When To Visit Walt Disney World And Save The Most Money

Walt Disney World
Getty Images | Joe Raedle

A Walt Disney World vacation can be one of the most memorable trips a family can take. It can also get expensive very quickly. But, if you have any flexibility on when you take your trip, with the right planning you can trim a lot off the cost of your Disney World vacation. Choose the right time to head down to meet Mickey and his friends and you will save big on everything from flights to hotels to park tickets.

So, get out your calendars—here’s how to figure out when to go on the most cost-effective Disney trip.

Pay Attention To Walt Disney World’s Seasonal Ticket Pricing

In 2016, Walt Disney World adopted a seasonal ticket pricing policy. This new system breaks down the calendar year into three seasons: value, regular and peak days. According to Disney’s official blog, the move was made to help lower crowd numbers during peak seasons and  “spread out visitation” by attracting visitors to less popular months with lower prices.

Seasonal pricing affects the cost of a single-day admission ticket to any of the four major Walt Disney World theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios).

A quick look at the 2017 calendar shows which months to consider if you’re looking for value tickets:

  • Value season: Jan. 17 – Feb. 17; Feb. 27 – Mar. 9; Aug. 20 – Aug. 31; Sept. 5 – 7; Sept. 11 – 14; Sept. 18-21; Sept. 25-28; Oct. 2-5; Oct. 30 – Nov. 2; Nov. 13-16 and Nov. 27-30.
  • Regular season: Jan. 4-16; Feb. 21-26; Mar. 12-24; April 19 – May 25; July 23 – Aug. 19; Sept. 1-4; Sept. 8-10; Sept. 15-17; Sept. 22-24; Sept. 29 – Oct. 1; Oct. 6-12; Oct. 16-19; Oct. 23-26; Nov. 3-12; Dec. 1-20.
  • Peak season: Jan. 1-3; Feb. 18-20; Mar. 25 – April 18; May 26 – July 22; Oct. 13-15; Oct. 20-22; Oct. 27-29; Nov. 19-26; Dec. 21-31

For a color-coded calendar breakdown of Walt Disney World ticket pricing seasons, check out DisneyTicketCalendar.com for up-to-date information. 

epcot photo
Getty Images | Gustavo Caballero

Visit During Walt Disney World Hotel Discount Seasons

Walt Disney World also has seasonal prices for its themed hotels. Historically, there are a number of special promotions offered during the resort’s value season, which are typically tied to the seasonal admission ticket prices. A few of these deals include:

  • “Free Dining” package: This is a discount where each member of a reservation for a Walt Disney World hotel and ticket package receives a free meal plan. Typically the promotion runs from August through mid-December. These discounts are restricted to certain resorts and are very popular. So, call early to book this package when it becomes available in 2017—it is usually announced in April each year, if available.
  • Room-only discounts: You can get some great discounts if you book a Walt Disney World resort room during this promotion: Anywhere from 10 to 35 percent off! Typical promotions run throughout the year, but primarily during January through March, May through August and September through December. One of the best websites to track these deals is MouseSavers.com, which keeps a constantly updated discount tracker of all Walt Disney World promotions.

A trip to Walt Disney World may never be a cheap option, but a little advanced planning and some schedule flexibility can save your family some serious cash. Happy planning!

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About the Author
Marie Rossiter
Marie is a freelance writer and content creator with more than 20 years of experience in journalism. She lives in southwest Ohio with her husband and is almost a full-fledged empty nest mom of two daughters. She loves music, reading, word games, and Walt Disney World.

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