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Save Money: What’s the Cheapest Disney Hotel

Going to Disneyland and Disney World is something that is on the bucket list of almost every child in America. When you are trying to create an unforgettable experience for your children, it is imperative that they are right in the center of it all: at a Disney hotel.

What is the cheapest Disney hotel to stay at? Some of the cheapest hotels that all come together at around $96 each per night are the Disney All Star Movies, Sports, and Music Resorts. In addition to these lower cost options, you can also get a deal at the Disney Pop Century and Art Of Animation Resorts.

If you are able to let go of the comfortable hotel bed and hot shower, you can camp at the Disney Fort Wilderness Resort. This will allow you to be close to the park and enjoy some recreational activities, connecting with nature and saving almost $50 per night in comparison to the hotel options.

When it comes to planning a family vacation, it can get really expensive, especially when your children are talking your ear off about going to Disneyland or Disney World, and you know that the prices will be marked up significantly for everything that you do.

You don’t want your family to miss out on all of the fun that comes with staying right in the middle of the action in a Disney hotel, but the prices just seem so unrealistic. In this article, we will help you out by giving you all of the information on how you can save money by booking the cheapest Disney hotel.

What Are The Cheapest Disney World Hotels?

Disney World is an exciting place to visit for people of all ages, and is probably the dream vacation destination for the younger children in your family. There are so many unique themed rollercoaster rides that are all-inclusive for the youngest children to the older ones.

In addition to that, you will basically be walking around inside of your favorite Disney movies and TV shows. There are always dressed up characters walking around that you can stop and take a photo with, for an even more personalized experience.

There is no doubt that Disney World is the place to be on any vacation, at any time of the year! When you are planning a trip for your family, it is important to make sure that everyone is having the best possible experience.

With that being said, your children are not going to remember being at a nearby hotel as much as they would at a Disney World Resort. Allow your family to be fully submerged in the energy of Disney World by booking one of these engaging hotels!

Contrary to popular belief, you do not have to break the bank staying at one of these locations. Instead, you can find some of the budget options that are offered at Disney World Resorts.

Since it can be overwhelming to try to single out these options amongst the sea of Disney hotels that you can find on the internet, we have put together a comprehensive list of the best, and cheapest, Disney World hotels.

In the list down below, you will find the most cost effective rates for hotels right in Disney World. This way, you won’t miss any of the action at the park, but you also won’t put a huge dent in your wallet, either.

Here are some of the cheapest Disney World hotels:

  • Disney’s All Star Movies Resort $96/night
  • Disney’s All Star Music Resort $96/night
  • Disney’s All Star Sports Resort $96/night
  • Disney’s Pop Century Resort $108/night
  • Disney’s Art Of Animation Resort $127/night

The top three cheapest Disney World hotels all tie together in first place at an average rate of $96 per night. When you are looking for a nice themed resort that is right in the middle of the park, these should be your go-to options.

Just like the names suggest, each of these resorts are a celebration of a different area of Walt Disney’s creations. More specifically, you will see memorabilia from Disney Movies and Music at each respective resort.

The All Star Movies Resort tends to be the cheapest option out of the list, if you are able to catch the rates at the right time. When you are walking around the resort grounds, you will see life-sized depictions of your favorite Disney movies.

Additionally, the Sports Resort takes on a similar theme, focusing on sports all throughout the grounds. When you stay at the Sports Resort, you can enjoy a pool that is shaped like a surfboard, a food court with a wide range of entrees, and outdoor movies.

Whether you are a fan of sports or you like to play them, you will have a lot of sports themed decorations to enjoy all around the property, including your favorite Disney characters.

If you want to get the best bang for your buck when it comes to the lowest price options, you should definitely go with the Disney All Star Music Resort. This hotel, in particular, offers two pools, a playground for the kids, an arcade on-site, and lots of shopping options that are great for everyone.

Along with the great amenities that come with booking a room at this hotel in particular, you will always have some great music to listen to. While you are relaxing in the common areas and enjoying the activities that are offered, you will hear tons of music styles, from country and jazz to rock, calypso, and even Broadway Show tunes.

If these three options happen to not be available during your time of travel, some other cost effective options include Disney’s Pop Century Resort and Disney’s Art Of Animation Resort. As you can probably tell from the names, these resorts are themed as well, with over-the top decorations and amenities to match.

How To Save Money By Camping At Disney World

Now that you have gotten a pretty good idea about the cheapest hotels that you can find at Disney World, you might be wondering if there is any other way that you can save money for a vacation on your hotel accommodations. 

While the average rate of $96 per night is relatively cheap, and will keep you very closely under the hundred dollar mark, this can still add up throughout your entire vacation. This is especially true when you are staying for multiple nights or weeks, or you need to get more than one room for a big family.

With that in mind, we came up with one more additional option that can help you spend a lot less on your Disney travel expenses. In fact, you can actually cut these expenses almost directly in half when you go this way instead.

If you are able to let go of the hotel bed, sink with a mirror, and hot shower that will come with your hotel room, you can look for a spot at the Disney Fort Wilderness Resort, instead of spending time combing through resort options on the internet.

