Average Disney World Trip Cost for 2
In our experience, the average cost for a family of 4 to go to Disney World is around $4,500-$5,500.
For that amount of money you could get 5 nights during the summer at a Value-level resort in a Preferred Room, 5-day park tickets (no Park Hopping), a combination of Genie+ and Lightning Lane pay-to-ride attractions, about 1 Table Service meal and 1 Quick Service meal per day, plus some snacks and souvenirs.
And just for reference, that assumes 2 adults and 2 kids under the age of 10, and it doesn't take into account discounts, or transportation to Walt Disney World.
But, while that is the average, the truth is that there is a wide range of factors that go into answering the question: "How much does it cost to go to Disney World?"
We are going to show you the cheapest (and most expensive) times to travel to Walt Disney World and then break down all the expenses you'll need to consider.
And then, we will provide you with some real-world examples (from WDW Prep School readers!) to show you exactly what you can get for your money.
Let's go!
When is the cheapest time to visit Walt Disney World?
If you are looking to save money, the least expensive times will primarily be when schools are in session.
In 2022, the cheapest times to visit Walt Disney World are:
- *January 2-5
- *January 9-13
- *January 17-February 9
- April 24-May 26
- August 7-September 1 (most weekdays, weekends will be slightly more)
- September 5-10
- October 23-November 2
- November 6-18
- November 26-December 1
*These are the dates where you'll find the absolute least-expensive room rates at the Value resorts.
When is the most expensive time to visit Walt Disney World?
If you are looking to save as much as possible, try to avoid major holidays and Spring Break.
In 2022, the most expensive times to visit Walt Disney World are:
- January 1 (New Years)
- February 18-19 (Presidents' Day weekend)
- April 8-21 (Easter and Spring Break)
- October 7-9 (Columbus Day weekend)
- November 19-25 (Thanksgiving)
- December 16-31 (Christmas)
What should you budget for when going to Walt Disney World?
Ok, ready to put some numbers together?
Every situation is different, but in general, when planning a trip to Walt Disney World, you will need to consider several categories of expenses, including:
- Transportation
- Hotel
- Park tickets
- Genie+ and Lightning Lane pay-to-ride selections
- Food & dining
- Souvenirs & everything else
How much does transportation to Disney World cost?
Will you be flying in to Orlando International Airport or driving from home? Staying offsite or at a Disney Resort?
Although some prices are fixed, transportation expenses can vary greatly depending upon where you are coming from, how you are getting there, and how many people you'll be traveling with.
When putting together your Disney transportation expenses, make sure you take these things into account:
Possible Disney World transportation costs to include: road trip expenses, plane tickets, and/or train tickets
- If driving down to Walt Disney World, check out GasBuddy.com to help compute road trip costs. Don't forget things like overnight lodging for on the road (if needed), gas, and food & snacks.
- If flying, check Google Flights to help you budget.
- If flying and staying offsite, be sure to factor in rental car or car service costs plus the cost for parking at the theme parks.
- If flying and staying onsite, check out your options for getting from the airport to your resort. And, keep in mind that the Disney World resorts now charge for overnight parking, so you'll want to make sure to include that in your budget if you plan to rent a car.
How much does a Walt Disney World hotel cost?
Although some people choose to stay with family or friends, most people visiting Walt Disney World will need a place to stay.
The good news is you'll have a ton of options – both onsite (at a Disney-owned resort hotel) and offsite.
Want to save some cash? You can save some money on your hotel by staying offsite.
The downside is that when you stay offsite, you'll need to consider the other expenses you'll incur to do so (like parking, transportation to and from the airport, etc.). And oftentimes, those "other" expenses can add up, so definitely make sure you are comparing apples to apples.
If you are considering staying onsite, Disney has 4 different levels of hotels to choose from: Value, Moderate, Deluxe, and Deluxe Villas.
The Value resorts are the least expensive and, aside from the family-suites, have the smallest rooms.
The Deluxe and Deluxe Villas will cost you the most. But, in return, you'll generally have larger rooms and be closer to the parks if you stay in one.
Make sure you take a look at our Pros and Cons of all Onsite Resorts for more info on each of your options.
Keep these things in mind when putting together your budget for your Disney World hotel:
How much are Disney World tickets?
Disney World park tickets are one area where the cost doesn't vary that much.
Yes, you can save some money by using an Authorized Ticket Seller (and please, if you are thinking about purchasing your tickets from somebody other than Disney, – make sure they are an Authorized Seller), but unless you are buying a lot of tickets, you just aren't going to save hundreds (or thousands) of dollars.
