Planning a trip to Disney World? We did the legwork for you!
According to NerdWallet, on average a family of four will spend $6,000 on a week-long trip to Disney World. That is being frugal, the site says. If you are anything like me, you may be in a little sticker shock. However, there are ways to have a magical Disney World vacation on a cheaper budget, and if your pockets are deep, you could go bigger.
For the sake of this trip, we are going to a “moderately” priced week long trip for a family of four. If you plan this trip, or a similar one, you will get to experience a lot, but it won’t be the most over the top trip either.
Our fictional family consists of a 5 year old girl, 7 year old boy, and two adults. Ages and genders do not play a huge role in the overall plan, but it does give some insights into decisions. If your family does not align perfectly with our fictional family, have no fear, this trip plan will still work for you! We are also going to assume this family is rather tall, so the little girl will be able to ride every ride.
Trip Details
June 2026
Sunday – Saturday
Art of Animation – Standard Little Mermaid room
The Little Mermaid room sleeps 4 guests. If you travel during summer 2026, you will be there during Cool Kids Summer. You will have a chance to meet some characters at your resort outside of dining settings.
The Art of Animation is on the Disney Skyliner route, so you have a fun mode of transportation to a couple of the parks.
4 day tickets with no park hopper
The park hopper is beneficial, but it significantly increases costs. If you are already going for at least four park days, I would just go to one park a day and save the extra money.
Disney Dining Plan
The best part of the dining plan? Kids get the dining plan free all of 2026. There are two plans, quick-service and the standard plan that includes table service options. We chose the plan with table service credits. This includes:
- 1 Quick-Service Meal Per Night of Stay
- 1 Table-Service Meal Per Night of Stay
Note: You will be responsible for the tip as it is not included in the dining plan. We will calculate tip based on 20% of what the total would be if not using the plan.
- 1 Snack or Nonalcoholic Beverage Per Night of Stay
- 1 Resort-Refillable Mug
Base Total: $5,529.22
For this plan, I am just going to give you a general overview of the day including Lightning Lane picks and some tips around Early Entry. I will also present meal reservations, but when it comes to shows, quick-service, snacks, and anything else in between, I want you to have the power to tailor the day to your specific wants.
Sunday – Arrival Day
Yay! It’s arrival day! Your magical trip is beginning.
Your check-in at Art of Animation is not until 3:00 pm. Have no fear, you are going to go ahead and get the party started if you arrive on property early.
A perk to staying at a Disney Resort is admission into one of the two Disney water parks on check-in day.
You are going to head on over to Blizzard Beach for a little early afternoon fun. Blizzard Beach is typically open from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Take to the slopes on the many water slides and relax in the waves at Melt-Away Bay. Don’t forget your Disney Dining credits while there to redeem a quick-service meal or snack credit.
The fun is not going to stop there. After you get some sun, it is time to check-in at Art of Animation and get ready for your dinner reservations. Tonight is going to be a fun character dining experience at 1900 Park Fare in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.
1900 Park Fare will require 1 table service credit from your dining plan plus tip.
Estimated Tip Total: $45.20
At this dining, you will get a visit from some Disney friends. Disney lists Aladdin, Cinderella, Mirabel, and Princess Tiana as the most likely dinner attendees, but you never know who may decide to show up.
This buffet experience serves a wide range of food from gumbo to prime rib. It will also have a special kid-friendly buffet if your child prefers chicken tenders and mac and cheese.
After dinner, you will most likely want to get your rest to take on your first park day, but if you have a little energy left, I would recommend strolling around the Grand Floridian as it is a beautiful resort. You may even get to catch a view of the Magic Kingdom fireworks.
Monday – Hollywood Studios
Now, you can find a bunch of information around which park is best on which day of the week. I am sure there is some truth to it, but I don’t focus on it too much. You are at Disney in the summer time, there is going to be a crowd. Embrace it.
For me, I am a HUGE morning person. We are going to be at the park at Early Entry, which is 30 minutes before the actual park opens if you are staying on Disney property. I definitely recommend doing it as well, if your kids can handle it. You are able to knock out some rides and experiences early on.
