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Disney World’s 2016 resort hotel prices came out on Monday, and I’ve devoted my spare time to studying them ever since. The upshot?

• Major increases in value and moderate prices from later August 2016 through most of October from a shift in price seasons. Significantly higher prices across the year at Art of Animation Little Mermaid rooms and Finding Nemo family suites, and at Port Orleans French Quarter and Port Orleans Riverside.
• Major increases—10% to more than 15%–in many deluxe resort room types in 2016, although some show little increase and others show increases more in the 4-8% range.

Analyzing Disney resort price changes is difficult—there’s more than 20 hotels, many differently-priced room and view types within them, seven to nine different price seasons over the course of the year, additional weekend and holiday upcharges, and more.

As a result, unless you have a LOT of time on your hands you need to sample, and that’s what I’ve done. In general I sample the lowest-priced rooms at most of the resorts (with some exceptions that are noted below) and analyze:

• Season price increases across all the major Disney World price seasons—e.g. “Regular” season prices for 2016 compared to 2015
• Changes in the dates covered by price seasons that have an impact on price levels—there’s a lot of that in 2016
• Changes in the relative price levels of hotels in a single price class—there’s some of that in 2016

DISNEY WORLD VALUE RESORTS PRICING IN 2016

Price season structure changes

In a major change, 2016 price seasons for later August through the end of October have changed, from the old “Value 2” to “Fall” in later August and earlier September, and from “Fall” to “Regular” from mid-September to almost the end of October.

In both cases the switch is from a lower-priced season to a higher priced season. When combined with general season price increases, example effects include:

• In the first part of the period, with the shift from “Value 2” to “Fall”: for standard rooms, compared to same dates in 2015, Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation are up 13%, Pop Century is up 6%, and the All-Stars are up 7%.
• In the later part of the period, later September and most of October 2016 (excluding holiday weekends), with the shift from “Fall” to “Regular,” compared to same dates in 2015: standard Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation are up 17%, Pop Century is up 15%, and the All-Stars are up 16%.

Earlier in the year, two short periods are now “Regular” that used to be “Value” or “Value 2”—February 7 through February 10, and August 14 through August 18.

Price level changes

The basic pattern among value resort standard rooms of Art of Animation Little Mermaid rooms being most expensive and the All-Stars being least expensive continues in 2016.

Art of Animation rooms show the highest price increases among these standard rooms in 2016, and the All-Stars the lowest, extending this gap, and putting Little Mermaid rooms shockingly close to standard moderate room prices some dates.

The three Family Suite areas at Art of Animation—Finding Nemo, Cars, and Lion King—have had the same prices. In 2016, Finding Nemo suites are more expensive than the other two, which are priced the same.

Season price increases

Most price seasons the All-Stars standard rooms show no changes vs 2015—considering inflation, that’s in effect a price cut. The exceptions are the Value and Regular Seasons, which have 3-5% increases. Family Suites at Music are unchanged in some major seasons and go up 1 or 2% in others.

Pop Century standard rooms have no price increases for the Summer or Fall seasons in 2016, and increases of 2-4% in the other seasons, with the Value season seeing the highest increase.

Little Mermaid rooms are up across the board 3-5% in the major seasons (a little less in the shorter Easter and Holiday seasons). Value, Fall and Regular show around 5% increases.

Art of Animation suites at Cars and Lion King are up 1 to 3% most seasons (Peak is unchanged). Nemo Suites are up 4 to 7% in the major seasons, with the Value season seeing the highest increase.

DISNEY WORLD MODERATE RESORTS PRICING IN 2016

Price season structure

The moderates see the same price season structure changes in 2016 as the value resorts do—short new Regular periods in February and early August that replace old Value or Value 2 seasons, and the major swap of Fall for Value 2 in later August and early September, and Regular for Fall in later September and most of October.

The effect from later August through most of October is that Caribbean Beach standard rooms are up 7-8%, and Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter standard rooms up 12%.

