rewrite this title Undercover Tourist Review: Legit Discounts for Theme Parks – NerdWallet

Discounted Disney tickets can sometimes seem too good to be true — and often, they are. Scams and disreputable sellers are certainly out there. But if you scored those discounted tickets on Undercover Tourist, they’re the real deal.

Undercover Tourist is an authorized ticket reseller that’s been around for over 20 years, and its deals on theme park tickets are some of the best you’ll find. By buying tickets in large volumes at wholesale rates, it’s able to pass on some of those savings to customers.

But there are some downsides to watch out for: Deeper discounts often come with more restrictions, and Undercover Tourist doesn’t give full refunds.

What Undercover Tourist offers

Undercover Tourist offers discounted tickets to major theme parks like Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Universal Studios and SeaWorld. The tickets it sells are just as easy to use as tickets purchased directly from the parks. It also sells discounted cruises, hotel rooms, rental cars, tickets to live shows and other types of passes — including the Epic Pass, which is a membership for ski resorts around the world.

Discounts on theme park tickets

Because many theme parks tightly control their ticket prices, it can be difficult to find discounts. That makes Undercover Tourist’s theme park deals all the more valuable.

Discounts vary widely by park and length of visit, but it’s most common to find discounts of 5-10%, compared to buying directly from the travel provider. Most Universal Orlando tickets were about 9% cheaper than booking directly with Universal Orlando Resort’s website, according to NerdWallet’s May 2025 analysis. Walt Disney World tickets were about 4% cheaper than buying direct.

Counts as a travel purchase on credit cards

Credit card transactions made on Undercover Tourist are classified as travel purchases. That means you can get more rewards if you pay with a travel rewards credit card that earns bonus points on travel.

If you’re spending hundreds or thousands of dollars on theme park tickets, doubling or tripling the points earned on those purchases adds up fast. Typically, amusement park tickets show up on credit card statements under the category of entertainment, not travel. Few cards offer bonus points on entertainment — and those that do tend to have lower earning rates.

Bigger discounts usually have more strings attached

The biggest discounts also seem to have the most stipulations. For example, Undercover Tourist sells movie tickets up to 25% off the box office price for major cinema chains like Regal Cinemas, Cinemark and AMC Theatres.

While paying $26 for two AMC Black tickets through Undercover Tourist is a good deal compared to buying them at the box office, that offer comes with some stipulations. For example, you’ll have to pay surcharges to see a 3D movie, and you can’t use the tickets to get into special opening night events.

You can’t get a full refund

If you need to cancel, Undercover Tourist will give you most of your money back, but not all. It will keep 5% of the total order amount to cover handling and processing fees.

Still, its flexible change and cancellation policies are much better than those of most third-party resellers. For many tickets, it offers a 365-day cancellation window, with a few exceptions (for instance, you can’t return tickets that have already expired). To be eligible for a refund for some products, you must cancel within a certain time frame.

How to use Undercover Tourist

Undercover Tourist lets you browse tickets for theme parks and compare prices across dates. Once you’ve settled on your tickets, you’ll check out just like you would on any online shopping site.

For most tickets, you’ll receive an e-ticket that can be scanned directly at the park entrance. Disney tickets can be loaded onto your Disney app or MagicBand (Disney’s wearable device that stores information like your hotel room key, park ticket and payment information) for easier access. You can also have physical tickets shipped for free.

In general, buying tickets online in advance is a smart choice, as it allows you to skip the ticket booth lines. Whether you shop through Undercover Tourist or elsewhere, purchasing tickets in advance is usually cheaper than buying them at the gate.

Alternatives to Undercover Tourist

While Undercover Tourist offers significant discounts, it’s not always the best option.

While Undercover Tourist is a reliable seller, it’s still an intermediary. Some issues, such as delays in shipping physical tickets, can take longer when you’re dealing with a middleman. And while Undercover Tourist offers refunds, they can take up to 15 business days to be credited.

If you buy direct, issues like these might get resolved faster.

You might qualify for bigger theme park ticket discounts with certain affiliations — for example, if you’re a teacher or service member. Typically, those discounts can’t be stacked with Undercover Tourist discounts.

Better deals are also sometimes available through membership programs such as Costco, AARP or AAA, which require a fee to join.

Undercover Tourist: Is it worth it?

Undercover Tourist is a trusted name in the theme park discount market. It has consistently lower prices than what you’ll find anywhere else. Plus, it has reliable customer service and a user-friendly website.

If you’re comfortable with a bit of upfront planning and the small effort of working with a third-party seller, Undercover Tourist is an excellent option for saving on theme park vacations.