Here's what you need to keep in mind when trying to figure out how much you'll spend on Disney World park tickets:
The price for park tickets for Disney World include the number of days & any add-ons (like Park Hoppers)
- Keep in mind that kids under 3 won't need park tickets.
- Only buy what you need. You can always upgrade your tickets after you arrive, but you can't get money back if you don't use a feature (like Park Hopping).
- Ticket prices are determined by the total number of days you plan to enter the parks, your travel dates (busier times of the year have more expensive tickets) and extras you add on (like Park Hoppers, Water Parks & More, etc.) Note: Genie+ is also technically a ticket add-on, but due to its complexities, we've broken it out into its own section below.
How much does Genie+ cost?
After years and years of the free FastPass and more recently free FastPass+ service, if you want to avoid long lines at Walt Disney World, you'll now have to shell out some extra cash.
First things first, though, you'll definitely want to spend a bit of time learning about this new system so that you can understand if these extra costs will be worth it for you:
- How to Use Disney Genie at Walt Disney World
- How to Use Disney Genie+ at Walt Disney World
- How to Book Lightning Lane Selections at Walt Disney World
- The Most Frequently Asked Disney Genie+ Questions — Answered
- First Thoughts on Disney Genie & Genie+
- How Genie, Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane Selections Differ
Now for the nuts and bolts:
Genie+ costs $15.98 (with tax) per ticket, per day. So for a family of 4, you're looking at spending $63.92 per day for that service.
Individual Lightning Lanes will run you around $7-$15, per person, per attraction (max 2 attractions per day).
As you can see, if you plan to use both Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lanes, the cost will quickly add up – especially for a family.
But, while you can add Genie+ to an entire ticket, you don't have to. And, in fact, we don't recommend that you do (unless you are getting a discount for purchasing it that way, which some international guests are eligible to receive).
Instead, what we have found and what has been reported to us is that most people find it most useful to use a combination of the 2, with some days Genie+ and Lightning Lanes and some days Lightning Lanes only.
In fact, we polled a group of WDW Prep School readers and this is what we found out:
74% of the 426 people who responded said that they planned to purchase a combination of Genie+ and Lightning Lanes during their trip, while less than 3% said that they were not planning on purchasing either.
So, it is safe to say that although you don't *have* to purchase either Genie+ or Individual Light Lanes (or both), if you are like the majority of people visiting, you'll probably find yourself spending the extra cash.
How much to budget for Genie+ and Lightning Lane
Now the tricky party. How much should you budget?
For most people, you'll probably find that using a combination of both Genie+ and paying for the pay-to-ride Lightning Lane selections will work best.
With that in mind, you should plan to budget $20-$30 per day, per person for the Genie+ and Lightning Lane services.
Genie+ and Lightning Lanes costs to consider:
- You can purchase Genie+ for the length of your trip OR Ã la carte on the morning you wish you use it. We recommend doing it that way to avoid paying for days you may not need it.
- In some parks (like Animal Kingdom and Epcot), it may make more sense to just purchase Individual Lightning Lane passes vs. paying for Genie+
- There are no refunds. Make sure you will use these services before you spend the money.
How much does the food at Disney World cost?
When planning a Disney World trip, there are 2 budget items where it is relatively easy to spend big or save a lot: food & lodging.
Want to save some money? Disney makes it easy to keep your expenses low by allowing you to bring food into the parks.
But, if cost isn't a factor, they also offer lots of restaurants where you can easily spend upwards of $150 (or more!) for a family of 4.
Important note: The Disney Dining Plan is currently unavailable, however, Disney has announced that it will return at a later date.
And, let us not forget about the Disney Dining Plan. This is an add-on that is only available to guests staying onsite at a Walt Disney World owned hotel.
It includes 4 different options, and depending on which one you select you'll receive a certain number of "credits" to use throughout your trip:
- Quick Service Dining Plan ($55 per night, for ages 10+; $26 per night, for ages 3-9)
- Regular Dining Plan ($78 per night, for ages 10+; $30.50 per night, for ages 3-9)
- Plus Dining Plan ($95 per night, for ages 10+; $34 per night, for ages 3-9)
- Deluxe Dining Plan ($119 per night, for ages 10+; $47.50 per night, for ages 3-9)
When putting together your cost for dining at Disney World, make sure you consider:
Food costs include Table Service & Quick Service meals, snacks, and any groceries you buy for your stay
- Food is an easy area to spend big or save a lot.
- Breakfasts in your room is an easy way to save time – and a lot of money.
- Kids under 3 can eat free.
- You can pick up items (like snacks and water) to take to your resort or have grocery items delivered to your resort.