Price level changes

Until 2016, Caribbean Beach, Port Orleans French Quarter, and Port Orleans Riverside standard rooms had the same prices, while Coronado Springs has tracked them some nights and other nights was $3-5 more.

In a major change, in 2016 Riverside and French Quarter are now the most expensive moderates.

More specifically, in 2016 for standard rooms Caribbean Beach is now generally the least expensive option, then at on average 2% more is Coronado Springs, then at on average about 4.5% more (or 2.5% more than Coronado Springs) are the two Port Orleans Resorts, Riverside and French Quarter.

Season price increases

Caribbean Beach shows 1-3% increases across most price seasons, with Peak a little less and Value showing the highest increase. Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter show increases of 5-8%, with the highest increase being in Value season.

DISNEY WORLD DELUXE RESORTS PRICING IN 2016

Price season structure

The deluxe resorts run to a different price season calendar than the values and moderates, especially mid-July through October, and show little difference to this schedule in 2016, especially compared to the major changes at the values and moderates from mid-August through most of October.

The only significant changes I saw were two new instances of Regular season, both in effect price increases. February 7 to 10 is now Regular instead of Value, and November 4-12 is now Regular instead of Fall.

Price level changes

There’s a bewildering plethora of price points at the deluxes—many view options, some with “Club” service options as well. I only sampled the full set of price changes in seventeen deluxe room types, and based on that saw only one material change among the overall resort price standings.

The Grand Floridian is still the most expensive, and standard rooms at the Wilderness Lodge are still the least expensive.

However, traditionally Animal Kingdom Lodge standard rooms have been very close to the prices of standard Wilderness Lodge rooms, but in 2016 Wilderness Lodge standard rooms see hardly any increases, while Animal Kingdom Lodge standard rooms are up 7-12% in all the major seasons except Fall. So more daylight is emerging between the two Lodges whose cheapest rooms used to be near-equivalent in price.

Season price increases

As noted, standard Wilderness Lodge rooms see no price changes among most of the major price reasons—after inflation, a price cut. The exception is Value 2, which is 6% higher. Courtyard view rooms at the Lodge show no to small increases in many seasons, but prices are up 10% in the Value, Value 2, and Summer seasons. Woods view rooms at the Lodge show 10%+ increases in many major seasons–Value, Value 2, Regular, and Summer.

Animal Kingdom Lodge standard room prices are up only a bit in a few seasons, including Fall, but up 7-12% in many major seasons, including Value, Value 2, Regular, and Summer. Savanna view room prices show large increases across all seasons, from 9 to 17%, with the two Value seasons seeing the largest increases.

Beach Club standard rooms are up from just a bit to 6% in the major seasons, with the biggest increase in Value 2. Garden view rooms at the Beach Club are up 5-7% in the major seasons, with the highest increase in the value season.

Yacht Club standard rooms have the same prices as those at the Beach Club, so too are up from just a bit to 6% in the major seasons, with the biggest increase in Value 2. Garden view rooms at the Yacht Club are a little cheaper than their Beach Club equivalents, and are up around 7% in all the major seasons.

BoardWalk Inn standard rooms show price increases of 4-7%, with the highest increases among the major seasons in the two Value seasons. Water view rooms at the Boardwalk Inn are up 4% in  all seasons except Value 2, which sees a 6% increase.

Polynesian standard rooms show increases of 3% to 8% in the major seasons, with the Regular season seeing the largest increase. Lagoon view rooms are up 1-2% in most major seasons, but up 5-6% in the Regular 2 and Value 2 seasons.

At the Contemporary Resort, both Bay Lake view and Magic Kingdom view tower rooms show a consistent 7% increase across the seasons.

Grand Floridian standard rooms have increases of 10 to 12% in the major seasons. Lagoon view rooms here see much lower increases, 3-7% in most major seasons, but just 1% in the Regular season.

MORE ON THE DISNEY WORLD RESORTS

I’ve stayed in more than 100 different Disney World rooms, suites, villas, and such. Reviews resulting from these stays are linked to here.

