Cheapest Way to Book a Disney World Vacation

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cheapest disney resorts

Walt Disney World Resort: the Most Magical Place on Earth, the place where dreams come true…and the place where we spend the most money?

disney world
All Images Credit Disney

Read More: Best Time to Visit Walt Disney World in 2021

It’s no secret that Disney World vacations can be very expensive, but they don’t have to break the bank. Here at Inside the Magic, we try our best to show our readers how they can have a magical vacation without worrying about the cost of every day of the trip. So, we’ve created this vacation planning guide to help you find the cheapest way to book a Disney World vacation. Follow this gudie for the best tips on how to book a Disney vacation cheap — including how to get a great deal if you work with a Disney travel agent!

Book Your Disney Vacation: Click here to get a great deal on a Disney trip from our friends at Academy Travel!

disney world reopening
Credit: Disney

How to stay at a Disney resort on a budget

How much does it cost to stay at a Disney hotel?

When deciding to go on a Disney World vacation, the first thing you will probably ask yourself is, How much does it cost to stay at a Disney hotel?

That answer can vary significantly. There are dozens of Disney-owned hotels on Walt Disney World Resort property, and they can range in price from around $100 per night to upwards of $600 per night, depending on where you choose to stay. If you are planning a trip on a budget and you want to spend the least amount possible, chances are you will be staying somewhere between the $100-200 price range.

disney's contemporary resort
Credit: Disney

Related: “It Costs How Much?!” Disney World Price Increases You Need to Know About

How do you plan a trip to Disney World on a budget? Work with a travel agent

Our number one tip to staying at a Disney resort on a budget will always be to work with a travel agent. An Authorized Disney Vacation Planner is an expert on all things Walt Disney World. They are able to book your vacation at a great price, all at no extra cost to you.

Perhaps the biggest reason why we recommend working with a travel agent is that your travel agent will be hyper-focused on working within your budget. They can find you an amazing deal on a vacation and ensure that you are not going over budget, saving you money in the process. Your Authorized Disney Vacation Planner will also be able to be on the lookout for all of the Disney Resort hotel discounts that become available before you leave for your trip.

Academy Travel
Credit: Academy Travel/Disney

Related: You can buy Disney Parks tickets at Sam’s Club for as low as $42 per day

How do you get the Disney discount if you already booked a trip?

Another common question that upcoming Disney World Guests ask this: If Disney releases a hotel or vacation package discount after you have already booked a trip, can you still get the discount?

The answer is, yes! As long as the discount is valid for your resort hotel, length of stay, and travel dates — and as long as there is availability — you can apply a Disney discount to your trip. You can do this by calling the Walt Disney Travel Company directly. Or, as we highly recommend, your travel agent can take care of applying the discount to your reservation for you.

Book With Confidence: Save Big on Your Next Vacation With Academy Travel

EPCOT Monorail
Credit: Disney

Disney resort costs

The cost of your Disney World trip will vary significantly based on the hotel you choose. At Walt Disney World Resort, the Disney-owned hotels on Disney World property are categorized into three general hotel types: Value Resorts, Moderate Resorts, and Deluxe Resorts.

Read More Magic: Which Walt Disney World Hotel to Pick for Your Vacation

Value Resorts

Disney's Art of Animation Resort
Credit: Disney

These are the least expensive resorts on Disney World property. A Value Resort is often highly themed with bright colors and is perfect for families, young couples, or anyone who plans to visit the theme parks for a major of their vacation and won’s spend much time at their Disney resort. If you are a Disney fan who wants to park hop ’til you drop, a Value Resort is the Disney hotel for you.

Below is a list of Value Resorts on Disney World property. Note that a regular room at any of the resorts below will cost you well under $200 per night.

  • Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
  • Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
  • Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
  • Disney’s Pop Century Resort
  • Disney’s Art of Animation Resort*

*Art of Animation offers family suites, which are significantly more expensive than single rooms but are a highly popular choice for families or groups.

Moderate Resorts

Interior of Royal Guest Room at Disney's Port Orleans Resort Riverside
Credit: Disney

More expensive are the Moderate Resorts. These resorts are great for anyone, no matter who you are. They offer wonderful theming and a very homey feel, with more elegance than any of the Value Resorts. If you get a good deal on a hotel room or vacation package, you may be spending less than $200 per night. We often see these deals come up for resorts like Caribbean Beach or Coronado Springs. But often, the price per night will be somewhere in the $200-300 range.

  • Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
  • Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
  • Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – French Quarter
  • Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside

Related: Now is the Perfect Time to Stay at a Moderate or Deluxe Disney Resort!

Deluxe Resorts

Now is the Best Time to Stay at a Deluxe Disney Resort
Credit: Disney

These are the most luxurious, expensive Disney Resort hotels, and they will cost you. they offer some amazing amenities — such as access to spas, monorail transportation, and fireworks views. However, if you are on a budget, we suggest steering clear of these hotels.

  • Disney’s Contemporary Resort
  • Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
  • Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge
  • Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
  • Disney’s Beach Club Resort
  • Disney’s BoardWalk Inn
  • Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Should you consider an off-site resort when visiting a Disney theme park?

Yes! While we often advocate for staying onsite at a Disney World vacation, there are many benefits to staying offsite. In fact, you can often save so much money by choosing to stay off-property instead of at a Disney-owned resort.

Inside the Magic Tips: Why You Should Stay Offsite on Your Next Disney World Vacation

Least expensive Disney resort with the most amenities

Want to know where to stay on Disney property and get the most bang for your buck? Here are our top recommendations for some of the least expensive Disney resorts that still offer amazing amenities. These hotels are some of the most affordable and offer great benefits — and since you’re at Disney World, you’ll still feel like you’re on a five-star vacation at the Most Magical Place on Earth.

