Planning Tips & Tricks!
Least Expensive Times to Go to Disney World
Know your Seasons
Spring & Holiday- MOST expensive
Spring Break Mar/Apr- highest resort rates
Thanksgiving through New Years
May through June- beginning of summer
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Value Seasons- least crowded (sometimes offering Free Dining Plan)
January right after New Years to mid Feb (exception Disney Marathon weekend & Martin Luther King weekend)
Example: $162 per night at Pop Century Resort standard room
$330 same room during Christmas & NY
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Avoid Holidays & Peak Season
Weekends in October, leading up to Halloween
November & December
Christmas & New Years- weeks most expensive
Long weekends & holidays
(Dates are based on pricing per night & what is expected for crowds)
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The Best times to visit Disney World in 2024 are ...
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Jan. 16 – Jan 31
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Feb 1 - 8
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May 6 -10 & 13 - 17
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Aug 5 - 30
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Sept 3- 26
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Nov 12 -15
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Dec 10 -13 & 16 19
January & February are the top picks for the lowest crowds. If you prefer the fall, September is your best choice, especially in weeks after Labor Day.
Disney typically schedules routine refurbishments (like those for Kali River Rapids) during the first part of the year.
And although September is typically less crowded, the weather during this time of the year is hot and muggy (and in the middle of hurricane season)
As we have seen in the past year there are going to be crowds no matter when you visit but if you are looking to save some money consider some of these best times to visit. If you can only go when school is out of session do consider the summer.
It may be hot but rates are lower than all those other major holidays.
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The Longer You Stay the Less you Pay to Play
Best Time To Visit Disneyland California
If you’re wondering when is the best time of year to visit Disneyland, you’re on the right track!
What are value days at Disneyland?
One of the easiest ways to find the least busy days at Disneyland is to pay attention to the one day Disneyland ticket pricing. The reasons being is Disneyland tickets now come in tiers and fluctuate based on the time of year you plan to visit the theme parks. As you can imagine the dates with the the cheapest Disneyland tickets will be the best time to visit Disneyland if trying to avoid the crowds.
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The slowest time of year for Disneyland is often:
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End of August
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September
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January
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February
These have historically been the least busy times at Disneyland
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Best Time to Visit Disneyland in 2024
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Weekdays in January (minus the week of New Year's Day and the days around MLK Day, when runDisney events return to the resort)
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Weekdays in February (minus the days around Presidents Day)
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The first few days in March (until March 9)
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Weekdays in May (except for Grad Nites and Memorial Day)
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The first half of June
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The month of August
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Tuesdays through Thursdays for the month of September and the last week of October
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Mondays through Thursdays in November (minus the week of Thanksgiving)
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Mondays through Thursdays during the first half of December
The busiest times at Disneyland are:
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Spring Break and Easter (March through April)
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Summer (June through mid-August)
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Thanksgiving week
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Christmas and New Year’s Eve
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The Best Disneyland Good Neighbor Hotels for an Adults-Only Vacation
Best Hotels Near Disneyland for Your Couple’s or Group Vacation
There is so much to do, see & eat at Disneyland Resort & I encourage at least one adults-only trip in your lifetime. Whether you head to Disneyland as a couple, a girls’ trip, a group I have some Good Neighbor hotel recommendations for you!
What’s a Disney Good Neighbor Hotel?
Disney Good Neighbor Hotels are independent hotels & chains that have partnerships with the company. While they’re not owned by Disney, they allow you to book ticket or hotel packages through Disney. Most hotels provide a Disney Desk, which is a ticketing service staffed by Disney Cast Members. Just be aware that even though Disney trusts the hotels in terms of quality, this doesn’t mean they reach Disney’s level when it comes to service. This is merely a business partnership, after all!
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The Anaheim Hotel is the best hotel for an adults-only trip to Disneyland. It’s fairly affordable and has an adorable 60s beach party vibe. They pipe Frank Sinatra throughout the hotel and have a swanky lounge in the lobby. If you’re familiar with Universal Studios Orlando's Cabana Bay, it has a similar theme to this hotel. They also have a Pizza Presse restaurant connected to the hotel for breakfast and lunch/dinner options! The pool is the best in the Disney area for adults!
