Is a last minute Disney World trip even possible anymore? One Disney expert tested it out with their family to see if it’s worth it.
As Disney World Passholders, my husband and I weren’t exactly strangers to a last minute Disney World trip. When it was just us two adults, it was relatively easy to do a quick weekend trip away, requiring a three to four hour drive and a quick hotel booking. However, the idea of a last minute trip didn’t even occur to me once we had our now-toddler. But, when my husband suggested heading down to Orlando for the weekend with just 24 hours notice, I decided to give it a try. And, honestly? It ended up being pretty great.
Below I’ll be sharing some of the factors to consider with a last-minute Disney World trip, and what you’ll want to do to prepare.
Last Minute Disney World Trip: What to Consider
When considering a last minute Disney World trip, there are definitely a few factors you’ll want to consider, especially when deciding if it’s right for you.
Tickets and Hotel
Perhaps the biggest part of the equation to look at would be tickets and hotels. Without a doubt, a last-minute Disney trip is going to be easier for Annual Passholders, who don’t need to factor the cost of daily tickets into the equation. However, a hotel is something both groups will need to factor in.
Photo by Cliff Wang
While Disney World rack rates rarely offer any grand deals for last-minute stays, it is still possible to find a pretty decent rate in other places. I’ve had great luck with looking at off-site properties through Expedia and Priceline, or checking out whether we can use our Marriott Bonvoy or Hilton Honors points at any properties. During a busier time of year, finding a hotel without much notice is going to get harder, but during a slightly more off-season time, you’ll likely find some great deals.
Travel Plans
For us, planning for how long we’re actually going to stay makes a last minute trip more possible. While a weekend away doesn’t require too much packing or planning, a longer trip gets a little more complicated – and expensive.
This is even more the case when you are not located within driving distance of Disney World. For us, a three to four-hour drive is doable over the course of a two-day weekend. However, if a plane is involved, this will likely get a lot more complicated and pricier. That being said, it’s not impossible! Checking for any flight deals, or booking last minute isn’t a guarantee, but it can work out in your favor depending on the time of year.
How to Make a Last Minute Disney World Trip Work
So, you’ve decided you want to make a late-in-the-game Disney World trip work. Here are a few things I’d recommend when it comes to a spur-of-the-moment vacation.
Lightning Lanes
If you’re looking to do a short, weekend trip to Disney World, Lightning Lanes are going to be something you really want to consider. On a longer vacation, you may be able to plan out your day to account for a few lengthier ride wait times. However, with kids and on a shorter trip, buying that Lightning Lane can save you time, and allow you to get everything you need to done.
Photo by Cliff Wang
Bring Your Own Snacks
This falls both into the budget Disney World trip and last minute vacation category, but I recommend bringing your own snacks. For us, when we decided we were going to be heading out just a day in advance, we stopped by the grocery store and picked up some snack packs. These helped us for both the drive, as well as throughout the days at the parks for both ourselves and our toddler.
Stay Off-Property
Like I mentioned above, staying off-property made finding a hotel the day before a lot easier. Instead of paying a premium rate for last minute Disney World accommodations, we hopped onto our Marriott Bonvoy account to see what was available to book with points. We ended up staying at the nearby Courtyard Marriott hotel, about a fifteen-minute drive from the parks. Since we were simply using it as a place to sleep, it served it’s purpose – and didn’t cost us anything out of pocket!
Look at Crowd Calendars
When planning a last minute trip, it’s worth looking at crowd calendars in advance to see what kind of crowd levels you’ll be dealing with in the parks. While a higher crowd may not deter you from visiting, knowing what you’ll be getting into will help prepare you for what to expect in Disney World. For example, we knew we’d be visiting over a weekend with a lot of cheerleading competitions, which made us avoid driving by the exit for the ESPN Wide World of Sports (where there was a huge traffic build up).
Whether it’s just knowing what to expect, or planning whether the trip is worth it or not, having a view of those crowds in advance will help.
