We dream about vacationing at Disney World every day! But for many of us, a Disney World vacation is something we have to budget for.
We save our pennies, search AllEars for the latest hotel offers, and make sure we are getting the best bang for our buck at Disney World restaurants.
One thing that can really blow your budget on any vacation are unexpected surprises like hidden hotel fees, and Disney World is no exception. That small stuff adds up! That’s why we’re taking a look at the hidden hotel expenses you may encounter on your next Disney World vacation.
Resort Parking Fees
If you drive to Disney World or rent a car, you will need to pay to park at your Disney World hotel. Overnight parking fees are different, depending on which price category your resort fits in.
Resort parking will run you $15 per night at Value Resorts, $20 per night at Moderate Resorts, and $25 per night at Disney World Deluxe Resorts. One bit of good news here: If you are paying for parking at a Disney World resort, you will be exempt from having to pay the $25 per day parking fee at the parks.
Click here to find out what you’re forgetting when you book a Disney World hotel!
Airport Transportation Fees
If you have traveled to Disney World previously, you might be accustomed to Disney’s Magical Express, which whisked you and your luggage from the Orlando Airport to your Disney World Hotel for free (and returned you to the airport at the end of your trip). Unfortunately, the Magical Express is no more.
So, be sure to have a plan and budget the cost for your airport transfers! Beyond renting a car, your choices include two bus services — Mears Connect and The Sunshine Flyer — or taking a rideshare like Uber or Lyft. Prices for this service will vary greatly, and you will want to take into account how many people are in your party to find the best deal. Check out our step-by-step airport transportation guide for all the details.
How to choose the BEST Disney’s Magical Express replacement
Tips
It is customary to tip hotel employees, and that couple of bucks here and there can really add up for a multi-night stay, so be sure you are budgeting for it!
You will want to budget for tips for:
- Your airport transportation driver
- Bell services staff who handle your luggage
- Housekeeping cast members who make up your room
- Concierges who assist you with reservations, etc. (this tip may be refused, but it’s nice to offer it)
- Recreation employees who assist you (golf caddies, boat tour drivers, etc.)
- Salon and Spa service providers
- In-room child care providers
- And of course, your table-service restaurant servers and lounge bartenders
Click here to find out which Disney World cast members you should tip.
Deliveries to Your Room
A great way to save money on your Disney World trip is to have groceries or other necessities delivered to your resort hotel. These items will be held at bell services for you for free.
But if you want the items you had delivered brought up to your room, your Disney World hotel will charge you a fee of $6. Now, after a long day at the parks, this is one optional fee that we may decide is totally worth it! But if get multiple deliveries throughout you stay, it could add up.
Find out how to solve 7 common Disney World problems here
“Additional Adult” Fees
Sure, that Disney World hotel room you are booking has two queen beds and sleeps 4, but if more than two of the people in your party are over 18, you may encounter a surprise fee. Disney says most of its hotel room rates include two adults and children under 18, so if your party includes 3 or 4 adults, you could incur “additional adult” fees.
You can expect an upcharge of $15-$35 per night for each additional adult. It’s an extra cost for sure, but still WAY cheaper than booking multiple rooms. And it’s important to note that you won’t encounter this upcharge in all Disney rooms — family suites, for instance, do not have the 2-adult limit. Just be aware of this wrinkle when making your Disney hotel reservations!
Click here to discover the cheapest days to go to Disney World in 2022
Pricey Necessities
Disney World resorts will have everything you may need for personal care during your trip — like sunscreen, over-the-counter medicines, lip balm, and even phone chargers. But buying this stuff from the resort shop will come with a HEFTY mark-up over what you are accustomed to paying at a drug store or department store at home!
The best way to avoid this “hidden fee” is to be sure you have packed all your necessities. We suggest bringing along some items you MIGHT need, too, like pain relievers, antacids, and cold or allergy medicine. If you are caught in Disney World without something you NEED, you do have the option of leaving the property to shop if you have a car or you think it’s worth the cost of a rideshare. (It may seem like you’re in another world, but we assure you there are Walmart, Target, and drug stores nearby!) If you are missing several things you need, you could also look into having them delivered through Instacart.
Sometimes, though, it’s not worth the time and cost of going after the items, and it’s better to just pay for the convenience of having them available at your resort!
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Cancellation Fees
This last Disney World hidden hotel fee is the absolute worst, because it means you aren’t going on your trip! As hard as it is to cancel a Disney World trip, sometimes life happens, and we just can’t avoid it.
You are currently able to get a full refund (except for any nonrefundable fees like a RunDisney race registration, for example) if you need to cancel your vacation 30 days or more before check-in. If you cancel between 2 and 29 days, you will be charged a $200 cancellation fee. And if your cancellation is at the last minute (24 hours or less before check-in) or you just don’t show up, you will be charged the full amount for the stay. Sometimes we tend to want to put off sad things like cancelling a vacation, but it is definitely in your best interest to do it as soon as you know you have to.
Disney World cancellation policies can change at any time, so we always recommend you contact guest services if you are considering cancelling your trip.
Your flight to Disney World is canceled. What happens now?
Those are some Disney World hidden hotel fees to watch out for. We do what we do because we want to help you have the best Disney World trip ever, so keep following us at All Ears for the latest news and our best tips!
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Have you encountered hidden hotel fees at Disney World? Tell us about it in the comments!
The fee for more than 2 adults isn’t uncommon. It implies that’s only something Disney does.
Actually adding it on seems to be hit and miss in a lot of places though.