How do people afford to stay at the Disney hotels?

[Anonymous]

Disney does also sell it as something that can be financed. Unfortunately it's a lot like everything else in this country, just another source of debt.

If you read through some of the reviews people aren't impressed with their new hotels especially and a lot of the extras are missing.

[Anonymous]

Growing up middle class we would rent a SFH house with a pool and drive into the parks every day (usually 10 min drive each way). As kids we loved having a private pool and making easy breakfasts / dinners at home saved $ as well. Not sure if people still do this but as kids this felt more luxurious to us than any hotel.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Growing up middle class we would rent a SFH house with a pool and drive into the parks every day (usually 10 min drive each way). As kids we loved having a private pool and making easy breakfasts / dinners at home saved $ as well. Not sure if people still do this but as kids this felt more luxurious to us than any hotel.

Adding I remember my mom saying the basic resorts were still more per night than the SFH with a private pool too (this was early 2000s). Not sure if still the case.

[Anonymous]

OP is probably looking right now, for hotels at Disney for xmas break. That's the busiest time of year, and it's too late in the game. Yes, prices are high.

The trick is to book far in advance, not during peak periods, and get discounts like if you book on disney.com, they have package deals that include park tickets. We neve spend more than $300/night and that's for Contemporary or Grand Floridian, boht on the monorail.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Growing up middle class we would rent a SFH house with a pool and drive into the parks every day (usually 10 min drive each way). As kids we loved having a private pool and making easy breakfasts / dinners at home saved $ as well. Not sure if people still do this but as kids this felt more luxurious to us than any hotel.

Growing up, we did something similar, but it was more like 30 minutes to drive to the Ticketing and Transportation lot, wait for the tram, 15 minute tram ride to the Magic Kingdom ticket booth (now I think the transportation is the monorail), wait in line to enter MK, then finally be on Main Street USA. Can you really get from your rental SFH to Main Street USA in 10 minutes?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Growing up middle class we would rent a SFH house with a pool and drive into the parks every day (usually 10 min drive each way). As kids we loved having a private pool and making easy breakfasts / dinners at home saved $ as well. Not sure if people still do this but as kids this felt more luxurious to us than any hotel.

Growing up, we did something similar, but it was more like 30 minutes to drive to the Ticketing and Transportation lot, wait for the tram, 15 minute tram ride to the Magic Kingdom ticket booth (now I think the transportation is the monorail), wait in line to enter MK, then finally be on Main Street USA. Can you really get from your rental SFH to Main Street USA in 10 minutes?

You pay more for convenience or pay less to be inconvenienced in today’s world. Applies to most things.

[Anonymous]

Well yes, of course. My parents did it one way; I stay on site. My question was whether or not rentals are available that will get you to Main Street USA in 10 minutes. It seems unlikely given the vast size of Disney World.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well yes, of course. My parents did it one way; I stay on site. My question was whether or not rentals are available that will get you to Main Street USA in 10 minutes. It seems unlikely given the vast size of Disney World.

True. There’s multiple other parks as well. We spent the least amount of time at Magic Kingdom. Probably helps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP is probably looking right now, for hotels at Disney for xmas break. That's the busiest time of year, and it's too late in the game. Yes, prices are high.

The trick is to book far in advance, not during peak periods, and get discounts like if you book on disney.com, they have package deals that include park tickets. We neve spend more than $300/night and that's for Contemporary or Grand Floridian, boht on the monorail.

How long ago? I haven’t seen prices that low in at least a decade at those hotels, and I’m eligible for tons of discounts (military, pass holder, chase Disney visa, Florida resident)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP is probably looking right now, for hotels at Disney for xmas break. That's the busiest time of year, and it's too late in the game. Yes, prices are high.

The trick is to book far in advance, not during peak periods, and get discounts like if you book on disney.com, they have package deals that include park tickets. We neve spend more than $300/night and that's for Contemporary or Grand Floridian, boht on the monorail.

How long ago? I haven’t seen prices that low in at least a decade at those hotels, and I’m eligible for tons of discounts (military, pass holder, chase Disney visa, Florida resident)

I've seen in the $400s for Animal Kingdom Lodge (my personal favorite). With the Armed Forces Salute, you can get 20-25% off, but you have to call and book over the phone. Unsure about other discounts.

[Anonymous]

I rented DVC points for a stay at Animal Kingdom Lodge for May 2026 at $293/ night, all taxes and fees included.

[Anonymous]

We are staying at an art of amination suite (value hotel) for under $500/night in January. It has a separate sleeping area and two bathrooms. That price is comparable to what we have paid for hotels in major cities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We rent points from a 3rd party website and stay at Disney Vacation Club villas, which can be significantly less expensive than rack rate. My husband would be happy at an offsite motel but I love staying on property.

This! We secure Deluxe rooms somewhere between 25 to 40% off.

Eventually, we broke down and purchased Disney's timeshare service (Disney Vacation Club) as it will - eventually - provide lower cost rooms.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP is probably looking right now, for hotels at Disney for xmas break. That's the busiest time of year, and it's too late in the game. Yes, prices are high.

The trick is to book far in advance, not during peak periods, and get discounts like if you book on disney.com, they have package deals that include park tickets. We neve spend more than $300/night and that's for Contemporary or Grand Floridian, boht on the monorail.

How long ago? I haven’t seen prices that low in at least a decade at those hotels, and I’m eligible for tons of discounts (military, pass holder, chase Disney visa, Florida resident)

I've seen in the $400s for Animal Kingdom Lodge (my personal favorite). With the Armed Forces Salute, you can get 20-25% off, but you have to call and book over the phone. Unsure about other discounts.

pp you quoted here.

Yes, but Animal Kingdom is less expensive than Grand Floridian and Contemporary, and the pp (you?) said she is able to get those for less than $300/night.
Even with military discounts, I've never heard of GF or Contemporary being less than $300--at least not any time in the last several years. We go during non-peak times like end of August, when rates are generally at their cheapest.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP is probably looking right now, for hotels at Disney for xmas break. That's the busiest time of year, and it's too late in the game. Yes, prices are high.

The trick is to book far in advance, not during peak periods, and get discounts like if you book on disney.com, they have package deals that include park tickets. We neve spend more than $300/night and that's for Contemporary or Grand Floridian, boht on the monorail.

How long ago? I haven’t seen prices that low in at least a decade at those hotels, and I’m eligible for tons of discounts (military, pass holder, chase Disney visa, Florida resident)

I've seen in the $400s for Animal Kingdom Lodge (my personal favorite). With the Armed Forces Salute, you can get 20-25% off, but you have to call and book over the phone. Unsure about other discounts.

pp you quoted here.

Yes, but Animal Kingdom is less expensive than Grand Floridian and Contemporary, and the pp (you?) said she is able to get those for less than $300/night.
Even with military discounts, I've never heard of GF or Contemporary being less than $300--at least not any time in the last several years. We go during non-peak times like end of August, when rates are generally at their cheapest.

I was just explaining that I can get it to right around $300 at an off-peak time.