There is no doubt that a trip to Walt Disney World is expensive, but some times of the year are cheaper than others. What is the cheapest time to go to Disney World?
The price of a Disney World vacation fluctuates greatly throughout the year. Going in one season could cost twice as much as another time of the year. Knowing these trends will help you to choose your vacation during the cheapest times to visit Disney and can save you some serious money.
In this post, we are going to explain what the cheapest times of the year to go to Disney World are, both in general and in 2024. We also are going to show you the cheapest time for park tickets and hotel rooms so you don’t miss the discounts.
There are even some days of the week at Disney World that are more expensive than others and we’ll share those with you, along with some important tips you can use to save money.
The least expensive time is in late August through September when there is always a lower demand from guests. This is when you will find the lowest prices on tickets and hotels throughout the year.
The second cheapest time to go to Disney World is from early January until President’s weekend in February. Depending on the resort, this may actually be the cheapest time of the year over January.
You can also find some low prices in early November and December, though to a lesser extent.
There are more details to consider, but if you understand that those seasons are the least expensive, you are already off to a good start. Now, let’s see which are the most and least expensive dates in the next couple of years.
Before we get started, make sure to read our full 2024 Disney World Trip Planning Guide where you can find out all the answers to your vacation planning needs.
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Table of Contents
Most Expensive Time of the Year at Disney World in 2024
As we went over in our post on “How much does it cost to go to Disney World?” a trip to the most magical place on Earth is an expensive proposition. Read that post for a detailed breakdown of all the costs.
However, even though Disney World is expensive, you can still do it on a budget and make the trip manageable financially. The way to do that is to avoid going during the most expensive seasons. What is the most expensive time to visit?
Here is a list of the Most Expensive Dates at Disney World in 2024:
- 1/1 (New Year’s)
- 2/16 – 2/26 (President’s Day & Marathon)
- 3/1 – 4/30 (Spring Break & Easter)
- 5/24 – 5/27 (Memorial Day)
- 10/11 – 10/14 (Columbus Day)
- 10/27 – 11/4 (Halloween & Marathon)
- 11/24 – 12/2 (Thanksgiving Week)
- 12/17 – 12/31 (Christmas)
Christmas & New Year’s: Historically, between the Christmas holiday and New Year’s is the most expensive time to visit Walt Disney World. Starting with the week before Christmas, these dates always have the highest prices for tickets and hotels when compared with any other season of the year.
Easter, Thanksgiving, & Other Holidays: After Christmas, the next most expensive times at Disney World are any of the other national holidays such as Easter, Thanksgiving, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Columbus Day, and Veterans Day.
Spring Break: With schools and colleges out around the country, Spring Break is always super expensive at Disney. This year that encompasses the entire months of March and April.
Special Circumstances: At times, some months which are usually some of the cheapest times to visit, can be some of the most expensive. For example, when there is a special event that is going on Disney can increase the prices knowing that there will be an even greater demand for hotel rooms and tickets. This happened in 2022 when there was high demand for The Walt Disney World 50th Anniversary event in traditionally quieter times in September and October.
Also, make sure to avoid the marathon weekends which are in mid-February and mid-April. The Walt Disney World Marathon in January isn’t expensive, so if you have to go during one of those events, that is the best choice.
Cheapest Time of the Year at Disney World in 2024
Just like there are more expensive times, there are also times of the year when it is cheaper to go to Disney World.
As a rule, January, February, August, and September are the cheapest seasons, as long as you avoid any holidays in those months. Early November and December are also good, though the discounts are not quite as deep.
Here is a list of the Cheapest Dates at Disney World in 2024:
- 1/8 – 1/9, 1/22 – 1/25, 1/30 – 1/31, 2/6 – 2/7 (Winter Value Season)
- 4/23 – 5/23 (After Spring Break)
- 6/17 – 6/26 (Prior to Summer)
- 7/22 – 7/26 (Slow Summer Days)
- 8/7 – 8/29 (Summer Slow Season)
- 9/3 – 9/26 (Summer/Fall Value Season)
January & February: This is always the cheapest season of the year and offers lows in tickets and hotel prices. As long as you don’t go during the Martin Luther King Jr. or Presidents Day holidays you will save money.
August & September: By mid-August, kids across the country start getting ready to go back to school which means they are not going to Disney World. The fact that the weather is scorching hot and hurricane season is in full swing also means that Disney cuts prices to attract guests.
