For budget-conscious fans, options for taking a Disney vacation are slim. Disney ticket prices can add up quickly, and paying extra for line-skipping privileges like Lightning Lane Multi Pass and Single Pass is practically imperative for a memorable trip.
Then, there’s food, hotels and other inevitable add-ons, from Mickey Mouse ears to princess makeovers. Yet hidden within the realm of Disney's offerings lies a surprisingly accessible option for luxury seekers: the Disney cruise.
While the notion of a Disney vacation may evoke thoughts of pricey indulgence, embarking on a Disney journey at sea ranks among the best examples of how to do a high-end Disney vacation on a budget.
NerdWallet analyzed total average trip costs across hundreds of sample itineraries for the following U.S. destinations:
- Walt Disney World Resort in Florida.
- Disneyland Resort in California.
- Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina, Hawaii.
- Disney Cruise Line voyages departing from U.S. ports.
NerdWallet broke trips into three price tiers — Value, Moderate and Deluxe — to represent travelers’ range of frugality versus luxury. For example, Value cruise cabins were inside staterooms with no windows, while Deluxe cabins faced outside and included a verandah.
Average trip costs across destinations
For seven-night trips, here are the average total prices per person (assuming double occupancy) across each Disney destination:
Value | Moderate | Deluxe | |
|---|---|---|---|
Walt Disney World Resort (Florida) | $2,163. | $2,583. | $5,329. |
Disney Cruise Line (departures from U.S. ports) | $2,412. | $2,612. | $3,103. |
Disneyland Resort (California) | $3,305. | $4,236. | $5,324. |
Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa in Ko Olina (Hawaii) | $3,753. | $4,093. | $5,358. |
For luxury travelers booking Deluxe tiers, a weeklong Disney cruise averages $3,103 per person—saving over $2,200 per person compared to a Deluxe stay at Walt Disney World ($5,329) or Disneyland ($5,324). However, for budget-focused travelers in the Value tier, Walt Disney World remains the lower-cost option at $2,163 per person compared to $2,412 on Disney Cruise Line.
What’s included in a Disney cruise
While cruises command a higher price tag upfront, standard offerings are largely all-inclusive. For travelers who take advantage of the all-you-can-eat buffets, youth clubs, and Broadway-style shows, the net cost of a high-end Disney cruise turns out lower than comparable park itineraries.
While a Disney cruise lacks traditional theme park rides — outside of water attractions like the AquaMouse — it offers character meet-and-greets, theatrical performances and shorter wait times for character interactions than what the parks typically feature.
What's not included on a Disney cruise
While Disney cruises include core dining and entertainment, certain premium options incur extra fees:
- Adults-only dining (such as Palo).
- Spa treatments and salon services.
- Shore excursions.
- Alcoholic beverages and specialty coffees.
Even without add-ons, standard rotational dining venues provide high-end culinary experiences at no additional cost.
Disney is increasingly leaning into bars themed to its beloved attractions. For example, when Disney’s newest ship, Disney Treasure, sets sail on its maiden voyage in December 2024, it’ll feature the world’s first Haunted Mansion-inspired bar. Then, there's a bar called Skipper Society themed to Disney parks’ Jungle Cruise attraction. And that's not all. The submarine-themed Periscope Pub is inspired by Disney's "20,000 Leagues Under the Sea."
How daily costs compare
On a per-person, per-day basis, a seven-night Disney cruise on a Value budget averages $344.61, compared to $308.99 per day for a Value trip to Walt Disney World.
However, at the Deluxe tier, the daily dynamic flips dramatically:
- Disney Cruise Line (Deluxe): ~$443.35 per person / day.
- Walt Disney World (Deluxe): ~$761.35 per person / day.
Because cruise fares bundle lodging and standard dining into one rate, high-end travelers avoid the cumulative costs of Deluxe hotel room rates, park tickets, fine dining and add-on entertainment.
To calculate the estimated trip costs above, NerdWallet aggregated and analyzed trip costs across three categories:
- Park tickets (and add-ons, such as Lightning Lane Multi Pass).
