Walt Disney World is rarely low-cost, however some occasions of yr are considerably cheaper than peak dates, which may value over double the low season. Questioning when it’s least expensive to go to Walt Disney World? This affords a listing of days, weeks & seasons this yr and in 2025 which have decrease costs and crowds! (Up to date March 3, 2024.)
As urged above, “least expensive” is a relative time period and never an absolute one. Walt Disney World is an undeniably costly trip vacation spot, and the least costly dates are nonetheless priced on par with touring to Europe, Asia, or many tropical locales. Compounding that’s the actuality that complete journey costs to Walt Disney World are up by hundreds of {dollars} since 2019–and had risen by round 5% per yr within the decade earlier than that.
Park tickets, resorts, eating places, and extra at Walt Disney World have all elevated dramatically within the final couple of years. The excellent news is that costs for 2024 haven’t elevated–they’re the identical worth as they had been final yr. The dangerous information is that there shall be 2025 Ticket Value Will increase at Walt Disney World. We’d additionally count on menu and memento costs to extend in October 2024, with one other improve doable in February 2025.
That sharp improve since 2019 doesn’t even bear in mind all prices, like transportation (airfare, rental vehicles, rideshare, and many others.) or added bills, corresponding to souvenirs, eating, and extra. It additionally doesn’t issue within the shift from free FastPass to the flat-rate Genie+ to date-based and per-park pricing for the line-skipping service. What was as soon as free jumped to $16 per day and now could be almost triple that on busier days.
On a constructive be aware, Walt Disney World has gotten extra aggressive resort reductions as “revenge journey” has fizzled out, leading to most resort charges successfully reducing as in comparison with the final two years. Along with this lower after reductions, 2025 trip packages and room-only reservations at the moment are obtainable and rack charges have truly decreased for a lot of resorts. (See our 2024 vs. 2025 Walt Disney World Resort Motels Value Comparability.) Those that drive or hire vehicles are the largest winners, as there’s additionally now not an in a single day parking price at on-site resorts.
That is all victory, the extent of which differs relying upon how a lot you zoom out and evaluate costs to previous dates. Walt Disney World trip costs are decrease for 2024-2025 as contrasted with the height of pent-up demand in 2022, however up considerably as in comparison with 2019.
Walt Disney World costs are nonetheless shockingly excessive and shocking to first-timers and people who haven’t visited since 2019 or earlier. We revisited this matter in How A lot Does a Walt Disney World Trip Price? That was fairly eye-opening for many individuals planning journeys for the primary time or getting back from a hiatus of some years.
The reader feedback to which can be equally illuminating, as many reported spending much more than our already excessive funds ranges on Walt Disney World holidays. Contemplate this submit an oblique “sequel” to that–and one which goals to keep away from overspending.
Whereas this doesn’t assist you reduce prices or trim the fats out of your trip funds, it does purpose that will help you select essentially the most economical dates to go to! Equally, our latest Prime 14 Cash Saving Ideas for Walt Disney World in 2024 affords help with lowering your trip funds by eliminating bills that don’t improve your journey. Actually, a few of that recommendation truly improves your journey–for instance, doing breakfast in your room (saves cash and time–plus meals court docket breakfasts usually underwhelm except you want powdered eggs).
This submit is analogous in that selecting cheaper dates will usually additionally enhance your journey and may prevent cash. That’s as a result of the dates with the very best costs are usually busiest, and vice-versa. As a basic rule, increased costs don’t deter folks from visiting or “redistribute” attendance. Crowds are nearly at all times a great proxy for costs–the decrease the costs, the decrease you possibly can count on attendance to be. Double win!
That’s one of many basic “guidelines” with regards to the most cost effective occasions to go to Walt Disney World, and there are just a few extra. One other is that costs usually go up each single yr. These will increase take many kinds, and are staggered throughout the calendar. Usually, the price of snacks, sodas, and different pre-packaged objects will increase in late January or February and doubtlessly once more in September or October.
Consequently, it’s often cheaper to go to sooner fairly than later. In case you’re ready for costs to drop, historical past usually just isn’t in your facet. Nonetheless, as famous above, the previous couple of years have been anomalies. As famous above, costs for 2024-2025 are decrease than 2022 when revenge journey was operating scorching and never all resorts had absolutely reopened.
Charges for 2025 are barely decrease in some circumstances than this yr, however that may in all probability be partially or absolutely offset by increased meals and ticket costs. For on-site friends, the wild card that determines whether or not this yr or 2025 is cheaper is reductions. (For off-site friends, 2024 will nearly actually be cheaper.)
Walt Disney World has already launched extra–and higher–reductions for 2024 than had been obtainable by this identical level final yr (see All Present Walt Disney World Reductions). Reductions have gotten progressively extra aggressive within the final a number of months, with financial savings of as much as 35% off resort rooms (on common, reductions have provided 5-10% extra financial savings on common as in comparison with final yr). On high of all the things else, Free Eating returned for 2024–a primary since 2019.
