Hi Adam!
Welcome to planDisney! It sounds like you are well on your way to planning another magical visit to Walt Disney World Resort. One of the things I love most about Walt Disney World is all the options you have when planning a vacation that is practically perfect in every way. Let's talk a bit about
ticket options so you can choose the best for you and your family!
As a veteran Walt Disney World Resort Guest, Adam, I'm guessing you are already aware that tickets with the
Park Hopper Option allow you to visit multiple parks per day. In contrast, a base ticket only allows entrance to one park per day. I love a good park hop as much as anyone, but it's not always the best choice for our vacation plans (or our budget) on each trip. With a 9-night trip and the goal of seeing and experiencing as much as possible during your visit, you'll likely find your park days long and full if you opt for the 4-day park hopper ticket. However, that means you'll also have several days without any park visits to enjoy your resort, recreational activities around Walt Disney World (one of my favorites is
Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf), and shopping and dining, which will let you catch up on your rest.
On the other hand, a 7-day base ticket would allow you to balance each day with some park time as well as some time to relax at your resort. If you choose this ticket option, I would suggest planning two days each at
Magic Kingdom Park,
Disney's Hollywood Studios, and
EPCOT, and then a single day at
Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park. A base ticket also allows you to re-enter the same park on a single day, so you could start your day enjoying some of your favorite rides, take a midday break at your resort, and then head back into the park in the evening for dinner and nighttime entertainment. You'll find you're heading to the parks most days, but maybe not feeling the need to stay from rope drop to close on each visit. Those shorter park days might also be particularly appealing in the summer heat. Ultimately, I don't think there is a wrong choice for your trip - just a consideration for what you want your vacation days to look like.
In case you missed it, Walt Disney World has already announced that
free water park admission on your check-in day will return for Guests staying at eligible resorts for the summer of 2027! We took advantage of this great benefit last year and can't wait to experience it again in just a few short weeks. A visit to either
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park or
Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park is certainly a
SPLASH-tacular way to start your vacation! More details (including eligible stay dates) will be released at a later date, so be sure to keep checking back for additional information.
I hope this information has been helpful, Adam! If you have any additional questions as you continue planning or would like additional recommendations, feel free to stop by and see us again here at planDisney!
Cheers!
Kristi