Fans rushed to Central Florida last year to mark the 50th anniversary of Walt Disney World‘s opening in October 1971, eager to finally meet Mickey Mouse and have some fun with Minnie Mouse after being delayed by global lockdowns.
The original price of entrance to what is now Walt Disney World Resort was $3.50, which is equivalent to around $25 in today’s money. Adult one-day entry costs a minimum of $109 due to expansion over the years and technological advancements that the brilliant Walt Disney could not have foreseen.
How much, then, does a trip to Disney World cost?
Traveling to Disney World
Increased aircraft fuel costs have led to skyrocketing airfares, which will consume a sizable portion of your trip budget this summer.
GOBankingRates studied the cost of flights to Orlando International Airport from six different places in the United States in light of a study conducted by CheapAir.com before the pandemic that found the most fantastic bargains on airfare appear 76 days before a passenger intends to fly.
According to Travelocity, these were the cheapest round-trip tickets for a four-night stay within that time range.
The given prices are for each passenger and do not include the cost of any checked or carry-on baggage, as well as any costs associated with selecting an upgraded seating option:
- From Los Angeles: $510
- From Albany, New York: $288
- From Portland, Oregon: $593
- From Cincinnati: $231
- From Chattanooga, Tennessee: $385
- From Indianapolis: $337
If you happen to be situated between two airports, it is in your best interest to compare prices at each. While it’s only 118 miles from Chattanooga to Atlanta, GOBankingRates found that round-trip tickets from Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Airport to Orlando cost only $217, or $168 less than they did from Chattanooga’s airport.
Car rentals to Disney World
There’s excellent news for those who need to rent a car. Although prices have decreased, they remain higher than before the outbreak.
Car rental prices in Orlando last year were shockingly high. When the travel industry stopped in 2020, car rental companies decided to sell thousands of cars, which meant they didn’t have enough cars to meet the demand after the pandemic. This resulted in sky-high rental costs for the summer of 2021.
Prices have dropped to a more manageable $49 per day for a compact, or $271 for the four-day vacation after taxes and fees during our analysis period.
Unfortunately, the Magical Express transportation from Orlando International Airport to your Disney Resort hotel is no longer provided by Disney. With effect from January 1, 2022, the service is no longer available. If you’re not renting a vehicle, you’ll need to find other transit to your Disney hotel, although SunRail and LYNX can carry you across the region if you’re planning to visit other attractions.
Most Orlando hotels outside the Disney resorts provide complimentary airport shuttle service.
Disney World accommodation
With over 450 hotels and over 129,000 rooms, the Orlando metropolitan area provides many lodging options. The Disney Resorts Collection includes over 25 hotels at various price points (Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villas).
Therefore, what is the difference between a Disney resort and a non-Disney resort?
In most cases, visitors staying at Disney resorts can walk to the parks; if not, they may easily ride a boat or the monorail. You may take a break from the attractions during the day if you need to rest, which is convenient if you’re traveling with little children.
Disney enthusiasts of all ages will enjoy staying at one of the resort’s Disney-themed hotels, where they may even get a surprise visit from Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse, Donald Duck, or Goofy. Guests of the hotels and some off-property hotels can sign up to enter the park 30 minutes before the general public.
Off-site lodging may be more affordable than on-site options ranging from moderate to luxurious. Furthermore, regular guests may earn hotel points or use their existing ones to save money on their Disney visits.
Disney’s All-Star Music Resort, located in the Value category, has a nightly rate of $179 for the checked-in dates, according to research by GOBankingRates. With its recent upgrades, staying at the moderately priced Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside would set you back $279. A hotel with a lagoon view costs $705 per night at the Deluxe Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa. Taxes are not included in any of the mentioned prices.
The Sonesta ES Suites Lake Buena Vista-Orlando is priced at $198 per night, whereas a stay at the Hyatt Place Orlando/Lake Buena Vista starts at $162 (with approximately $20 savings if you book in advance). The starting price for a room at the luxurious Four Seasons Resort Orlando, which features a water park, is $1,148. Prices do not include taxes, but all are within a five-mile radius of Disney World.
If you’re thinking about booking a stay at a Disney resort, calling the Disney Vacations line is a good idea so that a representative can fill you in on discounts and vacation packages that could be of interest to you. Look for deals like “stay three nights, get the fourth night free” or “stay two nights, get the third night free” if you want to reserve a room further from the resort.
Disney World attractions
Put on your walking shoes and go towards the parks. Walt Disney World Resort parks now need reservations due to the epidemic. In addition, tickets are expensive. The park’s website states that the base price of a basic ticket, without taxes, is $109 for guests aged ten and above ($104 for guests aged 3-9). However, the exact amount you pay will vary depending on the day you visit the place.
During high-demand periods, such as the week of Thanksgiving or the week before Christmas and New Year’s Day, the price of a single-day ticket increases to $159. Our one-day tickets cost $139 during our preferred travel time, with discounts for children aged 3 to 9.
Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom are the four parks in Disney World. Your entry is valid for one park; however, for an additional $65, Disney provides a “park hopper” option that allows guests to swap parks after 2 p.m.
Due to the sheer number of attractions, it’s understandable that you’d like to spend more than one day at the parks. Fortunately, the price per day decreases the longer you stay. If you visited the parks for three days during our trip, the cost of entry tickets for two adults and two children (ages 6 and 10) to one park would be $1,614, including tax. You may save money on Disney World tickets by planning with the assistance of a calendar on the park’s website that displays rates all year round.
A Disney World journey will create memories that will last a lifetime. The catch is that they won’t be cheap.
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