Even if you consider Walt Disney World Resort the “happiest place on earth,” it’s probably not on your list of the most affordable places to visit.
One-day tickets to Disney World in 2024 currently start at $109 per person. Of course, most people vacationing at Disney World stay for more than one day and many visit more than one park — and multiday, multipark tickets typically include discounted pricing. In addition to park admission, keep in mind you might need to pay for airfare, a hotel and food.
While the total cost of a trip can vary significantly, a Mouse Hacking blog analysis pegged a baseline Disney World vacation for a family of four at $6,865 in 2024. The blog estimated a budget trip would cost about $4,735, while a higher-end version would run about $10,696.
No matter your budget, here are a few ways to stretch your vacation dollars and make the most of your trip:
[Read: How to Make a Budget — and Stick to It.]
Be Flexible on Timing
Disney World started using “dynamic pricing” in 2018, meaning it charges higher prices during holidays and popular weeks and lower prices for off-peak visits. In general, you’ll find the lowest pricing in late August and early September, and for weekday visits to the parks.
“In Florida, the kids are back in school by August, so the parks are less crowded and the prices are lower,” says Dayle Bland, a personal vacation planner who specializes in Disney trips.
“Weather-wise, it’s a hotter time of year, but if you can get past that and plan your days accordingly, you can have a great visit at a better price point,” she adds.
Choose Your Hotel Carefully
Disney offers three levels of hotels — value, moderate and deluxe — with three levels of pricing.
“The great thing about Disney is that there are resorts for every budget,” says Allison DePesa, a travel advisor with Marvelous Mouse Travels.
Those looking to keep costs as low as possible will likely want to stay at the “value” hotels. You can also stay in a non-Disney hotel, but it’s important to factor in the cost of transportation. Those staying at Disney resorts have access to free parking at the parks as well as free shuttles that run about every 20 minutes.
Plan For Food Expenses
After a hiatus during the COVID-19 pandemic, Disney’s dining plans are back.
“If you are staying at a Disney resort on a package, you can opt for Disney Dining Plan but these might not always be the best value. Save money by bringing your own sandwiches and snacks. Small cooler bags are allowed but remember no loose ice,” Carrie Bradley, a frequent Disney World visitor and founder of VisitingOrlandoWithKids.com, said in an email.
She added that you can expect to spend around $6 for a Mickey ice cream bar and should budget around $50 per person, per day for food if you eat at the parks and don’t dine at character table service restaurants.
[READ: Cheap Foods to Buy When You’re Broke.]
Some guests also opt to get groceries delivered to their hotels (Disney hotels will accept and store your deliveries while you’re out) so they can make their own breakfast and bring snacks to the parks.
Set a Limit on Souvenirs
Impulse purchases at souvenir shops are an easy way to quickly bust your budget. Try to avoid spending too much time in the gift shops, where the temptation can be hard to resist — or, set a limit for how much each person can spend on souvenirs per day or throughout the vacation.
[READ: Shopping Tricks to Keep You Under Budget]
If your family really wants to get into the spirit and don Disney apparel for the trip, stock up ahead of time at stores like Target or Kohl’s, which carry licensed apparel. “They have awesome selections,” DePesa says. “Kohl’s does a whole line of family-matching Disney apparel.”
Keep an Eye Out for New Discounts
Disney does occasionally host promotions that offer discounted pricing on tickets or hotels for specific periods. For example, 4-day, 4-park Magic Tickets are currently $396 per ticket through September 22, 2024.
If you’ve already booked your visit, you or your travel agent can call Disney to have the promotion retroactively applied to your purchase, if it qualifies.
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This Is How Much It Costs to Go to Disney World in 2024 originally appeared on usnews.com
Update 06/27/24: This story was published at an early date and has been updated with new information.
