This breaks down Walt Disney World trip costs for park tickets, motels, eating, transportation & extra in 2023. It solutions the query of how a lot visiting WDW prices that can assist you keep away from overspending & plan inside your funds. Fair warning up entrance: costs have elevated by 1000’s of {dollars} within the final two years, so be ready for sticker shock. (Updated December 26, 2022.)
This is a tricky subject to deal with. Even with hypotheticals it’s inconceivable to pin down the precise price for each set of circumstances. Beyond the fundamentals coated in our breakdown, there are a variety of variables which can be past the scope of this submit: Lightning Lanes & Genie+ v. standby solely? Rental automobile & paid parking v. Mears Connect airport shuttle? Travel insurance coverage v. discounted non-refundable reservations?
Instead of tackling each potential state of affairs and ending up with a War & Peace size treatise, we’ll take a look at value ranges for key elements of visiting Walt Disney World, give you totals based mostly on these, and allow you to extrapolate in your personal conclusions based mostly upon that info. Given that the factor most readers report shock over to us by way of feedback and emails is price, this can be a subject price addressing, even when we will’t give any exhausting numbers for each potential state of affairs…
As a blunt preface: a Walt Disney World trip is an costly proposition. It’s simple that Walt Disney World trip prices have skyrocketed within the final decade, and that pattern doesn’t appear more likely to reverse itself anytime quickly. To the opposite, pent-up demand, staffing shortages, inflation, and an absence of reductions imply visiting Walt Disney World is dearer than ever.
This has been evident within the final yr, as Walt Disney World has been hit by value enhance after value enhance. Former CEO Bob Chapek’s perspective was Disney would proceed upping prices till there was a pullback in demand. For his half, returning CEO has stated that he was “alarmed” by the variety of will increase, however he has but to undo the injury. And he in all probability received’t–the most effective we will hope for is probably going a slowdown within the frequency and quantity of will increase, or extra and higher reductions to offset them.
Since the beginning of the fiscal yr in October, Walt Disney World has made many extra important will increase. The massive ones got here with the introduction of park-specific single-day ticket costs and a brand new (largely dearer) date-based pricing for the Genie+ service. This meant that theme park admission went up twice this yr by way of direct will increase, and a 3rd time not directly by way of greater costs (on common) for Lightning Lanes, which was once free as FastPass.
It’s not simply tickets. Most menu costs additionally elevated twice this yr, as did souvenirs and extra. If you take a look at 2023 Walt Disney World Resort Price Analysis, you’ll additionally discover that room charges are up round 3-4% throughout the board. That’s really one of many smaller value will increase within the grand scheme of issues–sure park tickets are up by 20% or so.
Walt Disney World has seen a big imbalance of provide and demand for the final year-plus, which has performed a big function in driving up costs at a faster-than-normal fee. Many Americans have been making up for misplaced time touring, and Walt Disney World has not been working at 100% resulting from staffing shortages.
As a results of that supply-demand mismatch, Walt Disney World didn’t want to supply aggressive reductions for a lot of the final two years. There’s no have to entice individuals to go to resulting from pent-up demand, and there are few unsold rooms to fill as a result of the corporate can’t fill each room within the first place.
The tides have been beginning to activate this, with elevated discounting already for the primary half of 2023 and extra possible for summer season and fall. In addition to that, there are broader macroeconomic components that might influence Disney and pricing on the horizon. Data means that family financial savings is dwindling, shopper debt is on the rise, and equities markets are trending downward. All of this might have the impact of lowering shopper spending and pushing extra individuals again into the office.
This is one thing we’ve been discussing fairly a bit, most lately in What Does Walt Disney World Do During A Recession? The odds aren’t in your favor that Disney will drop costs with all else being equal. However, it’s fully potential that precise costs received’t be up 5% in 2023 as in comparison with this yr because of the elevated probability of reductions and extra. (If you think about astronomical prices of airfare this yr, that’s doubly true.)
Regardless of the place pricing goes in 2023, visiting Walt Disney World prices some huge cash. It’s undeniably priced as a premium trip vacation spot and one of many dearer household locations within the United Stares.
