News Walt Disney World Launches After 2 PM Summer Ticket for 2026

[DisneyHead123]

Let me start by saying I personally like summer weather at WDW. I like summer weather better than Jan weather.

How you feel about it sorta depends on your tolerance for heat and humidity. I don't mean that as negative as it sounds.

you didn't ask, but here are my pearls of wisdom after many summer visits:

Also, even in summer, WDW temps are not the same every day. They are maybe more consistent that other places, but there is still variation. So I have seen a few days when it was too hot even for me, but mostly it just feels like summer to me. I often find the weather especially nice following an afternoon storm.

In the evening, the temps do drop, and FL doesn't have mountains to trap the heat the way some other cities do. There is often a nice breeze.

IMO though, the key to a great summer visit is to take an afternoon break. It especially wise to take a break during afternoon storm O'clock. Know that many rides close during storms, and no swimming. If you like to swim or take shuttle boats, plan around any potential storms.

Another byproduct of the heat for me is that it tends to make me sleepy, especially after lunch. So again, a siesta works. IMO, it is also good if your lunch is a little on the later side and/or a little on the lighter side, and/or try to avoid high glycemic foods like french fries at lunch. On the other hand, having a scoop of ice cream for my lunch works pretty well. Also, sometimes a tiny bit of sugar is your friend. Overall though, one of the best things I find, is to keep eating produce! Lots of tomato, cucumber, Cuties tangerines, bananas, plus any other watery summer veggies I can find. (Ratatouille has long been popular for a reason!)

Fresh fruit is super. Also make sure to stay hydrated. Hydration packets are a decent option, as is electrolyte water. It is possible to drink too much plain water. I find I want a little more salt than normal. Sometimes a little apple juice and/or lemonade are the best options at WDW. Swimming and getting wet are good, but misters feel icky/clammy. I also wasn't a huge fan of the cooling towels, but they aren't expensive and don't cost much money. Some people like them.

Summer, for me, also requires a specific type of footwear. More or less, hiking/walking sandals that are water tolerant. You want something with a very good footbed (arch support), adjustable straps (for any foot swelling), a solid-traction tread (for walking on wet pavement). Some good brands are Teva (like the Hudson), Ecco (Yucatan), Dr. Scholls (Adelle, Gavin). I'm currently a big fan of the Dr. Scholls footbed. It molds like an orthotic insert to the shape of your foot, but you might find another brand/style is more to your liking.

I like to start the day early, and be out late. Do be mindful of the risk of hear exposure, and know the signs. When you feel a need to be indoors, get indoors, but generally, I really like WDW in the summer. It just takes a little adjustment.

I’m planning on trying neck fans this year. We will definitely do a morning / evening split as well.

 

[JD80]

With that wild math you have going on, there is absolutely nothing you could help me with sir.

But I can help you.

For a one day ticket, prices have increased 167% since 2006.

$1 in 2006 is $1.65 today.

 

[Animaniac93-98]

I like the idea on paper, but it's still too high a price IMO

Theme park ticket prices in general remain one of the most overpriced thing for what you get at WDW

Especially now that you have to pay extra for FastPass

It's for that reason I'm not surprised they have at least 3 different ticket offers going on at the same time (4 park magic, Canadian resident and after 2pm)

It's like the hotel rates now. The sticker price is just there to make the constant discounts look better in comparison.

 

[seabreezept813]

When I was a concierge, I was SHOCKED at how many non-APs would burn a day of their park tickets on their arrival day, especially when they were staying for significant amounts of nights (7+). Especially those who didn't want to do the free waterpark day...

This is us this year. With the 2 extra park days (we got the 4 day plus 2 deal) we're using them for arrival so like 2-8 at Epcot and to extend our Halloween party day. My kids were most excited to go into a park on arrival day than go back to Typhoon, which we did last year. The hotels have such great pools, that the water park isn't necessary for us.

