Finding Walt Disney World Hotel Discounts
Stay at the Theme Park Hotels in Orlando for Less
Oct 21, 2008
Many visitors to Disneyworld assume staying at one of the resorts on property is expensive. It can be, but there are also ways to bring down the price, if one knows when to book and where to look for discounts.
Here are the best ways to lower the price on vacations to Walt Disney World.
Book during Value Season
Walt Disney World separates its booking calendar into Value, Shoulder and Peak travel seasons. To get the lowest price possible on hotel rooms and packages, budget travelers should always book during the Value Season. Traditionally, this is the time when there are fewer visitors to the parks, such as January, just after the holidays, and September, after school has started in the U.S.
Surprisingly, booking just after a major U.S. holiday, such as Easter or Thanksgiving, can also yield lower room rates, as the bulk of the rooms on property are empty following the major holiday crush of visitors to the parks.
Utilize Discount Codes
Occasionally, to stimulate bookings during slow times, Walt Disney World will issue special codes for room only bookings that can save up to 50% off normal rack rates at all of the park’s resorts. Sometimes these codes are open to everyone, and sometimes they’re targeted to a special demographic, such as Florida residents.
For maximum savings, pair a discount code with a booking during Value Season (as mentioned above) and a room at one of the Disneyworld value resorts can be had for as little as $50 a night after taxes.
Many times, these codes are not heavily advertised, but the fan-run website Mousesavers does a great job of tracking them down and keeping readers up-to-date.
Special Club Memberships
Walt Disney World routinely offers discounts to members of organizations, such as the AAA/CAA motorclubs. Even if not a member, it may be worth the membership fee to obtain the extra 10%-20% discounts membership provides. Often times, as with the AAA/CAA memberships, other perks are also offered, such as specialized parking privileges. Travelers should check with any major organization they are a member of to see if any Walt Disney World discounts are offered.
Additionally, though not widely publicized, the on-property Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resorts are both owned by Starwood Hotels and Resorts, not Disney itself. Which means while they are luxury hotels, members of Starwood’s frequent guest program may be eligible for discounts or extra perks when booking through them and not the hotels directly.
Compare Room Only Versus Package Plans
Often times Walt Disney World will offer great plans that include tickets and perks such as free or discounted dining, along with the room. If visiting the theme parks is all that is planned during a visit to Orlando, package plans may offer the best savings.
But if planning to visit other Orlando attractions, or even other locations in Central Florida, it may be better to book the room separately from purchasing items like admission tickets.
By investigating all options, it is possible for budget travelers to afford to stay at a Walt Disney World resort for less. Make sure to read other Suite101 articles on saving money at Disneyworld for a truly affordable vacation.
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