Of course, journey prices are all relative. You might journey to one of many U.S. National Parks and pay a $20 entry payment in your total car for every week, camp on-site for $35/night time, and cook dinner meals by campfire for $40/day for a celebration of 4.
As avid National Park fanatics, we’ve executed precisely that many instances and extremely suggest it–top-of-the-line holidays you may take that’s extremely enjoyable and lets you disconnect, recharge, and see America’s Best Idea. It’s additionally very totally different–additionally incomparable–to Walt Disney World.
You might additionally journey to New York and spend greater than the price of theme park tickets seeing exhibits and visiting factors of curiosity, pay $250/night time for ample lodging, $75/night time for parking, and an exorbitant quantity consuming at a few of America’s greatest eating places.
Although equally chaotic, that too can be very totally different from a Walt Disney World trip. Not essentially higher or worse–totally different. The level is that nice journeys will be had at a wide range of value factors; despite the fact that it’s straightforward to check them quantitatively, doing so on a qualitative foundation is a unique story fully. Even journeys to different theme parks aren’t apples to apples comparisons with Walt Disney World.
This submit assumes a 5-night Walt Disney World trip for a household of 4 (2 adults and a couple of children) that’s not inside driving distance to Walt Disney World, with no rental automobile except in any other case specified. Airfare will not be included. Unfortunately, flight costs fluctuate so broadly based mostly upon origin metropolis that there’s actually nothing significant to say–simply know that it’s one other price that’ll in all probability add one other $250-600 per particular person to your journey.
In the final yr, airfare costs have been in every single place, however greater throughout the board. We journey quite a bit between the Orange Counties (Florida and California) and we’ve paid anyplace from $250 to virtually $600 per spherical journey simply this yr. Thankfully, costs are beginning to fall once more for early 2023. Hopefully that’s the beginning of a return to regular, relatively than a short-lived factor for the low season.
With that in thoughts, let’s check out the vary of prices you must count on to incur for every component of your Walt Disney World trip…
Park Tickets
After precipitous will increase for a number of years which have seen the price of a 1-day Walt Disney World ticket for the Magic Kingdom almost triple in value since 2004, expectations v. actuality for park ticket costs can differ dramatically. This is not any shock, particularly amongst rare guests who final went when tickets had been extra inexpensive. Note that every one teams are following our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets, so we aren’t going by gate costs.
Frugal: For this tier (we’ll name it ‘frugal’ since that has a extra constructive connotation than ‘budget’), we’re choosing 3-day base tickets with out the Park Hopper possibility. The different 2 days of the holiday, the household will get pleasure from a number of the free choices round Walt Disney World, akin to Disney Springs and visiting the Boardwalk, amongst different issues. Total price: $1,634.
Value: At this tier, we’re getting base tickets for all 5 days, that means the household can spend on daily basis within the parks. Note that the distinction right here isn’t as giant as you might need anticipated as a result of the incremental price of park tickets lower for longer period visits. Total price: $2,197.
Moderate: This steps as much as 5-day Park Hopper tickets, so the household can leverage park working hours to their benefit (for instance, heading to Magic Kingdom and staying till park closing on a day began out at Animal Kingdom when that park closes early). Total price: $2,492.
Deluxe: This ranges as much as the Cadillac of park tickets: the 5-Day Park Hopper Plus. This is an efficient ticket possibility for a 7-10 day journey, however for a 5-day go to, there’s greater than sufficient to do within the 4 theme parks and different areas of Walt Disney World with out including the “Plus” possibility. Nevertheless, for many who wish to make it rain, Disney-style, that is an possibility for a 5-day journey. Total price: $2,855.18.
Many of you had been in all probability a bit shocked once you noticed the price of the ‘frugal’ possibility, shocked that it was so excessive. Perhaps you had been additionally stunned that the longer period tickets had been comparatively decrease in value per day. That’s the factor about Walt Disney World tickets: the per day price decreases the longer you keep. (Of course, lodging, eating, transportation and total prices enhance with an extended journey, in order that they get you a method or one other!)
For instance, the full price of a 10-day base ticket for this household can be $2,337.56, which is correct on par with the average possibility and fewer than the deluxe possibility above. The price of tickets will in all probability be essentially the most stunning side of your trip, particularly in the event you’re going for only some days. This makes the relative ‘value’ of a 7-10 day Walt Disney World trip higher than a 3 day journey.
