How to Get the Best Deal on an Adventures By Disney Vacation
Interested in an Adventures by Disney vacation but want to know how to get the best deal on the trip? Read on...
Tips to save money on an Adventures by Disney vacation
It wasn’t too long into my love affair with Disney before I realized it isn’t really the attractions, the themed restaurants, or the photo ops with Mickey Mouse that keep me coming back to Disney for vacation options. (Ok, so maybe it is those things but not entirely those things!) More than any of that though, Disney customer service is one of the main reasons I often turn to the Disney family of vacations when it’s time to plan a trip.
I learned you can take your love for Disney and their pixie-dust infused customer service on the road through their group travel service, Adventures by Disney. It was something I knew I wanted to do.
And then I priced our ideal trip.
Turns out top-of-the-line customer service and itinerary planning also comes with a top-of-the-line price tag.
I did a bit of research, asked the Disney vacationistas lots of questions, and spent a little time crunching some numbers. I realized there are some ways to save on Adventures by Disney vacations. Adventuring with the Disney company is still going to be a high-end vacation with a big price tag. But at least your vacation dollar can be stretched a little farther.
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Book early to get the best deal on an Adventures by Disney vacation.
!Adventures by Disney are priced on a tier system based on the proximity of the booking date to the travel date. In other words, adventures are the least expensive when the dates are first announced. So one of the best ways to save money on an adventure is to book early.
The price difference can be significant when booking for a family. When we went on the Costa Rican adventure, there was over $800 difference between the opening day price and the price on the day we booked. Times that number by the 6 people in our family, and that’s a huge difference.
Booking early is particularly important for land based adventures because there are often spots for only around 40 people. River cruise adventures accommodate over 100 people. The price difference between early and late booking is usually not as steep.
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Or.... take advantage of last minute specials to save on an adventure.
If your family is like mine, booking early isn’t always an option. Figuring out schedules and obligations way ahead of time often proves too difficult. In fact, one of my tips for actually going on the vacation of your dreams (as opposed to just talking about the vacation of your dreams) is to not plan too far ahead.
Cashing in on last minute specials can save big bucks too though. If you are available to go sooner rather than later, check out these last chance offers.
Save on an Adventures by Disney vacation by becoming a DVC member.
I’ve learned the best time to become a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) member is the same as the best time to plant a tree - about 10 years ago.
We first began looking into becoming DVC members when our first child was a toddler. At that time, I had no idea what big Disney fans we would become and the price tag felt steep. Fast forward many Walt Disney World visits, one Disneyland trip, several Disney cruises, and an Adventures by Disney vacation. I think it’s safe to say we may have gotten our money’s worth out of a DVC membership.
We revisited the idea of becoming DVC members again when we planned our Adventures by Disney trip. DVC members receive the introductory price for every trip. So even if you’re not able to plan way ahead of time, you pay the lowest price for the trip - the price of the adventure on the day the trip was announced.
The savings would have been huge for us as a family of 6 so we revisited putting those thousands of dollars into DVC points as opposed to paying the extra amount for our adventure. Although it wouldn’t make sense for families who don’t otherwise travel with Disney, it’s an option for those who do. Because we were waitlisted for our trip and booked late, there wasn’t time to go to closing on DVC points before our final payment was due. However, we may have considered it otherwise!
Travel during off-peak times to get the best deal on an Adventures by Disney vacation.
Traveling during peak times is usually more expensive no matter what kind of vacation you’re booking. Adventures by Disney trips are no exception.
For example, the popular England and France adventure is currently priced at $6829 for adults and $6429 for children for the July 3 departure. The same trip taken in mid-August currently costs $5719 for adults and $5419.
Look at various Adventures by Disney itineraries.
When we first began looking at adventures we planned to take the Norway trip. Fjords, Voss river rafting, Viking history... we were in!
But, when the dates didn’t quite work out we looked at other destinations and found there can be a significant difference in price depending on the location of the adventure.
It turns out our chosen Adventure, Norway, is typically somewhere in the middle in terms of pricing. “Short escapes” as they are termed by Disney are the lowest priced adventures but they are, by definition, only a few days in length. The Philadelphia and D.C. Adventures are at one of the lowest price pints for full week domestic travel. Internationally, the Costa Rica Adventures are some of the best priced adventures.
So, if you’re looking for an amazing vacation but not tied to a specific location, exploring various destinations may save you money,
Book an adventure to a location with more affordable airfare.
Adventures by Disney trips are almostall-inclusive. A few things, like gratuities for your tour guides and a couple meals away from the group, are not included. Airfare is likely going to be the biggest non-inclusive expense.
Airfare can of course vary greatly depending on the destination. Additionally, some adventures start and end in different cities, requiring a departure out of a different airport to return home. Such multi-leg airplane tickets are often more expensive as well.
Be sure to check the cost of flights when comparing adventures. It can make a big difference helping you get the best deal on a trip with Adventures by Disney.
Book a return adventure and you’ll spend less on your next Adventures by Disney trip.
Companies know sometimes the best time to get someone to commit to another vacation is when the memory of the first visit is still fresh in their minds. And if you’ve ever been on a cruise, you know discounts are available if you commit pretty quickly to another trip.
Adventures by Disney offers discounts (usually $250 per person) to returning families for 45 days after the day they return from an adventure. If you’re thinking of booking another adventure this is a great way to save!
