Booking a Disney vacation through Costco

Disney is the most magical place on Earth, and luckily the U.S. has one of its theme parks on each coast.

These days, Disney theme parks mean much more than Mickey Mouse. Both Disneyland in Anaheim, California, and Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, offer an immersive entertainment experience. Whether you’re a kid – or still a kid at heart – hours of magical fun await, from the classic characters you know and love to the exciting Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

If you’re dreaming of a Disney vacation, simply wishing upon a star won’t make it happen. Booking a trip to either park is expensive to say the least, but you still have options to save. Read on to learn how being a Costco member can make it easier than ever to treat the entire family to a vacation they won’t forget.

What are Costco Disney vacation packages?

Built in to the members-only Costco Travel portal, Costco’s Disney vacation packages can offer great discounts on an otherwise costly trip. Disney vacation packages vary with budget and locale, but they generally include theme park tickets, transportation and other perks like discounts on dining, entertainment and shopping.

What’s more, exclusive Costco members enjoy 2% annual rewards on all Costco travel purchases.

Why book a Disney vacation through Costco?

It’s no secret that a Disney vacation can break the budget. But Costco members enjoy benefits that can chip away at the final bill, like park passes, free transportation or parking, discounts on dining and more. When you add this to discounted hotel rooms and theme park tickets, travelers can end up saving money on fees and taxes alone – which start to add up when purchasing piecemeal.

Besides the discounts that come with bundling your Disney vacation purchases, Costco members also enjoy the convenience of booking everything at once. All travel plans – including airfare, car rental, lodging and entertainment – can be booked simultaneously through Costco’s easy-to-use travel portal.

What’s included in a Costco Disney vacation package?

Whether it’s a romantic trip for two or fun for the whole family, there are several perks that come with bundling your Disney vacation. While the amenities vary depending on the package, all Disney packages include theme park tickets, discounted lodging and free transportation to and from the airport.

But the advantages don’t end there. Disney vacations booked through Costco may also include:

• Savings on hotel rooms or villas
• Magic mornings early admission (three-plus day park ticket)
• Discounts at Luxury Lanes Bowling ($5 per person)
• Fun Disney swag (pin, button and lanyard)
• Upgrades and room delivery where applicable

Remember: double check the details of your particular package so you don’t miss out on any deals.

Comparing packages to find a good deal

The convenience of bundling is great, but are Costco Disney vacation packages cheaper than booking through a different platform? It can be complicated to parse out the exact details of a package trip’s perks, let alone compare them. Considering that Disney vacations have gotten so expensive over the years, it’s a fair question.

While adding any extras to your package will drive up the cost, travelers can indeed save money when booking a package deal through the Costco travel portal.

Here’s what we found when we tested booking a package through Costco vs. booking a Disney vacation piecemeal:

*For same rental car as Costco package, paid in advance

As you can see, while booking through Costco doesn’t save a ton of money, $150 saved is better than nothing. Factoring in the convenience and time saved booking all at once, booking through Costco’s travel portal is the better value.

How to book a Disney vacation with Costco

Costco’s travel portal is pretty straightforward when it comes to booking, with the trickiest part being trying to find the right package for your desired vacation dates. Here’s a step by step guide to nailing down package details.

First, browse Disney packages. We chose Disney’s Riviera Resort package for this example.

Next, check to see if your desired vacation dates are available, as well as flights from your city.

When you find available dates, it will show the flight options.

Next, the portal will provide the hotel room option provided with the package, and list included amenities.

Then, choose your Disney theme park tickets, based on your desired itinerary and length of stay.

Lastly, you will be shown your car rental and pick up time, with the option to modify details if needed.

Drawbacks to booking a Disney trip through Costco

Some travelers may want to consider possible drawbacks to the Disney vacation packages before booking.

Can’t use or earn rewards points

Travelers will miss out on earning any rewards points for hotel stays, since most hotels and resorts are Disney-owned (excluding The Swan and Dolphin by Marriott). However, frequent flyers can still earn their miles if a qualifying flight is available through the Costco package, as long as their frequent flyer number is linked.

Less flexibility in travel

Availability may lock you in to certain dates, per the particular vacation package. Packages are constantly being reformatted and updated, so the trip you want may not be available at the price or time you want it.

This can especially be a challenge with school-age children, as popular vacation times tend to get filled the quickest. Destinations, including the theme park or resort, may also be limited, depending on the season.

Predefined packages may feel restrictive

While many travelers love the idea of having their vacation planned out and bundled for convenience, some might feel nickel-and-dimed if they don’t use all of the benefits offered. Unfortunately, you can’t pick and choose your perks. These are all-or-nothing deals, so taking advantage of every benefit will give you more bang for your buck.

Travelers who prefer to choose their hotel room size and amenities (a room with a view, for example) may decide that booking a Disney vacation on their own offers more freedom and flexibility.

Costco members only

With Costco Travel, Disney package vacations are only available to Costco members and their families. For some, the annual cost of a Costco membership – which starts at $60 – may not justify the benefits of booking a Disney package vacation.

Is booking your Disney vacation through Costco worth it?

Booking a family vacation is almost as stressful as traveling with toddlers, so booking a Disney package vacation is probably worth it. When comparing Costco’s package to booking individually, saving upwards of $100 is still money in your pocket to spend as you wish. Besides, the value offered by the amount of time saved and the convenience of booking everything at once – essentially having Costco do the heavy lifting of planning – is probably worth it on its own, especially for busy moms and dads with an already packed to-do list.