Hotel
The price of your resort is the one largest variable in a Walt Disney World trip, with costs starting from $30/night time for an off-site resort on I-Drive to over $1,000 for luxurious lodging which can be on-site and close to the Walt Disney World theme parks. Let’s check out the totally different choices…
Frugal: Staying off-site is the one true funds possibility, and thankfully, the Orlando space has a surplus of motels, which drives down price. In reviewing Hotwire’s Hot Rate possibility for a wide range of dates, there are sometimes 3.5 star and above motels within the Lake Buena Vista or Disney Springs areas for round $75/night time.
There are cheaper motels elsewhere with decrease rankings or farther from the parks, however I believe this can be a good compromise in high quality and site. There are some shady motels within the Orlando space–Florida Project is extra actuality than it’s fiction–so except you need experiencing the imply streets of O-Town as a part of your trip expertise, splurge a bit. Total price: $559.03 after taxes & charges.
The caveat with the frugal possibility right here is that just some third get together or off-site motels provide free shuttles to the parks. This means staying within the frugal possibility will virtually actually incur extra transportation prices above and past the upper tiers, whether or not that be for a rental automobile and parking, or for twice-daily Uber or Lyft bills. This will not be insignificant, and will add $40 to $100 on high of lodging prices, relying upon once you go to. The solely motive we’re not accounting for it right here is as a result of it’s extremely variable.
Value: For anybody trying to get the true “resort” expertise at Walt Disney World, that is your lowest entry-point. Depending upon once you journey, rack charges for the Value Resorts at Walt Disney World vary from $118 to $307 per night time for a lot of the yr (excluding peak season dates). The extra widespread your journey time, the dearer the charges. Total price: $1,184.50 after taxes and charges.
Moderate: Same thought because the Value Resorts above, apart from the center tier of on-site Disney motels. Rack charges for these motels will vary from round $248 to $324 per night time for a lot of the yr (excluding peak season dates). Again, the extra widespread your journey time, the dearer the charges. Total price: $1,537.75 after taxes and charges.
Deluxe: The on-site Walt Disney World Deluxe Resorts are the resort tier the place there’s essentially the most variance, with it costing $425/night time simply to get you within the door, and costs rapidly going upward from there. At Wilderness Lodge, common season rack charges begin at $555/night time. By distinction, common season charges on the Grand Floridian begin at $857/night time. Prices can go up from there. Total price: $3,433.25 after taxes and charges.
On high of all this, Walt Disney World discontinued its Magical Express airport shuttle. Visitors now want to search out their very own floor transportation from the airport to their resort, and we cowl the vary of choices in our Guide to Airport Transportation for Walt Disney World. There is not any one-size-fits-all good resolution–it relies on your get together measurement, funds, and different components. No matter which possibility you select, it’ll price you.
Another added expense is that Walt Disney World resorts and most off-site motels now cost for parking. This isn’t a model new improvement, but it surely’s newly related for these debating rental automobile v. airport shuttle v. Uber or Lyft. In brief, not solely are resort room costs greater, however they embody much less–so your internet outlay will likely be much more cash for keep on-site at Walt Disney World.
Dining
If issues weren’t already sophisticated sufficient, one other monkey wrench right here is that the Disney Dining Plan remains to be “temporarily” suspended at Walt Disney World. In When Will the Disney Dining Plan Return? we forecast timing for its comeback, in addition to our rationale. It’s a great learn that explains why the Dining Plan is integral to Walt Disney World and presents our prediction as to when it’ll return.
Without query, buying the Disney Dining Plan will price you greater than it could price you to eat at Walt Disney World on a decent funds. What the Disney Dining Plan presents is peace of thoughts in paying in your meals prematurely and realizing that you simply don’t have to fret about it once you arrive. If you may funds cash, you might be normally higher off skipping the Dining Plan and paying out of pocket.
Some individuals can get monetary savings utilizing the Disney Dining Plan, however these are individuals who wish to eat “aggressively,” not those that try to be frugal. With that stated, those that benefit from the Free Dining low cost are more likely to return out forward, particularly at our instance get together measurement of two adults and a couple of children in a single room. As famous above, Free Dining is unlikely to be provided till Fall 2023.
