8 Cheapest Disney World Resorts in 2024

Let’s face it, staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel is NOT cheap, and depending on which one you choose, you may be set back $5,000+ or more. If you are like us, that means being on a strict budget and trying to save as much money as possible. That’s why we’ve created this list of the Cheapest Disney World Resorts.

In this article, we are going to share the absolute cheapest places to stay while visiting Walt Disney World, both on-site at the Disney Resorts, as well as some inexpensive off-site hotels near Disney World.

We’ll cover what the more “budget-friendly” resorts are like, the pros and cons, price ranges, guest rooms, location in comparison to the parks, transportation, and even what dining options you have there. 

We’ve also compiled a complete list of prices for each hotel with the highest and lowest prices month by month, as well as the cheapest dates of the year for each one.

Visiting Disney World on a “budget” doesn’t always mean staying in the Value Resorts. It’s all relative to how much you can spend so we’ve also listed the cheapest options at the Moderate and Deluxe Resorts which offer an overall better vacation experience imo.

The price of a Disney World vacation seems to be going up by the day, and your hotel is likely going to be your #1 expense. That’s why we really prioritize staying as cheap as possible so you can save that hard-earned money and still have a great time. Thankfully, Disney does offer some good deals from time to time, and we’ll help show you how to take advantage of those.

And if you haven’t had the chance to read them yet, here are some of our other best posts on Disney World Resorts:

• Best Disney World Resort Hotels Ranked
• Complete List of Disney World Hotels
• Best Disney Monorail Resorts
• Best Hotels Near Disney World
• Best Disney Resorts for Kids
• Best Disney Resorts for Adults

Before we get started, don’t forget to sign up for our FREE Weekly E-Mail Newsletter. There we will update you with the latest Disney World Resorts updates, and share the latest vacation planning tips. You can sign up here: Join our E-Mail Newsletter!

What is it Like Staying at a Budget Hotel at Disney World?

Guests visiting Disney World might be apprehensive in regards to staying at one of the budget hotels within Disney World. Perhaps you’ve heard horror stories or are just concerned about the lack of amenities and luxury that these resorts provide.

I got good news for you: staying at a budget hotel allows you to be in the heart of the Disney World Resort without breaking the bank! And while these hotels might not feature the amenities of the more expensive Disney Resorts, they still feature that Disney Magic that only comes with staying at a Disney World Resort. 

You’ll be immersed in the story, and families with kids will absolutely adore the budget-friendly resorts. For example, the budget hotels have kid-friendly theming that is dispersed throughout the hotel grounds, from the giant supersized versions of beloved Disney characters to the Disney themes surrounding the actual hotel rooms.

Each of these budget hotels is themed with bright and colorful Disney-themed outdoor buildings. Think of something like a “Disneyfied” Motel-6, but with Disney’s extra attention to detail and cleanliness. 

They are certainly not luxurious but they are great for families who prioritize spending their time in the Disney parks. 

Staying at a Budget Hotel in Disney allows you to get all of the Disney World Resort Benefits such as:

• Free Transportation – Staying at a Disney World hotel allows you to utilize all of the many free transportation options that Disney has available including buses, the monorail, boats, and the Disney Skyliner.
• Early Theme Park Entry – Guests staying within a Disney resort can enter the parks 30 minutes before other guests every day with Early Theme Park Entry. Those 30 minutes can be crucial to getting on 1 or 2 rides before the rush of other people 
• Access to the 7:00 am Booking Window for Lightning Lane and Genie +  – Being able to buy Individual Lightning Lanes at 7:00 am and Genie + each morning as opposed to delaying until the park opening allows you to get a huge leg up on those not staying at a Disney World Hotel
• Ability to Book Dining Reservations 60 days Plus 10 Days – Those without a Disney Resort Reservation can only reserve ADRs (Advance Dining Reservations) 60 days prior. With a Disney Resort Reservation, you can start booking your ADRs as many as 70 days before the start of your trip (the 60+10 rule).
• Free Parking at the Theme Parks – If you bring your vehicle or rent a car when you come, Disney Resort guests can park for free at any of the Disney theme parks. Our Disney World Parking Guide explains how it works in detail.

Price

When staying at a Disney Budget Hotel, your prices can vary considerably depending on which resort you stay at AND what time of year you visit. (The prices below are “rack rates” and include a 12.5% tax. Sometimes the rooms can be found cheaper than what is shown.)

For instance, at the budget resorts the price for a standard room (fitting up to 4 guests) ranges from $133 per night all the way up to $413 per night. 

The price difference depends on the resort AND the week you are visiting as holidays and weekends can be much more expensive.

If staying in a family suite (fitting up to 6 guests) which is offered at two of the Disney Budget Hotels, the price difference would be $336 per night all the way up to $963 per night.

Rooms

As expected, the Disney Budget Hotels have the smallest out of all the Disney Resort Hotels so don’t expect to have a ton of space. 

To get an idea of size:

• Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort – 260 square feet
• Disney’s All-Star Music Resort – 260 square feet
• Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort – 260 square feet
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort – 260 square feet
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort – 277 square feet

These standard rooms come with a maximum occupancy of 4 guests, although children under the age of 3 are welcome to stay in a crib as well. 

Standard rooms come with either:

• 1 Queen/1 King Bed and 1 Queen-Sized Table Bed OR
• 2 Double Beds OR
• 2 Queen Beds

For guests looking for a little additional space, both Disney’s All-Star Music Resort and Disney’s Art of Animation also offer Family Suites, which will accommodate up to 6 guests and have additional space. All-Star Music’s Family Suites offer 520 square feet of space while Disney’s Art of Animation Family Suites offer 565 square feet of space.

Location

The 3 All-Star Resorts are found in the Animal Kingdom Resort Area and are closest to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. They are found on the western side of the Disney World Property. 

Both Pop Century and Art of Animation are located next to each other in the EPCOT Resort Area, more centrally located on Disney’s Property. 

And the Fort Wilderness Campground is located in the Magic Kingdom Resort Area in the northern part of Disney’s Property.

Transportation

While the transportation options at the budget-oriented Disney hotels are not quite as plentiful as they are at the more expensive Disney Resort options, guests still have the ability to utilize all of Disney’s free transportation to get to where you need to go. It just might not be quite as easy or efficient. 

When staying at the All-Star Resorts you’ll be reliant on Disney Buses to take you to all the Disney Parks and Disney Springs. 

When staying at Pop Century or Art of Animation, you’ll have the added benefit of being able to utilize the Disney Skyliner to take you to both Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. This makes getting to these parks incredibly easy and delightful as it’s like being on another ride.

However, when traveling to Disney Springs, Magic Kingdom, or Animal Kingdom you’ll still need to ride a Disney Bus to get there. 

When staying at the Fort Wilderness Campground, you’ll be able to take a boat ferry to Magic Kingdom. To get to EPCOT, you can either take the Disney Monorail from Magic Kingdom or take the bus directly from Fort Wilderness. You’ll be 100% reliant on Disney Buses to take you to Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Disney Springs. 

