All about Disney World 2025 packages and vacation planning

Want to know all about Disney World 2025 packages and travel? Get all the best info about planning, booking, what’s opening and what’s happening here:

Going to Disney World should be a fun vacation, but sometimes it can seem, well… overwhelming. It’s like there’s almost a different language sometimes when it comes to the theme parks, and so many things need to be planned ahead of time. But the good news is that planning can be fun, too! I’m hoping this guide for a trip in 2025 will be helpful to anyone in that position. I’ve aimed to include anything and everything I can about Disney World 2025 packages and vacation planning, and I will update it as we learn more!

Planning your 2025 Disney World trip

How to plan a Disney World vacation in 2025

Since there is a lot that goes into Disney World vacation planning, I’m going to cover some of the best tools and resources that you can use here (and you’ve already found this guide which will give you a ton of info!). If you’re looking for how to plan your Disney World trip in 2025, research is key!

Answer these basic questions

Okay, so where to start? I tell people there are several things you need to figure out first before booking your Disney World 2025 packages. Once you’ve settled on those details you can figure out a lot of the other stuff later. Here’s what you’ll want to decide first:

• What dates or time of year you’re looking to travel, and if your dates are flexible
• How long you want to stay
• How many people will be in your travel party
• Which resort you want to stay at
• How many days you want to be in the theme parks (this can be changed after booking too)
• What your maximum budget is

If you get your reservation booked on the dates you want at the resort you want, almost anything else can be added, adjusted, or changed later.

Tools for planning a 2025 Disney World trip

My Disney Experience

Disney’s app and website is a great place to start for planning your Disney World vacation in 2025. I use Disney’s website for all of the basic information. Especially when it comes to things like park hours, restaurant menus, etc. you can find all that on the website. The mobile app will also give you a peek at what’s happening in real-time, such as current wait times for attractions.

Once you’ve booked a reservation you can link your confirmation number to a Disney account and then Disney will create an itinerary for you based on what you’ve booked, showing all of your hotel reservations, dining reservations, lightning lanes, and more.

Vacation planning printables

If you like to stay organized like me, consider using vacation planning printables. These are typically a series of worksheets or papers that you can print out and put into a binder. They contain information about the parks and tools to help you plan things such as dining reservations, budget, and more.

I’ve put a lot of work and great info into the ones I sell (which you can find below), but there are many great options out there. Mine are now also editable PDFs – so if you prefer to type right into your device rather than printing on paper, you can do that too!

Not sure where to start when planning your Disney World trip? Feeling overwhelmed with all of the information and how to keep track of everything?

Consider vacation planning printables – over 60 pages of trip planning, including a budget worksheet, guide to characters, trip comparison worksheet, a look at the dining plans, info about Disney Lightning Lane passes, daily itineraries, packing checklist, and much more.

Get your printables here

Travel agents

With so much that goes into planning a Disney trip and many things constantly changing, having an expert who knows all the ins and outs of Disney is a huge benefit. Plus, a travel agent is at no extra cost to you. A vacation planner specializing in Disney can share information about Disney World 2025 packages and help you pick out the right dates and resorts, book your trip, find the best prices, help you plan dining, itineraries, transportation, and more – but you need to actually book your trip through them so they can do all that.

I currently only have a few openings to work with potential clients thinking about a Disney World vacation in 2025 – but I am part of an amazing team, so I’d be happy to direct you to another very knowledgeable agent in my agency.

Best Disney planning websites for 2025

Disney in your Day

Of course, I have to mention my own website after all the time and effort that has gone into it! I created Disney in your Day 12 years ago and there is lots of good content here. This page you’re on is great for 2025 information, but you can also head to the Disney World planning section for details on resorts, theme parks, dining, and more.

Disney World website

Of course Disney is the official source and they have lots of great info for planning. I personally like the fact that they have menus for all of the restaurants so you can figure out the best places you want to eat!

Disney Food Blog ebooks

Speaking of food, Disney Food Blog’s ebooks are my go-to resource for anything restaurant or food-related. They have guides to restaurants, snacks, food festivals, holiday snacks, and more. I love having them in an ebook form. It makes everything much easier to find and learn about this way.

Disney Tourist Blog

This is my favorite Disney blog if you want some really in-depth, thoughtful looks on a number of Disney topics. Tom is very on top of things and provides the latest information with commentary, but he is very careful with rumors and only shares facts and makes it clear when he is just speculating or making a prediction.

Planning the Magic

If your focus is on planning a Disney vacation on a budget, take a look at the website Planning the Magic. She has a lot of great resources for the theme parks and talks a lot about how to save money. Plus you can purchase her e-book, Disney on a Budget, for only $5.