With that little cautionary word out of the way in which, let’s check out a couple of choices when it comes to consuming on a Walt Disney World trip…
Frugal: Purchase groceries and convey your meals to the parks. Many individuals don’t notice that, in contrast to sporting occasions and your native library, you can deliver exterior meals into Walt Disney World. Not solely that, however they’re fairly liberal with the principles: you may deliver a soft-sided cooler (now don’t get too carried away, you may’t usher in a pony keg to make ‘it’s a small world’ extra fulfilling). Figure that the associated fee right here will be as little as what you’d eat at house, plus allowances for infrequent snacks. Ballpark price: $400.
Value: Eat an enormous breakfast in your resort earlier than you permit for the parks every day, then have a counter service meal within the parks within the early afternoon costing round $20/particular person, deliver snacks to get by means of late afternoon, and have dinner in your resort every night time. Ballpark price: $700. (Alternatively, the Quick Service Disney Dining Plan, if obtainable, would price $810 and permit for lunch and dinner contained in the park.)
Moderate: For the sake of simplicity, we’re going to imagine the typical household can be inclined to buy the common Disney Dining Plan if it had been obtainable, and that its prior listing value can be roughly analogous to what they’d spend on doing a counter service meal, desk service meal, and snacks every day. Of course, value will increase are possible within the intervening two years, however as we famous above, paying out of pocket is normally cheaper than doing the DDP. In different phrases, the 2 countervailing components ought to internet one another out. Ballpark price: $1,250.
Deluxe: We’ll follow the Disney Dining Plan comparability right here, and this time do the Deluxe DDP. This is basically the “all-inclusive” model of the Disney Dining Plan. (Not actually, but it surely finally ends up being that for many because it’s far more meals than the typical particular person can eat on trip.) This will allow you to do a number of desk service meals, character eating, and even Signature Restaurants in the event you so want–and funds the time for it. Ballpark price: $1,800.
Total Costs
Even throughout the totally different tiers of holidays we’ve priced out for the hypothetical household of 4, there’s a reasonably substantial vary to the value of their Walt Disney World trip. Still, we thought it worthwhile to present a tough approximation of totals…
Frugal: $2,593.03
Value: $4,081.50
Moderate: $5,279.75
Deluxe: $8,088.43
On-site resort pricing relies on common season, when costs are at their common charges. If you’re visiting in September, you’ll discover decrease rack charges and also you would possibly luck out with the return of extra aggressive reductions. Conversely, in the event you’re visiting throughout the weeks of Thanksgiving, Christmas, or New Year’s, you’ll virtually actually be paying significantly extra.
Regardless of what your precise prices look like once you crunch the numbers, it’s at all times a good suggestion to construct a 15-20% cushion into the funds for unexpected bills–that’s a savvy transfer with journey on the whole, whatever the vacation spot.
As excessive as these totals may appear at first blush, we’ll reiterate that these don’t take all prices into consideration. Airfare, rental automobiles, parking, shuttles, or different floor transportation will possible add one other $1,500 to $3,000 onto every backside line.
The price of Genie+ and Lightning Lanes can be not included, and that is one thing we’d suggest including for no less than Magic Kingdom–and probably Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Again, this service now makes use of date-based pricing, and has virtually doubled in value for the preferred dates of the yr consequently.
Hard ticket occasions just like the After Hours, Halloween, or Christmas events are additionally not a part of the budgets. Prices for these are in every single place, however you can simply spend $125 to $150 per particular person on these occasion tickets. Dessert events and different upcharge choices–akin to constructing a lightsaber in Star Wars land–additionally add up quick. If you begin including on this stuff, your prices can simply ballon by 1000’s of {dollars} extra.
Some of this stuff are completely optionally available, however some type of transportation–each to Florida and round Walt Disney World–will not be.
Nevertheless, these totals would possibly shock you, particularly in the event you visited a couple of years in the past and paid significantly much less. For our 2023 Walt Disney World trip funds replace, the efficient price elevated dramatically throughout the board. As in comparison with March 2020, the worth and average tiers have every elevated by over $2,000 and the deluxe tier has gone up over $3,000.