- Ice water is free at most Quick Service locations and makes a great alternative to buying bottles of water.
- There are lots of different ways to budget for food, so check out our food budget guide to see which method will work best for your trip.
How much are souvenirs at Disney World?
Let's talk souvenirs and extras.
Do you need to buy a t-shirt or mouse ears or a purse while on your vacation? Probably not.
But will you want to? Definitely.
So, even if you don't think you'll be tempted, it is still a good idea to budget some money for souvenirs.
Plus, there are all other sorts of fun extras that you might want to do – like tours or dessert parties. Celebrating a birthday or an anniversary? Maybe you'll want to do something special for that.
And finally, don't forget things like stroller or ECV rentals. Those little extras can add up, too.
Important note: Not all "extras" are available to book at this time. However, we do expect Disney to bring them back sometime in the future. Please check back often for updates.
Don't forget to budget for everything else, including souvenirs, special events, tip money, & extras like strollers
- If you have a strict souvenir budget, we recommend you focus on unique things you can only get at Walt Disney World.
- While it can be very fun to go all out, you truly don't have to spend a lot of "extra" money to have a great time.
- Don't forget to include tip money in your Disney World budget. Not all positions can accept tips, but it is nice to have it handy for the ones that do.
- If you need to rent them, don't forget to include the cost of a stroller &/or an ECV.
Below you'll find what each budget will get you. Keep in mind that in some instances these are full prices that don't include promotions. Most people get discounts. You can take a look at historical discounts to get an idea on what to expect
Disney World Example Budgets
Scroll down or jump right to your budget.
$3,000 or less | $3,000-$4,000 | $4,000-$5,000 | $10,000 or more
The average for a Disney world trip may be around $4500, but the truth is that there is a wide range of factors that go into determining the cost of a Disney World trip.
To get a better answer to the question "How much does it cost to go to Disney World?" we surveyed the readers on our WDW Prep School Patron Facebook page.
We asked them a bunch of stuff related to budgeting, including questions on how much they spend on everything from resorts to souvenirs, and we even asked them how much (if any) they planned their budgets.
Important note: Since transportation costs to Disney World varies greatly, we asked people to not include those amounts when estimating trip costs, so keep that in mind when coming up with your budget.
Here's what your money can get you.
Important Note: The budgets below do not include line items for the new Genie+ and Lightning Lane pay-to-ride selections. For planning purposes, we recommend budgeting $20-$30 per person, per day if you intend to use those services.
Less than $3,000 budget
Lots of people plan amazing trips on budgets of $3,000 or less.
Here are some examples of you can do with that amount of money:
Example 1: Less than $3,000
2 adults (ages 10+) and 2 kids (ages 0-9)
| How many nights do you typically stay? | 3 nights, 4 days |
| Where do you stay? | Either with family or onsite at a Deluxe or Deluxe Villa-level resort (including DVC point rental) |
| Which months do you typically travel to Walt Disney World? | January, February, March, or April |
| Dining Plan? | No |
| How many Table Service meals do you eat per day (on average)? | We only plan a couple of Table Service meals per trip |
| How many Quick Service meals do you eat per day (on average)? | 2 |
| What best describes your breakfast routine? | We eat at Quick Service restaurants |
| What is your souvenir budget (per person)? | $50 or less |
| What is your budget for extras (like Boo Bash, dessert parties, etc.)? | $0 |
| Transportation (Note: since transportation expenses can vary greatly, we asked people to not include those costs in their budget. However, we are providing transportation details here just for reference.) | We drive our own car to Florida |
Example 2: Less than $3,000
2 adults (ages 10+) and 0 kids
| How many nights do you typically stay? | 6 nights, 7 days |
| Where do you stay? | Onsite at a Value-level resort |
| Which months do you typically travel to Walt Disney World? | January, May, October, or December |
| Dining Plan? | No |
| How many Table Service meals do you eat per day (on average)? | We only plan a couple of Table Service meals per trip |
| How many Quick Service meals do you eat per day (on average)? | 1 |
| What best describes your breakfast routine? | On most days we either skip it or eat breakfast in our room with maybe 1 special breakfast at a restaurant per trip |
| What is your souvenir budget (per person): | $50 |
| What is your budget for extras (like Boo Bash, dessert parties, etc.)? | $250 or less |
| Transportation (Note: since transportation expenses can vary greatly, we asked people to not include those costs in their budget. However, we are providing transportation details here just for reference.) | We fly and use Magical Express |
$3,000-$4,000 budget
At this budget, we can start to have a little more room to eat at Table Service restaurants, stay longer, or stay in a bit nicer hotel.
