Everyone knows a Disney parks vacation costs a lot. Disney was once a byword for whimsy and quality, but it seems like in our era, "expensive" has replaced "magic" as the single adjective most people use to describe an audience with Mickey Mouse.
But ever since the initial rush of post-pandemic travel, bookings for Walt Disney World in Florida and Disneyland in California have been noticeably weaker. Disney would never be so frank as to admit that in public, but in its financial filings, it has conceded a "moderation" in business at the Disney-run resorts, a sure indicator that the popularity of the classic Disney vacation package is flagging. Not by much, because the division that includes Disney's theme parks is still pulling in more than $2 billion a quarter, but the numbers are on a downward trend.
The Walt Disney Company entered a new fiscal year on October 1, and with its balance sheets now reset and money flowing to its new construction projects (some of them detested by historians and fans), the company is finally ready to haggle to get more bodies in beds.
To try to get more travelers to choose it instead of more affordable vacation options, Disney has announced list of slashed prices—with lots of conditions, of course—for the coming months.
These deals aren't so sensational as to make you forget that the cost of a Disney vacation is more dizzying than the teacup ride, but at least customers are being offered discounts of some kind. That's rarer than pixie dust.
Disney has a way of limiting the availability of many of its discounts, so these offers may sell out. The earlier you try to book, the better, and if you can't find the deal for the date and resort of your choosing, you might have to fiddle with both of those options to try to locate valid discounts.
Discounts at Walt Disney World (near Orlando, Florida)
• If you stay 3 nights and buy tickets for the parks for 2 days, you can get $60 off Disney World's cheapest hotel category, $120 off its moderate-priced hotels, or $200 off its deluxe hotels. Valid for stays from February 26 to June 30, 2025. View the deal's terms here.
• For a deal that doesn't require you to buy tickets to the theme parks, you can get 10% off per night for Disney World's least expensive hotel category from January 1 to February 20, 2025, and from February 23 to April 30, 2025, that discount increases to 15%. Following the same date sets, discounts at moderate-level hotels are 15% or 20%, and for Disney's most expensive hotel category, the discount will be 20%–25%. There is no minimum stay requirement. View the deal's terms here.
• Some Disney World hotels are offering discounts of 10%–30% between November 24 and December 25, 2024. Be aware that this is a period during which Disney inflates the room rate, anyway. View the deal's terms here.
• 2025 package stays at Walt Disney World include free admission to a Disney water park on the day of your arrival only. Granted, you won't have your pick of the two water parks, because Disney only opens one park at a time now—another sign of soft attendance.
Discounts at Disneyland (Anaheim, California)
• Kids aged 3–9 can get a ticket to one of Disneyland's two theme parks for as low as $50 per child per day. Discounted tickets won't go on sale until October 22, 2024, and they'll be good for visits between January 7 and March 20, 2025. For perspective, children usually have to pay $98–$183 for a one-day ticket, depending on the day. View the terms of this deal here.
• For Sunday through Thursday nights, the resort is offering 15% off rooms at the Disneyland Hotel or the Disney's Grand Californian Hotel & Spa. Travel must be booked by December 9 and travel must be complete by December 20, 2024. View the terms of this deal here.
