A Disney Cruise actually isn’t low cost, particularly in contrast with different cruise operators. But what about in contrast with different sorts of Disney holidays?
For many vacationers, a Disney cruise really comes out cheaper than a visit to Walt Disney World.
To higher perceive Disney Cruise Line versus Disney World prices, NerdWallet analyzed costs for 2 individuals sharing one room throughout three value tiers: Value, Moderate or Deluxe.
Disney World journey prices included 4 classes:
- Park tickets (and add-ons, akin to Genie+).
- On-property lodge room charges.
- Food at park eating places.
- Add-on actions, akin to spa therapies and excursions.
Cruise costs are principally all-inclusive, so the evaluation solely included:
- Base charges (together with taxes and costs).
- Add-on actions.
Here’s a better have a look at the info on Disney Cruise Line versus Disney World prices.
Disney Cruise Line vs. Disney World: An total value comparability
While the info doesn’t definitively decide whether or not one is cheaper each time, there are some clear developments.
For longer journeys (e.g., seven nights), cruises are at all times cheaper. Cruises are additionally a greater deal for Deluxe-style journeys with bigger or fancier rooms, plus actions like spa companies.
Here are the typical costs throughout every journey kind:
What’s included in a Disney Cruise?
While Disney Cruises have a comparatively excessive base value, you gained’t pay far more as soon as onboard. Cruises embody:
A room for 2, plus taxes and port charges: Stateroom costs assume double occupancy, so solo vacationers owe the identical as a pair. They additionally embody taxes and port charges, which range by location however usually quantity to about 15% of stateroom prices. Cramming greater than two individuals in every room incurs a further value.
On Disney’s latest ship, the Disney Wish, the lowest-cost, inside staterooms embody a queen mattress, convertible couch mattress, pull-down mattress and loo, plus a mini fridge and TV.
All meals (besides some upgraded selections): Food is free, aside from a number of upscale eating places, alcohol and upgraded choices. You can eat as a lot as you need from the onboard eating places or order complimentary room service (accessible 24 hours a day).
Soft drinks are included at meals and at sure outposts just like the teens-only lounge — however value additional at bars and lounges. Alcohol is at all times additional, although Disney allows you to carry alcohol onboard in restricted portions.
Most leisure and actions: Once onboard, you’re free to attend Broadway-quality reveals, bounce within the swimming pools, hit the fitness center, go to the nightclubs and meet characters roaming about.
What’s not included in a Disney Cruise?
There are a number of additional prices you’ll virtually actually encounter onboard. Extra prices embody:
Gratuities: While not required, they’re really helpful. Disney suggests $14.50 per particular person, per night time (about $100 additional per particular person on a seven-night cruise). Disney routinely provides an 18% gratuity for some non-obligatory add-ons, akin to spa companies and alcohol.
Transportation to the ship: You’re by yourself to reach on the port, although Disney may help coordinate shuttles (for an additional price, in fact). Note that NerdWallet didn’t embody transportation bills to Disney World in its evaluation.
Avoidable extras
Disney would possibly attempt to promote passengers upgrades and add-ons, however you may have a pleasant cruise even in the event you skip them:
Port adventures: Upon docking, you’re free to discover by yourself, which is theoretically free. Or, you may pay Disney to chauffeur you round by way of organized excursions. Some are inexpensive, like bike leases (usually underneath $20). Others value extra, like excursions of historic websites and guided scuba dives. Some run many 1000’s of {dollars}, like a seaplane trip by way of Misty Fjords National Monument provided on some Alaska cruises.
Wi-Fi: Internet entry prices additional. Prices range by itinerary, although it’s uncommon to seek out free Wi-Fi on any cruise.
Some onboard leisure and actions: You would possibly pay additional for a princess tea social gathering, private coaching or a golf simulator.
What prices do you have to account for on a Disney World journey?
At Disney World, you usually pay for meals and leisure à la carte. While most experiences are included as soon as contained in the park, you’re nonetheless paying for a ticket to get inside and the meals at eating places whilst you’re there.
So with that, listed here are some prices you must anticipate to come across at Disney World, damaged down by service stage:
Disney World ticket costs
Disney World ticket costs range by park and date. An common Magic Kingdom ticket (usually the most costly park) prices $160 for one-day tickets, although costs drop the longer you keep. NerdWallet discovered that the typical five-day, one-park-per-day ticket value was $643, which breaks right down to $129 per day.
Disney sells further add-ons like Park Hopper tickets that allow you to go to a number of parks every day or entry to Lightning Lane entrances, that are precedence queues for sure points of interest.
Disney World inns
There are greater than 30 Disney-owned inns at Disney World. According to Disney value monitoring website Touring Plans, rooms run as little as $128 per night time on the inexpensive Disney All-Star properties.
Disney World meals prices
Comparing Disney World versus Disney Cruise Line meals is difficult, contemplating cruises are all-you-can-eat. Disney World has buffets and eating places with à la carte meals and snacks.
Folks with lighter appetites (or who pack snacks) would possibly discover Disney World extra price it than a cruise. But cruises can provide important financial savings for many who make the most of the all-you-can-eat meals.
Other actions
Across each cruises and Disney World, you would keep entertained with out opening your pockets (sure, there’s loads of free stuff to do at Disney World outdoors the theme parks). But it’s extra practical to imagine somebody spending every week at both would pay for additional actions, like spa companies, snorkel leases, mini golf or cruise Wi-Fi.
Depending on the size of the journey and value tier, NerdWallet’s pattern budgets accounted for extra leisure line objects:
In normal, cruisers ought to finances extra for add-on actions than Disney World vacationers. However, even probably the most frugal vacationers are more likely to pay a bit extra for add-ons throughout a weeklong Disney World journey.
The backside line
Don’t write off a cruise just because the upfront value is much greater than a Disney lodge room. A cruise is greater than a spot to sleep — it’s meals and leisure, too. When budgeting for a Disney World journey, finances for theme park tickets, meals and all the opposite incidental prices that go together with it.
Both journeys are rising in recognition. In 2022, Disney noticed a 51% improve in occupied lodge room nights throughout all its resorts and a 32% improve in passenger cruise days, in line with its Fiscal Year 2022 Annual Financial Report — suggesting that curiosity in theme parks is rising sooner than cruises.
But for vacationers searching for any type of Disney repair — particularly for every week or longer preferring extra luxurious lodging — cruising is likely to be cheaper than going to Disney World.
Sam Kemmis and Carissa Rawson contributed to this report.
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