Updated April 23, 2026, 2:53 p.m. ET
The year was 2015.
The Apple Watch had just debuted. “Uptown Funk” was the top song on Spotify. Gas prices averaged $2.40 per gallon nationwide, according to AAA. And Disney tickets cost less than $100, for most of its U.S. parks.
A lot has changed since then. But this summer, you can still visit Disney World or Disneyland for about $100 a day if you time your trip right.
“We know families plan their visits carefully, so our focus is simple: make every moment count. This summer, we’re delivering more experiences, more excitement, and more ways to create lasting memories – on both coasts,” Disney Experiences Chairman Thomas Mazloum said in a statement to USA TODAY.
Here’s how to get some of Disney’s best theme park ticket deals of 2026.
Disney World tickets vary by date and park.
Standard one-day, one-park adult tickets start at $119 for adults and $114 for kids at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and are higher at EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Magic Kingdom. Guests ages 10 and older are considered adults for pricing purposes at Disney’s domestic parks.
This year, standard one-day, one-park tickets go up to $209 for adults at Magic Kingdom around Thanksgiving and Christmas, the most popular times of year for visits. Next year, some dates will cost more.
Disney has previously said it’s committed to providing guests with a variety of ticket options, including ticket deals and discounts, to help families save and visit in ways that make sense for them.
Disney World releases date-based tickets upwards of a year in advance on its website, so guests can plan accordingly. For both 2026 and what’s been released for 2027, the dates with $119 tickets are in August and September.
However, you can pay even less this summer, with several deals available at the Florida resort.
From May 26 through Sept. 26, Disney World is offering a 4-Day, 4-Park Magic Ticket starting at $399 for both kids and adults, which works out to around $99 per day. Guests may enter each park for one day, within seven days of their start date.
Between May 26 and July 29, Disney is also offering specially priced “After 2 PM Tickets,” valid for two or three days. These may be used to enter one park per day after 2 p.m. local time. Prices vary by start date, but for both kids and adults, two-day tickets start at about $235 and come out to about $118 per day. Three-day tickets start at just over $346 and come to about $116 per day. Both tickets expire within a few days of their first use.
These may not sound like huge savings compared to the starting price at Animal Kingdom, but it’s worth noting that on most days, prices are higher, especially at the other parks. A standard one-day ticket for Hollywood Studios on Saturday, June 13, for example, costs $194 for adults.
In addition to ticket deals, Disney World is bringing back free water park entry for guests staying at its resort hotels during Cool Kids’ Summer. From May 26 through Sept. 8, resort hotel guests may visit their choice of either Disney’s Blizzard Beach or Typhoon Lagoon for free on their check-in date. A water park ticket usually costs $74 for adults and $68 for kids over the summer, and $10 less during the off-season.
Guests who book non-discounted 4-day, 4-night vacation packages with park hopper tickets through Disney may also qualify for a free Disney Dining Plan for their entire party on select dates between June 28 and Oct. 3, as well as additional dates in October and December. This particular deal must be booked by April 30.
Throughout 2026, all guests who purchase the Disney Dining Plan for adults (guests over age 9) in their travel party will get free Disney Dining Plans for their kids.
A variety of resort hotel discounts are also available this summer, including rooms starting at $99 for Disney+ subscribers, with a minimum 2-night stay. Details are available on Disney World’s Special Offers webpage.
Standard one-day, one-park tickets start at $104 for adults and $98 per child at either Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure.
Prices vary by date, but an analysis by MickeyVisit.com shows the California resort is offering its starting price on more dates this year than in 2025.
“They’re offering their $104 tickets for 47% more days or almost three weeks more days for 2026 visits,” Mickey Visit founder Gavin Doyle told USA TODAY. “That’s a big increase and demonstrates them trying to reach people and provide an affordable option.”
Those $104 tickets are available on multiple dates in April, May, June, September and November, according to Disneyland’s ticketing calendar, which currently runs through mid-December 2026.
Disneyland is also offering a specially priced $50 park hopper ticket for kids ages 3 to 9 for any date between May 22 and Sept. 7.
While the resort has offered $50 kids tickets before, this summer’s promotion adds the ability to visit both parks on the same date, which normally costs $70 to $90 extra.
Without the promotion, a child’s ticket would cost $189 for one park or $279 with park hopper on June 13, as an example.
The Kids Summer Ticket Offer can be purchased for 1, 2 or 3 days for $50, $100 and $150, respectively. Multi-day tickets expire 13 days after their first use or on Sept. 7, whichever comes first.
Details and other deals, including up to 25% off resort hotel stays of at least 4 nights this summer, can be found on the Offers and Discounts page of Disneyland’s website.
This summer, both Disneyland and Disney World will offer guests new Bluey-themed experiences, a new version of Soarin’ celebrating America and a new Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run storyline featuring The Mandalorian and Grogu. Additionally, Disney World will debut its reimagined Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster Starring the Muppets, a new Magic of Disney Animation Experience and more.
However whether a summer visit is worth it depends on how you handle heat. While many attractions, restaurants, and shops are air-conditioned, you’ll invariably spend lots of time outdoors at either resort.
The average high for Disney World is 88.3°F between June and August, with a RealFeel of 95.1°F, according to AccuWeather, which calls its RealFeel Temperature the “only scientifically developed and proprietary measure of what outdoor conditions actually feel like.” Visitors can expect high humidity and frequent afternoon showers.
Disneyland’s average high is 82.9°F between June and August, with a ReelFeel of 91.3°F, according to AccuWeather. Visitors should expect strong sun, high UV and dry heat that cools off considerably at night.
“Visit outdoor rides in the morning and evening, then use the middle of the afternoon for indoor shows, dining, or water attractions. It is the best way to maximize your days visiting during the summer months,” AccuWeather senior meteorologist Tyler Roys told USA TODAY by email. “Reapply sunscreen throughout the day, wear sunglasses, a hat, and lightweight clothing to help stay comfortable.”
You can prepare for the weather by carrying portable fans, drinking lots of water, taking frequent breaks indoors, and for Disney World, packing ponchos or umbrellas. But ultimately, how you tolerate heat can determine if it’s worth it to you.
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