Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Now that we have an idea about when and for how long we want to visit, let's input our
information and get an idea of how much it's all going to cost. Visit DisneyWorld.com and
input your check-in date, check-out date, and desired hotel, and then select Find Prices.
Select Room-only, Package, or one of the special offers (if available), and then scroll down
and select the room type. The next page lists tickets and the add-ons discussed previously
in the chapter. Select the tickets and then click Dining Plan. Note the cost with and without
the Plan. While we don't recommend the Dining Plan in most situations, it does give a gen-
eral idea about what it will cost to eat one quick service and one table service meal per day,
in addition to a snack or two. Don't worry if this number seems too high—we'll cover dis-
counts and ways to save money shortly.
Budgeting an Only Visit
For a nine-day itinerary during the Fall 2015 price season, assuming a family of four with
two adults, one child younger than ten and one older, budget if possible:
• $7,900+ if you are staying at a deluxe resort
• $5,450 if you are staying at a moderate
• $4,700 if you are staying at a value
Add to this budget the costs of getting the group to and from Orlando.
We suggest that a day or two shorter can also work for an “only” visit. For shorter visits,
subtract about $400/day if you are staying at a value resort, $500/day at a moderate, and
$850/day at a deluxe.
Saving Money on a Disney World Visit
The money-saving opportunities available depend greatly on when you go and where you
stay:
• When you go matters because Disney changes seasonal pricing roughly 25 times
over the course of the year. Staying in the same exact standard-view room at the
Polynesian for eight nights during the most expensive time of the year can cost
$2,200 more than it would cost during the cheapest period.
• Where you stay matters because Walt Disney World has resorts priced at many dif-
ferent levels. Staying eight nights at the Polynesian instead of Art of Animation
during the lower cost season will cost almost $3,000 more.
• Combining these effects—staying eight nights at the Poly during the highest cost
time of the year instead of at Art of Animation during the lowest cost time of the
year—costs a whopping $5,200 more for the same family with the same theme
park tickets!
So the takeaways for the first-time family visitor:
•
On a tight budget, consider sticking with one of Disney's less expensive on-prop-
erty resorts like Art of Animation or Pop Century.
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