- On-property hotel room rates or cruise cabins.
- Food at Disney-owned restaurants.
Even cheaper family vacation options
If your heart isn’t set on Disney, there are cheaper ways to cruise. According to data provided by Cruise Critic to NerdWallet, you can book a 7-night Caribbean cruise on some of Royal Caribbean's older ships for less than $500 per person.
For folks seeking a Disney trip, specifically, there are other ways to take a Disney vacation on a budget. NerdWallet’s calculations assumed theme park guests stayed at Disney-owned resorts, but plenty of other, cheaper hotels (often bookable on points) are within walking distance of Disney properties. And for visitors who still want to experience Disney without buying theme park tickets, there are plenty of free or cheap things to do at Disney World.
And as is the case with any type of trip, be flexible with your travel dates. Sometimes even shifting departure dates by a few days can result in hundreds of dollars in savings. Usually, traveling during the shoulder season or the offseason means even deeper discounts.
Methodology
NerdWallet analyzed dozens of cruise prices, 200 ticket prices and 300 hotel room rates at Disney-owned hotels, and prices for more than 100 additional activities and restaurant menu items.
NerdWallet broke trips into one-night, three-night and seven-night trips, and also categorized trips into three price tiers: Value, Moderate and Deluxe (the same classification that Disney World uses for its hotels).
NerdWallet’s trip costs start once you’re on resort property or onboard the cruise, and therefore don’t account for parking, airfare or driving costs. Here’s what’s included in each price tier:
Value | Moderate | Deluxe | |
|---|---|---|---|
Travel style | A budget-minded traveler seeking affordable options, few frills and little to no add-ons. | Someone price conscious but who occasionally splurges. | Someone who will pay top dollar to access the high end of what Disney offers. |
Tickets (Disney World) | 1-park-per-day tickets. | 1-park-per-day tickets. | 1-park-per-day tickets. |
Hotels (Disney World) | Overnight at Disney’s Value hotels. | Overnight at Disney's Moderate hotels. | Overnight at Disney’s Deluxe hotels. |
Daily meals (Disney World) | 3 meals (1 entree and 1 beverage) at Value counter service restaurants or food carts. | 2 Value meals plus 1 Moderate meal (1 entree, 1 dessert or side and 1 beverage) at a casual, table service restaurant with waitstaff. | 1 Value meal, 1 Moderate meal plus 1 Deluxe meal at an upscale, table service restaurant with waitstaff. |
Stateroom type (Disney Cruise Line) | Standard Inside. | Deluxe Oceanview. | Deluxe Oceanview with Verandah. |
Daily meals (Disney Cruise Line) | No extra meals added. | 1 additional meal at Palo. | 1 additional meal and wine pairing at Palo. |
From there, NerdWallet used average costs to build sample trip budgets.
Additional Disney World notes:
- Trips assume three meals per day and overnight stays at a Disney-owned hotel.
- Three-night hotel room rates are based on Friday night check-in, which is generally more expensive than weekday check-ins. All hotel room rates are based on check-in dates that correspond with cruise departure dates.
- Because Walt Disney World ticket prices vary by park, two-day ticket prices (used to estimate prices for a three-day trip) were based on Magic Kingdom and Epcot.
Additional Disney Cruise notes:
- Because Disney Cruise Line doesn't offer discounted single-occupancy fares, all overall costs are based on two travelers (with hotel prices also assuming double occupancy).
- NerdWallet’s cruise analysis considered departures from Port Canaveral, Florida, which is about an hour's drive from Walt Disney World.
- NerdWallet analyzed cruises sailing through The Bahamas, though prices vary widely by destination.
- NerdWallet analyzed journeys on two ships — the Disney Treasure and the Disney Wish — which are some of Disney's newest ships (and the most expensive to sail with).
These budgets should be used to estimate rather than determine your own Disney trip costs. For instance, you might spend less if you pack your own snacks, or you might spend more if you spring for miscellaneous costs (e.g. taxis, Mickey-shaped balloons or PhotoPass).
Jennifer Coates contributed to this report.
(Top photo courtesy of Disney)
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