Mouse Dining

When it comes time to book your dining reservations, I highly recommend Mouse Dining as a useful tool. It monitors when dining reservations open up, and you can get an alert if there’s something you’re looking for that has availability. It’s great if you are trying for a hard-to-get reservation. They have a free version, which allows you to get up to 6 alerts sent to email only, as well as a paid version where you can set up to 50 alerts and also opt for text updates.

David’s DVC

If you’re a first-time visitor or someone who isn’t 100% sure of their plans, I wouldn’t necessarily look into a DVC rental as they are non-refundable and not changeable. But if you’re more comfortable with the idea (as in, you know what I’m talking about when I say DVC rental), David’s is my favorite place to rent from.

Booking your 2025 Disney trip

All about Disney World 2025 packages

A Disney World vacation package is a booking that includes a resort stay and theme park tickets. If you buy the two separately that is a “room only” reservation. There are some differences between the two:

Included in Disney World 2025 packages

Your package will include your resort stay and tickets. You will also have the option to add on other components, such as the dining plan and memory maker. If you have a room-only reservation you cannot add the dining. However, you can convert a room-only reservation to a package with room and dining (no tickets) if you wish to do that. In that case, it will follow the same rules in terms of deposits, etc. as above.

Disney package guests also receive “magical extras.” Be sure to check Disney’s page for the latest. It typically includes discounts and freebies for various things, including free tickets for mini golf, discounts at Disney Springs restaurants and shops, and more. Of particular note this year is 10% off at some Disney Springs dining locations, including BOATHOUSE, Rainforest Cafe, T-REX, Splitsville (including bowling), and more.

All stays at a Disney World resort, whether it is a package or room only, receive special benefits such as early theme park entry, complimentary transportation from resort to the parks and Disney Springs, the option to purchase discounted magic bands, and the ability to purchase Lightning Lane passes 7 days before your trip (vs. 3 days before for off-property guests).

New for 2025! All guests staying at a Disney World resort receive FREE admission to a Disney water park on their arrival day. This will be either Typhoon Lagoon or Blizzard Beach (whichever is open), and is only good on your check-in day.

Package vs. room only

You may be wondering which one is best for you. I typically recommend Disney World 2023 packages to people for the following reasons:

• More flexibility if you need to cancel (when you purchase tickets outside of a package they are non-refundable)
• You have the option to add the dining plan (when it returns)
• You are eligible for more possible discounts (things like free dining or get 2 free ticket days)
• You want things to be easier to manage

However, a room-only reservation might be better for you if:

• You have an annual pass or tickets already
• You think there is a strong possibility you might cancel the room 5-30 days before your trip

When you can book Disney World 2025 packages

You can start booking your Disney World 2025 packages now.

Booking has opened for 20254, and all of 2025 is now available!

Can I book Disney World for 2026?

Disney World bookings are only open until the end of 2025. Typically Disney will open a good portion of 2026 booking all at once. Given the history of when this typically happens, it will probably be sometime in June 2025, though it may be earlier.

How far in advance should I book my 2025 Disney vacation?

Out of all the advice and information I give, I think one of the most important things to know is when to book. The best time to book your Disney trip is:

Now.

As soon as possible. There are a few reasons why I recommend booking your Disney World 2025 packages far in advance and as soon as you can. The biggest one is that with packages being fully refundable and only requiring a $200 deposit, you have nothing to lose by booking now. You can make sure you get the best price, the resort and room type you want, and your park pass reservations set by booking as early as possible.

You will not save money by waiting to book.

One thing many people don’t realize about Disney is that you can apply discounts to an existing reservation even after you book it. Discounts are typically released just a few months beforehand and you don’t want to wait for a discount because you lose a lot of planning time and availability that way. If and when a discount is released a travel agent can apply it to your existing reservation if it qualifies. And if the discount isn’t at your current resort and you want to move locations, you can do that too as long as it’s available.

If you’re looking at Disney World 2025 packages now, be aware that waiting to book your trip means the resorts or rooms you want could fill up or all park pass reservations will be filled before you get the chance to book.

Walt Disney World tickets in 2025

Whether you are booking as part of the Disney World 2025 packages or buying tickets separately, you have some options when it comes to ticket types available in 2025. I’ll go over the basics below.

When can I buy Disney tickets for 2025?

Now! Tickets are available for purchase for 2025, whether you are buying them as part of a Disney World 2025 package or you’re doing a tickets-only purchase.

Types of Disney World tickets

Base tickets

When it comes to just getting into the main theme parks, you can get “base tickets” for anywhere from 1-10 days. These tickets gain you admittance to one park per day. Pricing starts at $119 for a 1-day ticket, though the price per day decreases the more days you buy. Pricing depends on your travel dates and tickets must be used within the time period that they were purchased for.

