One of the most common questions we hear from our readers is, “When do you think future discounts will be released?” I wish we had a crystal ball for the answer!

It would be wonderful if we could predict when popular discounts like Free Dining or even room-only discounts were announced, wouldn’t it? Well, don’t despair; there really is a crystal ball of sorts to help you guess which travel dates are most likely to be included in future discounts.

Possible Dates When Special Offers Are Announced

You see, Disney often releases discounts at the same general time each year. It’s not guaranteed, but it IS likely.

Special Deals and Offers

This is a list of the times when special deals for Walt Disney World have been offered in the past. They are for reference only. Discounts are limited and are not guaranteed!

Offers during these time frames are often between 15%-30% off room-only reservations (e.g. does not include tickets or dining) for Annual Passholders, Florida Residents, or other amenity groups; or discounted play-stay-and-dine packages that include hotel room, tickets, and dining options and are offered for the general public.

• January through April (excluding Marathon Weekend, Martin Luther King Weekend, Presidents Day and Easter)
• May through August (Excluding Memorial Day and July 4th)
• Late August through mid-December (this is typically when Free Dining is offered excluding October and Thanksgiving)
• Late October through mid-December (excluding Thanksgiving)

Disney World Free Dining

Disney World Free Dining, an offer where guests are able to book a Disney World vacation package and get the Dining Plan for free, is one of the most highly anticipated offers of the year.

For the past four years, Free Dining has been announced at the end of April or beginning of May (for the past two years, it’s been announced on April 24th exactly), and the offer has applied to vacations taking place on select dates August through mid-December.

Click here to get more information about Disney World’s Free Dining Offer!

Note that Disney World nearly ALWAYS has a special offer available…but they will NOT tell you about it when you call to book your vacation.

You need to have the information ahead of time, and the best way to have that info is to work with a Small World Vacations travel agent. They’ve got a full list of every single Disney World discount currently offered and can help you get access to the one that will save YOU the most money (it might not be the one you THINK!).

Click the link below to learn more about working with a Small World Vacations travel agent — it’s FREE!

Of course, the possibility of a discount is only part of the equation when you’re deciding when to visit Walt Disney World. Crowds, weather, and other seasonal events must also be considered.

Other Things to Consider When Choosing A Good Time to Visit Disney World

When choosing your travel dates, a good rule of thumb is to go during the off peak seasons and to avoid major US holidays. Off peak seasons include January 5th through mid-February, late April and early May, mid-August through mid-December (avoiding the major holidays like Labor Day, Veteran’s Day and Columbus Day weekends, and Thanksgiving).

You might also want to check to see which resorts were excluded from previous offers such as 3-bedroom villas, campsites, the Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian, Bay Lake Tower, Copper Creek Villas – Cabins, Disney’s Polynesian Bungalows, and Disney’s Art of Animation Little Mermaid Rooms.

Can I Get A Future Discount If I Book My Vacation Now?

Now is time to lock in availability for your preferred travel dates and resort for next year. But don’t worry — if you book now, you can still take advantage of future discounts on your vacation!

Your Small World Vacations travel agent will be able to update and re-book your vacation if necessary to take advantage of any discounts that are released during your travel dates! And since discounts are very limited, you definitely want an agent on your side who will be up at 6AM the day the discount is released, making sure YOU get the biggest savings possible on your trip.

Small World agents are Authorized Disney Vacation Planners who monitor your reservation for possible (but not guaranteed) savings. They’ve saved millions of dollars for people around the world!

Disney is all they do, so they know all about Advance Dining Reservations, FastPass+, My Disney Experience, dining, resorts, rides and attractions. Small World Vacations agents are ready to save you time, headaches and money. And their invaluable service is FREE! Learn how Small World Vacations can help you.

Get the Magic started and complete a request for a price quote. An agent will review your travel preferences and provide you with a no-obligation quote along with their phone number so you can talk with them.