This is an entry for “e-ticket attraction” in our Disneyland 101 Glossary: Disneyland Resort definitions in under 101 words, from Mouse Brief. Keep reading after the entry for answers to frequently asked questions about e-ticket attractions.
E-Ticket is another name for a major or headliner attraction. These attractions epitomize the peak of Disney’s innovation and creativity at the time they were built by Imagineers. The name comes from a time in Disneyland when each attraction required its own ticket. The attractions were divided into tiers designated by letters, and those deemed the most desirable required an E-Ticket to ride. Examples of E-Ticket attractions at Disneyland Resort today include Radiator Springs Racers, Space Mountain and Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway as well as classic E-Tickets like Pirates of the Caribbean and “it’s a small world.”
Thanks for reading this entry for “e-ticket,” and for more Disney definitions in under 101 words, visit our Disneyland 101 Glossary. For tips planning your Disneyland visit, read our free and complete Step-by-Step Disneyland Prep. Now for answers to frequently asked questions about e-tickets at Disneyland Resort, keep reading.
E-Ticket Attractions at Disneyland Resort, FAQs
Where can I use E-tickets at Disneyland Resort?
Currently… nowhere. E-tickets are no longer in use at Disneyland Resort and have not been since June 1982.
Guests used ride tickets at Disneyland from October 1955 through June 1982. During this time you would purchase tickets, or coupons, for different attraction tiers. You would exchange one ride ticket for a ride on an attraction from the corresponding tier. The A-tier was considered the lowest or least valuable tier. As you got later in the alphabet, the rides would become more thrilling and presumably this made the higher tier tickets of higher value. E-tickets were for the most exciting and popular rides.
A Little More Disneyland History…
When Disneyland first opened in July 1955, park admission was $1 and guests purchased ride tickets at the attractions themselves. In October of that same year, Disney introduced ticket tiers and ticket books to streamline the process. The first ride tickets had three tiers: A, B and C. As Disney built more rides, they also added more ticket tiers. D-tickets were introduced in 1956 followed by E-tickets in 1959. E-tickets came to Disneyland along with the new and exciting Matterhorn Bobsleds, Monorail and Submarine Voyage. E-tickets remained the highest ticket tier until ride tickets were retired.
Today, all tickets are general admission tickets. These were introduced as all-inclusive “passports” in 1981. For a period of time both these all-inclusive passports and ride tickets were in use, but ride tickets were retired completely in 1982. Currently, there are some experiences for which you can choose to pay extra on top of admission. Examples include food, merchandise, dining packages and Lightning Lane passes.
Where can I find E-ticket attractions at Disneyland Resort today?
Even though Disneyland Resort no longer uses ride tickets, you might still hear the term “E-ticket ride” thrown around. Today, this simply means a ride is considered a headliner: thrilling, exciting and popular. Past E-tickets included Matterhorn Bobsleds and Jungle Cruise as well as the Monorail and Disneyland Railroad. Today, you might hear certain rides called “E-ticket” that were not even around when ride tickets were in use. Examples of this would be Tiana’s Bayou Adventure or Radiator Springs Racers.
While these attractions do not require separate ride tickets, you can reduce your time waiting in line to experience them by purchasing Lightning Lane passes. You can read about that here: Disneyland Lightning Lanes: How to Super-Charge Your Visit.
These Lightning Lane passes do cost extra, and there are other experiences at Disneyland Resort that come with an extra fee. It is good to be aware that these things are not included with general admission.
For example, you can pay extra for dining packages with reserved seating for shows. You can also pay for other food and merchandise during your visit. Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge has merchandise experiences linked to building droids or lightsabers; you will pay a premium price for these.
You also have the option of buying a MagicBand+ and to link that MagicBand+ to Lightning Lane Passes and park admission. These MagicBands give you access to exclusive interactive bounty hunter games in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, and for the 70th anniversary celebration at Disneyland Resort, the MagicBands also trigger special effects at designated locations around Disneyland.
Secret E-Tickets at Disneyland Resort
One place you can still find E-tickets (and D-tickets) at Disneyland Resort as at the Disneyland Hotel pools! One pool at Disneyland Hotel is named the E-Ticket Pool and another is named the D-Ticket Pool, and they are decorated with replicas of their namesake tickets!
What tickets do I need for Disneyland Resort?
Disneyland Resort no longer sells ticket books, including E-tickets. Today, you need a general admission ticket or a Magic Key in order to enter Disneyland Park or Disney California Adventure Park.
You have a whole list of options when purchasing these tickets. When you are buying your Disneyland Resort tickets, you will need to make choices about things like like one-day versus multi-day tickets, one park or Park Hopper and Lightning Lane Multi Pass add-ons. We have a flowchart to help guide you through the ticket purchasing process here, and we have a written guide here.
Keep in mind that you do need valid admission to get into the two theme parks, but you do not need tickets to enjoy other elements of Disneyland Resort. You can explore the Disneyland Resort hotels, shop and dine at the Downtown Disney District and even catch some live music or get a peek at the fireworks. Read about ideas for enjoying Disneyland Resort with no ticket here Terrific Ways to Have Fun at Disneyland Without a Ticket and here Maximize Value: Take a Rest Day at Disneyland.
Thanks for reading this post on E-ticket attractions from our Disneyland 101 Glossary.
For more Disney definitions under 101 words, please explore our Disneyland 101 Glossary. And do not forget, to reduce time spend waiting for those E-ticket rides, see our Maximize Your Disneyland Experience: Beat the Lines & Save Time. That is part of our free and complete Step-by-Step Disneyland Prep. Also included in those steps is one that helps you select your Disneyland Resort ticket: How to Choose Your Best Disneyland Ticket. Thanks again for reading!