Park hoppers

You have the option to add on park hopping to any length of base tickets. Park hopper allows you to go to more than 1 park in a day. Guests can park hop at any time of the day. Park hopping is added for the length of your ticket purchase and ranges from an additional $65-90 total.

Water parks and sports option

With these tickets, you can visit one theme park per day, plus enjoy an equal number of visits to a sports or water park location. For example, if you get a 3-day ticket with the water park and sports option you get entry into the theme parks for 3 days, plus entry to a water park or golf experience 3 times (you can go to a theme park one day and a water park the next day, or you can do a theme park in the morning and a water park in the afternoon).

• Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park
• Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park
• ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex
• Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course
• Disney’s Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf Course
• Disney’s Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course

Park hopper plus option

The park hopper plus option is the same as the above water park and sports option but also allows for park hopping between theme parks.

Water park tickets

If you are only looking to spend a single day at one of these extra experiences, 1-day water park tickets are available for purchase. They range from $64-69 per adult.

Annual passes

There are several annual passes available if you think you’ll be visiting Disney World at least 2-3 or more times a year (welcome to my world… it definitely gets addicting!).

There are a variety of options for Florida Residents, DVC members, or the general public. I’ve outlined them below, but stay up to date on the latest at the Disney World annual passholder website.

• Disney Incredi-Pass – available to anyone, this pass has no blockout dates.
• Disney Pixie Dust Pass – only available to Florida residents, reservation-based admission most weekdays (subject to blockout dates including peak and holiday periods)
• Disney Pirate Pass – only available to Florida residents, it is valid most days but is subject to black-out days on holidays and other peak crowd times.
• Disney Sorcerer Pass – available to Florida residents and eligible DVC owners, this pass is valid for most dates except select holidays.

Florida resident discount tickets

Florida residents are eligible to buy discounted tickets. Currently, discounts are only available for 3 and 4-day tickets. You can choose to add on the park hopper as well for a discounted rate.

What kind of ticket should I get?

Wondering which of these options might be best for you? There are a few things to think about when making your decision. Since everyone’s vacation style is different it’s hard to say definitely what type you should get, but there are a few things to consider:

• If you’re wondering how many days to spend in the theme parks, I typically recommend a minimum of 4 – one day for each park. I wouldn’t really do less than 3 and even then I think you’re missing out. If you can only do 1 or 2 park days I’d consider planning a trip when you have more time. I think you could easily spend 6-7 days in the parks if you don’t visit Disney often.
• The more days you go the more affordable it is per day. The price difference between 5-day and 6-day tickets is only a little bit more. Whereas the price difference between 2 and 3-day tickets is a lot.
• Park hopping is good for both shorter trips and longer trips for different reasons. If you’re going for 3 or fewer days, park hopping gives you the opportunity to visit all 4 parks. If you’re going for 5+ days you’ll be able to head back to the parks you enjoyed the most, or take advantage of one park in the morning and a different one in the evening.
• If you’re considering a water park and you have park hopper tickets it’s worth it to add the water marks and more park hopper plus tickets. If you’re doing base tickets and want to do one day at a water park and at least one other activity listed above (or two days in the water parks) then it’s definitely worth it.
• Out-of-state annual passes are almost always worth it if you’re planning to take 3 or more trips within a year. If you’re going once it’s definitely not worth it. I know some people think it might be an advantage for discounts but the discounts you get with an annual pass aren’t going to make up for the cost of it for one trip. With 2 trips in a year, you might break even or save a little but it will depend on when you’re visiting and for how long.

Still not sure? Read my detailed post about What type of Disney ticket is right for you!

What is the 2025 Disney World cancellation policy?

Disney has a very generous cancellation policy. If you cancel your package (room and tickets) 30 days or more ahead of time you get a full refund on the deposit or any payments you’ve made. You can also make changes 30 days or more without penalty, so if you book a trip for February but then decide you want to go in April you can make that change based on availability and you’d only pay if there’s a difference in price. No change fees. The deposit for packages is only $200, and for room-only reservations it’s the cost of 1 night, so you don’t even have to pay the full amount at the time of booking.

Important notes about Disney’s cancellation and change policies:

• If you have any questions about your specific situation, you can call the Disney Reservation Center at (407) 566-4985 or contact your travel agent.
• Packages (including room and tickets and/or dining when available) can be cancelled without any penalty and fully refunded 30 days or more before travel.
• Room only reservations can be cancelled without any penalty and fully refunded 6 days or more before travel.
• Ticket only purchases through Disney or your travel agent can be changed or rescheduled but not refunded. Tickets purchased through a third party website cannot typically be changed or refunded.
• Dining reservations must be cancelled at least two hours in advance (select signature dining experiences require more notice). Any reservations or no-shows the day of the reservation are subject to a charge of $10 per person.
• Packages can be modified at any time to change travel dates, resort type, ticket type, etc.
• Please note that cancellation fees imposed by third-party suppliers, including airlines and rental cars, as well as non-refundable products like travel protection plans purchased through the Walt Disney Company will be deducted from your refund amount.

