Welcome back to Disney World on a Budget! This time I will go over the best prices, accommodations and features that make your Disney experience one to remember. Transport & Lodgings lists all of the different resort types and locations. Location, location, location! That’s one of my favourite phrases when it comes to getting the most out of a Disney experience. Here I’m going to share the best hacks for getting the price you need for the location you want.
For shorter Disney stays (like my recent Disney in Two Days) one of the best ways to book a resort is through a third party website, such as Undercover Tourist, Mouse Savers, and WDW Info. Sometimes the official Disney site will run special deals and offers as well. The most important thing here is timing. Some resorts are more expensive on the weekends and certain holidays or weekends and even some that are less expensive on weekends vs weekdays.
Generally, the lowest prices will be for the off-season (think January 5th-10th) and the highest prices will be during the holiday season, particularly the week leading up to Christmas. These are the prices of the Disney Resort categories compared to off-site rates. Swan and Dolphin are a great option if you’re not a DVC member but looking to stay in the Epcot Resort area. They still provide the Disney perks without a huge price tag. Another option is the Disney World Good Neighbour website. These are hotels that Disney partners with that are within close proximity to the parks. When searching these options, be sure to select the filters “Complimentary parking” and “Complimentary Disney Parks transportation”.
Disney World Resort Prices:
| Off-Season | Holiday Season | Off-Season | Holiday Season | |||
| Value | $118 | $361 | Suites | $300 | $826 | |
| Moderate | $232 | $541 | Suites | $645 | $3247 | |
| Deluxe | $424 | $3021 | Suites | $623 | $5228 | |
| Villas | $416 | $5528 |
Swan & Dolphin still have all of the benefits of park transport, extra magic hours and on-site character dining. Disney Good Neighbour Hotels have a nice price and can have some great amenities. Just beware of additional hotel and resort fees – these can crop up significantly in non-Disney resorts.
| Rates: | Resort Fees: | ||||
| Swan & Swan Reserve (340 sq ft) | $594 – $1069 | Suites | $661 – $1219 | $35 / night | |
| Dolphin (360 sq ft) | $619 – $961 | Suites | $661 – $1219 | $35 / night | |
| Disney Good Neighbour | $80 – $100 | Suites | $135 | ??? / night |
***All prices are approximate. Check https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/ for more information.***
A good rule of thumb is to factor in all of your travelling expenses in order:
- Part 1 – Fly or drive?
- (If flying) Mears $32 (or premium $200)
- (If driving) Fuel + any additional hotel nights + meals
- $50 safety net
- Part 2 – Resort/hotel
- Number of nights
- Parking
- Tips for housekeeping (they work hard!)
- Part 3 – Dining + extras
- Number of days x 3 meals x number of people = meal cost
- Any souviners
- $50 incidental (“How did I forget sunscreen?!” moments)
Speaking of dining expenses, here are some guidelines for what to expect as far as meal costs. On my trips, I am able to keep them quite reasonable by frequenting quick service and skipping sit down dinners. (I prefer Mickey waffles and eggs to a gourmet dinner anyway!)
| Quick Service | Table Service | Character Dining | Snacks | |
| Magic Kingdom Park/Resorts | $15 – $20 | $20 – $52 | $40 – $45 | >$10 |
| Epcot Park/Resorts | $12 – $20 | $30 – $50 | $40 – $45 | >$10 |
| Hollywood Studios Park/Resorts | $10 – $15 | $20 – $50 | $40 – $45 | >$10 |
| Animal Kingdom Park/Resorts | $12 – $15 | $30 – $50 | $40 – $45 | >$10 |
Adding all of this up (don’t forget the final $100 safety net) you should have an extremely realistic picture of your expenses. Please keep in mind that these are estimates – actual pricing may vary depending on the status of Disney’s COVID-19 precautions and the eventual return of the Disney Dining Plan. When I planned my Disney in Two Days trip, I used these calculations and ended up coming within $10 of my original planned budget. Also, a lot of this information was handed down to me through my mum, having grown up going to Disney with her planning out our expenses 6 months to a year in advance. She could’ve won an award for advanced Disney budget planning!
Now keep in mind that money isn’t the only thing that needs to be budgeted for in Disney World…time and energy play a much larger part than anyone gives credit for! The next post in this series will cover time budgets and how to balance a full day of Disney parks and activities while also having time to relax and unwind. I repeat this is the MOST important part of any Disney World vacation. Being in a central location where you can return to your resort for some R&R a couple of times throughout the day is priceless. Tune in next time!
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