Disney’s Pop Century Resort

pop century
Credit: Disney

Type of Resort: Value Resort on Disney World property, Owned by Disney

Cost: Around $120-175 per night, depending on the season, Discounts can almost always apply

Location: Wide World of Sports Resort Area

Amenities: 

  • Complimentary transportation to and from the theme parks via bus and Disney Skyliner
  • Complimentary airport transportation
  • Access to Extra Magic Hours and FastPass+
  • Quick-service food court serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as late-night options
  • Multiple pools and recreation activities
  • Can book with the Disney Dining Plan

About:

Experience the unforgettable fads of the 1950s through the 1990s all over again. From yo-yos and Play-Doh® to Rubik’s Cube® and rollerblades, this Resort hotel salutes the timeless fashions, catch phrases, toys and dances that captivated the world through the decades.

Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort

Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort
Credit: Disney

Type of Resort: Moderate Resort on Disney World property, Owned by Disney

Cost: Around $200-240 per night, Discounts can almost always apply

Location: EPCOT Resort area

Amenities: 

  • Complimentary transportation to and from the theme parks via bus and Disney Skyliner
  • Complimentary airport transportation
  • Access to Extra Magic Hours and FastPass+
  • Several dining options offering a variety of types of cuisine, all for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and in-between meal hours
  • Multiple pools and recreation activities
  • Themed rooms
  • Can book with the Disney Dining Plan

About:

Discover a world where life slows to a leisurely pace and worries melt away amidst Calypso rhythms. Awash with vibrant colors and lush landscapes, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort transports Guests to a relaxing paradise that captures the essence of 5 distinct islands: Barbados, Jamaica, Martinique, Trinidad and Aruba. Celebrate the spirit of the Caribbean with blissful sights and fun-filled activities—including colonial forts, lively markets, pristine beaches, splashy florals and swaying hammocks—sure to awaken the imagination

Honorable Mention: Disney Springs area hotels

Disney Springs shuttle
Credit: Disney

Type of Resort: Disney Good Neighbor hotels adjacent to Disney World property, Not owned by Disney

Cost: As low as under $100 per night, depending on your hotel of choice

Location: Disney Springs area, within a walking distance of Disney Springs

Amenities: 

  • Shuttle service every 30 minutes to the Disney World theme parks
  • Disney Springs passport with discounts on dining and retail locations
  • Access to Extra Magic Hours and FastPass+
  • Pools and recreation

About:

Stay at a DISNEY SPRINGS® Resort area hotel and your vacation never ends.

We offer 6 Orlando hotels conveniently located in the Walt Disney World® Resort, with spacious accommodations, luxurious amenities, dining and recreation perfect for any traveler. Each resort is an Official Walt Disney World® Hotel and within walking distance of some of the area’s finest shopping, dining and entertainment at DISNEY SPRINGS®.

As Official Walt Disney World®hotels, our Guests can make park reservations for dates during their stay for the number of days that they have valid theme park admission.

More Information: Get a Disney Springs View for the Price of a Value Resort

Best ways to save money at a Disney resort

magic your way
Credit: Disney

Related: How to Save Money on Your 2021 Disney Vacation

We have outlined the best ways to save money at a Disney resort on your upcoming Walt Disney World vacation. But, we know that Inside the Magic readers may still have questions, such as whether there are extra costs that may arise once you arrive on your trip, and what discounts are available throughout the year. Here, we answer those specific questions.

What discounts are available at Disney resorts?

Several times a year, Disney releases special discounts for Disney Resort hotels and Walt Disney World Resort vacation packages. This means that you can either save money on a hotel stay, on Disney World theme park tickets, or on your entire vacation package. Below are some of the discounts that are often released year after year that can help you save money on your trip:

  • Discounted room rates
  • Discounted room and ticket offers
  • Free Disney Dining Plan offer
  • Military discounts
  • Annual Passholder discounts
  • Florida resident discounts

For the most up-to-date information on Disney World discounts, visit the official website here. If you are a Disney Vacation Club member, a Disney World Annual Passholder, a member of the military, or have any other potential discount that you may apply, contact your travel agent for more information. 

What extra charges add up when you are at a Disney resort?

As with any vacation, even if you stay at a Disney Value Resort and book a trip during a time when the price of a Disney World ticket is relatively lower, there may be extra charges that occur when you are staying at a Disney resort and booking a Disney World vacaiton package. Here are some to be aware of:

  • In-room dining
  • Tipping your Disney housekeeper (called “Mousekeeping”)
  • Laundry services
  • Recreational activities, such as arcade games, spa, golf, etc.
virtual fireworks riviera resort
Credit: Disney

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Ready to book your trip of a lifetime?

If you are ready to book the trip of a lifetime to the Most Magical Place on Earth, we are here to help.

DVC POlynesian studio room
Credit: Disney World

We always recommend the Authorized Disney Vacation Planners at Academy Travel, experts on all things Walt Disney World. They know everything there is to know about a Disney vacation, and they can ensure you save the most money possible on your trip. In fact, whenever an Inside the Magic reader or staff member is trying to book a trip on a budget, we always recommend working with Academy Travel, whose agents are money-saving experts. There is no better way to save the most money possible on a Disney trip than by booking with a team that knows all of the discounts available.

Read More: Important Dates to Know When Booking a Disney Trip

Academy Travel agents can also help with adding extras to your trip, like VIP Tours, Disney Dining Plan, special event tickets, and more. If you bwan tto vbook a Disney vacation package on a budget but you also want to find the best way to add those magical extras, Academy Travel can fully assist you. Plus, their services are free, whether you are booking a trip to Disney World as describes here, you want to visit Disneyland, take a Disney Cruise, or go on any other magical vacation.

Click here to book your next Disney World vacation at the lowest price!

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