If you don’t want to wait for buses, you always have the option to be able to utilize a ridesharing service such as Uber or Lyft to get to your destination on a speedier timetable.

Dining

All of the budget Disney hotels are limited when it comes to dining options. If you’re looking for a fancier table-service meal, you’ll have to travel to another Disney Resort, Disney Parks, or Disney Springs to get that. 

All of the cheapest Disney World Resorts have simple quick-service meals that are like giant food courts with cafeteria-style seating, and there are no table service options (unless staying at a Moderate or Deluxe Resort).

That’s not to say these food options are limited or are poor-quality food, in fact, we love Disney’s Art of Animation quick service location ‘Landscape of Flavors.’ Each of these locations has a significant number of offerings, giving the pickiest families options to find something to eat.

What is the Overall Cheapest Disney World Resort?

While there are a few Disney resorts that we would consider “cheap,” at least as far as Disney standards go, some of them will offer you better savings compared to others. So what is the absolute cheapest?

The cheapest overall Disney World Resort is Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground. While you will have to bring your own pop-up camper or tent, you can find rates for a tent or pop-up campsite for prices as low as $76 per night (including tax)! 

These campsites will allow you to bring a pop-up camper, a camper van-type vehicle, and up to 2 tents.  And factoring in that you can have up to 10 people on every site, this can be an incredible value if you have a larger family or larger group, or if you are just on a really tight budget.

1. The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort

The best value on Disney World property is a stay at The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort. It’s an incredible value for families that love the great outdoors and staying at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort is a truly unique experience that can appeal to every member of the family! 

This campsite will make you feel completely transported to a beautiful camp setting far away from Disney World and there are a ton of amenities located all over the resort from things like horseback riding, multiple pool areas, archery, fishing, kayaking, canoeing, wagon rentals, pony rides, and so much more! 

Its proximity to Magic Kingdom makes staying at Fort Wilderness even more appealing for families with small children, with just a simple boat ride away from all the magic of the Magic Kingdom. 

While we get that staying at a Campsite at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort isn’t for everyone, you certainly can’t beat the price and it’s perfect if you are on a tight budget.

Price Range by Month (2024):

• January: $99 – $184 
• February: $115 – $195 
• March: $195
• April: $115 – $195
• May: $115 – $160
• June: $124 – $158
• July: $115 – $158 
• August: $80 – $150
• September: $80 – $127
• October: $112 – $140
• November: $112 – $195
• December: $148 – $210

*These prices are per night in 2024 and include applicable taxes.

Cheapest Dates of the Year (2024): 

The cheapest dates of the year to stay at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground are:

• August 4th – August 29th
• September 2nd – September 26th

Pros: 

• Cost – When it comes to a per-night stay at Fort Wilderness, nothing can beat it! Considering you can fit up to 10 guests on each campsite, if you come in August or September you can literally stay on Disney Property for $80 per night split between 10 family members! 
• Fun for Families – Let’s face it kids love camping and there is nothing more authentic than a stay at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Lodge. With its many amenities and constant things to do for kids, the family will never be bored. 
• Distance to Magic Kingdom – You are just a simple boat ride away from the front gates of the Magic Kingdom! 
• Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue – One of our favorite experiences in Walt Disney World. This dinner and show is a spectacular event unlike anything else in Disney World. It features all-you-can-eat fried food and drinks! 
• Pets Welcome – For an additional fee of $5 per night, you can bring up to 2 dogs to each campsite! The campground even has a dog park as well so they can run around.

Cons: 

• Need to Bring Camping Supplies – If you’re coming from a long distance the idea of bringing camping supplies can be overwhelming to families and it makes packing a lot more complicated. Yes, you can rent most supplies here at the campground, but they are costly! 
• Long Distance to Everywhere Else – Your campsite can be a considerable distance from Pioneer Hall, requiring you to need to rent an expensive golf cart to drive around or have to walk long distances to get to other places on-site.
• Bus Transportation is SLOW – If you want to visit the other Disney Parks or Disney Springs you’ll need to take an internal bus loop to then transfer to the main bus stop and then wait for the specific bus you want. It can be very slow so expect to wait, especially during peak hours.
• Sleeping in a Tent Isn’t for Everyone – If you’re like my wife, the chances of you staying in a tent aren’t too high. Not everyone wants to “rough it” when they’re on vacation, and while some love it others absolutely hate it.

Cheapest Disney World Resort Hotels Ranked (by Price)

Here is a list of the prices for the cheapest rooms at each of the Disney World Resorts in 2024 (cheapest date of the year) in order. 

1. The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort: $80 
2. Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort: $133 
3. Disney’s All-Star Music Resort: $133
4. Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort: $133 
5. Disney’s Pop Century Resort: $183 
6. Disney’s Art of Animation Resort: $209 
7. Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort: $260 
8. Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort: $268 
9. Disney’s Port Orleans – French Quarter Resort: $289 
10. Disney’s Port Orleans – Riverside Resort: $289
11. The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort (fits 6 guests): $466
12. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge: $487 
13. Disney’s Wilderness Lodge Resort: $524
14. Disney’s Yacht Club Resort: $567
15. Disney’s Beach Club Resort: $568 
16. Disney’s Contemporary Resort: $572
17. Disney’s BoardWalk Inn: $641
18. Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort: $691
19. Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa: $816 

These prices include tax and are considered ‘Rack Rates’ without any kind of discount and you might be able to get an even better rate when deals are running.

Best Budget Disney Value Resorts

Let’s take a look at our favorite options when it comes to the budget Disney Value Resorts. While price is a factor in our rankings, it’s not the ‘end all be all’ when creating the list. 

If where you stay at Walt Disney World is based strictly on price, follow our above pricing structure. 

However, if you want the truly best all-around experience while staying at a Disney Value Resort AND you want a good value, follow our suggestions below. We will start with number 5 and work our way down.

5. Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort

Coming in 5th on our list of the ‘Best Budget Disney Value Resorts’ is Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort. With all 3 of the All-Star Resorts costing exactly the same and each of them having almost identical amenities, it was very difficult for us to decide between them. 

While all 3 of the All-Star Resorts have slightly different theming and can appeal to different types of people, we tend to like All-Star Sports the least. 

All-Star Sports is typically the one out of the three that gets the most traffic for large groups. Every kind of sports team and cheer team imaginable comes and stays at All-Star Sports. This entirely changes the vibe of the resort and is the reason why we have it ranked 5th on our list. 

If we are looking for value, then despite being the same costs as the other two All-Star Resorts, we would prefer staying at the other ones for a better all-around experience.

Price Range by Month (2024):

• January: $133 – $261 
• February: $133 – $268
• March: $182 – $270 
• April: $176 – $270
• May: $176 – $255
• June: $194 – $243
• July: $194 – $255
• August: $153 – $243
• September: $153 – $238 
• October: $177 – $262 
• November: $177 – $238 
• December: $199 – $305 

*All prices shown are for the CHEAPEST available standard rooms in 2024 are ‘Rack Rates’ meaning that tax IS included in the price. These prices do NOT include any kind of discount.