Disney World experiences in 2025

Once you figure out more of the logistics of planning, like the tickets, resort, and transportation, you may be wondering about more of the “fun” stuff! What experiences will be happening during your Disney World vacation in 2023? What will the theme parks be like?

Disney World: new attractions for 2025

Several major attractions and shows have opened at Disney recently, as well as some scheduled to open later in 2025. Here’s a quick look at what has opened within the past two years or is scheduled to open sometime this year:

• Tron Light/cycle run (opened in 2023)
• Roundup Rodeo BBQ restaurant (opened in 2023)
• Moana: Journey of Water (opened in 2023)
• Happily Ever After fireworks (returned in 2023)
• Luminous: The Symphony of Us fireworks (opened in 2023)
• Tiana’s Bayou Adventure (opened June 28, 2024)
• Country Bear Jamboree (re-themeing opened July 17, 2024)
• The Little Mermaid: A Musical Adventure (opening in 2025)
• Test Track 3.0 (a re-themeing/re-imagining of Test Track) (opening in 2025)
• Pirates of the Caribbean-themed tavern in Magic Kingdom (opening summer 2025)
• Zootopia 3D show in Animal Kingdom (opening winter 2025)
• Space Earth Lounge (opening 2025)
• Starlight nighttime parade at Magic Kingdom (opening summer 2025)

Disney also has a number of projects in the works to open in 2027 beyond. For updates on those projects, read:

What’s coming to Magic Kingdom

The future of Hollywood Studios

Animal Kingdom’s new land

Walt Disney World 2025 events

Curious about what special events might be happening in 2025? There are lots of festivals, holiday celebrations, and more that happen throughout the year. While it’s still early for all things to be officially announced with dates, we know that some things are definitely happening or very likely to happen.

Epcot Festivals in 2025

While we don’t have official dates for all of the Epcot Festivals yet, here’s what you can expect:

• Epcot International Festival of the Arts (January 17-February 24, 2025)
• Epcot Flower and Garden Festival (March 5-June 2, 2025)
• Epcot International Food and Wine Festival (August-November)
• Epcot Festival of the Holidays (late November/December)

Disney World Holidays in 2025

It’s still too early for details or exact dates yet, but Disney usually does some special things for the holidays throughout the year. Most likely you’ll see:

• Easter (April): easter egg hunt in Epcot, parade/Easter bunny week of Easter in Magic Kingdom
• Halloween (usually starts mid-August): Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party, specialty food items and merchandise
• Thanksgiving: Special Thanksgiving menu on that day
• Christmas (November/December): Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party, Epcot Festival of the Holidays, Jollywood Nights at Hollywood Studios, other specialty events, specialty food items and merchandise

RunDisney events in 2025

Race weekends are very popular at Disney, and there are a few that typically happen throughout the year. If you’re a runner and you’re interested in participating it’s a fun experience – whether you want to try your first 5k or you plan to run a half marathon, full marathon, or go for a challenge. Just make sure you register early!

Walt Disney World marathon 2025

Dates: January 8-12, 2025

Events: 5k, 10k, half marathon, marathon, + challenges

Registration: currently all races are sold out

Princess half marathon weekend 2025

Dates: February 20-24, 2025

Events: 5k, 10k, half marathon, yoga, + challenge

Registration: currently all races are sold out

Springtime Surprise 2025

Dates: April 3-6, 2025

Events: 5k, 10k, 10-miler, yoga, + challenge

Registration: still available for 10 miler, challenge, and yoga

Wine and Dine half marathon weekend

Dates: October 23-26, 2025

Events: 5k, 10k, half marathon, + challenge

Registration: TBD

When to visit Disney World in 2025

When it comes to picking the best time to visit, there are a few factors in play: are you limited to certain dates due to work or school? Do you care more about crowd levels or the weather? Are there any other reasons you’re planning a trip?

Picking your dates

I have a full blog post on the best months to visit in the year, but in general, you need to prioritize one thing over others for your Disney World vacation in 2025. It might be that you have certain dates you want to travel (you’re a teacher, you want to go for a special event, you want to take a birthday or anniversary trip). You want the lowest prices and the lowest crowds. You want the best weather. These things aren’t always compatible so decide what is most important to you.

Disney World 2025 crowd calendar

When will Disney World be the least crowded? Sometimes it’s unpredictable, but we can make guesses based on what’s happened in past years, when major events are happening, etc. In my opinion, crowd calendars are still not as accurate as they used to be because the pandemic affected how people take vacations in a lot of ways, and we’ll have to wait and see what is permanent and what is not. However, if you want a general idea, I’ve found that the best crowd calendars are over at Touring Plans.

