How Much Does it Cost to go to Disney World

Who else finds themselves daydreaming about a magical Disney World vacation every time those commercials come on? Don’t let the cost hold you back – believe it or not, a trip to Disney can be more affordable than you think! Join us as we explore budget-friendly options like campsites, offsite accommodations, value resorts, tips for larger families, and the amazing perks of staying at deluxe resorts. Let’s make your Disney dreams a reality without breaking the bank! Let’s explore How Much Does it Cost to go to Disney World.

How Much Does it Cost to go to Disney World

Dreaming of a Disney World vacation, but worried about the cost? You’re not alone! Prices keep rising, and it can feel overwhelming. The cost of tickets goes up year-after-year, Disney took away the Magical Express, Fastpass is no longer free, and the food has become more expensive as well! But fear not – there are still ways to make your Disney dreams a reality, even on a budget! From smart planning to choosing the right accommodations and dining options, there are plenty of ways to cut costs and make the magic happen. Who’s ready to start planning their affordable Disney adventure? Let me show you some scenarios so you will get an idea of how much does it cost to go to Disney World.

Besides all our Disney trip planning tips, our Plan the Best Vacation website offers tons of other helpful advice for planning family travel from Disney to best family cruises, beaches to family destinations worldwide!

walkway at the disney coronado resort in walt disney world florida at dusk

where to stay at disney world: Stay in the Magic or Offsite

There is no doubt that staying in the magic at an onsite hotel adds to the experience. You will have the same Disney class service and a more seamless experience staying at a Disney resort. As a resort guest you will get

First access to Genie Plus and Lightening lane selections at 7am instead of when the park opens (which will make a huge difference on getting some of those more popular selections)
Get in the parks 30 minutes early every day – which is a far cry from the 1 hr early and 3 hours late it use to be, but it is something. Expect you will get a small jumpstart on your day and get one ride down before everyone else floods in the park. This is also essential if you are riding Rise of the Resistance or Seven Dwarf Mine as the line will quickly swell to over 90 minutes if you enter at regular opening time.
Deluxe resort guests get to stay at magic kingdom and epcot 2 hours late on select nights (generally MK is Wednesdays and Epcot is Mondays)
Free parking at Disney World resorts – this perk is finally back! That will save a family $30/day by using convenient Disney transportation daily instead of moving your car.
Character encounters – depending on the seasons you may find a chance to meet characters at your resort! We have meet characters at Port Orleans Riverside, Boardwalk, the Grand Floridian, and others. This certainly adds extra magic and boasts much shorter lines
If your kids are tired, heading back to the hotel doesn’t mean you have to be bored. The hotels offer dining, playgrounds, daily campfires with free marshmallows for roasting (smore kits cost extra), beautiful pools, free movies under the stars, activities around the pool, and many offer things like giant checkers.

If you can afford to, or intend to do Disney only once, it really is a lot of fun to stay on site. But as much as I have been a die hard Disney fan, the increased costs for fewer perks is making it hard to justify. If you are trying to keep your cost down, staying off site is a great way to go. Not only will your hotel be cheaper, but you can eat more offsite saving you money.

pinnochio and ghepetto character meet and greet at disney world

Disney world hotels on property

Cheap Disney World Vacation

If you are trying to do Disney for as cheap as possible why not camp at Disney World. You can drive here, saving a lot of money on airfare and stay at the lovely, well-cared-for Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort (from $76/night). The campsites offer room for a camper or 2 tents and sleeps up to 8 (making it a great option for large families),

A 7 day / 6 night package including single park tickets for 2 adults and 2 children in mid-September would cost you $2,915.40. Plus you can save a bundle by bring all your food from home to take picnic style lunches in the park and cook dinner on your campsite grill.

So are you sacrificing the magic for money? Not at all! The campsites are a great budget alternative with a large site, picnic table, grill, electrical, pets allowed, and up to 8 guests per site at no extra cost! Other amenities at the resort include a fort-themed water play area, complete with their own toddler-friendly slides. whirlpools, playground, Archery, horseback riding, canoeing, convenience store, complimentary transportation to all Disney World Parks, movie under the starts, nightly campfire with Chip and Dale (free), and more! And if you are like most families, you will spend most of your time at the theme parks and very little back “in your room” anyway. Hint: At Christmas time people go all out and decorate their tents & RV’s with Christmas lights! Pro Tip: Pay the little extra for a preferred spot for less walking to the bust stop! Also consider the time of year as campsites do not offer the comfort of air conditioning or heat at night.

disney world value hotels all star music room with convenient table that folds down into a bed

Thrifty Disney World Vacation

If you want to visit Disney World for as little money as possible, but you really aren’t the camping type you will love Disney’s budget hotels. These rooms do not include elevators, tend to have smaller rooms, beds are a little less plush, and the amenities are fewer. But you will still have coffee in your room, Disney shampoo/conditioner, and well thought out spaces including a bed that folds into a table to save space. Sadly inflation has hit the value resorts as well and they went up over 50% since 2019. Although you will probably spend most of your days enjoying the parks, your hotel will have fun theming, several themed pools, air conditioned rooms with cable televisions, free Disney world transportation, movies by the pool, a playground and resort activities. We actually love staying at the value hotels as they are smaller in size which makes the buses less crazy than the larger resorts.