Cheapest Dates of the Year (2024): 

The cheapest dates of the year to stay are:

• January 2nd – January 3rd 
• January 7th – January 11th
• January 15th – February 7th

Pros: 

• Second Cheapest Resorts – Other than Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campsites, all the All-Star Resorts are the next cheapest rooms on the property.
• Fun Sports Theming – If you or your children love sports, they will love the giant fun sports-themed icons surrounding all of the buildings.
• Ability to Visit Other All-Star Properties – Easily take a walk over All-Star Music and All-Star Movies and explore these two hotels while here.
• Proximity to Animal Kingdom – Other than the Animal Kingdom Lodge, the All-Star Hotels are the next closest, so if you like spending time there they are a good choice.

Cons: 

• No Table Service Dining – Unfortunately you won’t find any sit-down dining options at the All-Star Sports Resort. You’ll have to grab food in the End Zone Food Court or the Grandstand Spirits Pool Bar. 
• Long Walks – These resorts are sprawling complexes that could mean LONG walks back and forth to your room each night looking for your hotel building.
• Small Rooms – These are the smallest rooms out of any Disney World Hotel.
• Far From Everything – Besides being near Animal Kingdom, practically everything else on Disney World property is FAR! Be prepared for long bus rides to the other Disney Parks. 
• Crowded Common Area – The main pool area, food court, and hotel lobby all get jam-packed due to the sheer volume of people staying at these hotels.

4. Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort

Coming in 4th on our list of the ‘Best Budget Disney Value Resorts’ is Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort. Out of the three All-Star Resorts, it’s All-Star Movies that hold a special place in our hearts. We LOVE the theming of this hotel with its nods to classic Disney movies. It can make kids and families adore it from the moment they arrive. 

What hurts it for us is that it has the worst transportation options among the 3 All-Star Resorts. It’s the last stop on the All-Stars bus route, indicating that you only get boarded onto the bus AFTER guests at All-Star Sports and Music passengers are already on, which can make for crowded buses and crabby parents! 

When considering value and budget, these things have to be factored in because they make the experience slightly less for us, despite our affinity toward the theming.

Price Range by Month (2024):

• January: $133 – $261 
• February: $133 – $268
• March: $182 – $270 
• April: $176 – $270
• May: $176 – $255
• June: $194 – $243
• July: $194 – $255
• August: $153 – $243
• September: $153 – $238 
• October: $177 – $262 
• November: $177 – $238 
• December: $199 – 305 

* All prices shown are for the CHEAPEST available standard rooms in 2024 are ‘Rack Rates’ meaning that tax IS included in the price. These prices do NOT include any kind of discount.

Cheapest Dates of the Year (2024): 

The cheapest dates of the year to stay are:

• January 2nd – January 3rd 
• January 7th – January 11th
• January 15th – February 7th

Pros: 

• The Cheapest Resorts – If you are looking for the cheapest of the cheap, all 3 of the All-Star Resorts are the most budget-friendly rooms on the property (besides the campsites at Fort Wilderness.
• Fun Movie Theming – If you or your children love classic Disney Movies, they will love the giant fun Disney characters all over the hotel buildings. 
• Explore the Other All-Star Properties – You can easily take a walk over All-Star Music and All-Star Sports and explore these two hotels while here.
• Closeness to Animal Kingdom – Other than the Animal Kingdom Lodge, the All-Star Hotels are the next closest hotels on Disney Property.

Cons: 

• No Table Service Dining – If you are looking for a nice sit-down meal, you won’t find it at the All-Star Resorts. You’ll have to grab snacks at either the World Premiere Food Court or the Silver Screen Spirits Pool Bar. 
• Incredibly Long Walks – There’s nothing worse than getting back to your hotel after a long park day and having to walk another 20 minutes to get to your room. Be prepared at the All-Star Resorts. 
• Smallest Rooms in Disney – The standard All-Star rooms are the smallest rooms out of any Disney World Hotel.
• Long Bus Rides – Be prepared for long bus rides! The All-Star Resorts are practically far from EVERYTHING! 
• Overcrowded – These hotels get CROWDED! Be prepared to run shoulder to shoulder with guests all vacation.

3. Disney’s All-Star Music Resort

And finally, the 3rd and last of the All-Star Resorts is Disney’s All-Star Music Resort. What separates All-Star Music for us is the rooming options. While they have standard rooms like the other 2 All-Star Resorts, they also have Family Suites here! 

As we covered in our article on the best suites in Disney World, the Family Suites at All-Star Music are the cheapest rooms on Walt Disney World property that fit up to 6 guests and they’re considerably cheaper than the ones found at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort. 

While the theming and general appeal of All-Star Music is not any better than All-Star Sports and All-Star Movies, we like that it has bigger room options if you so desire. This can make it a great option for larger families that are looking for cheap Disney World Rooms, and don’t want to split up into two different rooms.

Price Range by Month (2024):

• January: $133 – $261 
• February: $133 – $268
• March: $182 – $270 
• April: $176 – $270
• May: $176 – $255
• June: $194 – $243
• July: $194 – $255
• August: $153 – $243
• September: $153 – $238 
• October: $177 – $262 
• November: $177 – $238 
• December: $199 – 305 

*All prices shown are for the CHEAPEST available standard rooms in 2024 are ‘Rack Rates’ meaning that tax IS included in the price. These prices do NOT include any kind of discount.

Cheapest Dates of the Year (2024): 

The cheapest dates of the year to stay are:

• January 2nd – January 3rd 
• January 7th – January 11th
• January 15th – February 7th

Pros: 

• Family Suites – Along with Disney’s Art of Animation, All-Star Music is the only other Value Resort that has family suites allowing for larger families.
• Most Frugal Resorts – The All-Star rooms are the cheapest hotel rooms on Disney Property. 
• Fun Music Theming – If you or your children love music, they will love the music-inspired icons all over the hotel grounds.
• Explore All-Star Movies and All-Star Sports – Stroll around and explore the other 2 All-Star Resorts while you’re here.
• Near Animal Kingdom – The All-Star Hotels are right down the street from Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park.

Cons: 

• No Table Service Dining – There are no sit-down dining options at the All-Star Resorts. You’ll have to grab food in the Intermission Food Court or the Singing Spirits Pool Bar. 
• Be Prepared to Walk – These resorts are massive multi-building complexes that could mean a 15-20 minute walk back and forth to your room. 
• Tiny Rooms – The All-Star rooms are the smallest rooms out of any Disney World Hotel
• Nothing is Close – Excluding Animal Kingdom, nearly everything else on Disney World property is FAR! Be ready for long bus rides to the different Disney Parks. 
• Crowded All The Time – There is nowhere to escape the noise at the All-Star Resorts. It’s loud and chaotic at practically all times of day, especially in the common areas.

2. Disney’s Art of Animation Resort

Coming in 2nd on our list of the ‘Best Budget Disney Value Resorts’ is Disney’s Art of Animation. There are so many things we love about this hotel. To start with it’s the newest of all the value resorts, having been built in 2012 and it’s found on the same property as Disney’s Pop Century Resort and the two hotels share a Disney Skyliner Station.

