickets with friends and family. But there is one big rule around this perk: the tickets cannot be sold. Period. If they are for sale, they're a scam.

Then there's common sense: If the offer seems too good to be true, it probably is.