The average cost of a Disney vacation varies greatly depending on how and when you like to vacation. Disney trips are pricier than ever with many up-charges and add ons to consider. However, it is possible to do a more cost friendly trip if you try to. It’s also possible to splurge and enjoy over the top adventures and experiences fit for families, the young or the young at heart. It’s often more of a trip and less of a vacation as you pack an itinerary with can’t miss offerings, often hustling to get it all in. The food, the rides and the shows all come together to make the overall magical experience that’s long beloved by endless amounts of tourists. Disney vacations are truly what you make them. You could spend a week dressing up and dining at fine establishments or sitting on the hub grass eating corn dog nuggets and fries. I think the perfect trip includes a little bit of both. Let’s price out the average cost of a Disney vacation at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida.
The Average Cost of a Disney Vacation
For the purposes of this post, average means the middle. We’re pricing out a middle of the line hotel, known as Moderate in Disney terms, to stay at and during a time where crowds are considered moderate as well. We’re judging the crowd level based on Disney’s own Disney Vacation Club point charts which determine how many points it costs to stay at any time. Typically, the higher the point cost, the busier or more in demand the time period is. So we’re picking one on the middle of the scale. When budgeting for a Disney trip, I think it’s better to overestimate. There are a few main spending categories. When you consider the categories below, know there are definitely places you can save and splurge within each. Let’s go over areas you will need to budget for and where it’s possible to reel it in or go all out the most.
The Average Cost of a Disney Vacation 2022 is…
The quick answer is that the average cost of a week long Disney World vacation for two adults and two children is about $8500.00. This can be altered drastically if you come during a busy season like Christmas week or Spring break and choose to stay at a Deluxe resort hotel, in a suite or at Club Level. It can also cost less if you visit at a slower time like September or early January and stay at a Value tier resort like Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort. Read on for a justification of this average price and exactly how we get to this number. This cost doesn’t include airfare, rental car, or transportation to and from the airport.
Disney Hotel Prices
This is a place where you can make or break the budget. Walt Disney World Resort has more than thirty themed hotels to choose from. There are multiple tiers: Value, Moderate and Deluxe. The tiers represent different price points and a Deluxe resort usually has better amenities and a more convenient location. Look into each property to and see what speaks to you and what makes sense for your style of vacation. Hotel prices can nearly double at peak times so the time of year you choose can be important in your planning consideration.
If you love Disney trips and can see yourself staying at Disney hotels year after year, you might want to consider Disney Vacation Club. It’s the Disney timeshare that gets you an amazing rate on Deluxe tier hotels stays for decades in most cases. Resale DVC contracts can get you an even better price!
One week in early December 2022 at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort in a pirate room: $2,468.25
Disney Dining Costs
This category is tough to average out considering a sit down restaurant like Be Our Guest is more than $60 per adult and a quick service restaurant like Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe would be around $20 for a meal and a drink. Then there are also the quintessential Disney snacks of popcorn, churros and ice cream to consider! After a buffet or a big sit down meal it’s common to have something light, like a snack, before enjoying another full meal. Some days you may only have two actual meals to budget for. Disney portion sizes can be pretty large. Don’t forget bottles of water for everyone. Though you can get complimentary cups of ice water wherever there are soda fountains if you prefer that. With all that said, this is one of the categories where you can alter the budget the most based on your preferences.
Average daily meal budget for 2 adults and 2 children: $400 per day, $2800 total
Disney Park Tickets Prices
There isn’t too much to splurge or save on when it comes to tickets for the theme parks though they are probably the most important part of your Disney World Vacation. They are about the same price aside from the option to save a bit per day if you buy a ticket with more days on it. Prices are higher at peak times. There are also two ticket upgrades to consider: Disney Genie+ and Park Hopper. In the past, FastPass was a free offering that gave guests the opportunity to book a certain time to experience an attraction with little to no wait. Now this is a paid product called Disney Genie+. It costs $15 per person per day and is added on through the My Disney Experience on the day of your visit. The Park Hopper option is added when you purchase your tickets and allows you to visit more than one park in a day. Prices vary based on how many days your ticket is for and if you choose to add water parks or not.
The only wiggle room with ticket pricing is if you’re a Florida resident. There’s usually an offer early in the year that has a four day ticket for a great price. It just has to be used in the first few months of the year. There may be other specials of this kind throughout the year. Of course, Florida residents can also take advantage of some exclusive annual pass options.
Depending on the time of year you visit, there may be additional ticketed events you may want to add to your trip. In the fall, Magic Kingdom hosts Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. Tickets for this event that takes place from 7:00 to midnight select nights August through Halloween start at $109 per adult and $99 for children ages three to nine. Children under the age of three don’t need a ticket. So for two adults and two children, Halloween party tickets would cost at least $443.06 with tax. During the holiday season, there’s Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas party on select nights at Magic Kingdom Park. It’s priced similarly to the Halloween event. If you’re not attending, it’s best to plan to visit other parks on days these events occur because the parks close early for the parties.
6 Day Disney ticket prices for 2 adults and 2 children with ParkHopper add on in early December 2022: $2,754.10
Budgeting for Disney Souvenirs
Minnie ears, perhaps? A classic Mickey sweater? The memorable blue Disney shopping bag with the castle on it seems to come home with everyone. It’s more than plush toys these days. Over the last few decades, Disney Parks has built partnerships with top brands like Dooney & Bourke, Coach and Pandora. While there may be more budget friendly souvenir options, know that there are plenty of things to spend a lot on these days as well. Also, many exclusive items are available at Disney that you can’t get elsewhere. At Galaxy’s Edge, the Star Wars land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, one of the custom lightsabers will put you back $219.99. It does include an entertainment experience but it’s still a hefty spend.
Even if you’re not a big souvenir person, there’s a good chance there’s somewhere you’d like to shop or something you’ll end up needing along the way. A poncho or umbrella can save the day on summer afternoons. Disney Springs has amazing stores you may not find as commonly elsewhere like Uniqlo and Sugarboo & Co. and popular Florida style favorites like Lilly Pulitzer and Tommy Bahama.
Casual Disney souvenir budget for a party of 4: $500.00
DVC Resale Experts Makes Magic
DVC Resale Experts is a licensed real estate broker with a team that specializes in resale DVC. If you enjoy Disney Parks and would love to visit every year, Disney Vacation Club might be something to consider. The Disney timeshare offers a flexible point based system that allows you to book Deluxe tier hotel stays every year at a great rate. With resale DVC, basically purchasing a contract from a Member instead of Disney, the prices are even better. People often save thousands buying a resale DVC contract when compared to direct from Disney prices. Take a look at current resale DVC resale listings for pricing and availability.