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DISNEY WORLD NEXT WEEK: JUNE 27 TO JULY 5, 2015

The material below details operating hours, Extra Magic Hours, parades, and fireworks.

The same stuff is in the image, but organized by park, not by topic. For more on June 2015 at Disney World, click here, and for July, click here.

Note that typos happen, and schedules change! If something seems odd, or if you want to double check, use the calendar links near the bottom to get the latest official Disney World scoop.

OPERATING HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 6/27/-7/5/2015

The Magic Kingdom will be open 9a-12MN 6/27 through 7/2, 8a-12MN 7/3 and 7/4, and 9a-12MN 7/5

Epcot will be open from 9a-9p 6/27 through 7/3, 9a-10p 7/4, and 9a-9p 7/5

Disney’s Hollywood Studios will be open 9a-10p 6/27 through 7/2, 9a-12MN 7/4, and 9a-10p 7/5

Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be open 9a-7p 6/27, 9a-6p 6/28, 9a-7p 6/29 through 7/2, 8a-5p 7/3 and 7/4, and 9a-6p 7/5

EXTRA MAGIC HOURS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 6/27/-7/5/2015

Saturday 6/27 Morning:  Hollywood Studios Evening: Magic Kingdom

Sunday 6/28 Morning:  Animal Kingdom Evening: none

Monday 6/29 Morning: none  Evening: Hollywood Studios

Tuesday 6/30 Morning: Epcot Evening:  none

Wednesday 7/1 Morning:  Magic Kingdom  Evening:  none

Thursday 7/2 Morning: Animal Kingdom Evening: none

Friday 7/3 Morning: none Evening: Magic Kingdom

Saturday 7/4 Morning:  Hollywood Studios  Evening: Epcot

Sunday 7/5  Morning: Animal Kingdom  Evening: none

PARADES AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 6/27/-7/5/2015

The Magic Kingdom:

• Afternoon Festival of Fantasy Parade: 3p 6/27 through 7/2; noon and 3p 7/3 and 7/4; 3p 7/5
• Evening Main Street Electrical Parade: 9 and 11p 6/27 through 7/2; 10.15p and 12.15a 7/3 and 7/4; 9 and 11p 7/5

FIREWORKS AT WALT DISNEY WORLD 6/27-7/5/2015

Wishes at the Magic Kingdom: 10p 6/27 through 7/2; replaced by special 4th of July fireworks 9p 7/3 and 7/4; 10p 7/5

Illuminations at Epcot: 9p every night. Special 4th of July ending added 7/4

Fantasmic at Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 9 and 10.30p 6/27 through 7/3; 9 and 11p 7/4; 9 and 10.30p 7/5.  Special 4th of July fireworks 10.15p 7/4

SHOW SCHEDULES FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD 6/27/-7/5/2015

See Steve Soares’ site here. Click the park names at its top for show schedules.

LONG RANGE WEATHER FORECAST FOR WALT DISNEY WORLD 6/27/-7/5/2015

See this for forecasts.

DISCLAIMER

Everything is subject to change and typos! Check the Disney Calendars for updates and official schedules. These calendars can be found by clicking the following links:

• Magic Kingdom Calendar
• Hollywood Studios Calendar
• Animal Kingdom Calendar
• Epcot Calendar

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I’m still working my way through the data, but Disney’s 2016 resort prices show more differences among moderate resort prices than we’ve seen in the past.

For moderate standard rooms in 2016, Caribbean Beach is now generally the least expensive option, then at on average 2% more is Coronado Springs, then at on average about 4.5% more (or 2.5% more than Coronado Springs) are the two Port Orleans Resorts, Riverside and French Quarter.

Caribbean Beach standard room prices went up (on average across price seasons) about 1.5% for 2016 compared to 2015, so this is in effect an average price increase for Riverside and French Quarter of 6%.

Prices are up much more in later September and October because of the 2016 price season switch from Fall to Regular.

The later September and October 2016 prices for Riverside and French Quarter compared to the same dates in 2015 net out to an increase of almost 12%–or about $180 more over a seven night standard room stay.