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Just one block from the Disneyland Resort, Sheraton Park is a Good Neighbor hotel worth considering. You’ll enjoy being walking distance from the Resort and rooms featuring a coffee maker and mini-fridge, and King size beds. Enjoy free Wi-Fi, cable, an outdoor pool, and BBQ area.
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This full-service Good Neighbor hotel is only two miles from Disneyland. Rooms are newly-renovated and you have your pick between King and Queen size beds. There’s a $5 shuttle if you want to save your walking for inside the Resort. You can enjoy taking a dip in the outdoor pool or hot tub at the end of the day. An in-room fridge is offered, as well as free Wi-Fi and cable.
Less than one mile from the Disneyland Resort, Anaheim Marriott is a great choice for couples. Your room is outfitted with a mini-fridge, coffee maker and cable TV. A microwave can be requested for your room at no additional charge. Enjoy a King or Queen size bed, indoor/outdoor pool, and a hot tub.
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Delta Hotels by Marriott Anaheim
Stay a mile from Disneyland at this full-service Good Neighbor hotel in Anaheim. Choose one of two newly-renovated room options: King or Queen. Rooms boast a coffee maker, mini-fridge, free Wi-Fi and cable. The outdoor pool has a number of cabanas that are yours to enjoy on a first-come-first-serve basis.
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Located a few miles from the Disneyland Resort, Ayres Hotel is another Good Neighbor hotel to consider on your couple’s trip. It features 4th Night Free specials, free on-site parking, and complimentary breakfast. King or Queen size rooms offer free Wi-Fi, microwave, mini-fridge, and coffee maker. The property features an outdoor pool, hot tub, and on-site fitness center.
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BEST GROUP HOTELS:
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Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance and Waterpark Resort
Conveniently located across the street from the Disneyland Resort, you’ll love this Good Neighbor hotel. In addition to its proximity, it offers other features such as spacious accommodations that sleep up to six guests. All beds are in one room, allowing you to wind down together at the end of the day and discuss all the Disneyland fun. There is also an incredible outdoor water park and swimming pools and a $5 shuttle to Disneyland. Your room amenities include a coffee maker, mini-fridge and microwave. Additionally, enjoy complimentary Wi-Fi, cable TV and potential views of the Disneyland fireworks.
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Less than one mile from the Disneyland Resort, Hyatt Place at Anaheim is incredibly convenient. Rooms at this Good Neighbor hotel can accommodate up to six guests, and they feature two Queen plus sofa bedrooms in addition to rooms with 1 King bed with a sofa bed and bunk beds. Having a separate bedroom in addition to the living space makes it convenient to travel with friends. Take advantage of the complimentary breakfast daily, and in-room amenities such as a mini-fridge and coffee maker. The property has an outdoor pool and, although it’s very close to Disneyland, there is a $5 shuttle available.
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When you stay at Hyatt Regency Orange County, you can choose between one-bedroom suites that sleep 5 to 6 guests. This Good Neighbor hotel is about 1.4 miles from the Disneyland Resort. There’s a $5 shuttle available, plus two outdoor pools and a hot tub. In-room amenities include a coffee maker and mini-fridge, plus free Wi-Fi and cable.
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Located just two miles from the Disneyland Resort, this Good Neighbor hotel offers one-bedroom suites that sleep up to six guests. It also boasts two swimming pools, and complimentary breakfast buffet exclusively for Get Away Today guests. Amenities also include a mini-fridge, microwave, coffee maker, Wi-Fi, and cable TV.
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This Good Neighbor hotel is six miles from the Disneyland Resort, and has suites that will accommodate up to six guests. This Embassy property is the only Embassy that has Queen beds in addition to a sofa bed. There is no parking fee at this hotel, and you can enjoy amenities such as an indoor pool and a complimentary breakfast buffet. Room amenities include a coffee maker, mini-fridge and microwave.
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Bottom Line: What hotel is best for your adults-only trip to Disneyland?
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Choosing a hotel is the hardest decision you’ll make when planning your Disneyland trip. With so many options, how do you know which one will be right for you?
