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 2024, 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 2024 and, the results are in!
Let’s take a look at the MOST EXPENSIVE times to stay at a Disney World hotel in 2024!
On average, the most expensive time to stay at a Disney World hotel in 2024 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, 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 Caribbean Beach 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 Caribbean Beach in March and April 2024 is between $347-$376 per night. Look closer at exactly when rates are this high though — it’s mostly Fridays and Saturdays between March 1st to March 23rd. And, prices are at their most expensive from March 28th to April 11th 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 Caribbean Beach 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 Caribbean Beach Resort here.
Looking at the pricing, room rates are at their highest on October 25th and 26th and November 21st to 30th. Additionally, nearly every Friday and Saturday is priced at a higher rate compared to weekday nights.
As expected with the holidays, the rates for the entirety of October and November are higher than most of the dates in March and April. So, if you’re trying to decide what school break period you should head to Disney World, Spring Break might be a better choice.
And, now for the time of year when 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 6th-7th
- December 13th-31st (Yes, HALF the month 😨)
So, there you have it — the most expensive times to go to Disney World in 2024! While we may have used Disney’s Caribbean Beach 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 Caribbean Beach Resort is $449, but the most expensive room rate for a Standard Room at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa is nearly 3x that at $1,200 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 tied to the most expensive times of the year to visit! Disney has announced some major hotel discounts in the past (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 an 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!