Example 1: $3,000-$4,000
2 adults (ages 10+) and 2 kids (ages 0-9)
| How many nights do you typically stay? | 7 nights, 8 days |
| Where do you stay? | Offsite hotel or resort |
| Which month(s) do you typically travel to Walt Disney World? | January, February, or March |
| Dining Plan? | No |
| How many Table Service meals do you eat per day (on average)? | 1 |
| How many Quick Service meals do you eat per day (on average)? | 1 |
| What best describes your breakfast routine? | On most days we either skip it or eat breakfast in our room with maybe 1 special breakfast at a restaurant per trip |
| What is your souvenir budget (per person): | $50-$100 |
| What is your budget for extras (like Boo Bash, dessert parties, etc.)? | $250-$500 |
| Transportation (Note: since transportation expenses can vary greatly, we asked people to not include those costs in their budget. However, we are providing transportation details here just for reference.) | We fly and rent a car |
Example 2: $3,000-$4,000
2 adults (ages 10+) and 0 kids
| How many nights do you typically stay? | 5 nights, 6 days |
| Where do you stay? | Onsite in a suite at a Deluxe or Deluxe Villa-level resort (including DVC point rental) |
| Which months do you typically travel to Walt Disney World? | April, June, July, or October |
| Dining Plan? | No |
| How many Table Service meals do you eat per day (on average)? | 1 |
| How many Quick Service meals do you eat per day (on average)? | 1 |
| What best describes your breakfast routine? | On most days we either skip it or eat breakfast in our room with maybe 1 special breakfast at a restaurant per trip |
| What is your souvenir budget (per person): | $200 or more per person |
| What is your budget for extras (like Boo Bash, dessert parties, etc.)? | $250-$500 |
| Transportation (Note: since transportation expenses can vary greatly, we asked people to not include those costs in their budget. However, we are providing transportation details here just for reference.) | We fly and use Magical Express |
$4,000-$5,000 budget
At this budget, you can travel during a more expensive time of the year, or start to get into more of a Deluxe-level trip with better hotels and special touches.
Example 1: $4,000-$5,000
2 adults (ages 10+) and 2 kids (ages 0-9)
| How many nights do you typically stay? | 4 nights, 5 days |
| Where do you stay? | Onsite in a suite at a Deluxe or Deluxe Villa-level resort (including DVC point rental) |
| Which month(s) do you typically travel to Walt Disney World? | November |
| Dining Plan? | No |
| How many Table Service meals do you eat per day (on average)? | 1 |
| How many Quick Service meals do you eat per day (on average)? | 2 |
| What best describes your breakfast routine? | We eat at primarily Quick Service restaurants for breakfast |
| What is your souvenir budget (per person): | $50 per person |
| What is your budget for extras (like Boo Bash, dessert parties, etc.)? | $250-$500 |
| Transportation (Note: since transportation expenses can vary greatly, we asked people to not include those costs in their budget. However, we are providing transportation details here just for reference.) | We fly and use a private car service |
Example 2: $4,000-$5,000
2 adults (ages 10+) and 0 kids
| How many nights do you typically stay? | 5 nights, 6 days |
| Where do you stay? | Onsite at a Moderate-level resort |
| Which months do you typically travel to Walt Disney World? | January, May, or October |
| Dining Plan? | Yes – the Regular Dining Plan (1 Quick Service and 1 Table Service credit per night) |
| How many Table Service meals do you eat per day (on average)? | 1 |
| How many Quick Service meals do you eat per day (on average)? | 1 |
| What best describes your breakfast routine? | On most days we either skip it or eat breakfast in our room with maybe 1 special breakfast at a restaurant per trip |
| What is your souvenir budget (per person): | $51-$100 per person |
| What is your budget for extras (like Boo Bash, dessert parties, etc.)? | $500-$750 |
| Transportation (Note: since transportation expenses can vary greatly, we asked people to not include those costs in their budget. However, we are providing transportation details here just for reference.) | We fly and rent a car |
$10,000 (or more!) budget
Ready to see what you can do with a budget of $10,000?
