Welcome to planDisney, Hannah!
Walt Disney World vacations are known for being magical but not necessarily inexpensive. I've been visiting the parks for decades, and I'm convinced you can do it on nearly any vacation budget, so I'm happy to help you with your question!
The short answer is: It depends. Prices and policies often change, and everyone has different needs and wants. Many factors affect the overall cost, so let's get into it.
The first thing to consider is where you are staying. A
Disney Value Resort hotel is a great way to be immersed in the magic while watching your wallet. Prices vary by date and are subject to change, so I'll link that page
here. This includes complimentary resort transportation and parking. You can also stay off-site but will need to factor in transportation to the parks and
parking fees, so you have to crunch the numbers.
Next, you'll purchase your
theme park tickets. If your child is between the ages of 3 and 9, their ticket is discounted. The price per day goes down the more days you buy. The Park Hopper option lets you visit more than one park each day, but it's cheaper to stick with one park per day.
Food is one of my favorite parts of the Disney experience! Some may think it's going overboard, but I like to plan where I'm going to eat each day and check out the menus ahead of time, so I know how to budget. If you both eat three meals each day, a snack, and a treat, stick with
quick-service restaurants, and your child orders from the kids' menu, the two of you can probably manage on $100 per day. I can also share that I've comfortably enjoyed Disney for less than this. We often eat a quick breakfast in our room and split entrees. Another option is to purchase a dining plan, but this tends to be beneficial when part of a special offer.
I recommend you experiment with different packages on the website. I entered two nights in June, three park days, and the dining plan for one adult and one child. I got a total package quote of nearly $1,700, but this is subject to change. I tried applying a current deal for
four days (we don't yet know what next summer's promotions will be), three nights in a value resort, and a dining plan, and got $1,600. You read that right: An extra day and the total cost went down! That's what I mean when I say it really does depend.
There are countless add-ons that you can choose, but that are not necessary to have a practically perfect vacation. Lightning Lanes, character meals, and Memory Maker are fun extras, but when my goal is to save money, I skip them.
My best tip is to watch the
Special Offers, Packages, & More page. Bundling your hotel, theme park tickets, and even dining can save you lots. You can look it over now to get an idea of what may be offered, and then check back as your travel dates near.
I hope you can plan a trip that fits your budget and that you and your child have the most magical time together, Hannah! If you have additional questions, please reach out. We're always happy to help here at
planDisney!
Always Dreaming -
Elizabeth