Great news! By staying at Art of Animation, you can hop on the Skyliner to travel to Hollywood Studios. Make sure you are in line as soon as it starts operating to get to the park in time for Early Entry. It is a bonus ride to start the day!
Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections:
Tier 1 – Slinky Dog Dash Note: If Rock ‘N’ Rollercoaster Starring the Muppets is open I would target it over Slinky Dog.
Tier 2 – Toy Story Mania! The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror Multi Pass estimated Total: $156
*Pricing for this summer has not been released yet, so we are using the historically higher price for the best chance at an accurate grand total at the end. This will be consistent throughout the whole post.
Lightning Lane Single Pass:
Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance Single Pass estimated Total: $100
Early Entry:
Mickey’s Runaway Railway
Tip:If Rock ‘N’ Rollercoaster Starring the Muppets is open, I would target whichever you did not get in your first Tier 1 selection between Slinky Dog and Rock ‘N’ Rollercoaster first then immediately go to Runaway Railway.
Don’t forget those dining credits! For the cherry on top of a day at Hollywood Studios, use your table service credit for a dinner reservation before ending the night with Fantasmic!
Hollywood Studios has a ton of options for a sit down dining experience. We recommend Round Up Rodeo BBQ. A fun Toy Story themed BBQ restaurant. It is a great family friendly experience served family style. You have lots options to choose from to customize your experience. Estimated Tip Total: $30.8
Tuesday – EPCOT
If you think EPCOT is mainly an adult park, then we will have to agree to disagree. EPCOT boasts so many things for kids to do and could easily be one of your busiest days trying to see and do everything.
Today, you have another chance for a BONUS RIDE! The Skyliner will be your chariot in the sky to EPCOT.
Lightning Lane Multi Pass selections: Tier 1 – Frozen Ever After Tier 2 – Soarin’ Around the World Spaceship Earth Multi Pass estimate Total: $128
Truth be told, EPCOT’s tier 2 selections are not that grand outside of Soarin’. That isn’t to say they aren’t great in the sense of riding them, but there are a lot of walk-ons. I would suggest getting your first Lightning Lane experience as early as possible, so you can pick up another tier 1.
Lighting Lane Single Pass:
Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind Single Pass estimated Total: $88
Early Entry:
Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure
Remy’s is the perfect Early Entry attraction since it is close to the International Gateway. You enter and exit through this area when taking the Skyliner.
EPCOT has so many great quick service options, as well as great table service. However, I think you should save your table service credit today. We will need it later in the trip. Make the most of the snack and quick service options.
Wednesday – Break
Ahhhh! A much needed break! Disney is not a relaxing vacation in my opinion, so it is nice to have a break day. A break day does not mean a boring day. It just simply means you won’t be trekking MILES around a theme park.
Sleep in a little today, but we have breakfast reservations at ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Resort. It is a great family style character dining. It has some standard breakfast options like eggs, sausage, and of course, Mickey waffles. But it also has some Polynesian inspired foods like the pineapple-coconut bread. You will get to meet Mickey Mouse, Pluto, Lilo, and Stitch. This will use 1 of your table service credits. Estimated Tip Total: $34.40
After breakfast, head to Fantasia Gardens or Winter Summerland for a round of mini golf. You should get 4 vouchers for a free round as Magical Extra for booking a Walt Disney World resort vacation package.
Then head back to Art of Animation and relax by the pool and enjoy the hotel’s amenities like the arcade.
Finally, you do not want to miss Disney Springs. It is great for shopping, and a nice dinner. Take a nap and head on over. There are so many places for dinner at Disney Springs, especially restaurants that will take the Disney Dining Plan. If you want something fun for the kids, try T-REX, but if you are looking for something a little more elevated in terms of flavor, but yet still family friendly, make a reservation at Chef Art Smith’s Homecomin’. Estimated Tip Total: $21.60
Thursday – Animal Kingdom
Rise and shine! This will most likely be your earliest morning. However, you will also be able to make it to bed earlier too. Animal Kingdom typically opens before any other park.
