Planning a trip to Disney World is an exciting experience, and for us, there’s nothing quite like staying within the Disney Bubble. While some families might find that booking an off-site hotel or villa can be more cost-effective, we’ve always preferred staying on-site at one of Disney’s resorts and as we prefer not to car-hire – it works out better for us financially anyway! There are just so many perks to an on-site stay, from the convenience of Disney transport (no need for car hire) to the immersive experience and special offers like free dining.
If you’re keen to get the best price for your Disney World resort holiday, this guide will walk you through the steps.
Step One: Choose Your Preferred Dates
Before anything else, it’s important to pick your preferred dates. This might sound obvious, but if you want to get the best possible price, you need to make sure you’re not booking during peak times. A little research into online crowd calendars can really help. I also recommend checking UK and US holiday calendars to avoid times when schools are out or special events are happening, as these can cause both crowds and prices to skyrocket. Ideally, aim for quieter periods, such as early January, late September, or early November, when crowds are lighter, and prices tend to be more affordable.
As a home educating family, we are able to travel with the children during term time and this really helps to keep costs down. However if you are limited to travelling within UK school holidays, you might be surprised to find that this can still be cost effective – not all school holidays are created equal though! Prices tend to be highest during the Easter break as the weather during this season is more comfortable and therefore it’s a more desirable time to visit. Travelling during August can actually be one of the lower priced options, but this is because the heat and humidity can be very uncomfortable – so it’s a case of weighing up what is most important to you and planning accordingly. As a neurodivergent family, we struggled a lot with the heat in September and learnt the hard way that peak-Summer is just not a viable option for us in Florida – so I would always rather save for an Easter trip if school holidays were our only option. If your family are more tolerant of extreme heat and humidity, then you may decide that the August prices make it worthwhile.
Step Two: Decide On Which Level Of Resort You Want
Disney resorts come in three main categories: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. Each offers a different experience, so it’s important to think about what you want from your accommodation.
- Value Resorts are usually (but not always!) the most affordable option and are perfect for families who don’t mind basic but comfortable amenities. They typically have fun, themed decor, and plenty of space, but the rooms are a bit smaller, and there’s fewer dining options compared to the higher-tier resorts. Some do have elevated transport options such as Skyliner though, so don’t feel you need to rule them out!
- Moderate Resorts are a step up, with more amenities, bigger rooms, and often better dining options. For larger families, they can actually be cheaper than the value resorts, as they usually offer rooms that can accommodate bigger groups—something that the value resorts often lack or charge a premium rate for due to limited availability.
- Deluxe Resorts are for those looking for the ultimate high end experience. These resorts offer luxurious amenities, stunning locations closer to the parks – often within walking distance, and top-tier service. They are, of course, more expensive, but they come with the added benefit of being closest to the parks and offering some of the best dining options on property.
Once you’ve chosen your resort category, you’ll get a clearer idea of how much your stay will cost.
Step Three: Hold Out For The Best Deals
This is where the fun begins! Disney usually releases their best deals for UK guests in April or May for the following year. These offers tend to be available for a few months and while it’s fantastic to have some breathing room, keep in mind that availability and prices are often at their best when they’re first released so don’t spend too long mulling it over. Historically, the offer released in Spring for UK guests is the Free Dining Plan deal. If you’re booking for the right dates, this deal is a real game-changer.
The Free Dining Plan offer varies between different resort levels but for Moderate and Deluxe resort guests it includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner at a range of participating Disney restaurants, which can really save you a lot of money. Not only does it provide fantastic value, but it also adds to the immersive Disney experience, as you’re able to indulge in a variety of dining options throughout your stay and it takes the stress out of budgeting for your food spends . For us, this is one of the main reasons we love to take advantage of these offers. In my experience, having done the math multiple times, there really is no better time to book than during this offer!
Step Four: Shop Around & Avoid Big Travel Agents
Once Disney has released their offers, don’t just book the first deal you see. It’s worth shopping around to compare prices, as they can vary slightly from website to website. Some of the best deals are often available directly through Disney’s own UK site, DisneyWorld.co.uk, but don’t forget to check other providers too.
One site that we always check is AttractionTickets.com. In 2024, they had an amazing £100 off bookings offer, which made their prices even cheaper than Disney’s own site. We booked our last trip with them and their customer service was fantastic.
Keep an eye out for special voucher codes or promotional discounts as these can really make a difference to your overall price.
I know that lots of people use big Travel agencies such as Virgin and TUI as they’re used to booking this way and feel it offers them more security, but it really is the most expensive way to book. You can save literally thousands of pounds by avoiding them, and booking it on your own. Disney World and Attraction Tickets are ATOL and ABTA protected, so your money is just as safe as it is when booking through a travel agency and there really is nothing they can do for you that you can’t do on your own – so why note save yourself a small fortune!
Step Five: Book Your Hotel & Tickets Package Through A Cashback Platform
Once you’ve found the best price, consider booking through a cashback platform. UK hotel and ticket packages can often offer unbeatable value, but when you go through a third-party cashback site, you can save even more. For example, I use TopCashback for all of my Disney bookings. On average, I get around £300-£400 cashback on my holiday package, which makes the whole trip even more affordable.
It’s a simple process—just visit the cashback site before you book, click through to your provider, and once your booking is confirmed, the cashback is automatically added to your account. It’s a brilliant way to save extra money without any extra effort. Trust me, it really does add up!
Step Six: Be Flight Savvy
In my experience, it is NEVER worth booking your flights as part of a Disney package. You can pretty much always find a better price by booking flights yourself.
If you’re travelling during a peak period, then your best bet is to book your flights as soon as they’re released which for most airlines is 11 months before your travel date. Be sure to check various routes and airlines – its often a lot cheaper to fly to/from a London airport than a regional one so this might be something you want to consider. and budget airlines like Norse and Aer Lingus often offer far more competitive prices than BA and Virgin.
If you have the luxury of travelling off-peak then you can afford to hold your nerve and wait for the best prices. These will often be released during seasonal sales such as the January sales or Black Friday sales. If you really want to hold your nerve then I often find the best prices for our January trips are released around 6 weeks before travel.
Don’t forget to check Skyscanner and set price alerts on Google Flights to find the very best deals.
Step Seven: Booking The Extras
If you want to visit any other theme parks or attractions during your Orlando trip, such as Universal, Kennedy Space Center, SeaWorld etc – then the best time to grab your tickets is during the Black Friday sales in late November for the following year.
Websites such as Attraction Tickets or FloridaTix usually offer the best deals.
And finally, once you’ve booked any element of your trip – don’t forget to take out holiday insurance to ensure that you’re protected.
And there you have it—a simple step-by-step guide to getting the best price for your Disney World holiday. Whether you’re a Disney first-timer or a seasoned pro, following these steps can help you secure the best price while ensuring you enjoy the many perks that come with staying in the Disney Bubble. Happy planning, and here’s to your magical Disney adventure!