Why We Can't Book Select Disney Experiences From The UK
The exact reason Disney doesn't allow us Brits to book select Walt Disney World experiences from the UK they don't say, but we can speculate. It could be technical reasons and they don't want to set up the infrastructure to make it available here, it could be because they offer most of the extras in USD only and it could be jarring for the average guest seeing prices for experiences in a different currency (booking your holiday through Disney directly from the UK is priced in GBP), or it could be because of strict GDPR regulations. It's probably a sprinkle of all three.
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The Problem We Brits Have
Sadly, the UK Walt Disney World website— although it looks identical—doesn’t have the same functionality as the US version in some areas. Frustratingly, Disney will not let us even opt into using the US version of the site to make certain bookings as they automatically redirect us back to the UK site. This means we are unable to easily book Savi’s workshop, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween parties, dessert parties, apply for DAS, buy Walt Disney World annual passes, and more, online.
Solution #1 - Call Disney
You can call Disney's freephone number on 0800 028 0778 to book a few select experiences over the phone, but there can be a wait at busy times, and even then not everything can be booked.
Solution #2 - Buy From UK Ticket Vendors
For select experiences like Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party, Jollywood Nights, After Hours, these tickets can be bought through reputable UK ticket sellers like this one, which we generally recommend over any other option.
Solution #3 - Use a VPN
Alternatively, to book online, you have to pretend you're in the USA. To do that, you need to use what's called a VPN.
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What Is A VPN & How Does It Work?
To put it simply, when you enter a web address in your browser, the request gets sent through your ISP (Sky, BT, etc.) with your IP address to the web server you requested. Websites can use your IP address to determine your general location. What a VPN does is route your request away from your ISP's servers and go through their VPN servers instead. The VPN server can be located in any country you choose, making it look like you're visiting from that country. So to make it look like you're from the US, you'd connect your VPN to a US server and then use your browser as normal. You won't notice anything different on your end.
A VPN will look just like an app or desktop program. Download one (we'll get to that), connect to a server anywhere in the USA, and then navigate to the US Walt Disney World website by searching "Disney World" on google or going to https://disneyworld.com.
Which VPN Should I Use?
I don't have a horse in any of the VPN races, but I know it can be quite overwhelming as there are thousands and thousands of VPN services. Some people do just search for "Free VPNs" - but please be careful. I personally would never install or connect to any of the free VPNs. Nothing is ever free, and if you're not paying money for a service, you're paying with your data or the potential for malware, which can make you vulnerable to scams. For some people, that's absolutely fine. They just want to get a couple of bookings done and don't care what data is taken. For others, they prefer to purchase and use a VPN from a reputable provider. Ideally, you want to choose a VPN provider that's in the business of making money, not in whatever the free VPNs are doing to monetise that free VPN service.
Express VPN, Nord VPN and Proton VPN are all good options. If you're only using the VPN to make some Walt Disney World purchases as a one off, the individual selling points of each VPN service are largely inconsequential. All three provide a fully encrypted VPN service. All three do offer 1-month plans and also come with a 30-day money-back guarantee for extra peace of mind.
VPN Options
- Express VPN - One of the most popular and reliable services with 30-day money-back guarantee, fully encrypted
- Nord VPN - Another popular and reliable option with a 30-day money-back guarantee, fully encrypted
- Proton VPN - My favourite and the one I pay for everyday use, also comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, fully encrypted
I will continue to do my part and pass on the frustration of Brits unable to book certain experiences online, but until then we'll have to use VPN services to book the add-ons we want to enjoy on our next Walt Disney World holiday.