How long to stay

The other big question when picking your dates is how long you want to stay for. Is a 4-night trip enough? Are you looking for a full week? Even longer? I would recommend a minimum of 4 days in the parks, and ideally 5 full days plus your arrival and departure day. If you also prefer to take it easier, relax by the pool for awhile, and have nice sit-down meals, you may want to factor in extra time for that.

Disney World Resorts in 2025

Once you’ve decided when you want to go, your next big decision is where to stay. You can get a detailed look at the Disney resort options and planning advice in general over on my Disney World resorts page, and if you’re thinking about staying off-site I have a guide to staying off property at Disney as well.

You can also get more in-depth information over at my post on how to choose where to stay at Disney World.

Benefits of a Disney World resort

There are definitely some perks to staying at a Disney World resort rather than off Disney property when you’re looking to book your Disney World 2025 packages. If you’re debating, here are a few of the benefits of being on property:

• Location and convenience. Of course, the Disney resorts on Disney property are going to be the best locations. Depending on where you stay, you can get to a theme park quickly by monorail, boat, bus, skyliner, or even walking. If you’re off property you have to factor in a lot more travel time every day. It also makes it much easier to take a midday break.
• Transportation to and from the parks. Disney’s resorts all have continuous transportation options that are free and easy to use.
• Advanced booking for Lightning Lanes. Disney resort guests can select their Lightning Lane attractions 7 days before they check-in. Those not at a Disney resort can start booking 3 days before, which means you potentially have more limited selections and times available.
• Free parking at the theme parks. If you have a car you can park for free at the theme parks. If you stay off-site you have to pay $25 a day for parking.
• Early theme park entry. Disney resort guests will be allowed into any of the 4 theme parks 30 minutes before opening time each morning. This is a huge advantage – if you show up off-site and enter the parks 30 minutes after all the resort guests, the popular attractions will already have long lines before you even get in.
• Evening hours at deluxe resorts. If you stay at a Disney deluxe resort, there are select nights each week that have evening hours just for those guests in certain parks.
• Family accommodations. Disney has a number of places to sleep families of 5 or more, including family suites, villas, cabins, and connecting rooms.
• Ability to purchase a dining plan. If you’d like to take advantage of one of the Disney dining plans, it is an option that only resort guests can add on.
• The themeing and magic. The Disney resorts are truly magical and you feel like you’re somewhere special there. The service is top notch and whether you’d like to be surrounded by larger-than-life Disney characters or relaxing on the French Riviera there are so many great resort options.

Staying near Disney World: other hotels

If you are strongly considering staying off-property, I would highly recommend reading my guide to off-property and Disney. It goes over some things you may not realize if you’re not staying at a Disney resort hotel. There are a ton of options out there, but keep in mind that many places advertise being near Disney or “just 5 miles away!” but Disney World itself is actually 40 square miles, so 5 miles away from Disney doesn’t necessarily mean you’re only 5 miles from the theme parks. If you book an off-property hotel you may miss out on certain perks that come as part of the Disney World 2025 packages.

Disney Dining in 2025

One of my favorite parts of Disney planning – the food! There are so many amazing restaurants, snacks, and options in Disney World. If you’re at all a foodie I highly recommend you spend some time researching and planning your Disney dining experience for your trip.

Disney World 2025 dining plans

Did you know that you can prepay for most of your food during your Disney trip with one of two Disney dining plans? This is a great way to create a more “all-inclusive” feel and keep an eye on your budget too. I’m so glad Disney brought the dining plans back, because then I don’t have to worry about how much I’m spending on food during my trip – and it can often be a good way to save a little money, too!

What is a Disney dining plan?

When you book a Disney World package, you have the option of adding a dining plan on (in addition to your park tickets and resort stay). This is a way to prepay for meal “credits” during your trip.

A few things to know:

• You can add on a dining plan even after booking.
• There are two different dining plans currently available (more details below)
• You can only add on a dining plan if you have a package (resort+tickets)
• Almost all food and restaurant l​​ocations in Disney World accept the dining plans.​​
• You receive a certain number of meal and snack credits which depend on the length of your trip – they can be redeemed any time during your stay.

Quick service dining plan

This plan includes 2 quick service credits and 1 snack credit per person per night. The cost for 2025 is $59/adult per night and $27/child (ages 3-9) per night.

Disney dining plan

This plan includes 1 quick service credit, 1 table service credit, and 1 snack credit per person per night. The cost for 2025 is $98/adult per night and $31/child (ages 3-9) per night.