In any case, the final rule is that touring within the present yr is cheaper than within the following yr. However there could be exceptions to that even in regular occasions. For instance, in the event you ebook your trip early and lock-in pricing on tickets and resorts, it should probably be cheaper to journey most dates in January or February 2025 than in November or December 2024. That’s as a result of costs often lower within the winter low season as in comparison with the prior vacation season, and there are additionally usually higher reductions for the low season.
Whereas it’s debatable whether or not February or September shall be cheaper inside 2024 after reductions, it’s probably that each of these months will supply decrease charges than their counterparts in 2025. Even with barely decrease resort rack charges subsequent yr, that’s only one think about pricing. It doesn’t account for the value will increase between now and 2025 that may nearly assuredly happen on Lightning Lanes, restaurant menus, merchandise, and extra.
In different phrases, the recommendation right here ought to be utilized to dates or months in the identical yr (with the aforementioned carve outs). Except you’re “banking on” one other recession or financial downturn, it’s a protected wager that the final pattern line for Walt Disney World costs will proceed its upward climb on an annualized foundation.
Getting all the way down to brass tacks, the least costly time to go to Walt Disney World are often the winter low season. This mainly encompasses January and February, except for the very starting of the yr when colleges are nonetheless on Christmas break plus the weeks round MLK Day, Mardi Gras and Presidents’ Day.
The final rule is that January and February are the most cost effective months of the yr, on common. There’s a little bit extra nuance to it than that, as the autumn has had higher reductions (traditionally) and different variables that may transfer the needle on a case-by-case foundation. However, let’s imagine January and February 2025 will principally be the most cost effective months of the following 12, though parts of August and September 2024 might come shut and even surpass the winter relying upon the circumstances.
These aforementioned circumstances are principally Free Eating, which is obtainable within the late summer time and early fall low season, however not the winter low season. For households which can be the “proper” measurement and may take full benefit, there’s no higher deal than Free Eating. It’ll make these months cheaper than winter…however not throughout the board or for everybody.
In case you’re in search of one of the best timeframes within the winter low season when Walt Disney World is least expensive, January 5 by mid-February is finest. Once more, costs spike for the week of Presidents’ Day/Mardi Gras, falling once more the following week–however not as little as these early-year low season dates.
Following that, costs in March and April are hit and miss, often pushed by the timing of Spring Break and Easter. Every time goes are on break, you possibly can count on important spikes to each pricing and crowds. This, Easter is early–which means that March is dearer (on common) and costs drop in mid-April. Subsequent yr, Easter will happen later, which means costs don’t lower as quickly.
Quick-forward previous Easter, and that week (after the vacation) by the week earlier than Memorial Day as soon as once more see decrease costs. That is technically thought of “common” season, nevertheless it’s on par with some dates in mid-February and is the most cost effective Walt Disney World shall be till early August.
A couple of week earlier than colleges return into session, costs lower once more. This happens earlier on the resort facet of the equation than with park tickets, presumably as a result of locals proceed visiting after vacationers cease touring–and solely the latter books resort stays.
Beginning the third Sunday of August, costs return to close their lowest ranges of the yr and keep there till mid-September (with the notable exception of Labor Day weekend). Prices do get increased from then till early October, nevertheless it’s by a nominal quantity. Technically, these charges are increased than low season dates in January and February. As famous above, that may be additional exacerbated by intervening worth will increase on tickets, meals, and many others.
Nonetheless, it will also be greater than offset by reductions that are typically provided within the fall offseason (as mentioned above). Costs for October by early December are typically a veritable curler coaster relying upon whether or not it’s a vacation week/finish or not. Columbus Day, Veterans Day, and Thanksgiving all see spikes–some pretty huge. Similar goes for runDisney race weekends.
If it’s not a type of weeks or weekends, pricing is close to its lowest ranges of the yr by the primary week of December. That steadily escalates starting the second week in December, culminating within the weeks of Christmas and New 12 months’s Eve. Starting December 16 and lasting till the tip of the calendar yr, vacation season kicks in and costs hit their highest ranges of your entire yr.
