Best deals on Orlando theme park tickets?

Both the above answers are correct but you can get legit discount tickets from authorised dealers. They buy in bulk so can offer savings on the regular gate price.

Their prices will only work out slightly cheaper than buying them at the gate but for 5 people you could probably save the price of a couple meals out.

Well established tickets sellers are listed below. You can either have tickets mailed to you or pick them up when you get there. DW tickets are good as their offices are right near the main Disney entrance at Lake Buena Vista.

For Seaworld and Universal check out their websites also as they sometimes post short term deals there

The fact Disney has more for young children doesn't mean it's not adult oriented. It's more a matter of Universal having rides that are distinctly young child unfriendly, like huge roller coasters. So don't let your image of endless kiddie rides run you off from Disney. And as the other poster said, they are two separate places run by competing corporations, so there's no combo ticket. If you like thrill rides---and I'm talking big thrill rides---then Universal is a good place. If not, you may just want a one-day ticket to Universal for one park, Islands of Adventure. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter is fairly small. Only the intense crowds make it more than a 2-3 hour visit. The rest of IOA is pretty much large coasters and other scary stuff. I hate to compare it to Six Flags (it's far more advanced technologically and much better) but that's the kind of crowd they're aiming for. If you wouldn't like the rides at Six Flags, you won't spend much time in Islands of Adventure. The other park (Universal Studios) is more tame, most people could spend a day there. I think 2 days is the max for Universal for most folks. It's just not that big. Disney, on the other hand, has something for everyone. There are a few strictly-kiddie rides, like Dumbo, but they have more variety of rides and shows. I promise you won't be bored. Try Epcot first if you want a more "adult" park. Universal does give a slight discount for buying tickets online. There are practically no deals on Disney tickets unless you are military, so there's no advantage to buying tickets beforehand, except to save time at the gate. THERE ARE NO PACKAGE DEALS ON TICKETS FROM THIRD PARTIES. There are no great websites with 25% off tickets. Trust me. Places like AAA give discounts of maybe $2 per day, and are not worth the trouble IMHO. Both Disney and Universal happily upgrade tickets, you can buy a one-day ticket and upgrade it at no extra charge to a multi-day ticket. There is no reason to buy a 4-5 day ticket if you're not sure you want to spend that much time there. I suggest you go to the parks, see how you like them, and then buy more days if you want.

Just a couple of points to help make your research easier. Walt Disney World Resort consists of four major parks--Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom--and two water parks--Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. And, of course, all the resorts, plus Downtown Disney, etc. So any admission tickets you purchase for Walt Disney World will give you access to one of the four major parks. If you purchase a park hopper option, which is more expensive, you can move between major parks on the same day. Adding Disney's water parks is another fee.

For the major theme parks--Walt Disney World, Universal Studios Orlando, SeaWorld--there aren't steep discounts, but you can buy legitimate discounted tickets from an authorized ticket wholesaler. The discounts will vary, and I'd say generally about 4 -8% off. For a family of five, however, that can make a substantial savings.

Authorized ticket wholesalers who are reputable include Undercover Tourist, Kissimmee Guest Services, The Official Ticket Center, and Maple Leaf Tickets. Check my second source for information.

Also, you might be eligible for discounts if you are a AAA member, work for a corporation with a close relationship with Disney (who sponsors an attraction), a member of the military, etc. I've included another source for that.

In terms of thinking about buying Disney tickets generally, you'll find that the pricing for Magic Your Way tickets offers a sharp decline in cost-per-day as your stay extends. In other words, it becomes cheaper to spend more days at Disney when looking at admission costs alone. That's to keep you on the parks and spending money on food, etc., and away from the competitors.

SeaWorld might offer slightly better deals, depending on the season and promotion. I'm not as familiar with their current deals, but they, like Disney and Universal, want to encourage guests to spend more than one day at their park.

The biggest savings you'll find on your Disney trip are on flexible expenditures like food and accommodations and, to a lesser degree, on travel.

I hope this helps you as you begin to plan your trip!

You have to be really careful with "discounted" Disney World tickets; if you aren't buying them direct from Disney you need to make sure they are authorized dealers. Steer clear of discount ticket booths in Orlando, as well as timeshares offering "free" tickets if you sit through one of their presentations. Many area hotels offer discounted Disney World tickets, although they add in their own handling and convenience fees and end up costing MORE than gate price. I always recommend buying them from the Disney World website and having them shipped to you; it's the same as gate price, but you will save a good 30-45 minutes waiting in line at the gate, which is very valuable during a day at Disney World. Plus if you get them from Disney then you KNOW they are good. You can purchase Disney World tickets online here:

http://tickets.disney.go.com/buy/TicketTrans?store...

Sea World offers discounts on e-tickets purchased from their website (e-tickets you print at home). You can buy a one-day pass for adults and children at the child's price and Sea World throws in a second day for free. To redeem your free second day, simply take your e-ticket to Guest Services as soon as you enter the park and they will issue you a second pass that has to be used within seven days of your first visit. You can purchase Sea World tickets online here:

http://www.seaworld.com/Tickets/Visitors.aspx

Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure offer the best online discounts on their tickets. The best deal is the 7-day unlimited pass for $99.99. It gives you seven consecutive days of unlimited admission to both parks, as well as some venues in Universal CityWalk. It's a $25.00 savings buying it online as opposed to at the gate. They also have smaller (but still awesome) discounts on one-day/one-park passes and two-day/two-park passes. You can purchase Universal Studios/Islands of Adventure tickets online here:

http://www.universalorlando.com/Tickets/tickets_2....

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