How to add a Disney dining plan

You can add one of the dining plans when you book your Disney reservation, but you can also add it on after booking. If you’d like to add on one of the dining plans, just call your travel agent or contact a Disney representative and they will be happy to do that for you.

How to use your dining plan

Step 1: Choose your restaurant

For table service restaurants, reservations are recommended. Most restaurants are included in the plan, but check ahead of time to make sure the table service or quick service location you are looking at will accept your dining plan!

Step 2: Redeem your Credits

Present your MagicBand, mobile pass, or Key to the World card to be scanned and let the cast member know you are on the dining plan and want to use your dining credits.

Step 3: Track your Credits

In the My Disney Experience app, visit the “My Resort Stay” section. Then, select “Check Dining Plan” to see how many credits you have remaining during your trip.

Using mobile order? Just select the Disney dining plan when checking out on the app!

Should I get a Disney dining plan?

There is no definitive yes or no on this question because there are so many different factors and it varies a lot depending on the travel group and your dining approach. I personally am a fan of the dining plan (particularly the Disney dining plan, which includes the table service credits).

You might consider getting a dining plan if:

• You like the convenience of paying one set price for most of your meals ahead of time.
• You are budget-conscious and like the idea of having things prepaid – that way you don’t have to be anxious about the cost of one dish on the menu vs. another.
• If you dine at the more expensive table service restaurants or like to order the steak at dinner, you’ll probably save money.
• You’ll almost definitely find some value in it if you like to enjoy an adult beverage with your meal – 1 alcoholic drink is included per person 21+ at each meal where alcohol is available.
• You plan to spend time at your resort and will enjoy a few soft drinks, coffee, and tea (refillable resort mugs are included with all dining plans)

A dining plan might not be for you if:

• You eat small portions and are thinking you may split a lot of your meals with someone else in your group.
• You rarely order entrees at restaurants (some people are appetizer/dessert people!)
• You are a vegetarian or typically order vegan/vegetarian entrees, and you don’t drink alcohol.
• You want to eat at mostly signature meals (these require two table service credits so they aren’t always the best value)

Will free dining be offered?

This is one of the most popular discounts and promotions that Disney has offered in the past. It was available in 2024, so I expect we will see it again in 2025.

But just like with all Disney promos, there are a lot of rules and restrictions. Be sure to look at everything carefully if they do release this discount! In the past, we’ve seen a few different variations, which have included:

• Valid select nights
• Not all resorts and/or room types have availability for all dates
• The type of dining plan included depends on the resort type. Value and moderate resorts include the quick service dining plan, while deluxe resorts include the Disney dining plan. If you book a value or moderate, you can pay the difference to upgrade to the Disney dining plan.
• You may stay for at least 4 nights
• Your package must include park hopper tickets
• Some versions of this promo have required being a Disney+ subscriber
• Offer excludes the following room types: 3-Bedroom Villas, The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Bungalows at Polynesian Villas & Bungalows.
• No other discounts or promotions can be applied.

Making reservations

Currently, Disney is allowing guests to make dining reservations 60 days before their trip. Disney resort guests have the opportunity to book reservations for their whole trip when they reach 60 days before their check-in day. Off-site guests can make their reservations 60 days before each date they wish to dine on property (so if you were going for a week starting May 1st and staying off-site you could make your reservation for May 1st on March 2nd, and then make a reservation for May 2nd on March 3rd, etc. Disney resort guests can do them all at once up to 10 days).

Dining reservation tips

Depending on which restaurants you are trying to get into, you might find that the popular ones book up quickly. How to make sure you get the restaurants you want? There’s no guarantee, but I’ve put together all of my best tips and tricks in this post on how to book hard-to-get dining reservations.

New restaurants at Disney World for 2025

Several new restaurants have opened at Disney recently, as well as some scheduled to open sometime next year. Here’s a quick look at what has opened within the past year or two, or is scheduled to open sometime this year:

• Roundup Rodeo BBQ in Hollywood Studios (opened March 2023)
• Shiki-Sai: Sushi Izakaya in Epcot (opened August 2023)
• Summer House on the Lake in Disney Springs (opened December 2023)
• eet by Maneet Chauhan (opened December 2023)
• Blue Ribbon Corn Dogs (opened 2024)
• The Cake Bake Shop at Disney’s Boardwalk (opened November 2024)
• Pirates Lounge at Magic Kingdom (opening in 2025)
• Spaceship Earth Lounge at Epcot (opening in 2025)
• New quick service location coming to Polynesian Island tower (opening in 2025)

The theme parks in 2025

Of course at the heart and soul of Disney is the 4 theme parks. Here’s some information about what you can expect when visiting the parks in 2025.

How many Disney theme parks are there in Florida?