Example 1: $10,000 (or more)
2 adults (ages 10+) and 3 kids (ages 0-9)
| How many nights do you typically stay? | 6 nights, 7 days |
| Where do you stay? | Onsite in a suite at a Deluxe or Deluxe Villa-level resort (including DVC point rental) |
| Which month(s) do you typically travel to Walt Disney World? | March or November |
| Dining Plan? | Yes – the Deluxe Dining Plan (3 credits per night that can be used for either Quick Service or Table Service) |
| How many Table Service meals do you eat per day (on average)? | 2 |
| How many Quick Service meals do you eat per day (on average)? | We only plan a couple of Quick Service meals per trip |
| What best describes your breakfast routine? | We eat at primarily Table Service restaurants for breakfast |
| What is your souvenir budget (per person): | $50-$100 per person |
| What is your budget for extras (like Boo Bash, dessert parties, etc.)? | $750-$1,000 |
| Transportation (Note: since transportation expenses can vary greatly, we asked people to not include those costs in their budget. However, we are providing transportation details here just for reference.) | We fly and use Magical Express |
Example 2: $10,000 (or more)
2 adults (ages 10+) and 0 kids
| How many nights do you typically stay? | 6 nights, 7 days |
| Where do you stay? | Onsite in a suite at a Deluxe or Deluxe Villa-level resort (including DVC point rental) |
| Which months do you typically travel to Walt Disney World? | March or November |
| Dining Plan? | No |
| How many Table Service meals do you eat per day (on average)? | 1 |
| How many Quick Service meals do you eat per day (on average)? | 2 |
| What best describes your breakfast routine? | We eat at primarily Quick Service restaurants for breakfast |
| What is your souvenir budget (per person): | $51-$100 per person |
| What is your budget for extras (like Boo Bash, dessert parties, etc.)? | $1,000 or more |
| Transportation (Note: since transportation expenses can vary greatly, we asked people to not include those costs in their budget. However, we are providing transportation details here just for reference.) | We fly and rent a car |
Who took our survey
First, for the most part, the people taking our survey were Disney World vets.
In fact, out of a little over 300 respondents, only 1 person reported that they were in the process of planning their first trip.
But, while nearly all were Disney regulars, it was interesting to see that out of those that answered this question, roughly 38% of people only visit every other year (or less).
That paired with the fact that another 37% of people visit once per year means that out of our sample, only roughly 25% of WDW Prep to Go Patrons that answered our survey regularly visit Disney World more than once per year.
Want to see more? Here's how it shakes out:
| Frequency of Disney World visits | Total |
|---|---|
| We go about every other year or less | 116 |
| 1 time per year | 111 |
| 2 times per year | 44 |
| 3 times per year | 20 |
| 4 times per year | 3 |
| 5 or more times per year | 7 |
| Currently planning our first trip | 1 |
For some things, having such a homogenous group of nearly all repeat visitors might be bad. But, when it comes to budgeting, we felt like it was a positive since nearly every person who responded has had multiple trips to plan for and learn from.
They've been there, done that, and likely – quite literally – have the t-shirt to prove it.
On average, how much do you spend on a Disney World vacation?
Curious about how much other people spend on their trips?
When we asked people how much they spend on their Disney World trips, we found out that almost 44% of people that responded spend between $3,000 to $5,000.
That is right in line with that $4,500 average considering our original dollar amount we mentioned at the top of this article did not include any discounts, and most savvy readers of this site would probably book their trip around available promotions.
Remember: these dollar amounts only include things like resort, tickets, and lodging – and not transportation (including airfare).
How do you budget for Disney World?
Budget first or plan first?
According to our survey, just over 58% of people that responded said they start with an idea for the trip they want, and then they create their Disney World budget from that idea.
And about 27% don't do any budgeting at all – they just go!
And then there are 14.43% of people that prefer to start their Disney planning with a total amount that they want to spend in mind, and then use that dollar amount to build a vacation plan.
Basically, it all comes down to personal preference. There really is no "right" answer, we just think it is interesting to see how people do it.
Do more people drive or fly to Disney World?
When it comes to transportation, here's what we learned from our survey:
The vast majority of people that responded to the survey – about 82% – fly.
Around 15% of people drive and the remainder – around 3% – alternate flying and driving, renting a car to drive down, or they take the train.
| How to you typically arrive to Orlando/Walt Disney World? | Total |
|---|---|
| We fly into one of the nearby airports (MCO, Sanford, etc.) | 250 |
| We drive our own car to Walt Disney World | 45 |
| Other | 8 |
Want to share a trip budget you've come up with? Copy the format below into the comment form and fill in the fields so we can see even more ways to put together a trip.
- Transportation:
- Lodging:
- Park tickets:
- Genie+ & Lightning Lanes:
- Food:
- Souvenirs/spending money:
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- Author
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With 15+ years planning Disney World trips, Heather joined WDW Prep in 2014 to help others plan for their own families. As the WDW Prep Editor, she travels monthly to stay current and has helped propel the site to millions of views per year. Email Heather
Average Disney World Trip Cost for 2
Source: https://wdwprepschool.com/how-much-does-it-cost-to-go-to-disney-world/
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