In this day and age of digital tickets and online reservations, many people wonder if it is still possible to get traditional physical tickets for Walt Disney World and other Disney theme parks. The short answer is yes, you can still get physical Disney park tickets if you want them.
Overview of Physical Disney Tickets
For decades, visiting a Disney park meant getting actual printed tickets that you would present at the gate for admission. These tickets often featured colorful Disney artwork and designs. Nowadays, Disney has moved primarily to digital tickets linked to your My Disney Experience account or MagicBands. However, they do still offer options for physical tickets.
Physical Disney park tickets are plastic cards similar in size and shape to a credit card. They have your ticket information printed on them along with artwork. You can get them for any ticket type – 1 day, multi-day, Park Hoppers, etc. They work just like the old paper tickets used to. You present them at the park gates to be scanned for admission. The main difference from paper is they are more durable.
Where Can You Get Physical Disney Tickets?
If you want actual plastic Disney tickets instead of digital tickets, where exactly can you get them nowadays? There are a few main options:
- Walt Disney World ticket booths – All four Disney World theme parks have ticket windows where you can purchase physical tickets. The Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom windows are located just outside the gates. At Epcot, the ticket windows are at the main plaza between the park gates and monorail station. Hollywood Studios has ticket booths at the bus drop-off area.
- Disney Springs – In the West Side of Disney Springs at the Welcome Center, there is a ticket booth location that sells printed Disney tickets.
- Official Disney World hotels – Most Disney hotels have a ticket desk in the lobby area that can print out physical tickets if you are staying on property.
- AAA locations – Members of AAA can visit local offices and purchase plastic Disney park tickets there for pick-up.
- Undercover Tourist – This popular authorized Disney ticket reseller has a ticket pick-up booth location near Disney Springs. You can buy tickets online and pick up printed tickets there.
So in summary, the main ways to get actual plastic Disney park tickets instead of digital are directly from Disney at the parks and Disney Springs, from AAA offices, or from Undercover Tourist’s ticket pick-up location.
Why Would You Want Physical Disney Tickets?
With the convenience of MagicBands and using your smartphone for park admission, why would anyone want old-fashioned printed Disney tickets? There are a few reasons some guests still prefer physical tickets:
- Nostalgia – Longtime Disney fans enjoy the nostalgic feeling of having real tickets.
- Souvenirs – The tickets make nice keepsakes and souvenirs from your Disney trip.
- Backup option – Having printed tickets gives you a backup in case of any issues using digital tickets.
- Convenience – If you don’t have smartphones, physical tickets can be easier to keep track of.
- No MagicBands – For guests not staying at a Disney hotel, MagicBands are not an option.
While they are not as common today, there are valid reasons some Disney visitors still like having old-school printed park tickets for their trip.
Do You Need to Show ID With Physical Disney Tickets?
One common question about printed Disney park tickets is whether you need to show ID along with the tickets at the gate. The answer is no – unlike digital tickets, the physical cards do not require ID or fingerprint scans. Anyone can use the plastic tickets, which is why some people still prefer to have them.
Can You Get Park Hopper Tickets?
A popular ticket option at Walt Disney World is the Park Hopper, which allows you to visit multiple parks per day. Many people wonder if you can get physical printed Park Hopper tickets. The answer is yes, Park Hopper options are available on the plastic card tickets just like other digital tickets.
When you purchase a Park Hopper ticket, whether digital or physical, it will be marked as a Park Hopper on the ticket itself. The ticket scanners at the park gates will recognize it as allowing park hopping when you enter. So Park Hopper plastic tickets function just like any other Park Hopper.
Do You Need Reservations With Physical Tickets?
Walt Disney World recently implemented a park reservation system for all guests to manage capacity. This has led to questions about whether you need reservations even if you have printed plastic tickets. The answer is yes – all guests must have a park reservation for each day they want to visit, regardless of ticket type.
Having physical tickets does not exempt you from needing reservations. You will still need to go online or use the My Disney Experience app to make park reservations for each day you plan to visit. Then your printed ticket will be valid for admission on the days you have reservations.
Can You Upgrade Physical Tickets?
Sometimes guests may purchase a shorter multi-day ticket at first but then later decide they want to extend their trip. Is it possible to upgrade physical card tickets to more days? The answer is yes, you can upgrade plastic Disney tickets just like you can upgrade digital tickets.
To upgrade printed tickets, you will need to take them to any Guest Relations or ticket booth location at Disney World. There, a cast member can process the upgrade and either issue you new printed tickets or transfer the tickets to digital tickets linked to your My Disney Experience account.
What If You Lose Printed Tickets?
One downside to physical tickets is the risk of losing them or having them stolen. Fortunately, Disney has a process to handle lost or missing printed tickets. You will need to go to Guest Relations and report the tickets as lost. At that point, Disney can void those tickets and reissue new printed tickets to you or transfer your tickets to digital.
There may be a fee involved for reissuing lost tickets, so be sure to keep printed tickets in a safe place. But if they do happen to get lost or stolen, you can get replacements.
Should You Get Physical or Digital Disney Tickets?
So should you get traditional printed Disney tickets or modern digital tickets? Here are a few things to consider:
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In the end, it comes down to personal preference. Digital tickets provide the most convenience, but some guests still enjoy the classic nostalgia of printed Disney park tickets. Either way, you’ll have a great trip to the Most Magical Place on Earth!
Conclusion
Despite the prevalence of digital tickets, traditional printed park tickets are still an option for Walt Disney World visitors who want them. Physical Disney tickets can be purchased directly from Disney at the theme parks, hotels, and Disney Springs, from AAA, or from authorized ticket resellers like Undercover Tourist.
Some reasons guests may opt for printed tickets are nostalgia, keepsakes, having a backup, and not needing ID. Printed tickets can be Park Hoppers, do not exempt you from needing park reservations, and can be upgraded. Make sure not to lose them, but they can be replaced if need be. While less common today, physical Disney tickets offer some perks for certain guests.