Disney World is quite massive – it’s actually made up of 4 theme parks, 2 water parks, a shopping/dining district, golf courses, and more. The two main theme parks that you will get admission to with regular park tickets include Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom.

How many park days should I plan?

Disney has 4 theme parks (Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom). They all have plenty to do, so at minimum, I would recommend at least 4 full days. I believe that if you have the time, 5-6 days is really ideal.

Disney Lightning Lanes in 2025

Starting on July 24, 2024, Disney began selling Lightning Lane passes. This is a priority access service with entrance to shorter lines for certain attractions. It replaces Genie+, which was used in the parks from October 2021 until July 2024. It works a little differently – the big change is that Lightning Lane Passes allow you to reserve and book 3 attractions per day in advance, rather than waiting until the day of. You can learn more about how Disney’s Lightning Lanes work here.

Need more help picking the perfect Lightning Lane attractions? Consider the Disney World Lightning Lane planner – including strategies and tips, Lightning Lane booking worksheets, timeline, FAQs, and much more.

Get your planner here

Virtual queues

Typically you will find one attraction in Disney World operating with a “virtual queue.” This means that there is no standby line to wait in – you have to enter the queue from the app in the morning. Currently, Cosmic Rewind is using the virtual queue in Epcot and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is using it in Magic Kingdom.

MagicBands and the mobile app

A MagicBand is a wristband created by Disney that has an RFID chip in it. You can access everything you might need easily just by tapping your band. Your MagicBand can work as your park ticket to scan you into the parks, your room key at your resort, a way to charge purchases to your room if you have a credit card linked, and Genie+.

You can purchase a MagicBand ahead of time or when you arrive at the parks. You can also do all of this from the app, so a MagicBand is not required. They start at around $20 for Disney resort guests if you order in advance or $25+ in the parks or on ShopDisney, and have fun Disney designs and are a good option for kids or those who prefer the wristband.

MagicBand+

MagicBand+ is the newest version of MagicBands. In addition to what the current magicbands do, MagicBand+ has interactive with elements in the park. It can play games, light up with nighttime spectaculars, and more. These do come with a charger and need to be charged to use the “extra” features. That being said – if you forget to charge it don’t worry! It will still be able to do all the regular MagicBand functions like working as your room key, tickets, etc without a charge.

Memory Maker and Photopass

Memory Maker is available in 2025 for a one-day purchase, advance purchase, and purchase during or after your trip. You can easily add it on to Disney World 2025 packages at the time of booking or after booking. Disney’s photographers will take your photo at various locations around the theme parks. Just scan your magic band and all of those photos go into your account. You also get all of your on-ride attraction photos. And be on the lookout for “magic shots” – fun photos taken by Photopass photographers with a little bit of extra Disney Magic!

Here is the current memory maker pricing for 2025:

Transportation

Whether you’re thinking about how to get to Orlando, how to get to your resort, or how to get around to the theme parks, I’ve got some information for you.

Booking your flight

If you’ve heard advice and tips on the best time to book a flight (7 months in advance, do it on a Tuesday) forget all of that because it’s outdated. Especially for booking in 2025, the approach will be different. And if it’s been a few years since you’ve been to Disney, you’ll probably have to get used to seeing higher prices than you might have in 2022 or earlier.

If you’re looking to find better prices, flexibility is key. The day you arrive or leave is more likely to affect price – typically arriving on a Tuesday or Wednesday is going to be the most affordable option, for example. You’ll pay a lot more to fly home on a Sunday evening than you would on Monday.

Renting a car

You certainly don’t need to rent a car if you’re staying at a Disney resort, but if you prefer to do it you have options. The Orlando airport (MCO) has many car rental companies, but the ones that are actually in terminal and don’t require a shuttle ride just to get to the car rental location are:

• Alamo
• Avis
• Budget
• Dollar
• Enterprise
• Hertz
• National
• Payless
• Sixt
• Thrifty

Car rental prices can vary a lot depending on when you are traveling and for how long. For now here are some of my quick suggestions when looking at car rentals.

• “Pay later” instead of pay now. Yes, you will save money if you pay now, but unless your trip is really soon you can make changes and find cheaper prices if you pay later.
• Book early and keep checking prices. Book using pay later and then keep checking back to see if prices have changed. If they do you can always adjust your reservation or cancel and book at a different rental company.
• Stick with an in-terminal company. The ones listed above are typically more reputable as well as easier to get to.
• Join the company’s loyalty program. Almost all of the car rental companies have loyalty or rewards programs that are free to join and will get you some perks – typically things like 5% off or the ability to bypass the regular line when you arrive at the airport.

Parking fees

If you are renting a car or will have a vehicle with you, parking fees are something else you need to factor in if you are staying off-property. Disney resort guests who choose to drive to the theme parks do not have to pay for parking, but if you are coming from off property then there is a daily parking fee at the theme parks.

