Cheapest month to sail on Disney?

Hi Everyone,

My kids are getting older and it's getting to be "now or never" to do Disney before they're too old to love some of it.

Can you help with which month tends to be the most inexpensive? I'm assuming October or January.

We're also Costco members. Any tips for getting a better price are greatly appreciated.

We'd be going out of southern Florida to the Caribbean or Bahamas (or wherever is cheapest).

We homeschool and have a lot of schedule flexbility.

Thank you!

Alley

September after Labor Day, January and February prior to President's Day tend to be lowest cost. Think any time traditional schools are in session. The older ships are generally a little less costly than the newer.

Since you are flexible, you might keep your eyes open for a *GT fare. These are typically offered about 75 days before sailing on cruises that are not fully booked. You choose your cabin type (inside, oceanview, or verandah) but not the cabin itself. In exchange for that and some other restrictions (must be paid at the time of booking, no changes after booking), you get a significant discount.

ALL agencies must sell DCL at the same price. However, various agencies give different perks as "thanks for booking with us" gifts. We are not allowed to name specific agencies here, but some big box stores give a gift card for a percentage of your cruise cost after you are back home. Honestly this is the biggest monetary value perk I've seen if you routinely use their store. However, the service you get from your agent there may not be the best available.

Currently the only *GT fare announced is the Panama canal crossing...but keep your eyes open. There are fall cruises that have significant availability at this point.

TRIGGER WARNING!!!!

DCL do start their "celebrations" early like they do in the parks! So you may see Halloween decorations in September. Christmas decorations straight after Thanksgiving, Easter egg hunts early etc. if that matters to you.

All of what was said by moki'smommy is correct.

Watch out for the GTY rates.

ex techie

September after Labor Day' date=' January and February prior to President's Day tend to be lowest cost. Think any time traditional schools are in session. The older ships are generally a little less costly than the newer.

 

Since you are flexible, you might keep your eyes open for a *GT fare. These are typically offered about 75 days before sailing on cruises that are not fully booked. You choose your cabin type (inside, oceanview, or verandah) but not the cabin itself. In exchange for that and some other restrictions (must be paid at the time of booking, no changes after booking), you get a significant discount.

 

ALL agencies must sell DCL at the same price. However, various agencies give different perks as "thanks for booking with us" gifts. We are not allowed to name specific agencies here, but some big box stores give a gift card for a percentage of your cruise cost after you are back home. Honestly this is the biggest monetary value perk I've seen if you routinely use their store. However, the service you get from your agent there may not be the best available.

 

Currently the only *GT fare announced is the Panama canal crossing...but keep your eyes open. There are fall cruises that have significant availability at this point.[/quote']

 

Thank you so much for this great tip. Do you know what "GT" stands for (or does it stand for "great tip???")

 

Thanks again!

 

Alley

Tiny correction to the above--the Christmas decorations are up before Thanksgiving.

GT stands for "guarantee." The reservations are commonly called *GT with the * standing for inside, oceanview, or verandah (IGT/OGT/VGT). These are DCL computer codes for the reservation types.

If you opt to share number of kids/number of people traveling and ages, we might have more tips for you. If you don't choose to share this sort of info on line, we totally understand.

There's also a sweet spot between Thanksgiving and Winter Holidays (1 or 2 weeks at the very end of November / beginning of December) with lower prices.

Either you look for a last minute rate (which is what the GT rates are - last minute guarantee rates and sorted by level - IGT inside guarantee, OGT oceanview guarantee, VGT verandah guarantee) or book as soon as the rates come out - but that means booking 1.5 to 2 years in advance. Those 2 options are generally going to give you the best price unless you're military or a Florida resident (sometimes there are good deals for those 2 groups).

Absolutely correct--the first 2 weeks in December are great. Low prices and all the Christmas activities and decorations are in full swing.

The difference is the weather/water temps. In September, you usually have great swimming weather. It is not quite as warm as summer and without the horrible humidity. It is also the highest risk for hurricanes which can cause the ships to opt for alternative ports. In December the weather is more spotty. It is usually warm and good for swimming, but you can get a cold snap. If your primary interest is the ship, no problem (bring a sweater or jacket for evenings on deck). If your interest is water activities, you'll likely be ok but there is always that chance of cool weather.

I'm all ears -- no pun intended -- for more tips from the pros!

What do you all think of the cabins w/ balconys that have "obstructed views?"

I've only been on two cruises -- Disney and RCCL -- and both times fell in love w/ our own tiny, private balcony. LOVE sitting out there morning, noon and night watching the water and sky. (I get teary just thinking about it.)

But I also love to save a buck. I have 12 years olds and they're kind of expensive.

Do you think the "obstructed view" balcony is fine or so obstructed that it's a deal-killer?

Thanks for all the tips!

Alley

We loved our obstructed view on the Magic. In all honesty, if we hadn't looked for the obstruction, we may have not even noticed it. It was high up and certainly didn't detract from our enjoyment at all. HOWEVER, on the Magic and Wonder, the cabins with partially obstructed balconies only sleep 3 people. I can't comment on the Fantasy or Dream as I haven't stayed in a partially obstructed on those ships.

If there are 4 of you cruising, your best bet will be to look for a VGT special. If I see any, I'll post something here. You can find them on the DCL web site under "specials." If you are in Florida, there are sometimes FL res specials as well. Currently there are NO specials listed other than the *GT on the Panama Crossing...but it is the middle of summer. If there are to be fall specials, they should show up soon.

The 7A obstructed balcony are obstructed by steel walls that vary from minimal to quite large blocking

your total opening, on the Dream/Fantasy.

A good TA Cruise Specialist can guide your cabin choice.

Sent using the Cruise Critic forums app

We are booked on the Dec 24 Wonder sailing. The same exact cruise 3 weeks earlier is HALF the price. Ack! I'm having chest pain!

Darn my school age kids that keep me tied to their schedule!

Seriously, if my kids were younger, I'd yank them in a heartbeat. I have two HS Juniors in 7 AP or honors classes total. Missing even a few days of school is a huge deficit for them these days. Now dh and I just day dream about getting them out of the house so we can travel on our own schedule. :)

We are booked on the Dec 24 Wonder sailing. The same exact cruise 3 weeks earlier is HALF the price. Ack! I'm having chest pain!

 

Darn my school age kids that keep me tied to their schedule!

 

Seriously, if my kids were younger, I'd yank them in a heartbeat. I have two HS Juniors in 7 AP or honors classes total. Missing even a few days of school is a huge deficit for them these days. Now dh and I just day dream about getting them out of the house so we can travel on our own schedule. :)

11th and 12th grades are bad for cruises. College is in some ways worse, but they typically have a more "off cycle" schedule, making things like May a possibility.

But in fairness, you are comparing a holiday date which is always thru the roof to an off season date. DCL knows it can charge essentially any price it chooses for holiday sailings and they will still fill the ships with people who either want the holiday sailings or have no other options.

Oh, don't I know. Any we're paying it despite the higher price, so there you go. :)

But 5 years ago, I'd've taken the kids out of school for the cheaper rate in a heartbeat. Maybe even thru 7th grade. But now, no possible way.

We did pull them out the last week of school this past year. They missed finals, but they are in the top of their class and can usually exempt most of their tests anyways. We did the Northern Europe 7 night cruise. If we'd waited until June, the price was 50% more. One dd had to make up one test after we got back. Thankfully, our school district was willing to work with us on it.