Going to Disney World is a dream vacation for many families. However, the costs can quickly add up, making it difficult to afford this magical experience. The good news is that there are certain times of the year when visiting Disney World is more affordable. Generally speaking, the cheapest months to visit Disney World are January through April and September through early December.
Crowd Levels Impact Prices
One of the biggest factors impacting Disney World pricing is crowd levels. Disney World sees its lowest crowd levels during the off-peak seasons when kids are in school. The peak crowds come during major holidays and school vacation periods when families can travel. Since Disney World uses dynamic pricing based on projected attendance, visiting during an off-peak time can translate to lower prices on tickets, hotels, and packages.
Weather Considerations
In addition to crowds, weather is another factor to weigh when looking at the cheapest times to visit Disney World. The hot and humid summer months of July and August are peak vacation times with big crowds. However, late August into September sees lower crowds after kids go back to school. January and February have cool weather, but generally sunny skies to enjoy the parks. There is some risk of rain during the off-season months, which can lead to lower prices as well.
January to April Discounts
After the busy holiday season, January through April is a great time to find discounts on Disney World vacations. With moderate temperatures and lower crowds, these months have excellent weather for enjoying the parks. Disney World offers room discounts and package deals to incentivize traveling during this slower season. You can easily save 25% or more on resort rooms during this time. Ticket prices and food costs will also be lower than peak travel seasons.
September through December Deals
Once kids are back in school in the fall, Disney World sees another dip in crowds and prices. September through early December has low prices on tickets, hotels, and packages before the holiday rush begins. Weather is also ideal during this window. Late October around Halloween is extremely popular with Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. But early September and November still have excellent discounts before Thanksgiving holiday crowds arrive. Disney usually offers Free Dining promotions during these months too.
Cheap Ticket Options
In addition to saving on hotel and packages, you can find excellent ticket discounts during the value seasons. Consider purchasing multi-day tickets to maximize your savings:
Ticket Type | Jan-April Price | Sept-Dec Price |
---|---|---|
2 Day Ticket | $196.00 | $207.00 |
3 Day Ticket | $266.00 | $281.00 |
4 Day Ticket | $316.00 | $331.00 |
As you can see, buying multi-day tickets during the value season can lead to big per-day savings. Other money saving ticket options are to look for special add-ons like the Park Hopper option or Water Park and Sports option to customize your ticket package.
Leverage Deals on Resort Hotel Stays
Booking a Disney Resort hotel stay also unlocks savings throughout Walt Disney World, making it worth the splurge. Here are some average nightly rates for Disney Value resorts during discounted times:
Resort | Jan-April Price | Sept-Dec Price |
---|---|---|
Disney’s All-Star Sports | $115/night | $133/night |
Disney’s Art of Animation | $153/night | $168/night |
Disney’s Pop Century | $120/night | $147/night |
Booking a Disney resort hotel includes perks like free airport transportation on the Magical Express, Extra Magic Hours early park access, and free transportation around Disney World on buses, boats and the monorail. These values make staying on-site very attractive when prices are low during discounted seasons.
Snag a Deal with a Package
Packaging your Disney World tickets with a hotel stay can unlock even more savings versus purchasing everything separately. Disney frequently offers Free Dining promotions where a 5-night or longer Disney hotel stay comes with a Disney Dining Plan included for free. This can be a savings of over $600 for a family of four! Packages with room discounts, discounted tickets and dining plans can save hundreds of dollars.
Maximize Off-Season Savings on Food
In addition to discounted tickets and hotels, visiting during an off-peak season will save on food costs at Disney World. Mobile ordering makes grabbing quick service meals easy and affordable year-round. But buffets, character meals and dining packages offer more savings when crowds are lower:
Dining Experience | Value Season Average Price | Regular Price |
---|---|---|
Breakfast Buffet at Chef Mickey’s | $35/adult | $44/adult |
Dinner Buffet at Tusker House | $37/adult | $46/adult |
Candlelight Processional Dining Package | $42/adult | $55/adult |
Booking these dining experiences during lower crowd seasons can offer big savings versus peak meal pricing.
Avoid the Most Expensive Times to Visit
Now that we’ve covered tips to visit during the cheapest times, what are the most expensive dates to avoid? Here are the priciest seasons:
– Spring Break and Easter (Mid-March through April)
– Summertime (Late May through August)
– Thanksgiving Week
– Christmas Week through Early January
Disney World around major holidays like Easter, Thanksgiving and Christmas is extremely crowded and expensive. Summer when kids are out of school is also busy and has hot weather. Avoid these peak travel weeks if possible to maximize your budget.
Book Early For the Best Deals
The key to saving the most money on a Disney World vacation during a value season is to plan ahead and book early. Disney usually offers discounts and packages 6-11 months in advance. Booking your resort stay and package at the 11 month window will give you the best selection of discount room options. You can also take advantage of payment plans to pay for your vacation over 3-6 months interest free.
Conclusion
While Disney World is expensive no matter when you go, visiting during a value season from January-April or September-December can unlock big savings. Taking advantage of discounted tickets, hotel rates, packages and dining can easily save a family hundreds compared to peak travel dates. The lower crowds also make these times of year an enjoyable experience. By planning your Disney World vacation during these cheapest months and booking early, you can make the dream of a magical Disney getaway surprisingly affordable.