Hi there, Shaila - welcome to
planDisney!
Thanks for stopping by today with your question for our team of panelists. We love to help Guests just like you plan your very own, very magical, Walt Disney World Resort vacations!
You have some very lucky family members! First, let me mention that children under three years of age do not require a Theme Park Ticket to visit a Walt Disney World Resort Theme Park, so your younger granddaughter will not require a ticket to visit in the near future.
Now, on to tickets! Walt Disney World Resort currently uses dynamic ticket pricing that is based on the specific date a Guest wants to visit a Theme Park. This means that tickets are priced slightly higher on busier dates, and are slightly lower in price on days that are usually less popular to visit. In addition to a Theme Park Ticket, reservations are also currently required to visit a Theme Park, and these are typically made when a Guest purchases their tickets.
So, you mentioned "open-ended" tickets, and I think you mean tickets that can be used on any date. Is that accurate? Well, based on the dynamic pricing and need for reservations, it's not really possible to purchase generic tickets that can be used at any point in the future. Shaila, I know several Guests who have been in similar situations, and there is a great option for you to consider instead!
I recommend investigating the estimated cost of the Theme Park Tickets you'd like to purchase using the
Walt Disney World Resort website or a local travel professional with Walt Disney World Resort experience. Then, you can purchase one or more
Disney Gift Cards that would cover that cost. Your family could then use the Disney Gift Cards towards their vacation once they decide when they would like to go! You could even get some fun Disney gifts with their favorite Characters to include as well to get them excited about their trip.
Shaila, when they do begin planning their vacation, be sure to let them know about the
benefits of staying at a Disney Resort Hotel. Staying in the magic definitely adds some extra pixie dust to all of my visits!
Ryan J.