I remember the first time I skimmed through photos of Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort in Disney World. Its pristine and charming white buildings, the gorgeous grounds and elegant-looking pools, its royal grand lobby…I felt all the feels and knew I was looking at the lap of luxury.
At the time, I didn’t dare click the “Check Availability” button that teased me in the corner of the informational booking pages. I knew this resort would be far out of my family’s budget at the time, and, really, I assumed all of the deluxe categorized resorts Disney offered would be, too.
The following year during our first family trip to Disney World we stayed at Art of Animation. We had a fantastic stay and loved the fun theming at the resort, especially my kids, who were enthralled by the Disney animated characters that surrounded them everywhere they looked in the grounds’ larger-than-life decor.
But I would be lying if I said I did not continue to think about the Grand Floridian during that stay, and when we went to Magic Kingdom and rode the monorail, passing right in front of it, I vowed one day I would stay at that hotel.
Are deluxe resorts at Disney targeted only at the super wealthy?
Is there some magic in staying at these resorts for a better price that many simply don’t know about?
Quite possibly…but I wouldn’t call it magic. I would call it “know how” and strategy!
It was not until I became a Disney planning specialist with Smart Moms Travel that I began to realize there were, in fact, tricks and tips to getting a deluxe resort at a reasonable rate. In retrospect, I wish I had worked with a travel agent sooner; quite possibly my resort choice for that first trip would have been dramatically different!
In the past two years that Disney planning has become my expertise, I have gathered three MAJOR strategies I recommend to my clients to advise them on best affording a deluxe Disney resort, potentially making it something that any family can experience. If you want that expert advice, too, which includes individualized guidance for your family’s needs – all for free, please complete this trip interest form. Otherwise, here are my top three deluxe tips!
Time of Year to Travel
One of the most common questions I get from moms and dads is whether or not the parks will be crowded during the time of year they are considering travel, as well as if there are less expensive times to visit compared to others. These two considerations actually work in conjunction with each other.
There absolutely are “peak” seasons as well as “low” seasons at Disney, and pricing – as well as crowds – will be higher during those more popular times. Sometimes considerably so!
If your priority is getting to stay at Disney for a less expensive rate, then you need to hone your travel dates in these low seasons. Pricing can be cut as much as in half if you travel during a slower week as compared to the busiest time of year.
Let’s do a quick case study…
One of the absolute most expensive times to visit Disney is over the Christmas and holiday season. It is a festive and magical time to see the parks, but that does come with a price tag.
So let’s use the week before Christmas (of 2022) as our example:
A one-night stay at the very popular deluxe Disney’s Contemporary Resort, which is mere minutes from Magic Kingdom, comes in at $893.00. That price tag may sound unimaginable to some of you.
But consider that the same room, priced for a “low” peak week in August, is $493.00 a night.
This is approximately 45% less than the rate a guest can book it for in December!
So clearly, strategy #1 is incredibly important. Be as flexible in your dates as you can, seek the advice of a travel planner to provide you guidance toward the lowest-priced weeks, and try to plan your visit during a less popular time.
Promotions and Discounts
The above strategy goes hand in hand with this next one. When you visit during a less busy time frame, there is the likelihood that resorts will not be full and Disney may be looking at empty rooms in their resorts.
The last thing Disney wants is empty rooms because these are missed opportunities to earn a profit, not only on the guests’ stay but on park tickets, food services, souvenirs that could be purchased, etc…
It is during these slower seasons where inventory sits empty that we see the all coveted but oh so elusive promotions pop up and become available for certain resorts.
Disney will, during these certain times in the year, offer room rate discounts, and unfortunately, these are impossible to predict to a science. When they do become available, it is typically 3-6 months before the travel dates, and frequently it is simply a set, certain percentage off the resort stay.
Here is the good news: the deluxe resorts are the ones that usually see the most significant discounts because, frankly, the overall cost is the highest. In the past year, this has been as much as 25% off a stay.
But, these promotional rates, even for the deluxe tier, can at times be equivalent to the same rate you would find at the moderate – or even value – resorts if you were traveling during a non-promotional, busier time.
Using our case study above with Disney’s Contemporary Resort, looking at August 2022, FOUR promotions are running! I am not kidding when I tell you Disney is trying to make it appealing to travel during these low seasons!
The same room in the example above, using one of the best eligible promotions in August, drops the rate of the room down to $369.75. Tell me that is not an incredible price for a deluxe resort that could cost as much as $890 during a different season!
The last point on using promotions is that Disney allows guests who are booked through a travel agent to apply the promotion to your trip even after it is booked.
This does not mean guests should wait for the promotional price before booking!
On the contrary, lock in your first choice resort straight away (lest you may lose the opportunity to book it at all), and pay attention to the promotions that come out! Disney does not just casually email their guests when their stay is eligible for a discount. It requires manual application of a discount, so it does take diligence in paying attention.
The EXCELLENT news? A travel agent with our sister company Smart Moms Travel will do this tracking for you. It is our day-to-day job, and trust me when I tell you – when a promotion drops in the “Disney agent” world…it is a big, big day where we sound the alarms and are working for our families from dawn to dusk to ensure we get the best price for our clients.
Interested in this kind of attention? Let’s begin chatting about your trip today.
Split Stay
The last strategy to discuss that can be applied by any family is splitting a Disney resort stay between two separate hotels.
Opting to stay at a lesser expensive resort for a portion of the trip – and one that is less expensive than perhaps your budget initially would have allowed for – frees up funds for you to potentially book one, two, or three nights at a deluxe. It can often be a fairly equal total cost when working this way.
As an agent, I get loads of questions when it comes to a split stay. What if you do not have a car to move your luggage? How do you work a ticketed package into a split stay? Is there more than one deposit to account for when booking?
If you are interested in reading more about enjoying two Disney resorts on the same trip, check this article out that goes over all the important details, and hopefully you will see how easy it actually can be!
Ultimately, there is little doubt every resort on Disney property offers loads of pixie dust and magic for your family to enjoy. They all provide a comfortable stay and allow guests to enjoy the “Disney Bubble,” where your entire vacation remains on-site with the convenience of the inclusive transportation and exceptional service of the cast members.
But, not every resort is created equal, and if your family is interested in experiencing the amenities and the feel of staying Disney deluxe, let’s make it a reality. I would love to get you more details and chat with you about your dream trip!
Remember, using all of the guidance and expertise of our recommended travel agency, Smart Moms Travel, makes all the difference. I am an agent at Smart Moms Travel, and it is 100% free for you to book your Disney vacation through me. Ready to get started? Click here for us to connect! Or, if you are already booked with a Smart Moms travel planner, you’re in excellent hands, so be sure to reach out to them with questions and they will happily guide you toward the best option for your family.