While we love the theming found at this hotel, we can’t quite have it 1st on our list for one main reason, the price. Art of Animation is the most costly value resort on Disney property, EVEN with the smaller standard rooms.

We love the pool area here, the food court, and the theming. It’s also hard to top the hotel’s location being on the Disney Skyliner. But paying over $200 a night at the cheapest times of year for what you’re getting is not great value. And most of the time you are looking at $250+, so even worse.

Price Range by Month (2024):

• January: $209 – $366 
• February: $209 – $350
• March: $279 – $371
• April: $277 – $371
• May: $277 – $359
• June: $289 – $342
• July: $289 – $359
• August: $227 – $313 
• September: $240 – $330
• October: $272 – $363
• November: $272 – $359
• December: $309 – $413

*The prices above are for The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms in 2024 are NOT for the Family Suites. The Little Mermaid Standard Rooms are the cheapest rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation and only fit up to 4 guests. These prices are ‘Rack Rates’ and include applicable taxes and fees.

Cheapest Dates of the Year (2024): 

The cheapest dates of the year to stay are:

• January 2nd – January 3rd 
• January 7th – January 11th 
• January 15th – February 7th

Pros:

• Family Suites – Along with Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, Art of Animation is the only other Value Resort that has family suites allowing for larger families. The rooms here are slightly bigger than the ones at All-Star Music though (565 sq feet vs 520 sq feet), and in some cases that can be a must-have. 
• Bigger Standard Rooms – Even the standard rooms here are slightly bigger than all of the other Disney Value Resorts (277 sq feet vs 260 sq feet).
• Location – Sharing a Skyliner Station with Disney’s Pop Century Resort makes these two resorts far and away the best when it comes to location. Taking the Skyliner allows you to quickly and easily get to the other Skyliner Resorts in addition to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. 
• Theming – We love the themed areas here at this resort. Kids love to explore the Lion King, Cars, Finding Nemo, and Little Mermaid areas of the hotel. 
• Food Court – Our favorite food court in the value resorts, Landscape of Flavors, features five themed areas with a great assortment of different food items for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. 
• Pool – The Big Blue Pool found here is a zero-entry pool that is actually the largest pool on Disney World property! It’s a fun and massive pool that even plays music under the water. Kids love this pool and if you listen carefully you might even hear Nemo and Dory.

Cons:

• Price – The most expensive hotel out of all the Disney Value Resorts. On a cheap day, it’ll still cost you over $200 a night for a standard room. 
• Huge Complex – Depending on which building you’re staying at, you’ll likely have either a long walk to the main building or you’ll have a main walk to the Skyliner. It’s possible your walk could be long for both! This property is huge, so be prepared to get some exercise. 
• A LOT of People – While we love the pool area here, if you come in the middle of the day during the hottest times, be prepared for the pool area to be completely packed
• No Table-Service Restaurants – While we love Landscape of Flavors, it would be nice if there was a table-service sit-down dining option. Unfortunately there isn’t one at any of the Disney Value Resorts, including here.

1. Disney’s Pop Century Resort

And finally, our 1st choice when it comes to our favorite of the ‘Best Budget Disney Value Resorts’ in Walt Disney World, Disney’s Pop Century Resort! 

While it’s very close between Pop and Disney’s Art of Animation for our 1st choice, the distinguishing factor is value. Pop Century is the best when it comes to ‘bang for your buck’ giving families that are on a stricter budget a fun and stylish resort while giving the additional perks of being more centrally located than the All-Star Resorts. 

Sharing the Skyliner Station with Art of Animation makes Pop incredibly easy and accessible for guests that wish to visit both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. You can easily go explore over at Art of Animation, the two are connected via a simple bridge walkway. 

We love that Pop has dedicated Disney Buses, not having to share buses like the All-Star Resorts have to. This makes it easier to get around the Disney Parks. They’ve also recently renovated all of their rooms, including changing the full-sized beds to queen beds, and are the only value resort with two queen-sized beds in all standard rooms. 

Considering the prices are significantly cheaper here than at Art of Animation and only SLIGHTLY more expensive than at the All-Star Resorts, staying at Disney’s Pop Century Resort is a no-brainer for budget-conscious families and gives you the best bang for your buck.

Price Range by Month (2024):

• January: $183 – $324 
• February: $183 – $327
• March: $235 – $336 
• April: $232 – $336
• May: $232 – $308 
• June: $251 – $295 
• July: $251 – $308 
• August: $205 – $295 
• September: $205 – $287 
• October: $230 – $325 
• November: $230 – $305
• December: $250 – $392 

*All prices shown are for the CHEAPEST available standard rooms in 2024 and are ‘Rack Rates’ meaning that tax IS included in the price. These prices do NOT include any kind of discount.

Cheapest Dates of the Year (2024): 

The cheapest dates of the year to stay are:

• January 2nd – January 3rd 
• January 7th – January 11th
• January 15th – February 7th

Pros: 

• Great Location – Being on the Disney Skyliner allows you to quickly and easily get to the other Skyliner Resorts in addition to Hollywood Studios and EPCOT. 
• Fun Theming for All Members of the Family – While kids love Pop Century’s theming, adults do too! It’s a great nod to the unforgettable fads of the 1950s through the 1990s. 
• Updated Rooms – With new renovations being done to all of the rooms here, you’ll appreciate the newer rooms and the fact that it’s the only value resort that comes with 2 queen beds in standard rooms. 
• Standalone Buses – Unlike the All-Star Resorts which often have to share buses with each other when going to the various Disney Parks, buses at Pop Century only stop here! 
• Good Pricing Value – While the rooms here are slightly more expensive than the 3 All-Star Resorts, they are still a good deal below Art of Animation in terms of cost. This makes them the perfect middle-of-the-road solution for families of all budgets.

Cons: 

• Massive Grounds – You’ll likely have a long walk to both the lobby of the hotel and the Disney Skyliner. 
• No Table-Service Restaurant – Like all of the Disney Value Resorts, there are no sit-down restaurant options here. Just food court dining. 
• A LOT of People – The common areas of this resort can get very crowded, including the line for the Disney Skyliner and the lines for Disney buses

Cheapest Disney Moderate Resort

Even if you don’t want to stay in a Value Resort, it doesn’t mean you can’t still find a higher class of accommodations at a reasonable price. Here is the cheapest Disney Moderate Resort:

1. Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort

If you’re looking for a fairly sizable step up in terms of quality and amenities, a stay at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort will give you that. The cheapest out of Disney’s Moderate Resorts, Coronado Springs Resort will give you a considerable difference in terms of luxury, dining options, and recreational activities from the 5 Disney Value Resorts. 

The good news is the step up in price isn’t to the same level of steepness that the quality difference is, making a stay at Disney’s Coronado Springs worth consideration for budget-conscious travelers. Located nearby Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park, Coronado Springs shows off Southwestern United States theming. 

We actually love this resort, and in our opinion, it is the best moderate resort in all of Disney World. With the addition of the new Gran Destino Tower, the Coronado Springs Resort can feel almost ‘deluxe-like’ in terms of fanciness and luxury. With signature and rooftop dining to waterfront dinner views, Coronado Springs has a little bit of everything for families and for adults as well. 

