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Can Step Up pay for Disney? The strict $299 Florida rule.

As Florida families plan fall field trips and holiday visits, one question dominates homeschool forums: can Step Up for Students pay for Disney or Universal? The short answer is yes, but under very strict statutory limits. Florida PEP allows one theme park reimbursement per student per school year up to $299 before tax. Here is exactly what qualifies, what is prohibited, and how to submit without getting rejected.

  • ProgramFlorida PEP, through Step Up for Students
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For Florida PEP families whose scholarship is managed by Step Up for Students. Sourced directly from Step Up's official PEP Purchasing Guide. Independent guide, not affiliated with Step Up; when anything here differs from Step Up’s current pages, Step Up is right.

A family reviewing homeschool field trip itineraries and passes at a table
Under Step Up's purchasing rules, PEP students are eligible for one Florida theme park reimbursement per school year up to $299 before tax.

Quick answers.

Can Florida PEP scholarship funds be used for Disney World tickets?
Yes, within limits. The PEP Purchasing Guide allows “Admission to a Florida theme park” under Field Trips, permitting each student one reimbursement request during the school year for a value up to $299 before tax.
Can I use PEP to buy theme park tickets for parents or siblings?
No. Field trip reimbursements are strictly eligible for student admission only. Tickets or passes for parents, guardians, or non-scholarship siblings cannot be reimbursed.
Can an annual pass be reimbursed if paid on a monthly payment plan?
Yes, but families must wait until the pass has been paid in full or reaches $299 paid before submitting their reimbursement request in EMA.
Are parking, food, or special after-hours holiday events covered?
No. The guide explicitly excludes parking, food and beverage packages, premium line access, photographs, souvenirs, water parks, and seasonal or after-hours special event tickets.

With major theme parks just a short drive away for most Florida families, combining hands-on learning with a trip to Epcot or Animal Kingdom is a staple of Florida home education.

Because Step Up for Students administers educational savings accounts, parents frequently ask whether scholarship funds can cover theme park tickets, annual passes, or holiday admissions.

The answer is yes, but with strict caps and exclusions.

Step Up’s official PEP Purchasing Guide provides a dedicated category for Florida theme parks under its Field Trips section. However, misunderstanding the fine print is one of the quickest ways to receive a reimbursement denial.

Here is what the official purchasing rules authorize, which parks qualify, and how to avoid costly reimbursement mistakes.

The core rule: one request up to $299 before tax.

Step Up's purchasing guide lays down the baseline rule in exact terms:

“Each scholarship student may submit one reimbursement request for admission to one Florida theme park during the school year for a value up to $299 before tax.”

To understand how this rule applies in practice:

  1. One reimbursement per student per year: You cannot split the benefit across multiple trips or parks. Even if a single-day admission ticket costs less than the annual cap, you cannot submit a second theme park receipt later in the school year.
  2. Up to $299 before tax: If an annual pass costs more than the cap, Step Up reimburses up to the maximum allowable limit of $299 before tax, and the family covers the remaining balance.
  3. Single-day ticket or annual pass: A family can choose “either a single or multi-day park admission ticket or an annual pass” for the student.

Which Florida theme parks are eligible?

The purchasing guide explicitly lists which destinations qualify under the Florida theme park benefit:

Resort or park group Specific authorized locations
Walt Disney World Animal Kingdom, Epcot, Disney's Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom
Universal Orlando Resort Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Epic Universe
LEGOLAND Florida Resort LEGOLAND Florida, Peppa Pig Theme Park
Individual Parks Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Dinosaur World, Gatorland, SeaWorld Orlando

The guide notes that multi-day tickets or annual passes may include admission to more than one park within the same resort family (such as a 2-park pass covering Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure).

However, parks not on this list do not qualify. Out-of-state theme parks and separate standalone water parks (such as Disney's Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon, or Universal's Volcano Bay) are prohibited under Appendix A.

What is strictly excluded from reimbursement?

Step Up processors enforce clear boundaries around field trip spending. The guide states:

“Only the actual cost of the basic admission for the student will be covered.”

The following items are strictly prohibited and will trigger claim rejections:

  • Parent and sibling tickets: Scholarships belong exclusively to the enrolled student. If you purchase a family bundle or multi-ticket package, your receipt must break down the student’s individual admission cost, or Step Up will prorate the reimbursement.
  • Special seasonal events: Appendix A explicitly excludes “Special event tickets, including seasonal or after-hours events, at a Florida theme park.” Tickets for events such as Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party are not eligible.
  • Parking, food, and extras: The guide prohibits parking fees, meal vouchers, dining plans, souvenir photos, express lane passes, and merchandise.
  • Resale tickets: Tickets purchased from unauthorized third-party resellers or auction sites are ineligible.

How to handle annual pass payment plans.

Many Florida residents purchase Disney Pixie Dust Passes or Universal annual passes on monthly installment plans.

Because Step Up only reimburses money that has actually left your account, the guide provides a specific rule for payment plans:

  • You must wait until the pass has been paid in full or until your cumulative payments reach $299 before submitting your claim in EMA.
  • The invoice date for your EMA submission is the date your payments reach $299 or the date paid in full, whichever occurs first.
  • You must attach bank or card statements proving each monthly installment cleared; see our detailed breakdown on Step Up proof of payment rules.

Step-by-step: submitting in EMA.

When entering your theme park claim into the portal:

  1. Submit on its own: Step Up rules state that theme park requests “may not be bundled with other reimbursement requests or receipts.” Do not mix book orders or supplies in the same submission.
  2. Select the correct category: Choose Instructional Materials, then Field Trips, then Florida theme park admission.
  3. Verify the student's name: Step Up's reimbursement instructions require that proof of purchase for theme park passes or tickets must clearly display the student's name on the invoice or confirmation document.
  4. Complete the Educational Benefit statement: EMA requires a brief note explaining the educational purpose (for example: "Field study in environmental science and zoology at Disney's Animal Kingdom").

For a complete overview of portal navigation and claim tracking, see our guide on how EMA works. For other authorized extracurriculars, see what PEP covers item by item.

Track field trips and annual receipt limits in one place.
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Sources.

All read on October 29, 2026. We re-check them when new editions are published.

  • PEP Purchasing Guide

    Step Up for Students web page, read October 29, 2026: Field Trips, Florida theme park admission, one request per student per school year up to $299 before tax, eligible park list, and payment plan rules.

    stepupforstudents.org
  • Reimbursement Guide for Parent(s)/Guardian(s)

    Step Up for Students PDF: theme park invoice requirements, student name on receipt, and educational benefit justification in EMA.

    PDF