Try this: choose what is most important to you. Is it walking distance to the parks? Price? A nice pool?
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Unfortunately, it’s very difficult to find a “cheap” hotel within walking distance and has a nice pool. However, if you adjust your budget a bit you can definitely find something that you’ll love! Otherwise, choose a hotel farther away from the park entrance. You will have to get up earlier to make your way to Disneyland, but you’ll have a few extra dollars to spend on churros!
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How to Rent a Car at Disney World
Did you know you can rent a car for one or two days in the Disney World area? A lot of times people plan to use their hotel’s transportation system to get to & from the Disney parks, but they are interested in doing something outside of Disney during the trip (such as visiting Universal Studios, Sea World or the local Disney outlet stores) & the cheapest & easiest way is to rent a car. Car rentals in Orlando tend to be fairly inexpensive. (Even though car rental rates shot up during the pandemic, they’re usually lower in Orlando than the rest of the country): rates of $50-$75 a day are not uncommon, & occasionally weekend deals can be as low as $30 a day.
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Car Rental Locations on Disney Property
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There are several places on Disney property where you can pick up & drop off a rental car. Reserve your rental car in advance (it’s usually best to make a car rental reservation online to get the best rates) for pick-up & drop-off at a convenient location. Then follow the directions below to pick up your vehicle at the car rental location that offers the best rate.
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Alamo and National have locations on Disney property because Alamo is the “official” rental car company of Walt Disney World, and National is owned by the same company.
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If you are staying at a Disney resort, the easiest option is to rent a car from the Walt Disney World Car Care Center, which is operated by Alamo and National. (Their street address is 1000 Car Care Center Drive, Orlando, FL.) The Car Care Center offers a shuttle that will pick you up from any Disney hotel and take you to the Center to pick up your car. The shuttle will also drop you off at your Disney hotel after you return your car. If you wish, call the Car Care Center up to 24 hours in advance and arrange for them to send a shuttle for you. Alternatively, go to the front desk of your Disney resort about 30 minutes before your pickup time and ask them to call the Car Care Center shuttle. The phone number of the Car Care Center is (407) 824-0976.
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Another on-property location for National is Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace, near Disney Springs. (Their street address is 1900 E. Buena Vista Drive, Lake Buena Vista, FL.) Take a Disney bus from any of the Disney resorts to Disney Springs. Use the pedestrian overpass near the Earl of Sandwich to cross Buena Vista Drive and walk about a half block to to the Hilton Buena Vista Palace. The phone number of Buena Vista Palace’s National desk is (407) 827-6363.
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Avis has a location at Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista (location LB3) near Disney Springs. Some people have reported that this location was willing to send transportation to pick them up from a local hotel. If not, you can take a Disney bus from any of the Disney resorts to Disney Springs. Use the pedestrian overpass near the Earl of Sandwich to cross both Buena Vista Drive and Hotel Plaza Boulevard, and walk about a half block to the Hilton. The phone number of the Hilton’s Avis desk is (407) 827-2847.
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Budget has a location at DoubleTree Suites by Hilton in the Walt Disney World Resort (location M03) near Disney Springs. Take a Disney bus from any of the Disney resorts to Disney Springs. Use the pedestrian overpass near the Earl of Sandwich to cross Buena Vista Drive and Hotel Plaza Boulevard, then walk about a mile to the DoubleTree Suites. Alternatively, you could take a taxi or Lyft from Disney Springs, which should cost $5 or less. The phone number of Doubletree Guest Suites’ Budget desk is (407) 827-6089.
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Off-Property Locations
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If you will be staying off-site, check with your hotel to see if they offer a rental car desk. If not, many of the larger convention hotels off Disney property have a car rental location. Some of them may offer shuttle service, so if you’re staying fairly nearby, call and see if they’ll pick you up. Some may offer to pay some or all of your taxi fare to get to/from the location – again, call to check.
Once you’ve identified locations that will work for you, use the links above, or check our Rental Car Discounts pages, to shop around for the best deals at all of the rental car companies. Reserve your rental car in advance; it’s usually best to do this online to get the best rates.