Before the Holidays in November & December: November and December are usually very expensive times to go to Disney World, but if you pick the right weeks you will save a bundle. Go early in November before Veterans Day and Thanksgiving and go in early December before the Christmas crowds get there for the cheapest rates.
Cheapest Time of the Year at Disney World in 2025
While we don’t have the 2025 schedule available yet due to park passes not going on sale yet, it’s likely to follow a very similar format to 2024. We can also look at the recently released 2025 DVC Points Chart to speculate when the cheapest times of the year will be. Here are our projections:
- After New Years’ in January
- The Entire Month of May
- The First Week of June
- The Last Two Weeks of August
- The Entire Month of September
- The First Two Weeks of December
How to Figure Out the Cheapest Time at Disney World?
We all want to go to Disney World when it’s less expensive, but figuring out when prices are the lowest can be quite tricky. Disney has a complex system and prices are determined by a variety of factors including holidays, festivals, special events, school breaks, and even days of the week.
Here are a few ways to figure out the cheapest times to go…
Disney World is Cheapest When Crowds are Low
For some guests, saving money is an even bigger objective when going to Disney World than avoiding the crowds. Thankfully, the two are connected and the cheapest time to go is also when crowds are lowest.
Crowds in Disney World are always highest when kids are not in school. That means holidays, and breaks from school in the Spring and Summer are when the parks are most crowded. This is also when the parks are the most expensive.
Weather also plays a part since fewer people want to go during the absolute hottest periods of the year. Crowds are also low when it’s hurricane season at Walt Disney World since rain and storms can really put a damper on your trip.
If you are concerned about saving money on your trip, make sure to go when the crowds are at their lowest. Before you choose your dates, make sure to consult a Disney World Crowd Calendar so you know the busiest and least busy days of the year.
Using the Ticket Calendar
Disney World uses date-based ticket prices which change depending on the days you want to go. One way to understand if the dates you are interested in are expensive is to look at ticket prices in Disney’s ticket calendar online.
When you look at the calendar it will show you prices for every date compared to each other. By studying the date-based ticket system, you will have a good idea of when the cheapest time to go to Disney World is.
Prices Go Up Each Year
Though some months are definitely cheaper than others in the same year, keep in mind that prices do go up every year and those same bargains aren’t as good if you compare with the previous year.
January and February may sometimes be the cheapest months of the year, but they aren’t necessarily that much cheaper than the prior year in August, September or December. That means putting off your trip may not save you all that much money. The individual weeks can vary year to year.
Let’s look at the Animal Kingdom Lodge as an example. Here are the lowest hotel rack rates for 2024 and the prior year so you understand:
- January 2023 – $469
- August 2023 – $474
- September 2023 – $474
- December 2023 – $597
- January 2024 – $487
- August 2024 – $496
- September 2024 – $496
- December 2024 – $631
Looking at the prices is quite enlightening. If you were trying to decide between a trip to Disney in August 2023 or January 2024, the August prices from the previous year are actually $13 less than the following January.
If you waited until January 2024 to take your trip because you heard it was the cheapest month of the year, in this case, you actually wouldn’t be saving anything. In years past, we’ve seen it where you are perhaps saving $5 per night, which isn’t worth the wait imo.
Instead of putting off your trip for 5 months, you could have taken it in August if you preferred and paid less to boot.
Yes, January is oftentimes the cheapest month of the year, when comparing it to the other months in that same year. However, since Disney is always raising prices from year to year, sometimes it’s just better to go sooner instead of waiting.
Cheapest Time for Hotels
Going to Disney World during a cheaper time will give you the biggest savings on your hotel room. The price can vary greatly when comparing value season and peak season, where hotel rooms can cost twice as much as the normal price.
- The cheapest time to book a hotel at Disney World is in January, February, and September. This is always when prices are the lowest and it’s considered “Value Season.”
The cheapest dates for hotel rooms at Disney World in 2024 are:
- January 2 – January 3
- January 7 – January 11
- January 15 – February 7
- August 16 – August 29
- September 2 – September 12
- October 7 – October 24
- November 3 – November 26
Here are some examples of prices for Walt Disney World Resort hotels during the different seasons:
- Disney’s Pop Century – Value Season: $183 per night
- Disney’s Pop Century – Summer Season: $251 per night
- Disney’s Pop Century – Peak Season: $392 per night
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort – Value Season: $268 per night
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort – Summer Season: $330 per night
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort – Peak Season: $505 per night
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Value Season: $487 per night
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Summer Season: $558 per night
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge – Peak Season: $1174 per night
Going to Pop Century during value season over peak season will save you $209 per night, going to the Caribbean Beach Resort during value season will save you $237 per night, and you can save $687 per night at the Animal Kingdom Lodge.
