Welcome to planDisney, Sam! I'm glad you came to ask about
toddlers and tickets, because this is one of the details that's really helpful to know as you plan your upcoming vacation.
Here's the big picture: at Walt Disney World, all guests age 3 and older are required to have a
valid park ticket in order to enter the theme parks. That's the general rule across the board, whether you're visiting for a day or spending a whole week soaking up the magic.
However, there's one exception to this rule that might apply to your situation: if you're booking a vacation package, which includes both your
Disney Resort Hotel stay and your theme park tickets, and you have a child who is 2 years old at the time of check-in but turns 3 during the trip, they do not need a ticket for any day of your stay. Disney makes this exception because the system used to book packages doesn't allow for different types of tickets within the same booking.
So, if your nephew will be 2 when you check in and you're booking a vacation package, you're all set! No ticket needed for him at all, even after his birthday. But if you're not booking a vacation package and are buying tickets separately, he will need a valid ticket starting on the day he turns 3.
I hope this clears things up, Sam, and please let us know if you have any more questions about planning your magical vacation!
Jessica