In this section, we will be exploring the option that you have to make your Disney trip a camping trip at the same time, and save money while you do it. Take a look at the list below to get the full scoop on Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort.

Here is what you can do at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort:

  • Purchase a basic campsite for $53 per night
  • Go swimming
  • Experience archery and horseback riding
  • Hear the music in the park
  • Go stargazing before you sleep

When you book a basic campsite at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, you will spend an average price of $53 per night, which is a significant difference from all of the hotel resorts that were mentioned in the previous section.

Here, you will be able to bring your own tent and pitch it at the campsite. The best part is, you will be close to all of the action and plenty of unique recreational activities that you might miss out on when you choose to book a resort instead.

For instance, you can go swimming with nature and experience archery activities around the campgrounds. You can also go horseback riding near the place that you are sleeping, and hear magical Disney music from the park.

One of the best parts about camping in Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort is that you can stare up at the stars when the sun goes down, stargazing before you sleep in your cozy tent.

To go on a Disney World camping trip, you will need to bring a tent with all of the necessary equipment that is needed to set it up, some sleeping bags, blankets, and personal hygiene items. Make sure to check out this article for some fun things to bring while camping!

You can also load the back of your car up with some cooking supplies to make your own meals, if you are looking to get an even better deal. This can include a portable stove and cookware, along with some non-perishable ingredients that will last you for the duration of your trip.

On the contrary, you can have a real camping experience by cooking over an open fire, and even enjoy some S’mores after a long day exploring the park.

No matter which way you choose to go with it, you can’t go wrong saving tons of money when you go camping near the park instead of staying at one of the resorts. You will still get the full experience, while spending almost half of the money!

Who knows, you might even be able to extend your days at the park to a week instead of a few days with the cut in prices that you will see from the low nightly rate. As long as you are able to survive in the wilderness for a few days at a time, your wallet will thank you. Wondering why camping is so fun? We have the answer!

(If you enjoyed camping at Disney, you may be interest to see some campsite rentals on Airbnb!)

Tips For Saving Money While Traveling To Disney World

Now that you have gotten a pretty good idea of how you can find some great deals on Disney resorts, you should keep in mind that there are some additional steps that you should take in order to really get the best prices.

In addition to finding the cheapest resort hotel or other accommodation, it is important to watch your spending while you are actually in the park.

Once you enter the gates of Disney World, it is easy to go on a spending spree without even realizing it. There are so many themed restaurants, souvenirs, and other unique products that you will probably be tempted to buy.

Even if you aren’t as interested in the Disney merchandise, your children will probably be pulling at your leg on every corner when they get a look at the massive souvenir shops that are surrounding the park.

With this in mind before you go, it is a good idea to follow some money saving tips for when you are at Disney World. Take a look at the list down below to find some helpful tips on how you can save money while you are navigating through the park.

Here are some tips for saving money before and during your travel to Disney World:

  • Book all of your accommodations in advance
  • Travel during the least busy seasons
  • Find some package deals before you go (hotels, park passes, etc.)
  • Try to limit your eating and spending while you are in the park

First of all, you will want to book all of your accommodations in advance. Even though we went over the resorts in Disney World with the best possible price, it is still a good idea to have everything reserved in advance.

If you are booking your hotel rooms several months in advance from your actual travel date, you are more likely to get an even better deal, or something that is very close to the average prices that were outlined in the first section of this article.

However, if you are waiting until the last minute to get your hotel booked, the prices will probably be marked up significantly due to the high demand, and you can kiss those low prices goodbye.

Additionally, you should try to plan your travel for the least busy seasons. The best times to visit Disney World and avoid the crowds are early January to early March.

If you are planning a trip toward the end of the year, you should shoot for weekdays in September and October, along with the weekdays in November and December. Weekends during these seasons can get very busy, and you will want to avoid holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve at all costs. These will be the times that are the most crowded in the park.

Crowded times will directly translate to more demand for hotels, and the prices will increase dramatically. However, if you are strategic with when you will go on your trip, you can beat the crowds and the high hotels prices.

While you are booking your vacation, you should look for package deals and any discounts that you can find. You might be able to find lower prices on admission tickets to the park to cut down your expenses even further.

If you are able to cut down on your budget for hotels and park tickets, you might be able to have some extra room to gift your children with some souvenirs in the park, because we all know how much they will be asking you a few times an hour as you are walking from place to place.

Even if you are planning to get a few snacks and souvenirs for your family in the park, it would be a good idea to limit this to once or twice a day. For example, you can eat breakfast at your hotel, bring lunches, and eat dinner at a restaurant in the park.

As far as snacks and souvenirs, you might allow everyone to get one cotton candy or churro for each day, and one item from the gift shop on the entire trip.

The way that you budget these things is up to you, and how you would like to fulfill the expectations of your family.

As you can see, there are plenty of ways to save money on your hotel and sleeping arrangements when you travel to Disney World. In addition to saving on where you will be sleeping, you can also take some of these tips into account in order to save money while you are actually walking through the park.

All in all, if you are able to find a deal on a cheap hotel or campsite for a tent instead, you will be on your way to saving a lot of money on your Disney World vacation. And, contrary to popular belief, you can actually achieve all of this and more, without compromising on all of the fun that you can have with your children.