Hello there Olivia, I'm so happy you've stopped by to visit us at planDisney! As a mom who made a mission out of saving creatively and watching for deals so we could take an annual vacation at Disney World... your question captured my heart. Let's do this!
The first recommendation I give to people is to watch the Disney
Special Offers, Deals, and Discounts page. Things are starting to pick up in recent months on this little discounted corner of the Disney website! You will occasionally see offers on park tickets, Disney resort stays, vacation package deals, or even free dining plans. Offers are typically posted a few weeks prior to the eligible travel dates. And one thing I especially love is that even if you've already made a Disney vacation package reservation, which is a Disney Resort plus theme park tickets, for a $200 refundable deposit... if a deal pops up later that works for your plans, you can always switch to that offer and save money. Woo hoo!
As for time of year, the last half of August and month of September has become probably the cheapest time to go to Disney World. The next time I recommend would probably be January or February, with the exception of Presidents Day weekend (which is often quite busy). July also has lower prices than other times of the year
One trick I've found to identify lower price, lower crowd times is to scroll through the
Disney Theme Park Ticket calendar. When you see lower ticket prices, that typically also means lower prices on those dates for Disney Resort nightly rates.
Another thing to keep in mind when shopping for a more affordable Walt Disney World vacation is to look at the
Disney Value Resort category. These are the most budget friendly rooms, which still offer the
perks of staying at a Disney Resort. While they don't include all the same amenities as Moderate or Deluxe Disney Resorts, they are incredibly magical and fun! I've always loved the larger than life Disney theming, hustle-and-bustle of excited families, convenience of their large food courts, and over overall happy vibe you find at the Value Resorts. My family has made lots of terrific memories staying at these resorts!
Olivia, I hope this helps. I'll be sending pixie dust your way to have the most magical Walt Disney World vacation ever! Please feel free to visit us at planDisney if you'd like any further tips or recommendations. We love to assist fellow guests!
Magical memories await,
Tami