Disney Cruises are expensive! There are no two ways about it. They may not be as expensive as you think when you compare the cost of a similar vacation, but I realize that’s still a lot of money sometimes. We often get asked how to get deals on a Disney Cruise or if Disney Cruise Line offers promotions, but there are actually other ways to save when sailing with Disney. So let me give you some advice on keeping the costs as low as you can. Here are 10 of the best ways to save money on your Disney Cruise!
1. Book Early – As a general rule, the day new itineraries come out for a Disney Cruise is the cheapest they will get. There are exceptions, and I’ll talk about those in #2 below, but this is still a good rule of thumb. If you are looking at peak times like Summer, Thanksgiving, Christmas, or Easter, I can almost guarantee you these prices aren’t going down; in fact, they may go up and up over time. When a sailing starts filling up, the prices go up. I’ve seen prices jump hundreds of dollars overnight. If you know what you want, book it as soon as you can. Book it, sit back, and watch the prices soar. Then pat yourself on the back. If you’re wondering when the next itineraries are being released, feel free to reach out. I’m happy to help!
2. Book Late – That does seem to contradict point number 1! But here are the exceptions. There are some last-minute deals to be had if a particular sailing is not filling up. These are highly restricted fares known as IGT, OGT, and VGT rates. IGT means you are guaranteed an inside stateroom or better, OGT means an oceanview stateroom or better, and VGT means a verandah or better. These rates enable you to pick a general category but not a specific category or stateroom, Disney will do that for you. They are non-refundable, payable in full when booked, and no changes can be made. If you’re flexible during the off-season and will be okay not wedded to a particular sailing date or stateroom location, you may want to risk waiting until your timeframe gets close before booking it in order to potentially save money on a Disney Cruise. These rates aren’t usually less than opening day, but they’ll save you money when compared to current prices. These rates are rare, so if you have set vacation dates then I would refer you back to #1.
Pro tip: Don’t confuse these with GTY which is a status that a category goes into when it’s almost full. A GTY stateroom status is not a discounted rate! It just means you can’t choose your exact stateroom because that category is almost full, and Disney wants some flexibility with assigning you one.
3. Know What Discounts You Qualify For – Disney periodically offers discounts for Florida Residents, Military, and Canadians. Department of Defense civilian employees also qualify for military rates when they are available. Disney generally releases Florida Resident and Military discounts on Monday mornings. Scott Sanders over at The Disney Cruise Line Blog does a great job of listing all the available specials every Monday. In 2023, Disney also released a great special for Disney+ subscribers so staying up to date on the latest Disney Cruise discounts can really save you a lot of money! Let your travel agent know what you qualify for so they can watch for you and notify you when you can save on a Disney Cruise! Just as with #2, these are not always available and do require flexibility.
4. Book Two Staterooms – This one definitely sounds backwards! But it’s true. Sometimes booking two staterooms is less expensive than booking one. On the Disney Magic and Disney Wonder especially, it’s almost always less for a family of five to book two inside staterooms as opposed to the only option for a single stateroom for five - one verandah stateroom. Sometimes it’s also cheaper for a family of four to get two inside staterooms rather than a verandah. That’s because the cost for the third and fourth person in a verandah stateroom is sometimes more than the cost for two people in an inside stateroom. You may value a second bathroom more than a verandah! Discuss with your travel agent what’s most important to your family, and from there we can find the perfect solution for you.
5. Time Your Vacation Carefully – Timing is everything on a Disney Cruise. Summer and holiday cruises are expensive because of supply and demand (when schools are out, more families travel). If you have the flexibility to go during the school year, you can save a fortune. September is historically the least expensive month because of both hurricane season and the start of school. If you are tied down during the school year, try the week before you start school or the week after you get out. Schools all over the country are on different schedules and sometimes you can snag a deal because yours ends early or starts late.
6. Don’t Count Out the Classic Ships – The classic ships tend to have more specials, and they are still amazing! I wouldn’t and don’t, hesitate to sail on either one. With the Wish taking over the itineraries that the Dream used to sail, you can find some great deals on the Dream, and the same should be true of the Fantasy when the Treasure takes over the 7-night Caribbean sailings. Disney does a phenomenal job maintaining and upgrading their ships. Just because a Disney Cruise ship is older doesn’t mean it’s not just as magical as the rest.
7. Look for Onboard Credits – One way to help save you some money is onboard credits. Disney doesn’t allow anyone to discount their cruises. If you ever see a lower price on a cruise, it might be because they haven’t added in things like port fees, taxes, etc. Again, Disney doesn’t allow anyone to discount their cruises, so think twice when you see a lower price. The price you see should be the same price everywhere. Many travel agencies (like this one) offer onboard credits as a thank-you for booking with them. Onboard credits are applied to your account onboard and can generally be used for anything you spend money on once you get on the ship. Things like excursions, tips, alcohol, and souvenirs. They are great to have! One word of caution - don’t sacrifice good service for the biggest onboard credit. It’s most important to find a travel agent who meets your expectations in regard to timeliness, communication, and overall service. If your travel agent happens to offer onboard credit, consider that an additional perk.
8. Pay With Gift Cards – Sometimes you can find Disney gift cards at a discount. $95 for a $100 gift card doesn’t sound like much of a savings, but it does add up! Keep your eyes peeled especially around the holidays for promotions. You can use these giftcards to pay off your cruise or towards your bill onboard.
9. Book Your Next Cruise Onboard – This one is hard to do if you’re looking at your first cruise, but once you get on that cruise, book your next one! No, seriously! If you think there is any chance under heaven that you will get on another cruise in the next two years, book a placeholder onboard. You can book up to two staterooms to be used on the same future sailing, for $250 each. After you or your travel agent converts it to a specific itinerary and date, you’ll save 10% on that next cruise, as long as it’s within 2 years, non-concierge, and not a blackout date. You’ll also pay a reduced deposit on 7-night and longer sailings. If you don’t use that placeholder, you get the $250 back. It’s a no-lose situation! Booking a placeholder is the best way to save money on a Disney Cruise.
10. Use a Travel Agent – I know you’re shocked that I would recommend this, but using a travel agent on a cruise isn’t just for convenience’s sake and possible onboard credits. In addition to all the knowledge they bring to the table, a travel agent can save you money. A good travel agent knows all of the points above and has a direct line of communication to Disney. They can guide you to the best prices and help you plan a vacation in your budget specific to your family. They can steer you towards things like secret porthole rooms which are oceanview staterooms with an inside stateroom price. They can put something on hold for you the second a big special is announced and before the staterooms disappear or apply a discount after the fact. The services of a good travel agent will ensure your cruise is the one you’ve been dreaming about, all for no charge to you. That’s right. The best Disney Cruise Travel Agents’ planning services are free for you to use! If you’re wondering why so many Disney Cruisers use Travel Agents, read here for more information.
As you can see, there are so many ways to save money on a Disney Cruise. And the list doesn’t stop there. Our Recommended Travel Agents like Storybook Destinations can fill you in on tips to save on the photo package, at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique, on excursions, and more. Our agents work with Disney Guests around the world to help them plan their Disney Cruise Line vacation. We love Disney, and we love helping our client’s dreams come true! To start planning your Disney Cruise, reach out to one of the best Disney Cruise Travel Agents who can help you book your Disney Cruise at no cost to you.
Storybook Destinations, the sponsor of this article, is one of DCL Community’s Recommended Travel Agencies that specializes in all things Disney Cruise Line. Their team is happy to answer your questions and help you plan your next Disney Cruise Line vacation for your family, friends, or special occasion! To learn more about Storybook Destinations, visit their webpage or contact us today!