 

[HauntedPirate]

For reference:

A 1-day park ticket in 2006 - $63 (any park, any day)

The lowest price for a 1-day park ticket in 2026:
- MK = $139 (2 days in mid-August, $149 is the next lowest price)
- Epcot = $129 (6 days total between mid-August and mid-September, $139 is the next lowest price)
- DHS = $139 (6 days total between mid-August and mid-September, $149 is the next lowest price)
- AK = $119 (20 days total between mid-August and late-September, next is 2 days at $124, then $129 and above)

The highest price for a 1-day park ticket in 2026:
- MK = $209 (15 days, then 13 days at $204)
- Epcot = $209 (NYE, then 22 days at $199)
- DHS = $204 (19 days, then 29 days at $199)
- AK = $184 (23 days, then 82(!) days at $179)

Source: Touring Plans

 

[Ayla]

When I was a concierge, I was SHOCKED at how many non-APs would burn a day of their park tickets on their arrival day, especially when they were staying for significant amounts of nights (7+). Especially those who didn't want to do the free waterpark day...

Back before the ticketing structure changed and all the restrictions on tickets, we always planned out our ticket days so we had a park ticket for our day of arrival. This was at least a decade before they came up with the "free" waterpark day. Even if it would have been an option at the time, we live less than 2 hours from Wisconsin Dells, and have no use for waterparks at WDW.

 

[JD80]

For reference:

A 1-day park ticket in 2006 - $63 (any park, any day)

The lowest price for a 1-day park ticket in 2026:
- MK = $139 (2 days in mid-August, $149 is the next lowest price)
- Epcot = $129 (6 days total between mid-August and mid-September, $139 is the next lowest price)
- DHS = $139 (6 days total between mid-August and mid-September, $149 is the next lowest price)
- AK = $119 (20 days total between mid-August and late-September, next is 2 days at $124, then $129 and above)

The highest price for a 1-day park ticket in 2026:
- MK = $209 (15 days, then 13 days at $204)
- Epcot = $209 (NYE, then 22 days at $199)
- DHS = $204 (19 days, then 29 days at $199)
- AK = $184 (23 days, then 82(!) days at $179)

Source: Touring Plans

According to your link, let's use Median Cost per day.

I'll take your $63 number and convert to 2026 dollars: $110.4. (Allears has it $63 for the first half of the year and $67 for the second half of the year)

The cost of a single day ticket in 2006 is an equivalent of the median 7 day ticket in 2026. And if you go in august it's the equivalent of around a 5 or 6 day ticket.

 

[HauntedPirate]

According to your link, let's use Median Cost per day.
View attachment 915542


I'll take your $63 number and convert to 2026 dollars: $110.4. (Allears has it $63 for the first half of the year and $67 for the second half of the year)

The cost of a single day ticket in 2006 is an equivalent of the median 7 day ticket in 2026. And if you go in august it's the equivalent of around a 5 or 6 day ticket.

There were technically two ticket price increases in 2006. The first was a New Year's Day increase from $59.75 to $63, then August 6 saw price increase #2, from $63 to $67.

A 7-day park hopper in 2006 was $236 and then $248. Again, that price was good for any 7 days. The lowest 7-day park hopper today is $715 in mid-August.

But you're not comparing apples to apples. The median price per day was $63/$67 in 2006. If you want to throw a 7-day park hopper into the mix, it was $37 per day (including tax). It doesn't matter how much you want to massage things to make it look like today's ticket prices are "comparable due to inflation". They are not.

 

[JD80]

There were technically two ticket price increases in 2006. The first was a New Year's Day increase from $59.75 to $63, then August 6 saw price increase #2, from $63 to $67.

A 7-day park hopper in 2006 was $236 and then $248. Again, that price was good for any 7 days. The lowest 7-day park hopper today is $715 in mid-August.

But you're not comparing apples to apples. The median price per day was $63/$67 in 2006. If you want to throw a 7-day park hopper into the mix, it was $37 per day (including tax). It doesn't matter how much you want to massage things to make it look like today's ticket prices are "comparable due to inflation". They are not.

I never said they were comparable. The largest increase on property is park tickets over the last 30 years. But if you're going to compare numbers across decades, you need to level set for inflation.

 

[HauntedPirate]

I never said they were comparable. The largest increase on property is park tickets over the last 30 years. But if you're going to compare numbers across decades, you need to level set for inflation.

