How much does a trip to Disney World for a family really cost?

A trip to Disney World can cost anywhere from “not that much” to tens of thousands of dollars. Using points for accommodations somewhere such as the Swan and Dolphin on property or in Disney Springs will help tremendously with cost — as will using your points to cover the cost of park tickets.

But, outside of using points, a family of four can expect to spend $2,500 if sticking to a tight budget, $5,000 for a mid-range trip to Disney and even more for a deluxe trip. But, don’t worry, there are many ways to save on the cost of your trip.

What's the best way to use points at Disney?

You can actually use Marriott points to stay on Disney World property at the Disney Swan or Dolphin resorts (ranges from 40,000 – 60,000 points per night). These aren’t true Disney hotels (they are technically a Westin and a Sheraton), but they are walking distance from both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. You could also redeem an annual 85k night certificate from the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card on nights the rate is 85k points or less.

What's the best way to use points at Disney?

You can actually use Marriott points to stay on Disney World property at the Disney Swan or Dolphin resorts (ranges from 40,000 – 60,000 points per night). These aren’t true Disney hotels (they are technically a Westin and a Sheraton), but they are walking distance from both Epcot and Hollywood Studios. You could also redeem an annual 85k night certificate from the Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card on nights the rate is 85k points or less.

What is the biggest difference between Disney World and Disneyland?

Disney World is an international destination where people drive across multiple states or fly in and stay for a week or more, whereas Disneyland is more of a locals park where people go for the day or perhaps a couple of days. While there are three Disneyland hotels to choose from (which is far fewer than the couple of dozen Disney World hotels), you can stay at a variety of points hotels near the park within an easy walking distance to Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park.

While a trip to Disney World can be relatively complicated to plan, Disneyland has the advantage of being pretty manageable and easier to plan at the last minute.

What's the best way to get to Disneyland?

If you are flying to California, the closest airport to Disneyland is John Wayne Airport (SNA), which is about 15 miles away. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) is about 26 miles away, though it can take much longer than you’d think to get from there to Disneyland thanks to California traffic. If you are arriving by train, the Anaheim station is just minutes away from Disneyland property. In all cases, you’ll likely need a rental car or a car share/rideshare service set up to go from the airport or train station to Disneyland.

Who should go on a Disney Cruise?

The Disney Cruise Line prices as a pretty luxury cruise line. For your hard-earned dollars, you get meals in rotating line-up of themed restaurants, Broadway-quality evening shows, included kid clubs (for those 3 and up), on-demand room service and a litany of onboard activities. You do not need to have kids or be a Disney-fanatic to enjoy a Disney Cruise.

That said, the “Disney premium” you’ll pay to sail on Disney over an otherwise similar line, such as Royal Caribbean, is most worth it if you place value on having access to the Disney characters, Disney movies and shows and Disney-themed kid clubs.

If you want all that plus, even more, luxury and service, you can splurge on Disney Cruise Line’s Concierge-level service.

What's Disney's private island like?

In the Bahamas, you will find Castaway Cay, Disney’s private island. Many, though not all, of Disney Cruise Line’s Caribbean sailings will make a stop (or, occasionally, two stops) at this private island.

There’s no extra charge to visit Disney’s Castaway Cay, and the only people there are those who arrived via the Disney Cruise Line. On the island, you’ll find some postcard-perfect beaches (including an adult-only area). While there sadly aren’t any swimming pools on the island, there is a splash pad available, as well as cabanas you can potentially book for a significant upcharge. Just note these are often booked up months before the sailing date as they are very popular.

Food is available at no additional charge at restaurants such as Cookies BBQ and Cookies Two BBQ on the island. Some activities, such as bike riding and snorkeling do cost extra, but you can spend no additional cash and still have a great day at Castaway Cay.

Where is Disney's Aulani?

Disney’s Aulani resort is in Hawaii. More specifically, the 21-acre resort sits on the western shore of Oahu, about a 25-minute drive from the airport in Honolulu.

The resort is in a relatively secluded high-end resort area called Ko Olina.

Here are ways you can fly to Hawaii using points and miles, as well as our favorite way to get to Hawaii with kids along for the journey.

What's it like to stay at Aulani?

Disney’s Aulani is a beautiful resort with on-site restaurants, a lazy river, water slides, splash pad, an amazing free kid club, many activities, character meet-and-greets and more. While many activities are included, not all are. For example, there’s a manmade lagoon where you can pay extra to snorkel with the fish, as well as cabanas available for rent.

A stay at Aulani is likely a fun action-packed stay, but you do need to plan in advance for some restaurants and activities. So, be ready to use some of your Disney Park strategies to maximize your fun here, and then book some slower-paced days away from the resort.

If you want to save money at Aulani, be sure to explore renting Disney Vacation Club points.