It probably doesn’t come as a surprise to learn that your hotel stay takes up a big chunk of your Disney World vacation budget — especially if you’re staying at a Disney World Resort. But, it doesn’t have to!
When it comes to the cost of your Disney World hotel room, it’s all about what time of the year you’re visiting. In fact, your travel dates can be the difference between a $1,000 hotel stay or a $2,000 hotel stay. That’s HUGE.
We’ve already covered the cheapest times to stay at a Disney World hotel in 2023, but what about the most expensive? Well, we did our research and compiled the room rates for every single Disney World hotel for every single night in 2023 and, the results are in!
Let’s take a look at the MOST EXPENSIVE times to stay at a Disney World hotel in 2023!
On average, the most expensive time to stay at a Disney World hotel this year is in December according to Disney’s room rates calendar. Other months where rates are on the higher end correspond with the busier times of the year and usually fall around holidays including March, April (which is the second most expensive month on average), October, November, and December.
We’ll dive a little deeper into these months because the rates can really vary — even in the same month!
While there may not be a major holiday in March or April (aside from Easter), these are actually two of Disney’s busiest months in the parks. Why? Well, schools are out for spring break and a trip to sunny Florida after the winter months is pretty enticing! Of course, spring breaks happen at all different times based on school districts throughout the U.S., so let’s take a look at how much it costs to stay at Disney’s Pop Century Resort to give you an idea of how the rates actually break down day-to-day.
According to the rate calendar, the highest price you’re going to pay per night to stay at Disney’s Pop Century Resort in March and April 2023 is between $279-$287 per night. Look closer at exactly when rates are this high though — it’s mostly Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays between March 4th to April 8th. So, you could choose to plan your trip for a little later in April or visit on a Sunday through a Thursday to save some cash.
Keep in mind too that, while we’re looking only at Disney’s Pop Century Resort here, these are the dates that are going to be the most expensive at ALL of the Disney World hotels. The actual dollar amount per night is the only thing that will vary.
Now let’s take a look at how the rates compare in October and November, another expensive time to visit Disney World. We’ll stick with looking at the rates at Disney’s Pop Century Resort here.
Looking at the pricing, room rates are at their highest on October 6th-8th and November 18th-24th. Additionally, nearly every Friday and Saturday is priced at a higher rate compared to weekday nights.
The interesting thing to note here is that the rates are actually cheaper in October and November compared to many of the dates in March and April. So, if you’re trying to decide what school break period you should head to Disney World, Thanksgiving might be a better choice! The parks are usually decorated for the holidays, so you’ll be experiencing one of the most magical times to be in the Disney Parks and saving a little on your hotel stay.
And, now for the time of year that hotel rates are at their absolute highest in Disney World — December!
You’ve probably realized by now that the most expensive dates correspond with some sort of holiday or school break period, and December pretty much has it all — holidays and extended break periods for both kids and parents. So, this is when you’re going to pay the most per night for a Disney World hotel room out of the entire year.
Of course, room rates still vary a bit throughout the month, so here are the dates that end up being the most expensive:
- December 8th-9th
- December 15th-31st (Yes, HALF the month 😨)
So, there you have it — the most expensive times to go to Disney World in 2023! While we may have used Disney’s Pop Century Resort as an example, don’t forget that you’re going to find the highest rates at ALL the Disney World hotels if you’re planning a trip in March, April, October, November, or December!
The only thing that’s going to change is the exact cost. For example, the most expensive room rate for a Standard Room at Disney’s Pop Century Resort is $331, but the most expensive room rate for a Standard Room at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is nearly 3.5x that at $1,154 for the same date.
Now, you don’t have to throw any hope of sticking to your budget out the door if you’re stuck to travel dates that are tied to the most expensive times of the year to visit! Disney has announced some major hotel discounts in 2023 (and more could be coming soon) or you could consider staying at an off-site hotel instead. Disney World area hotels often have cheaper rates compared to Disney hotels and may even offer some of the same Disney hotel guest benefits like extra time in the park and early dining reservation booking window.
Of course, we’ll be on the lookout for more ways to save on your Disney World hotel stay (even if you’re traveling over the holidays!), so be sure to stay tuned to The VacationEAR for the latest!