The Cheapest Disney Vacation Surprised Us, Too - NerdWallet (2024)

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: 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 Disney on a budget.

NerdWallet analyzed total average trip costs across hundreds of sample itineraries for the following U.S. destinations:

NerdWallet also broke down trips into three price tiers — Value, Moderate and Deluxe — to represent travelers’ range of frugality versus luxury (e.g., Value cruise cabins were inside with no windows, while Deluxe cabins faced outside and included a balcony).

Read more about NerdWallet's methodology at the end of this article.

For seven-night trips, here were the average prices per person (assuming double occupancy) across each Disney destination:

Assuming double occupancy, weeklong Disney cruises cost less than $2,000 per person, on average. Even a cruise with all the frills (like port excursions, spa treatments and upgraded meals) still costs less than a value trip to Aulani.

While cruises have a high price tag upfront, most everything is included on board. And for folks who take advantage of it all — meaning the all-you-can-eat buffets, the kids clubs and the shows — the net cost of a Disney cruise often turns out lower than that of any other Disney trip.

It makes sense that travelers are turning to Disney cruises. In the second quarter of 2023, The Walt Disney Co.’s domestic revenue increased by 14% year over year, which the company attributed to Disney Cruise Line, according to its second-quarter earnings report.

Though results at Disney’s domestic parks and resorts were slightly unfavorable to the prior-year quarter, the company’s cruise arm stood apart “due to an increase in passenger cruise days,” which included the addition of the newest ship, the Disney Wish, which took off with its first passengers in 2022.

For what it’s worth, a Disney cruise isn’t necessarily the experience that comes to mind when most travelers think "Disney vacation." There are no rides — unless you count something like the AquaMouse on the Disney Wish, which is billed as Disney’s first attraction at sea (but is more like a waterslide on steroids).

But many other aspects of Disney parks exist on the cruises, including meet-and-greets with characters and stage shows. And sometimes, the cruise experience outperforms the theme parks. For example, there’s typically shorter lines to meet characters (and more time to spend with them when you do).

While Disney cruises are known for being all-inclusive, there are some things you may need to budget for beyond the base fare — should you choose to take part in them.

Adults-only restaurants, spa treatments, shore excursions, alcoholic beverages and some other drinks such as fancy coffees are among the expenses not included in the base price.

You certainly don't need to pay for such things to have a fulfilling cruise. The family-friendly restaurants are among the best restaurants you'll find anywhere at sea (and those don't incur an additional cost). And you can still explore the city you've docked in on your own for free without necessarily booking a shore excursion.

But sometimes the extras are worth it. For theme park fans, Disney cruise line bars — which means paying extra for a drink (or a few) — often end up being the best part of the trip.

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 byDisney's“20,000 LeaguesUnder the Sea.”

On a nightly basis, the average seven-night Disney cruise starts as low as $279 per person — just under the $293 nightly price to spend seven nights at Disney World on a value budget.

To calculate the estimated trip costs above, NerdWallet aggregated and analyzed trip costs across four categories:

Because Disney cruises are mostly all-inclusive, the analysis accounted only for room rates and add-on activities. Sure, cruises command a high “room rate,” but final costs are lower because there are no park tickets to buy and standard meals are included (the additional food costs are optional extras, like alcohol and bottled water).

Yet fewer categories contributing to the sum total doesn’t necessarily guarantee lower costs. Just look to Aulani, Disney’s resort in Hawaii. While free amenities include pools, Aunty’s Beach House (a club for kids ages 4-12), Disney character photo ops and nighttime stories around a campfire, most other things are a la carte — and an expensive cart at that.

Room rates start at about $760 per night, on average, and it’s unlikely travelers would go without experiencing the Ka Wa'a luau, which begins at $175 for guests ages 10 and up. Spa treatments, snorkel rentals, yoga classes and excursions cost extra, too.

It’s true that trips to Disney’s theme parks aren’t quite as expensive as Aulani: Meals and park tickets can average $154 per day at Disneyland and $160 per day at Walt Disney World.

If your heart isn’t set on Disney, there are cheaper ways to cruise. At Carnival Cruise Line, passengers spend, on average, $219 per person, per day, according to Carnival Corp. revenue and passenger data from its 2023 first-quarter earnings report. That’s far lower than NerdWallet’s estimated $279 daily spend for Disney cruises.

Yet Disney cruises aren’t the most expensive either. Passengers spent on average $331 per day across Norwegian Cruise Line vessels, according to the company’s first quarter 2023 earnings report. Norwegian Cruise Line’s figures come in particularly high because its figures encompass not only its namesake brand, but other ultra-high end brands including Regent Seven Seas Cruises, which ranks as NerdWallet’s best cruise line for luxury travelers.

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.

NerdWallet analyzed more than 75 cruise rates, 200 ticket prices and 550 hotel room rates at Disney-owned hotels, plus prices for more than 100 additional activities and restaurant menu items. NerdWallet broke trips into three price tiers: Value, Moderate and Deluxe (the same classifications Disney World uses for its hotels).

NerdWallet’s trip costs start once you’re on resort property or on board the cruise, thus they don’t account for parking, airfare or driving costs. Here’s what’s included in each price tier:

From there, NerdWallet used average costs to build sample trip budgets.

Additional notes:

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).