Being a Walt Disney World Resort fanatic, I’ve had my eye on attending the 2016 American Library Association Annual Conference for the past few years. While the ALA has hosted the conference in other desirable locations such as San Francisco and Las Vegas, in my Disney-fried brain, it’s hard to top Orlando.

I attended the ALA Annual Conference in Anaheim in 2008, so I knew that conference attendees have an option to purchase discounted full and partial day theme park tickets.  While this was advertised in the conference literature in advance, there is next-to-nothing posted for the 2016 conference. I put my librarian skills to work and quickly found a website targeted at Orlando area conference attendees.

DIStracted Tip: Other area attractions, including Sea World Orlando and Universal Studios Orlando, will most likely offer discounted tickets. Check with conference organizers for more information.

Courtesy of Disney. Prices include tax. Prices and ticket types may change.

These discounted tickets are available to conference attendees and their guests. Tickets can be purchased online (if conference attendees are provided a link by their business or association) or via the Preferred Ticket Line at 407-566-5600. Cast Members are available Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m. ET and Saturdays & Sundays 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. ET.

These specially priced tickets are not available at the ticket windows and must be purchased in advance. Attendees should allow approximately two weeks for delivery. Tickets purchased within two weeks of a conference will be available at Will Call. Cast Members will then supply the attendee with a number to link to their My Disney Experience account.

For conference attendees planning to dedicate entire days to the theme parks, the full day base tickets are discounted by 10%. Attendees that purchase a 2-day or longer ticket will get a “bonus entry” into one of the following attractions:

• DisneyQuest Indoor Interactive Theme Park
• Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
• Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
• Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course (before 4pm)
• Disney’s Fantasia Garden Miniature Golf Course (before 4pm)
• Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course (green fees not included)
• ESPN Wide World of Sports

All entries on multi-day tickets must used within 14 days of first use.

In my case, the partial day tickets make the most sense from a budget and time standpoint. Based on my anticipated conference schedule, I plan to purchase the 2-day, 2-theme parks after 2 p.m. ticket and the 1-day, 1-theme park after 4 p.m. ticket for a total of $201. This will save me $62.39 over purchasing a discounted 3-day base ticket.

DIStracted Tip: Conference attendees visiting Orlando during peak travel times will enjoy longer park hours. Historically, Magic Kingdom has been open until 12 a.m with Extra Magic Hours lasting as late as 2 a.m. on select days during peak season. Even with an after 2 p.m. or 4 p.m. ticket, that still allows for nine to eleven hours of park time!

I can’t imagine a better way to spend the evening after a long day stuck inside a convention center, can you?

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