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I’m still working through the 2016 resort prices released today, but it looks like the “Fall” season at the moderates and values (but not the deluxes) has profoundly changed in 2016.

In 2015, it runs from 9/11 through 12/10 (with up-charges over Thanksgiving week and holiday weekends).

In 2016, in contrast, the first part of what in 2015 was Fall season has the same (higher) prices as Regular season. These dates where old Fall is now Regular are 9/18/2016 through 10/29/2016, with holiday weekend upcharges.

Then in November prices drop to the same levels as late August, and stay at this lower level (except holiday weekends and Thanksgiving week through December 10.

However, the later August/November/early December prices are  higher than the later August prices we’ve seen recently and in 2015.

For example, in 2015 later August “Value 2” is about 5% higher than “Value” at both the moderates and the values.  In 2016, late August/November/early December prices are about 11% higher at the moderates and 13% higher at the values than value season prices.

So it seems that the old August “Value 2” has been replaced by “Fall,” which then restarts not in September but rather the end of October.

Moreover, Port Orleans Riverside and French Quarter had an extra price increase making them the most expensive of the traditional moderates.

Here’s some specific price changes at some value and moderate standard rooms:

Later August and earlier September 2016:

• Shift from “Value 2” to “Fall.” Compared to same dates in 2015, Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation up 13%, All-Star Sports up 7%, Caribbean Beach up 8%, Riverside and French Quarter up 12%.

Later September and most of October 2016 (excluding holiday weekends):

• Shift from “Fall” to “Regular.” Compared to same dates in 2015, Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation up 17%, All-Star Sports up 16%, Caribbean Beach up 7%, Riverside and French Quarter up 12%.

Very end of October into early December 2016 (excluding holiday weekends and Thanksgiving week):

• Still “Fall.” Compared to same dates in 2015, Little Mermaid rooms at Art of Animation up 5%, All-Star Sports up 1%, Caribbean Beach up 2%, Riverside and French Quarter up 5%.

I still have a lot of work to do to figure this all out…But compared to prior years and 2015, the revised 2016 price seasons and how much rooms cost in the late summer and early fall compared to last year suggests not so advantageous prices from later August through October in 2016 at the values and moderates.

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DISNEY WORLD 2016 PACKAGES RELEASED

Today Disney World released package pricing for 2016, which means you can book a Disney World vacation for any date in 2016 and get all your package elements and accurate pricing.

To book a 2016 package, contact my friend Kelly B at 980-429-4499 or kellyb@destinationsinflorida.com.

Kelly not only will book your trip, but also help you (for free) with

• Itinerary planning, including advising on and booking your FastPass+
• Dining suggestions and reservation planning
• Future discount searches – Ongoing searching for future discounts to apply to your vacation
• Free “Mouse Perks” – tips, updates, and fun freebies

And, for qualifying trips Kelly and her agency, Destinations in Florida, will get you a free copy of the 2016 edition of The easy Guide to Your First Walt Disney World Visit, the best-reviewed Disney World guidebook in history, after it comes out later this year!

(It’s not too late to book a 2015 visit. If you do book a qualifying visit, you’ll get the most current version of The easy Guide to Your First Walt Disney World Visit)

So for 2016 or 2015, contact Kelly at at 980-429-4499 or kellyb@destinationsinflorida.com.

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OVERVIEW: JANUARY 2016 AT DISNEY WORLD

This page reviews January 2016 Walt Disney World crowds, prices, deals and discounts, weather, and operating hours; adds a few other notes; and ends with week by week summaries.

Early January 2016 will be dominated by holiday crowds and prices, but after the 2nd, most days will see low crowds and low prices–with upticks around the Marathon (weekend of the 9th) and the Martin Luther King Day three day holiday weekend.

Late January has some of the lowest crowds and prices of the year at Walt Disney World.

Even so, January is not recommended for first-time visitors who may never return, because of ride closures. For returning visitors–and first timers who know they can return–it’s a great time to visit.

[Read more →]