Transportation from the airport in 2025

If you’re planning to fly into Orlando and you won’t be renting a car, you’ll need to get from the airport to your resort.

Unfortunately, the free option Disney used to offer to get from the airport to your Disney resort, Magical Express, was discontinued starting in 2022. That means that airport transportation is no longer part of Disney World 2024 packages. If you’re not renting a car you could use a rideshare like Uber or Lyft, a shuttle company like Mears, or hire a private car service. The best option for you will depend on your budget, the size of your family, if you need a car seat accommodated, etc.

Planning a Disney trip on a budget in 2025

A lot goes into planning a Disney trip on a budget. I could honestly write a whole book about it (and maybe someday I will). But I’ll just give a couple of quick tips and general guidelines here if you’re hoping to book Disney World 2025 packages but you need to stay within a lower budget.

How much to budget

There are SO MANY factors that play into this, including number of people traveling, when you’re going, and trip length. You can plan a vacation for under $3500 for 4 people if you’re flexible and doing a shorter trip. You can also easily spend twice that and budget $7000 or more if you want a longer trip, a hotel in a prime location, traveling during spring break or Christmas, etc. The best way to figure out your ballpark pricing is to contact a travel agent and start working with them. You can also check out my Disney World trip planning printables, which include a budget worksheet.

5 tips for saving money

1. Book as soon as you can. Disney 2025 packages only require a deposit of $200 and can be canceled, so book early to lock in the lowest rates. If a discount comes up later you can apply that discount to an existing reservation.
2. Go during an “off-season.” And the off-season may not be when you think. October has become one of the most popular months to travel to Disney and is priced accordingly. Typically the lowest price times for 2025 are predicted to be the first half of February, July, August, and September.
3. Don’t rent a car. With the rental price, you have a pretty big extra expense. Your best bet is to take a shuttle to your resort and then rely on Disney transportation.
4. Stay at a Disney value resort. My favorite is Pop Century but the All-Star resorts are also fun. Disney value resorts typically have good pricing. I find it’s worth paying just a little bit more for rather than choosing an off-site hotel.
5. Understand how much things cost using the budget calculator. I’ve got a calculator that will help you predict how much money you might need depending on your dates, resort, number of people, and more. Understanding these things will help you figure out what works best and save you the most money.

Disney World 2025 deals

Are there any deals or discounts available for Disney World 2025 packages right now? Disney typically only releases discounts a few months ahead of time, so right now we have some for the first part of the year. Most likely more will be released later!

Save Up to 25% on Rooms at Select Disney Resort Hotels in Early 2025
Available for Sunday-Thursday nights from January 1-February 20, 2025 (save up to 20%) and February 23-April 30, 2025 (save up to 25%)
View full details here

Save Up to $200 per night on a 3-night room and ticket package at Select Disney Resort Hotels
Available for most dates from February 26-June 30, 2025.
View full details here

Disney World tips and tricks for 2025

I have lots of good tips about traveling to Disney and trip planning elsewhere on this website (start at my Disney World Planning page for more) but I’ll quickly highlight my top 5 tips for planning and booking Disney World 2025 packages specifically:

1. Plan ahead and plan early. Disney is a vacation that is made for planners. You will benefit in many ways by planning ahead, including saving money and making sure you have the best chance of booking what you want.
2. Look at the dining plan options – and Disney menus/pricing. Now that the dining plans are back, they might be a great option for you to save some money and have a more stress-free vacation! I recommend looking at the dining plan options as well as menus for places you may want to eat. The cost might seem high for the dining plan, but food is expensive at Disney. So consider all factors!
3. Consider visiting during the summer. I know, it’s hot. But if lower crowds are a priority the summer is actually going to be a decent time to go. The past few years it’s been getting less crowded in favor of better weather months like October and March. Combine that with the fact that many people (and companies) realize their jobs are more flexible and they can work remotely and even some kids have switched the homeschooling or virtual school. Also in the past few years we’ve seen the year-round school calendar become a more popular option. Fewer people are locked into visiting during July and August now.
4. Keep up to date with changes. Disney typically requires a lot of planning, though in the past you could get away with not doing too much. Now you need to know that you can’t get into the parks without a park pass reservation. If you’re thinking about Genie+, that’s being tweaked as well. I created the Disney World vacation planning printables to help keep track of everything.
5. If you’re thinking about a value resort, check the moderates too. Lots of people love the value resorts to save money, but due to their popularity, the prices have gone up. The moderates are also larger, so you’ll find more rooms available at Coronado Springs or Caribbean Beach. Even though at first glance they may look much more expensive, they often get much better discounts too. It may not be that much more for a moderate.