In case you’re merely in search of the perfect dates in every season, they’re as follows:
Spring 2024
- March 17 to twenty, 2024
- April 7 to 11, 2024
- April 14 to 18, 2024
- April 21 to 25, 2024
- April 28 to Might 2, 2024
- Might 5 to 9, 2024
- Might 12 to 16, 2024
- Might 19 to 23, 2024
Summer time 2024
- All Sundays by Thursdays roughly equal in June and July 2024
- August 4 to eight, 2024
- August 11 to fifteen, 2024
- August 18 to 29, 2024
Fall 2024
- September 2 to 12, 2024
- September 15 to 19, 2024
- September 22 to 26, 2024
- September 29 to October 3, 2024
- October 7 to 10, 2024
- October 13 to 17, 2024
- October 20 to 24, 2024
- October 27 to 31, 2024
Holidays 2024
- November 3 to 7, 2024
- November 10 to 14, 2024
- November 17 to twenty, 2024
- December 1 to five, 2024
- December 8 to 12, 2024
Winter 2025
- January 5 to 9, 2025
- January 13 to 16, 2025
- January 19 to 23, 2025
- January 26 to 30, 2025
- February 2 to five, 2025
A few issues to notice in regards to the above. First, these season by season costs are relative to different dates inside every season. For instance, that final set of December dates prices precisely $100 per evening greater than the most cost effective dates in January. If your entire calendar is open to you and also you’re primarily involved with worth, you actually wish to be taking a look at winter or the late fall and early fall low season.
Nonetheless, not everybody can or needs to go to throughout these timeframes, so we’ve additionally included dates all through your entire yr which can be cheaper than comparable alternate options. Within the case of the above instance, these dates are almost $100 cheaper than the 2 weeks that comply with. So considerably increased than the true low season, however far decrease than the true peak season. It’s all relative.
Second, there are main worth modifications in Spring 2024. That’s nearly actually due to Easter shifting into March 2024, which makes that–and never April–the busy month for spring break season. April 2024 charges are nonetheless elevated as in comparison with January and February, however there are literally many dates which can be cheaper than this yr.
Against this, each single day in March 2024 is dearer than this yr. Based mostly on our analysis and comparisons, that’s the solely month of the yr when that’s true. (Though the jury continues to be out on October by December 2024–extra worth will increase might come for these dates.)
Subsequent, it’s principally Sunday by Thursday nights which have the bottom costs, with Mondays by Wednesdays having absolutely the least expensive charges. In case you’re in search of the least costly choices, you’ll discover them on the All Stars. These Worth Resorts begin at $117 per evening within the low season, which can probably be proper round $100 per evening after reductions.
Generally, Friday and Saturday would be the most costly days of the week to go to Walt Disney World, with Thursday and Sunday costing much less–however nonetheless greater than Monday by Wednesday nights.
As for essentially the most costly dates to go to, we are able to say with nearly full confidence that the most costly dates to go to Walt Disney World are December 13-31, 2024. (January 1, 2025 can be extraordinarily elevated–costs drop like a rock the next evening.)
If you need extra specificity within the least & most costly dates to go to and one of the best & worst dates to go to, it may be helpful to seek the advice of our Walt Disney World Crowd Calendar. Search for the least busy dates, you’ll additionally usually discover the most cost effective dates.
In the end, that ought to reply some questions on when it’s least expensive to go to Walt Disney World in 2024…and maybe increase much more. Mainly, the least costly dates on paper as of proper now are January by early February and mid-August by September, adopted by late April to late Might, then October by early December–all minus lengthy vacation weekends and the total weeks main as much as main holidays.
In opposition to that backdrop and with that bias, if pressured to decide on dates to go to Walt Disney World within the subsequent two years–for a spread of causes each qualitative and quantitative–I might not decide the winter months. Although nice from a climate perspective and for EPCOT Pageant of the Arts, winter is now not the sleepy low season it as soon as was.
As an alternative, I might look to September. Though the climate is much much less fascinating within the early fall low season, September is reliably one of the best month for crowds and offers at Walt Disney World. It’s additionally a good time of yr with Halloween, EPCOT’s Meals & Wine Pageant, and extra. The massive caveat right here is that you just want to have the ability to bear the warmth and humidity in the event you select these dates.
Personally, I’d truly transcend September for my journey goal and ebook the week after Thanksgiving. That is nothing new and truly has nothing to do with pricing–we’ve been recommending that week for ages, and it’s our private favourite for a mixture of causes associated to pricing, climate, crowds, and Christmas.
Late November and early December are “objectively inferior” to September, however the actuality is that people don’t take holidays in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet. That’s the higher week on stability. It usually affords superior climate (far decrease probability of excessive warmth & humidity…or hurricanes!), seasonal occasions, and extra. It’ll be barely extra crowded and costly, however that’s a worthwhile tradeoff in our view.
Every little thing has a price, whether or not in {dollars} or in any other case, and you could possibly argue that the non-monetary prices of visiting in September are increased than within the lull between holidays. For different dates we love to go to (and ones we dislike), see our Greatest & Worst Weeks to Go to Walt Disney World in 2024 and 2025.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study resorts on our Walt Disney World Motels Opinions web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Opinions. To economize on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Ideas for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys submit takes a singular have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, one of the best place to begin is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for all the things you could know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you concentrate on this have a look at the most cost effective occasions to go to Walt Disney World? Which might you decide within the January/February vs. August/September dilemma? Suppose reductions will proceed to enhance all through 2024 and put a reality-check on runaway costs? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions we might help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even once you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!