That’s why it’s our choice for families that want a “cheap” Disney World Resort but also want great quality as well.

Price Range by Month (2024):

• January: $260 – $380
• February: $260 – $385
• March: $315 – $399
• April: $306 – $399
• May: $306 – $369
• June: $310 – $336
• July: $310 – $351
• August: $307 – $375
• September: $307 – $375 
• October: $322 – $397
• November: $344 – $390 
• December: $351 – $470

*All prices shown are for the CHEAPEST available standard rooms in 2024 are ‘Rack Rates’ meaning that tax IS included in the price. These prices do NOT include any kind of discount.

Cheapest Dates of the Year (2024): 

The cheapest dates of the year to stay are:

• January 2nd – January 3rd 
• January 7th – January 11th 
• January 15th – February 7th

Pros: 

• Feels Luxurious Despite Being Affordable – Out of all of the Disney Moderate Resorts, a stay at Disney’s Coronado Springs feels the most luxurious. That’s surprising considering it’s the most affordable. With the beautiful new Gran Destino Tower, the lobby of this resort is amongst the best in all of Walt Disney World. 
• Incredible Dining Options – With multiple lounges (including one of the best rooftop lounges) and top-notch dining scattered all over this hotel, it’s got some of our family’s favorite dining locations in all of Disney World.
• Views – Between the rooftop dining options at the Gran Destino Tower to the beautiful lakefront views found at the Three Bridges Bar & Grill, some of the views at this resort are tremendous! 
• Pool Area – We love the theming of the large pool area here which is themed to the Lost City of Cibola, featuring a 50-foot pyramid and a 123-foot long water slide. Kids LOVE this pool. 
• Not Much More Expensive Than Value Resorts – Comparing the costs of a stay at Disney’s Coronado Springs with a stay at Disney’s Art of Animation, you’ll notice very little difference in terms of cost. And considering the significant uptick in quality, it’s hard not considering staying here instead.

Cons: 

• Far From Everything – Being an Animal Kingdom Resort Area hotel, unfortunately, besides Disney’s Animal Kingdom you’re mostly far from everything being on the western side of the Disney Property. 
• Minimal Transportation Options – Your only Disney Transportation option to get anywhere at Coronado Springs is by taking Disney Buses. This can be a long and tedious process considering you’ll also have multiple stops within the resort loop as well.
• Convention Hotel – Known as being one of the convention hotels, this resort can get packed with convention travelers making common areas crowded with lines long for everything. 
• Spread Out – While we love the addition of the Gran Destino Tower, unfortunately, most guests will not be staying at the Tower and instead will be at one of the other buildings a LOOOONG way from the Tower. And since the Tower is now the hotel’s lobby and front desk, it could mean frequent walks back and forth. Everything here feels far, just be prepared to walk!

Cheapest Disney Deluxe Resort

Believe it or not, the Disney World Deluxe Resorts can also be a good bargain at times, and while they will always be more money than the Value and Moderate Resorts, some of them are way more affordable than others.

1. Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge

If you’re considering your budget and think “just maybe I can stretch it out a little more.” Well, we got the hotel for you! Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge is the most affordable Disney Deluxe Resort in all of Disney World in 2024. It’s another step up in terms of amenities, sophistication, and Disney-theming from even the Coronado Springs Resort and the other Moderate Disney Resorts. 

Transporting you to the savannah of a Great African Lodge, the Animal Kingdom Lodge will give you a memorable experience. From the grand lobby to the thematic details in every room of the resort, it’s hard not to be awed by this hotel. 

And when it comes to ‘value’ a stay at the Animal Kingdom Lodge is certainly worth reflecting considering its reasonability for a Deluxe Resort.  

It’s a great pick for families that want to be close to the action with just a short bus ride away from Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Price Range by Month (2024):

• January: $487 – $741
• February: $487 – $704
• March: $587 – $708 
• April: $580 – $708 
• May: $558 – $680 
• June: $558 – $592
• July: $539 – $592 
• August: $496 – $573
• September: $496 – $630
• October: $564 – $734
• November: $564 – $734 
• December: $631 – $888 

*All prices shown are for the CHEAPEST available standard rooms in 2024 are ‘Rack Rates’ meaning that tax IS included in the price. These prices do NOT include any kind of discount.

Cheapest Dates of the Year (2024): 

The cheapest dates of the year to stay are:

• January 2nd – January 3rd
• January 7th – January 11th
• January 15th – February 7th

Pros: 

Close to Animal Kingdom – Considered a Animal Kingdom Resort Area hotel, the Animal Kingdom Lodge is located just a short boat ride away from the park’s front gates. 

Incredibly Storytelling and Theming – Very few if any hotels in Walt Disney World have the same level of detail and theming that the Animal Kingdom Lodge does. You’ll feel as if you are truly in a great lodge in the middle of an African savannah!

Terrific Dining Options – While less adventurous eaters might not enjoy the dining option as much, but Sanaa, Jiko and Boma are all terrific! They are all very different but jam-packed with flavor!

Reasonably Priced Considering the Amenities – While it’s certainly expensive in terms of comparing it to the All-Star Resorts, it’s exceptionally reasonable when comparing it to other Deluxe Disney Resorts. And when doing a comparison of quality, you’ll be remiss if you think the more expensive Disney Deluxe Resorts are much nicer in terms of quality and offerings than the Animal Kingdom Lodge.

Cons: 

Far from Everything – While it’s certainly nice to be close to Animal Kingdom, unfortunately, the rest of Disney World is mostly far away. You’ll be situated all the way to the west on Disney’s property and are quite removed from the rest of the property. 

Not Great Transportation Options – Besides having quick bus access to Animal Kingdom, you’ll be required to take longer Disney Bus rides to all of the other Disney Parks and Disney Springs, if you’re looking for complimentary Disney Transportation. 

Smaller Rooms for a Deluxe Resort – Along with Disney’s Wilderness Lodge the standard rooms found here are the smallest out of all of the Disney Deluxe Resorts. Unlike the others, they only fit a max of 4 guests in a standard room. Don’t worry, they’re still significantly bigger than the value and moderate resorts.

Cheapest Off-Site Hotels

While we almost always prefer staying on-side when it comes to a Walt Disney World Vacation, there are times we do enjoy staying off-site for a number of reasons, and saving money is the main one.

And when it comes to being cheaper and getting good value, the chances of you finding something to save you money goes up exponentially the further away from Disney’s Property you get. But keep in mind ALL of these resorts below and most of the off-site hotels will charge an additional $20-$50 a night for resort fees. 

Here are our Top 10 Choices for cheap off-site hotels near Disney World:

# 10 – B Resort & Spa

• Price Range: $70 – $280
• Location: Disney Springs Area 

Within a short walk to Disney Springs, the B Resort & Spa is a stylish option for families that want to be close to the action. It’s different from the other big-brand hotels that typically lack the charm, and the B Resort & Spa is a chic boutique hotel that feels more like something you’d find in a bigger city. 