Ok, I'm with you. That $264 7-day park hopper (including sales tax) in 2006 would be $428 today vs. the cheapest 7-day park hopper today being $715 (and $1077 at the peak, from what I can see in MDE).

I think we both agree - The graph for ticket prices is a hockey stick instead of a slowly increasing line. And tickets continue to be the highest barrier to park entry, despite what Josh says about "affordability".

Say. I wonder if Josh thinks about affordability on a daily basis like he used to... @monothingie - Your thoughts?

 

[monothingie]

Ok, I'm with you. That $264 7-day park hopper (including sales tax) in 2006 would be $428 today vs. the cheapest 7-day park hopper today being $715 (and $1077 at the peak, from what I can see in MDE).

I think we both agree - The graph for ticket prices is a hockey stick instead of a slowly increasing line. And tickets continue to be the highest barrier to park entry, despite what Josh says about "affordability".

Say. I wonder if Josh thinks about affordability on a daily basis like he used to... @monothingie - Your thoughts?

Josh is CEO now and is busy doing CEO things like picking out yacht colors. Deal with Hans Grueber's bestie who's now in charge of the parks if you want to complain about being poor.

 

[JD80]

Ok, I'm with you. That $264 7-day park hopper (including sales tax) in 2006 would be $428 today vs. the cheapest 7-day park hopper today being $715 (and $1077 at the peak, from what I can see in MDE).

I think we both agree - The graph for ticket prices is a hockey stick instead of a slowly increasing line. And tickets continue to be the highest barrier to park entry, despite what Josh says about "affordability".

Say. I wonder if Josh thinks about affordability on a daily basis like he used to... @monothingie - Your thoughts?

100%

Ticket prices is probably the reason my family doesn't go to WDW 3x a year. I'd go more often for longer weekends with just the wife to do festivals if ticket costs weren't so high.

We just wouldn't go enough to break even on an AP. So we just don't go.

 

[Disstevefan1]

Say. I wonder if Josh thinks about affordability on a daily basis like he used to...

Josh.... er, I mean, Mr. D'Amaro is way too busy now to worry about this stuff now.

He has delegated this to the Disney spreadsheeters.

 

[JoeCamel]

Can I interest you in per hour boutique pricing?
Purchase a block of hours in advance and add if you wish.
No refunds for unused hours or rain checks....

 

[HauntedPirate]

Can I interest you in per hour boutique pricing?
Purchase a block of hours in advance and add if you wish.
No refunds for unused hours or rain checks....

Don’t forget those magical add-on’s to make your vacation an unforgettable experience.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

$1 in 2006 is $1.65 today.

But ya missed where that $1 toward a ticket will now require you use $2.60 to $3.09 now towards a ticket, genius

 

[Disstevefan1]

Can I interest you in per hour boutique pricing?
Purchase a block of hours in advance and add if you wish.
No refunds for unused hours or rain checks....

PPRs needed ? - IF Yes, then, no thanks

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Don’t forget those magical add-on’s to make your vacation an unforgettable experience.

…dude…ive already got a raging case of the Mondays..

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Can I interest you in per hour boutique pricing?
Purchase a block of hours in advance and add if you wish.
No refunds for unused hours or rain checks....

…we laugh…but you don’t want block pricing…and they’ve already gone too close to getting there

“Welcome to the Walt Disney Wildwood, NJ Resort”

 

[MickeyLuv'r]

I’m planning on trying neck fans this year. We will definitely do a morning / evening split as well.

I bought 2 to try when they were on sale, but they weren't for me, or at least the ones I bought. Both were too heavy. You may have better luck. I advise trying them out in advance.

Another thing we try to do is carry as little as possible. that is probably another reason I didn't bother with them. The clothes are at least light/easy to carry.

A heavy bag on your back is like wearing a jacket. That said, some water is essential. We will also pack a few tangerines in our bag, but then eat them by 10am, so we aren't carrying it around very long. (WDW sell tangerines)

You can get free ice water at the quick serves, and Universal has fee water at the Coke Freestyle machines, but asking for water all day gets to be a bit much. A hybrid approach is better, of bringing some with you, then getting more as the day goes on.

Worth noting, some water tastes better than other places.