Hotels always cost more during the weekends at Disney World than during the week.
Monday – Wednesday are the cheapest rates, followed by Thursday and Sunday, while Friday and Saturday are the most expensive.
Hotels are Each Priced Differently
Even though Disney World Resort hotels are generally cheaper in the value season, not all the hotels follow exactly the same pricing patterns. Disney is constantly offering special deals on rooms for certain hotels which can give a bigger discount than normal.
Some hotels don’t fluctuate prices as much as others do during different seasons. For example, the All-Star Resort’s prices increase during the Summer season, while other resorts decrease. This is because those are the cheapest hotels and are popular with families, who are more likely to go during Summer break.
If you are trying to decide which hotel to stay at, read our Best Disney World Resorts Guide where we break down the pros and cons of each one.
Cheapest Time for Tickets
Disney World uses a surge pricing model for their theme park tickets, much like they do with resort hotel room prices. The busier the season, the more expensive park tickets are. During the seasons when people are less likely to come to the parks, ticket prices drop.
- The cheapest times for Disney World theme park tickets are in January, February, and September. This is always when prices are the lowest and it’s considered “Value Season.”
- The most expensive time for tickets is during the holidays, especially the Christmas and Thanksgiving holidays.
Some months can have a big fluctuation in prices with part of the month in a value season while other dates are holidays. The same month can have 3-4 price points for tickets depending on what days you go.
October for example only ranges between $144 – $154 for a 1-Day ticket. Prices in August on the other hand are between $109 – $149 depending on the day.
Pricing for 1-Day tickets is now different for the 4 theme parks and it now matters if you are going to the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, or the Animal Kingdom. The Magic Kingdom is the most expensive park, followed by Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and then Animal Kingdom in last place.
However, if you are getting multi-day tickets, pricing is the same for each of the 4 theme parks.
Here are some ranges between the lowest and highest prices for Disney World Base Tickets: in 2024:
- 1-Day Tickets: $109 – $189
- 2-Day Tickets: $229 – $340
- 3-Day Tickets: $352 – $501
- 4-Day Tickets: $461 – $639
- 5-Day Tickets: $515 – $716
A family of 4 can save up to $300+ on 1-Day Disney World tickets by going in the off-season instead of peak season. The same family can save up to $800 on 5-Day tickets by going in the value season instead. That’s enough to pay for a few dinners during your trip!
Make sure to read our Disney World Tickets Guide for the latest prices and info about every ticket type.
Cheapest Way to Buy Tickets
Buying park tickets directly from Disney is always the most expensive option. Thankfully, there are a few authorized discount sellers who can save you a pretty penny on tickets.
Depending on the type of ticket you are buying, these sellers can save you anywhere from $50 – $70 per person. That means a family of four can potentially save $200 – $300 on tickets.
Make sure whoever you buy your tickets from is an authorized Disney reseller. If you are looking for the safest place to buy discounted multi-day Disney World tickets, we highly recommend Orlando Vacation. Their prices are hard to beat so you’ll get tremendous savings over most others.
We also recommend companies such as Get Away Today or Undercover Tourist. They are trusted sellers, we’ve used them many times and you don’t have to worry about the tickets being fake like other places.
Our article on Discount Disney World Tickets explains how to save money in much greater detail.
Cheapest Discount Disney World Tickets
If you are looking to save money on Disney World theme park tickets, our personal recommendation is Orlando Vacation. They almost always have the best prices on multi-day tickets and can save you $20-$60 per ticket over buying direct from Disney.
Cheapest Days of the Week
Not only does the season you go to Disney World affect the price, but so does the day of the week you decide to visit. The biggest rule is to always avoid going to Disney World on the weekend if you are trying to save money.
Monday through Wednesday nights are the cheapest days to stay in a Disney resort hotel room. Friday and Saturday nights always cost the most. Thursday and Sunday nights are less expensive than Friday and Saturday, but sometimes slightly more expensive than Monday – Wednesday.
Disney World park tickets are the cheapest from Monday to Thursday during most seasons. Tickets on the weekend are always more expensive than during the week unless there is a holiday.
Tips to Staying Cheap at Disney World
Here are some quick tips for staying cheap at Disney World:
- Don’t Buy Park Hoppers – This is an added cost you don’t need. Do one park per day and save the extra $65 per ticket.