While it certainly doesn’t feel like a “family hotel” and could appeal more to older families, solo travelers, or couples, it still does have rooms with bunk beds to give some attraction to families.

# 9 – Wyndham Lake Buena Vista 

• Price Range: $80 – $170 
• Location: Disney Springs Area 

While there are two Wyndhams located right next to each other both with an easy walkway to Disney Springs, we prefer the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista. It’s slightly more expensive but feels more upscale and updated than the old and outdated sister Wyndham Garden Lake Buena Vista. 

We also like that the Wyndham Lake Buena Vista has the best pool out of all of the Disney Springs hotels! It’s a fantastic pool area that is especially appealing to kids. They also have a full Disney Character Breakfast on multiple days a week which is a great option that is very reasonably priced.

# 8 – Caribe Royale

• Price Range: $140 – $290
• Location: Just 1.5 miles away from Disney Springs 

The Caribe Royale is an all-suites hotel that is a great option for larger families! The location is fantastic and is literally a couple of miles from Disney Springs on the eastern side of the Disney Property. 

All rooms accommodate up to 6 people in a room and include full living areas and kitchens for families that want more space. There are a number of things to do here that will be fun for the whole family including bike rentals, multiple pools with waterfalls, fishing, basketball, tennis, an arcade, and even movies under the stars each evening. 

With the ability to fit up to 6 guests for under $150 a night, it’s hard to beat the pricing here during the off-season.

# 7 – DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando 

• Price Range: $120 – $230 
• Location: Disney Springs Area 

Although technically in the Disney Springs area, the DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Orlando is a little bit of a hike away (0.7 miles) and isn’t as close as most of the other Disney Springs hotels. And while it isn’t fancy, it gets the job and gives you tremendous value with its larger rooms. Its standard rooms are the largest in the Disney Springs area. 

This suites hotel allows up to 6 guests and every room has a separate living area for families that want additional privacy. And the best feature of all, is they have their signature freshly-baked cookies! 

For those who want the convenience of being close to Disney and want a bigger room, you can’t beat paying only around $120 a night for a 6-person room.

# 6 – Wyndham Grand Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort 

• Price Range: $200 – $300 
• Location: Bonnet Creek only a few miles from EPCOT 

A great choice for families, the Wyndham Grand Orlando Bonnet Creek is a centrally located hotel only a few miles from EPCOT. This is a beautifully themed Mediterranean hotel that is perfect for families with small kids, having larger rooms available with bunk beds. 

Not only is it convenient to the Disney Parks, but it features 4 on-site restaurants, a full-service spa, a fitness center, and 5 different pools. It’s perfect for family members of all ages.

# 5 – Melia Orlando Celebration 

• Price Range: $85 – $200 
• Location: Celebration. Only about 3 miles away from Walt Disney World

Located in a different area than the other hotels on our list, the Melia Orlando Celebration is a great choice for families that want to experience something different and unique. It’s situated in the idyllic town of Celebration, which was originally developed by the Walt Disney Company and is a quaint and picturesque community.

We love the cute little surrounding village of Celebration and getting a chance to explore. There are a number of tasty dining options and good shopping all right in this tiny little town. This dog-friendly hotel even has a dog park on-site and includes a number of wonderful additional amenities. 

The hotel has different room options, including larger suites, and very comfy accommodations. It’s a great choice for families that want a little separation from the Disney Parks but are still only a few minutes away. 

With prices starting at $85 a night, it’s hard to go wrong with the Melia Orlando Celebration for budget travelers.

# 4 – Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace 

• Price Range: $160 – $300
• Location: Disney Springs Area 

Located a short walk across the street from Disney Springs, the Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace is a stellar option for families that want to be extremely close to Disney Springs. This hotel has changed hands a number of times but is in better shape than its been in a long time. 

Newly renovated, this hotel has been beautifully redone! It’s particularly appealing to adults with an adults-only pool and hot tub area. It has one of the better pool areas out of the off-site hotels with a large and sprawling lazy river, as well as a splash area for kids. 

For larger families, there are suite options for up to 8 guests. I love how every single room here comes with a private balcony and mini-fridge. Many of the rooms also come with terrific views of the Disney World Resort, including the fireworks! 

While this is one of the more expensive options on our list, it’s also one of the nicest and most high-end ones too. And if you come during an off-peak time, you can find rates in the $160 range which is one of the best bargains for the size.

# 3 – Floridays Resort Orlando 

• Price Range: $170 – $300
• Location: International Drive 3 Miles from Disney World 

Located on International Drive just 3 miles from Disney World, the Floridays Resort Orlando is a suites hotel that features 2 and 3-bedroom suites that will fit up to 8 guests. Every single suite comes with a full kitchen, dining room, living room, washer/dryer, and private balcony. 

This hotel has some incredible value with 1300 square foot units and 3 bedroom rooms being under $200 a night! Considering it is a pet-friendly resort and has a ton of really fun options for kids and families, the Floridays Resort Orlando is a great option for budget-conscious travelers. 

While it certainly isn’t fancy and is more “no frills” as far as luxury, the value and the short 10-minute drive away from Disney are very difficult to beat.

# 2 – Holiday Inn Lake Buena Vista 

• Price Range: $100 – $150 
• Location: Disney Springs Area 

One of the closest hotels to Disney Springs, the Holiday Inn Lake Buena Vista is a tremendous option for families that are looking to be close to the Disney Magic while also not breaking the bank. While it certainly isn’t a fancy option and isn’t on the same level in terms of luxury as most of the other Disney Springs Hotels, the Holiday Inn Lake Buena Vista is tremendous for families! 

They have so many family fun activities throughout the resort including an arcade, ping pong tables, cornhole, and so much more. I also love that if you want to visit the Disney Theme Parks they bring you to ALL of the Disney Parks, instead of just dropping you off at the TTC (Transportation and Ticket Center).

Another nice perk of the Holiday Inn is the ‘Kids Eat Free’ perk for any children under the age of 11. This can save families considerable money at the hotel. The Holiday Inn Lake Buena truly appeals to families in the most budget-friendly way.

# 1 – Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve 

• Price Range: $270 – $600 
• Location: EPCOT Resort Area on Disney’s Boardwalk

Finally, our favorite choice when it comes to guests looking to save money while staying “off-site” to save a little bit of money.  I say off-site in quotations because these three resorts are technically on Disney property but they are owned by Marriott. They are located on the Disney Boardwalk, just steps away from both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios hence the reason they aren’t considered “on-site.”

I have the three of them lumped together, the Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin, and Swan Reserve although technically they are separate hotels but found on the same property. While generally, the Swan Reserve is the most expensive, they are generally within the same price range. And while the prices above seem significantly more costly than the other hotels on our list, the value of these resorts is substantial. Why? 

They are a fraction of the cost of the official Disney World Resorts that are found literally a few hundred steps away (Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts and Disney’s Boardwalk Inn) and they offer many of the same perks.

Considering you can often find both the Swan and the Dolphin in the $270 range during off-peak times of the year, this is incredible value for families looking to save money. We love all three of these hotels and they’re our favorite pick for us if we want to stay off-site while getting tremendous value!