It wasn’t way back when a price trip whole was ~$2,000 and a average price $3,500 with a deluxe costing round $5,000. Base costs have elevated yearly for the final decade, however the efficient enhance turned extra pronounced final yr when reductions dried up.
Again, that is exacerbated by the top of Disney’s Magical Express and free MagicBands, plus paid Genie+ and Lightning Lanes changing free FastPass+ and different on-site perks which were eradicated. This is to say nothing of the nighttime spectaculars and different leisure which can be nonetheless suspended, or the shorter park hours. That’s proper–not solely is a Walt Disney World trip 1000’s of {dollars} dearer, however you’re paying extra and getting much less. Double whammy!
With so many caveats, it’d appear to be these numbers are rendered meaningless, and this submit is simply an train in futility (like most issues I do!). However, the information and numbers right here ought to no less than present a great baseline in order that these of you who’ve by no means deliberate a Walt Disney World trip have a ballpark thought what sort of prices you’ll encounter.
There are quite a few (clickbait) weblog posts with headlines like “How to do a Walt Disney World Vacation for Less than $1,000.” Those make massive guarantees which can be extremely deceptive, disingenuous, and finally result in disappointment or unrealistic expectations. For 95% of friends, $3k is the naked minimal wanted simply to get within the door, and even that’s actually pushing it. You’d have to go to throughout the low season, keep off-site, and be exceedingly frugal along with your meals and different purchases.
Obviously, this isn’t one-size suits recommendation or trip budgeting. Frugal traveler-hackers could scoff on the “high” costs right here, and luxurious vacationers could discover that they spend considerably greater than the quantities set forth right here. There are clearly going to be outliers on each ends of the spectrum.
We’ve heard of excessive rollers simply dropping $15,000 to $25,000 for an expensive Walt Disney World trip, and that might fairly simply flip into $30,000 for an extended journey, with extra individuals, or extra upcharge add-ons. More than a couple of readers have reported dropping $40k (!!!) on their Walt Disney World holidays in any case was stated and executed.
In our case–and sure within the case of many readers of this weblog–we will be outliers on the low finish of issues, because the sunk prices of Annual Passes make our tickets $0* and we will get our on-site resort prices all the way down to as little as $100/night time with by way of Disney Vacation Club Point Rentals or Priceline Express Deals if we transfer our dates round a bit and work round offers.
However, that is impractical to lots of people, particularly these with out versatile schedules or planning their first journeys. (*Of course, the AP itself has a really excessive upfront price, however the per go to foundation drops dramatically given how usually we’re within the parks. Obviously, your circumstances are going to vary significantly from ours as bloggers who write about Walt Disney World!)
Ultimately, that is merely a leaping off level with particular numbers which can be solely meant to present you a tough thought of 2023 Walt Disney World trip prices. Hopefully this subject will be an open dialogue about Walt Disney World journey bills and budgets, as the way in which we trip actually differs for others.
There are tons of hacks that may deliver the associated fee down–see our Top 10 Tips for Saving Money at Walt Disney World for concepts on that entrance. Additionally, in case your journey dates are versatile and also you wish to select the least costly instances to go to (which additionally are typically the least crowded dates), see When Is It Cheapest to Visit Walt Disney World in 2023?
To that finish, Walt Disney World veterans who’re keen to current some details about your individual funds, akin to how many individuals, period of journey, resort, eating, and many others., once you go to can be a lot appreciated. Like I stated, this submit is just meant to be a tough baseline, and the extra precise information factors and examples newbies have earlier than beginning to plan for their very own journeys, the higher. So thanks prematurely in the event you select to assist.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about motels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To get monetary savings on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips submit takes a novel take a look at intelligent gadgets to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for all the pieces you might want to know!
Your Thoughts…
How a lot do your common holidays to Walt Disney World price? Have you observed a pointy enhance when pricing out 2023 Walt Disney World trip packages? Think Disney remains to be definitely worth the cash, or has it change into unreasonably overpriced? Where do you splurge and the place do you “trim the fat” out of your journey funds? Do you veterans have any information factors of your individual to assist newbies out? If you’re a Walt Disney World first-timer, do you will have any questions after studying this? We love to listen to from readers, so when you have any ideas or questions, submit them within the feedback!