Which Disney World package is the best? It depends on who is going and how much you want to spend, but there is a simple way to figure it out. Below I break down the main package options, who each one fits, and the easy math to check before you book.
Quick Answer
For most people, the best Disney World package is a Value or Moderate resort room plus a base theme park ticket, with no extras added until you have done the math. That combo keeps the price down and still gives you the perks of staying on Disney property, like free transportation to the parks and Early Entry.
Here are my quick picks:
- Best for saving money: a Value resort with just a room and a ticket
- Best for most families: a Moderate resort with a base ticket
- Best for couples: a Value or Moderate resort, since you only need one room
- Best for food lovers: a Moderate resort with a dining plan you have priced out first
- Best for a big splurge: a Deluxe resort
Prices change by date, so use the numbers in this post as a guide and not a promise.
What Is a Disney World Package?
A Disney World package means booking your resort room and your theme park tickets together, in one reservation, directly through Disney. You see one total price instead of two separate charges.
You can add extras on top, like a dining plan, Park Hopper, or Memory Maker. None of those are required. If you want the full price breakdown, see my guide on how much a Disney World package costs.
The 3 Things That Change Your Package Price
Every package comes down to three choices. Once you know these, picking gets a lot easier.
1. Resort tier. This is the biggest one. Value resorts like All-Star Sports and Pop Century usually run about $150 to $250 a night. Moderate resorts like Caribbean Beach and Coronado Springs run about $210 to $350 a night. Deluxe resorts like the Polynesian and Grand Floridian start around $500 a night and can go past $900. These are rough averages, and nightly rates change with the season, so check Disney’s resort pages for your dates. For a closer look at each option, see my guide to the best hotels near Disney World.
2. Ticket length. Longer tickets cost less per day. A 4-day base ticket is roughly $650 per person on average, so match your ticket to the number of park days you will really use. My guide on how many days you need at Disney World can help you decide.
3. Add-ons. Park Hopper lets you visit more than one park in a day, and it usually adds about $65 to $105 per ticket. A dining plan is priced per person, per night. Memory Maker is a flat fee for the trip.
Best Disney World Package for Each Type of Trip
Best for a Tight Budget: Value Resort
Pick a Value resort, keep it to a room and a ticket, and skip Park Hopper and the dining plan. A 4-night Value package with a 4-day ticket usually starts around $1,200 to $1,800 per person, which makes it the lowest-cost way to do a package. I have stayed at two Value resorts myself, Pop Century and Art of Animation, and each one had its own quirky charm.
Your travel dates matter just as much as your resort. Going in a low-crowd month can drop the price even more, and my guide to the cheapest month to go to Disney World shows when to look.
Best for Most Families: Moderate Resort
Moderate resorts cost more than Value, but the rooms are often a little bigger and the theming is more fun. One room usually fits 2 to 4 guests at the same nightly rate, so a family does not pay extra per person for the room.
Add a base ticket and stop there. You can always add extras later if your plans change.
Best for Couples: Value or Moderate Resort
Two adults only need one room, which keeps the hotel part of the package lower. If you plan to eat out a lot, a dining plan might fit. Check my breakdown of the average cost for 2 people to go to Disney World to see how the totals add up.
Best for a Big Splurge: Deluxe Resort
Deluxe packages can go past $3,000 per person for 4 nights. Some Deluxe resorts sit on the monorail line or near a park, which makes getting around easier.
Most of the extra cost pays for the resort itself. Pick this one if you want to enjoy the hotel too, not just sleep there.
Best for First-Timers
Keep it simple. A Value or Moderate resort, a base ticket, and one park per day is plenty for a first trip. If you are not sure which parks to pick, my Disney World parks guide explains what each park is best for.
Is the Disney Dining Plan Worth Adding?
A dining plan is the most common add-on, and it is priced per person, per night. The Quick-Service Dining Plan is built around counter-service meals and snacks. The Standard Dining Plan adds table-service meals. Check Disney’s site for the current price and what each plan includes.
Kids are priced lower than adults on both plans. Because the cost is per night, it adds up fast on a longer stay, so multiply the nightly price by the number of nights before you decide.
I did not have a dining plan on my trip. Be Our Guest at Magic Kingdom was a one-of-a-kind experience, and I loved it, especially if you love Beauty and the Beast. Let’s face it, who doesn’t?
Here is a simple test. Write down what you would normally spend on food in one park day. If that number is lower than the plan price, skip the plan and pay as you go. If you already plan on table-service meals, the Standard plan is worth pricing out.
Disney also runs package offers from time to time, like free dining for kids when the adults in the room buy a plan. These offers change, so check what is running for your dates.
Package or Book Separately: Which Is Cheaper?
Not always a package. Bundling your room and ticket does not come with a built-in discount. A package is only cheaper when Disney is running a package-only offer, like discounted nightly rates or free dining.
The fix takes a few minutes. Price the room alone for your dates. Price the ticket alone for the same number of days. Add those two numbers together and compare that total to the package price.
For my own trip, I booked my room and tickets separately. Doing it that way also lets you look at ticket deals. Restricted offers like the $89 Disney deal and the $50 a day Disney deal can lower your ticket cost if you qualify, and I also cover whether it is cheaper to buy Disney tickets through AAA.
How to Pick Your Package in 4 Steps
- Pick your dates first. Prices swing by season. Use my guide to the best time to visit Disney World to choose a window.
- Set a nightly budget for the room. Then match it to Value, Moderate, or Deluxe.
- Match your ticket to your park days. Only pay for the days you will really use.
- Price each add-on one at a time. Only keep the ones you would truly use.
If you are still deciding on a hotel, my guide on where to stay near Disney World compares on-site and off-site options.
Package Mistakes to Avoid
- Adding a dining plan because it sounds easy. Do the food math first.
- Buying Park Hopper on a short trip. For most first-timers, one park per day is plenty.
- Skipping the price check. Always compare the package to booking separately.
- Picking a resort before picking dates. The same room can cost a lot more in a busy week.
FAQ: Best Disney World Package
Which Disney World package is the best?
For most travelers, the best Disney World package is a Value or Moderate resort with a base ticket. Your dates, your group, and your budget decide the rest.
What is the best Disney World package for a family?
A Moderate resort with a base ticket works well for most families. One room fits 2 to 4 guests, and you can add extras only if you need them.
What is the cheapest Disney World package?
A Value resort with just a room and a ticket, booked during a low-crowd time like September or late January.
Is the Disney dining plan worth it?
Only if you would normally spend more on food than the plan costs. Many light eaters will do better paying as they go.
Is a package cheaper than booking separately?
Only when Disney is running a package-only deal. Without one, the totals are usually close, so compare both.
Do I need Park Hopper with a package?
No. Park Hopper is optional and adds about $65 to $105 per ticket. Most first-time visitors do fine with one park per day.
Final Thoughts
So, which Disney World package is the best? It is the one that fits your dates, your group, and your budget. For most people that means a Value or Moderate resort with a base ticket, and extras added only after you have done the math. All Disney resorts are great in their own quirky ways, so the right one depends on what you want out of your trip and who you are traveling with. I always recommend staying at a Disney resort because of the perks you get for going to the parks.
Start with your dates, pick your resort tier, then price out your ticket and add-ons. Before you book, check my guide on current Disney World ticket prices so you know what a fair ticket price looks like.