If you want to see even more off-site hotel options, read our article on the Best Hotels Near Disney World where we go more in-depth comparing them all.

Potential Negatives of Staying at a Budget Hotel

While staying at a budget-friendly hotel can save significant amounts of money for travelers, it isn’t always the best option. There are several reasons why you should consider whether or not it is advantageous for your family to stay at a cheaper hotel. 

In this section, we will review some of the downfalls of staying at Budget Resorts in Disney World.

Distance from the Parks

A stay at one of the Disney Value Resorts will typically bring you further away from the theme parks than both Disney’s Moderate and Deluxe Resorts. While both Disney’s Pop Century and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort are exceptions to the rule, the other Value Resorts are more isolated than the alternatives. 

To give you an example, all three All-Star Resorts are isolated to the western side of the Disney World perimeter, putting them close to one thing, and that’s Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park. The rest of the Disney Campus is problematic to reach and can take extensive amounts of time. 

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground is isolated to the northern end of the Disney Property putting it conveniently next to Magic Kingdom. The problem is, the only way you can get there is via a slow and shared boat taxi. The other parks and Disney Springs will require significant hassle and will require multiple bus rides to reach.

No Quiet

Disney’s Value Resorts have sprawling properties with room after room and building after building of guests. This makes the common areas incredibly crowded at all times of the day, and mostly at all times of the year. 

Be prepared for long waits in the food courts, for Disney Transportation, and in the larger pool areas. If quiet is what you were looking for, your likely only escape mechanism will be in your hotel room.

Lack of Dining Options

While we do enjoy the Landscape of Flavors food court in Disney’s Art of Animation Resort with its significant choices of options, including some surprising choices. But the truth is, ALL of the value resorts offer few options when it comes to dining. 

And none of them will give you any kind of table-service sit-down experience unless you count the Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue dinner show experience over at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground. 

And while that can be fine if you want to eat cheaply and don’t need elaborate meals, but if occasionally you want to enjoy a nice meal with your family or your spouse, you’ll have to travel elsewhere on Disney Property to eat at one of the better Disney Resort Restaurants.

Smaller Rooms

When looking at standard rooms at Disney’s Value Resorts to standard rooms at Disney’s Moderate Resorts, there is a considerable disparity in square footage. 

Moderate resorts have 314 square feet of room compared to the usual 260 square feet found at most value resorts. Disney’s Art of Animation is the exception with 277 square feet. 

Also, other than Pop Century, the value resorts have full beds as opposed to queen beds. On the other hand, the moderate resorts all have queen beds which give you additional space to stretch out.

More Walking

Be prepared to walk A LOT! The Disney Value Resorts are separated into multiple motel-like buildings scattered all throughout the grounds, which means there are no interior hallways and you will have to brave the elements. 

Many of them can be 10-15 minute walks to the common areas such as the main pool, the hotel lobby, or the bus stops. 

This can be incredibly tiresome when arriving back at the hotel after a long day in the parks and you just want to collapse into your room! There’s no worse feeling than arriving and then still having to walk across the hotel’s property to find your building!

Staying at a Budget Hotel vs. Spending More

Deciding whether to stay at a Disney Budget Resort versus upgrading to a more expensive alternative can be a difficult choice to make. There are a number of different factors your family needs to consider when deciding. 

Here’s our cheat sheet for helping YOU to decide…

Stay at a Disney Value Resort IF:

• You plan on spending very little time at the hotel
• You don’t care about enjoying table-service restaurant options
• This trip is more about what your kids want and they prefer a value resort
• You don’t care about luxury 
• Your biggest concern is saving money 

Spend More Money for a Disney Moderate or Deluxe Resort IF:

• Your family wants to spend a significant amount of time relaxing by the hotel pool
• You don’t see yourself spending more than a few hours a day in the parks
• You want to be more centrally located
• You’d like to enjoy some nicer sit-down meals
• You want to enjoy additional entertainment and amenities
• You don’t mind splurging a little more for a nicer place 

While this is a general rule of thumb and doesn’t apply to every situation, it helps you to prioritize the things that are most important to you and your family.

Tips for Saving Money at Disney World Hotels

There is no mistaking the fact that Disney World Hotels can be extremely costly, especially when comparing them to other off-site competitors. While there’s a debate to be had on whether or not they’re worth the expense, the truth is, you can still save considerable money if you plan your trip right. 

If all things are equal, we wholeheartedly recommend guests stay on-site if at all possible, even if that means you have to stay at a Disney Value Resort to save money. Our guide to Saving Money at Disney World offers some useful tips for spending less on your hotel, as well as other areas of your vacation.

In any event, there are a number of other ways you can save considerable amounts of money on your vacation. Here are some of our favorites.

Go When Prices are Cheapest

As you can tell from our pricing charts on hotels earlier in this post, there are considerable disparities in pricing based on the months. If you break it down even further, there are even higher contrasts on a day-to-day basis when it comes to pricing. So what do we suggest?

The absolute best way to save money by staying at Disney World Hotel is by coming at a slower time of year! This has saved our family thousands of dollars year after year. While we understand this is impossible for some families if they have kids in school. But for those that are more flexible, it’s completely worth it!

Use our Disney World Crowd Calendar to help you find the best times of year to visit! Trust me, it’ll save you significant money and hassle.

Pick the Right Days of the Week

Not only can coming certain weeks be advantageous but breaking that down even further, if you can come on certain days of the week you’ll save even more money! Many guests that aren’t familiar with it don’t realize that Disney, like all travel companies, charges the most amount of money on Fridays and Saturdays. 

If you’re able to avoid these peak nights your trip can be considerably cheaper per night. The cheapest nights on the other hand are Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays.

READ MORE: Cheapest Times to Visit Disney World

Room-Only Discounts

The Walt Disney World Resort frequently runs discounts on guests who book vacation packages. In our experience, the best deals are almost always room-only discounts. They typically become available anywhere between 2-6 months in advantage and are most often given to guests during off-peak times of the year. 

When you see Disney offering discounts off of any of the hotel rooms at 10-25% off the normal prices, consider taking advantage of it! They don’t run these often, especially these days, but when they do it’s worth it!

Annual Passholder Discounts

For guests that are current Annual Passholders, you can save even more money with regular promotional offers. These deals are typically offered during the slower times of the year, although from time to time they will offer discounts during the peak travel seasons. 

These promotional offers are usually released 2-4 months in advance, which isn’t a ton of time, but seeing that many AP members live relatively close to Disney World, it still is usually enough time to make plans.

These discounted options are typically limited in number and will not be available for all dates and at all resorts. You will likely need to be flexible to take advantage of one of these. And if you don’t get your first selection, continue calling back and see if anything else opens up.

2024 Deals for Annual Passholders

• Stays between 1/1/24 – 3/24/24
  • Discounts of up to 35% off most stays on Sundays through Thursday Nights January 1 – February 22, 2024 and most nights February 25 – March 24, 2024

• Friday and Saturday nights from 1/5/2024 – 2/24/24
  • Discounts of up to 20% for most stays 
  • Discount varies with resort and room type

As you can see these are room-only offers and they can save you considerable money. While nothing is guaranteed and room types can vary it is definitely worth a try! 