- Skip the Disney Dining Plan – Most people won’t eat as much food as the dining plan gives you. Yes, it’s convenient, but you will most likely be paying for food you otherwise would never eat.
- Don’t Buy Water – There is no need to buy bottled water at Disney World when you can get water for free. You can go to any quick service restaurant in the parks and ask them for a cup of ice water, free.
Look for Current Deals
Besides following the normal seasonal pricing, from time to time Disney will offer big discounts on hotel rooms and vacation packages. Sometimes these deals can be as much as 35 – 40% off the regular prices.
In 2024, Disney is offering a bunch of deals on hotel rooms, while not as big as some years in the past, they can save up to 35% in some instances. More deals pop up from time to time so keep checking. Some of the offers include adding extra days of park tickets for free, or the Disney Free Dining Plan.
The only problem with these deals is that there is limited availability and they go fast. You need to keep checking the Disney website for their latest promotions if you want to take advantage of them. Check out our Guide to Disney World Discounts for the latest offers.
That’s just another reason to follow our next tip…
Use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner
Finding the best prices and the cheapest time to visit Disney World is complicated and can be very stressful. That’s why we say the best way to get the cheapest price to stay at Walt Disney World is to use an authorized Disney Vacation Planner to book your trip.
They will compare rates for you and make sure you get the best price for your trip possible. As Disney releases those new deals for guests, a Disney Vacation Planner will make sure your offer is updated and you have the most cost-effective one for your family.
They are absolutely FREE to use and in the long run, they will end up saving you a ton of money on your trip. We recommend René at Show You the World Travel for all your trip planning needs. We use them multiple times per year and they give you the best service and savings combination out there!
FAQs
The cheapest month to go to Disney World is usually January. Sometimes this can be eclipsed by September in certain years.
If you are on a budget, don’t go to Disney World on a holiday. The Christmas holiday is the most expensive time to visit.
Go during the value season and look for special offers on hotel rooms and vacation packages from Disney.
The off-season is when kids are in school. Usually, January, February, and September are considered the off-season.
Ready to Start Planning Your Disney Vacation?
If you feel overwhelmed planning a Disney vacation, use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner such as Show You the World Travel. They are experts on every Disney location and can tell you where to stay, what to do, how to save money, and give you personalized service for your most magical vacation ever!
Finding the cheapest time of the year is only one deciding factor in planning when to visit.
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
- The Best Times to Visit Disney World
Your Thoughts
I want to know what you think about our list of the cheapest times to visit Disney…
- When do you think is the cheapest time to go?
- How much does price weigh on your decision?
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 🙂
My name is Ziggy and I love Disney, everything Disney! I grew up on Disney and it has and continues to be a huge part of my life. I started young when my parents took me to Disney World when I was 18 months old. Little did they know that would be the first of an uncountable number of trips we would take. I have so many amazing memories going to Disney with my family and friends and it has been interwoven into my DNA.
Jerald Elmore
Saturday 30th of December 2023
I really miss the free fast passes reservations. We are old and do not like being in line 40 to 60 minutes. There should be something better for elderly people.
Ralph
Sunday 20th of August 2023
The January/February time frame might be the cheapest but Disney tends to do a lot of maintenance on their rides and other venues as well.
Ziggy Oskwarek
Sunday 20th of August 2023
Hi Ralph, yes that is one of the downsides of going at that time so it always needs to be taken into consideration
CB
Tuesday 30th of May 2023
Ziggy is the best. I didn't know half the things Ziggy has given examples, especially the best time of year to go. I can't wait to go. Thank you for all the information.
Ziggy Oskwarek
Wednesday 7th of June 2023
Hi CB. Thanks for the nice comment. I'm glad to help and happy that you've found my info useful! :)
CB
Tuesday 30th of May 2023
How can I rent motorized scooter? I was told I need to get one from off Disney property to guarantee getting a scooter. I have other questions but I'm not one that likes to post comments. I don't like my name or email address exposed to everyone.
Ziggy Oskwarek
Wednesday 7th of June 2023
Hi CB. I am writing an article on this as we speak!
John
Wednesday 1st of February 2023
There is no cheap time to go to Disneyworld. There are only less expensive times. If you travel by car the best way to save a few bucks is to bring your snacks and refreshments. We also split meals as the portions are usually enough for two. Backpack in the parks and Disney Springs with drinks and snacks also.