Lighting Lane Multi Pass selections:
Expedition Everest Na’vi River Journey Zootopia: Better Zoogether!
Note: Animal Kingdom does not have tiers, so you can book any 3 experiences. Multi Pass estimated Experience: $128
Now, I need you to hang with me for a minute. I would save money on the Lighting Lane Single Pass for Flight of Passage and go ride it at Early Entry. Then immediately after head on over to the Kilimanjaro Safari. The reason I would try to walk on to Kilimanjaro Safari instead of using Lightning Lane Multi Pass is because you typically have a better experience first thing in the morning on the safari. The safari is also not open during Early Entry, so you have a bit more time to ride Flight of Passage before the queue to the safari even opens.
I am fairly confident you can get a lot of this done before lunch which allows for a perfect mid park day break. Schedule a lunch table reservation at Tusker House. Tusker House has African-flavored inspired cuisine and characters! Here you usually get to meet Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck, Daisy Duck, and Goofy. Estimated Tip Total: $42.40
Don’t think that is the end of your day, though. After lunch time, people usually park hop to a park that is open later. Take advantage of the lower crowds to go on more rides, as well as take in all the animal experiences.
Friday – Magic Kingdom
Last day! Best day!
It has been a long week, but ending it with Magic Kingdom is the best way.
Lighting Lane Multi Pass selections: Tier 1 – Jungle Cruise Tier 2 – Haunted Mansion Pirates of the Caribbean Multi Pass estimated Total: $180
Lighting Lane Single Pass:
Seven Dwarfs Mine Train TRON Lightcycle / Run Single Pass estimated Total: $148
Early Entry: Peter Pan’s Flight
Peter Pan historically has one of the longest wait times throughout the day. However, I believe it is the best to pick up at Early Entry not only to beat the crowd, but because of its location, as well. You exit the ride and go right to Frontierland and Adventureland, or you go left and have all Fantasyland then into Tomorrowland. During Early Entry you can knock out so many rides, especially in Fantasyland.
After you knock out some rides, have a mid-morning reservation for the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. It is great to do it early in the day, so your prince or princess can adorn their new look all over the kingdom. However, I would not compromise those valuable Early Entry minutes for the experience either. That is why I would do it mid-morning. Estimated Total Cost: $348 Note: This cost includes the adventure package for our 7-year-old boy and The Kingdom Package for our 5-year-old girl with just the basic selections. This also includes a tip.
Sadly, your trip is coming to a close. But wait! You still have two table service credits to use! The perfect place to use them would be for dinner at Cinderella’s Royal Table. It is a premier dining spot right inside Cinderella’s Castle and requires two credits. You get to meet Cinderella prior to being seated. Then several princesses rotate through the dining room for a meet and greet at your table. Disney does not explicitly state who these princesses might be, but either way it will be special. Estimated Tip Total: $57.20
I recommend your reservation be around 6:00 pm. This gives you plenty of time to exit the castle before the perimeter around the castle closes for the Happily Ever After fireworks. These typically go off around 9:30 pm. They will close the perimeter for guest safety 20 minutes before show time. A 6:00 pm reservation will give you plenty of time to ride another ride and then snag a spot to enjoy the fireworks before ending your time in the parks.
Saturday – Goodbye
*cue sad violin *
It is never easy to leave Disney. Especially, when you have been in the bubble for a week.
Find solace in the fact that you made the most of this trip, and now you get to sleep in your own bed.
However, don’t let your final moments be all doom and gloom. If you are anything like me on checkout day, I like to start my journey home ASAP. However, I do like one last round of Mickey waffles. Pack up your things and hit up Landscape of Flavors for some breakfast and fill up the resort mug that came with your dining plan one last time.
Estimated GRAND Total: $7,036.82 Note: This is just the base you would spend based on what we discussed. It does not include souvenirs, extra meals outside the dining plan, travel, etc. I would budget at least another $1500 depending on your method of travel to Walt Disney World.
Safe travels home. See you real soon.