To receive a room and take advantage of these discounts, we recommend using a Disney Travel agent like Show You The World Travel which specializes in taking advantage of these opportunities.

Read our Disney World Annual Pass Guide for more details and tips.

Bounceback Offers

Bounceback offers are discounted offers made directly by Disney to guests that currently have a reservation booked for a stay at one of the resorts. The concept of it is to get you to plan another Disney World Vacation immediately. 

Most of the time these offers are room-only discounts and they will require you to make a deposit for another Disney World Vacation before you check out from your first one. 

Disney offers these bounceback offers in a number of different ways from a flier in your room to a resort TV channel playing an offer, or Disney might even email you directly. 

If you’re interested in potentially saving money with a bounceback offer but don’t see anything in your room you can call x8844 in your hotel room and ask if there are any current offers. You can also call 407-939-1923. 

Just remember you need to be checked into your current Disney Reservation first, and you have to do it BEFORE you leave.

Online Search Portals

One thing that is worth trying to save money on is by taking advantage of both the deals available on Hotwire and Priceline.

Hotwire has something called “Hot Rate” Deals and Priceline has a similar deal called “Express Deals.” Both of them can give you exceptional last-minute deals but there’s a caveat, you don’t know what hotel you are booking AND there is no refund. 

When typing in a location, you’ll see these deals pop up and they’ll give you a general area and a ‘Star Ratings.’ For instance, you might see a 3 Star Hotel located in the Disney Springs Area. That’s all you will see. 

If you choose to book this hotel with either the “Hot Rate Deal” on Hotwire or the “Express Deal” on Priceline, you’ll find out what hotel you got after the booking has been made. If you have a specific hotel you want to stay at, using these portals isn’t smart. 

But if your biggest concern is staying in a nice area in a general locale, you can make out really well.

But what if you want to stay at a Disney Resort? While they aren’t always available using these ‘Hot Rate’ Deals or ‘Express Deals’ often, occasionally they will show up. 

Here are a few hints to know if one of the hotels offered could be a Disney Hotel (although there’s no way to be 100% confident). Look for these cues:

• If you see a hotel located in the “Bonnet Creek” or “Disney Springs area
• 3-Star Hotel Rating or Higher (Values are 3-Stars, Moderates are 3 or 3.5-Stars, Deluxe are 4-5-Stars) 
• If it mentions ‘No Resort Fee.’ Disney hotels are amongst the only hotels in the area without resort fees. If it says the hotel has no resort fee, it’s a good indicator it’s a Disney Hotel. 
• If the hotel mentions ‘Free Internet’ and ‘No Parking Fee’ these are two more indicators it could be a Disney Hotel

There is no perfect science to this, but if you look for a few of these criteria you could find a really great deal! Sometimes these hotels are 40-50% off the normal ‘Rack Rates.’ But as I mentioned, just make sure you don’t need to cancel your trip because there are NO REFUNDS when using these deals.

Are Disney Hotels Cheaper at the Last Minute?

Sometimes Disney Hotels can be cheaper at the last minute and sometimes they aren’t. It just depends on the current supply and demand. When rooms aren’t selling out as quickly as they normally do, Disney will often run promotional offers to sell their rooms a few months prior to the dates. 

Sometimes waiting can save you considerable money. However, we usually avoid doing this as it’s a big gamble and you can’t rely on this if you want to plan your trip far in advance.

Use an Authorized Disney Travel Agent

We almost ALWAYS recommend booking your Disney Trip on the earlier side even if amazing deals and last-minute discounts come out. Why?

Because when you book with an Authorized Disney Travel Agent even if the prices drop or they run a new promotion an Authorized Disney Travel Agent like Show You The World Travel will be able to get you into the new offer saving you significant money!

Not to mention, they have decades of experience in planning Disney vacations, and they are 100% FREE to use. There are really no downsides here and more people need to take advantage of this.

What is the Cheapest Month to Go to Disney World?

For those wondering, in general, the cheapest month to visit Disney World is January. After New Year’s the rates for hotels and park tickets drop off a cliff! 

The second cheapest month is September. But in reality, the prices drop considerably towards the middle and end of August during hurricane season. 

How much money can you save by going during one of these cheaper times of the year as opposed to during peak season? The answer is quite a bit.

Using one resort for each hotel category (Value, Moderate, and Deluxe) here is what you can expect to save for a 1-week stay in comparison to peak season. 

• Value Resort – Disney’s Pop Century Resort – $193 per night ($1351 for a week) 
• Moderate Resort – Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort – $221 per night ($1547 a week)
• Deluxe Resort – Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – $373 per night ($2611 a week) 

Talk about savings! As you can see the VERY best way to save money when choosing to stay on-site at a Disney World Resort is by picking an off-peak time to visit. 

We recommend reading our article on the Cheapest Times of the Year to Go to Disney World where we break down all the dates in more detail.

Making Reservations

Now that you’ve seen all the cheapest Disney Resorts to stay at, it’s time to make reservations. You can do that in two ways:

• Book directly through Disney
• Book with an Authorized Disney Travel Planner

Our guide to Booking a Disney World Vacation will help guide you through the entire process, but for now, here is a basic overview.

Booking through Disney – This is the most direct option and if you’ve been to Disney World a million times and know what you want, you could do it this way. You can book your stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel directly on the Disney World website or by calling (407) 939-4357.

Booking through Disney Travel Agent – If this is your first time visiting Disney World, or if you haven’t been in a few years, this is by far the easiest way to book your hotel and it’s likely to save you the most money too.

We love doing this because a friendly Disney vacation planner will help you during every step of the vacation process. They will answer any questions about your needs and help you decide which resort is best for your family.

We highly recommend using René Cittadino and her team at Show You the World Travel for your Disney World reservations. They are the absolute BEST, and I’ve used them countless times to book my own hotel reservations and packages. Trust me, her amazing team will go above and beyond to make sure you have your most magical vacation ever!

And if you need help with dining reservations, booking special events, or more, they are there for you! The best part is they are 100% FREE to use, and they will even keep looking for the best deals for you so you can save the most money possible. Try them out and tell them Ziggy sent you! 😉

That wraps up our ranking of the Cheapest Disney World Resorts. We hope that we gave you some good info that will help you save the most money on vacation!

If you are thinking about going to Walt Disney World in the coming future, here are some other popular articles where you will find all the info and tips you need to plan your trip.

• Disney World Vacation Planning Guide
• Disney World Crowd Calendar
• When are the Best Times to Visit Disney World?

Your Thoughts

I want to know what you think about our ranking of the Cheapest Disney World Resorts…

• What is your favorite Disney World Resort on a budget?
• Which do you think is #1?

Let us know in the comments section below!

If you enjoyed this article, as always I appreciate it if you’d share it with others via social media.  I work hard at making this website into a useful resource for you and your family to plan your visit to the Disney Parks and I hope it can help you! Thanks 🙂