You can snag a 7 day / 6 night package for 2 adults and 2 children in September for $3888.52. Plus Disney is one again offering free dining plans, room discounts, and pin offers! So there are discounts available if you watch for them and plan accordingly. Currently you can snag a free dining plan!

If you are keeping costs down, consider bringing cereal / granola bars for breakfast and sack lunches. Then you can get one warm meal at the park a day so that you still eat well and enjoy the magic, but without going broke paying for every meal. Or, snag the free dining promotion! My Pick: Pop Century (On the skyliner which means no buses if you are heading to Epcot or Hollywood Studios!! Plus they have a nice kids splash pool. But you really can’t go wrong with any of the All Star Resorts which each have their own theming, menu, and even different items in their gift shops! We like to stay at a new hotel each visit!

Comfortable Resort Vacation

Moderate Disney World hotels are a little nicer in finishings and resort ammenities that the budget ones. Moderate hotels have larger room (314 sq feet versus 260 sq feet in a value) and therefore some can fit up to 5 in a room. The resorts themselves are larger, offer more elaborate theming throughout the resort including amazing pools with waterslides. You will find not only a food court, but an actual restaurant as well. In addition to several pools, there is a main pool that is elaborately themed with a waterslide. The resort also boasts more activities like bike rentals, fishing, carriage rides at some, etc. If you are willing to pay for a nice Disney vacation, but are still trying to keep it reasonable, a moderate hotel may be just what you are looking for. HINT: If you have a 3rd child it is cheaper to upgrade to a moderate than book 2 value hotel rooms. For a 6 nights and 7 days at the Carribean Beach Resort with a family of 2 adults and 2 children you would pay $4569.14 in September. Note the Moderate results also get the standard dining plan if you snag the free dining offer which means more sit-down / character meals!

Hint: Want to really WOW your kids? Stay at a Royal Guest Room at Port Orleans for only a little more.

My Pick: Caribbean Beach Resort (skyliner resort and AMAZING pool), Port Orleans (princess rooms, ease of use), and then Coronado (for the beautiful grounds and long Jaguar water slide).

these new disney world comtemporary resort incredibles room are spacious, cute, and fun to stay in

Dream Disney World Vacation

If you are just looking to live it up on your Disney vacation, want the convenience of being on the monorail just steps away from the parks, or want to take advantage of extended evening hours at Epcot and Magic Kingdom – consider staying at a Deluxe Hotel. These resorts are stunning with polished details that make you feel like you are staying in an upscale resort. The rooms offer more space, about 344 sq feet and public areas are immaculately maintained and richly themed. These upscale resorts contain elaborate pools with waterslides and hot tubs. They all have their perks, some conveniently located on the monorail, walking distance to Epcot, boat ride to Magic Kingdom, or with live animal exhibits and educational programs like the Animal Kingdom Lodge offers educational programs and live animal exhibits. Most offer spectacular firework views from the convenience of your hotel.

For a a family of 2 adults and 2 children, staying at the Boardwalk for 6 nights and 7 days, you would spend $5801-$7326

animal kingdom lodge savannah view rooms

The range of prices has to do with if the Deluxe resort you choose the monorail/walking or requires a bus. Again, Deluxe resorts are for those that plan to spend time at their hotel enjoying the amenities such as edible gingerbread houses at Christmas and elaborate chocolate Easter eggs in the spring. Remember Deluxe Resort hotels also come with the added perk of offering hotel guests an extra 2 hours of extended evening park time at Magic Kingdom and Epcot once a week. See Hours of operation for exact days and times offered. My Pick: Polynesian Resort (for overall theming, Volcano themed pool, on the monorail, Dole Whips on site, fireworks view with live music from the beach) or Animal Kingdom Lodge (for price, overall theming, and animals roaming the ‘backyard’, but only uses bus system), Boardwalk (walk to Epcot from the back entrance, evening entertainment on the pier)

Staying Offsite at Disney World

You can stay at an off-site hotel stating at about $108 a night or splurge for a fun themed air bnb for about $432/night for a large group of 12+. While at first glance that is cheaper than most Disney properties, make sure you read the full cost to see if there are any property fees, parking fees, or special cleaning fees to make sure you are comparing apples to apples. Not all offsite accomidations are cheaper than the value resorts, but some definetly are! Plus some of the neighboring hotels have elaborate pools too. If you decide to go this route, you will need to plan to drive the short 4-5 miles and pay to park $30 at Disney daily because although those hotels may offer a shuttle, it gets full and runs at very select (sometimes inconvenient) times. Our friends missed the fireworks, got inthe park later, and with the added stress decided it really wasn’t worth the discount.

Total cost for 2 adults and 2 kids at the nearby Holiday Inn during value season, including tax and daily resort fee, would be $954.56 for 6 nights hotel plus $2,394.54 for 7 days of Disney tickets (one park per day) for a total of $3349.10.

Plus just imagine all the money you’ll save on food by choosing this option! It may not be for everyone, but for big families or those watching their budget, it’s definitely worth thinking about. It could mean the difference between multiple Disney vacations or just one.

disney world beach club resort christmsa chocolate carousel

Summary

Get ready to experience the magic of Disney no matter where you stay! With top-notch Disney service and attention to detail, you’re in for a treat. Remember, you’ll be spending most of your time in the parks, so stick to that budget and get ready to have a blast!

Pro Tip– Our family likes to mix it up and stay at different resorts each time. They are all so special and FUN in different ways!