How To Plan a School Trip to Disney World

Disney World is the perfect destination for school trips. Yes, everyone loves the rides, restaurants, and resorts, but school groups can also participate in Disney-sponsored arts and science workshops held right in the park.  So whether it’s an educational field trip, a high school band trip, or just a fun senior class trip, Disney World is the perfect destination for any youth organization. Let’s take a closer at how to book a school trip to Disney World and how your organization can take advantage of Disney group discounts.

Are you organizing a school trip to Disney World? If so, consider reaching out to the Disney Travel Agents at The Vacationeer for assistance. Their services are completely free and can prove to be invaluable as you navigate the challenges of planning a youth group travel to Disney World. They can even assist with processing individual payments to take the stress off of the organizers. Contact them now for a free, no-obligation consultation.

Eligibility for School Group Discounts

Disney’s Student Group Tickets offer a special opportunity to explore Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios at discounted prices exclusive to youth organizations. These discounts are available throughout the year.

To be eligible for these discounts, school groups must have a minimum of 10 guests aged between 3-22 years and should be affiliated with an accredited educational institution, religious organization, or another type of organized youth group. The number of Group Leaders and extra Guests should not exceed the total number of youth guests in the group.

Eligible youth groups for these discounts include, but are not limited to:

• Public or private school classes on field trips or celebrating graduations.
• Organized teams, musical bands, or clubs participating in celebrations, workshops, conferences, or performances.
• Trips organized by faith-based youth groups.
• Special outings organized by social organizations.
• Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, and other scouting trips.
• Groups from elementary, middle–junior high, high school, and college levels.

Qualified school groups can also access special discounted rates at Walt Disney World Resort by participating in the Disney Imagination Campus program, formerly known as Disney Youth Programs. This program is designed to provide unique educational experiences in a fun, interactive environment.

Disney Imagination Campus provides a variety of educational and performance opportunities, enhancing the traditional theme park experience with a focus on learning and creativity.

2024 Disney Youth Tickets – Costs

The Disney Imagination Campus ticket packages for 2024 cater to schools across the United States, offering diverse experiences based on location.

• For non-Florida-based schools, packages include Performing Arts Packages, Educational Workshop Packages, Festival Disney Packages, and Student Tickets, designed for performance, enrichment, or comprehensive park experiences.
• Florida-based schools have similar options, including Performing Arts Packages, Educational Workshop Packages, and Student Tickets, tailored to local groups’ needs and proximity to Disney parks.

Both categories provide access to immersive theme parks, self-guided learning activities on mobile devices, and various workshops and performance opportunities throughout the year. This enables groups to customize their experiences the way they choose. 

Performance & Festival Pricing | National

• Starter Package: Ideal for groups visiting one park per day. Available for 2 to 6 days, starting at $204 without tax for two days, and increasing up to $446 for six days in peak season.
• Park Hopper Option Package: Suitable for groups wanting to visit multiple parks on the same day. Ranges from 3 to 6 days, with prices from $326 to $507 in peak season.
• Premium Package: Best for groups seeking a comprehensive experience, including park hopping and additional activities. Starts at $336 for three days, going up to $518 for six days during peak season.

Academic Workshop Pricing | National

• Starter Package: Designed for groups focused on single-park academic experiences per day. Offered from 2 to 6 days, with prices ranging from $220 to $462 in peak season.
• Park Hopper Option Package: Tailored for groups combining workshops with the flexibility to explore multiple parks. Available for 3 to 6 days, prices range from $342 to $523 in peak season.
• Premium Package: For a holistic educational trip with workshops, park hopping, and extra activities. Prices for 3 to 6 days start at $352, reaching up to $534 in peak season.

Student Tickets Pricing | National

• Starter Student Tickets: Suitable for straightforward visits to one park per day. Available from 2 to 6 days, with prices from $210 to $468 in peak season.
• Park Hopper Option Student Tickets: Offers the opportunity to visit multiple parks each day. Ranges from 2 to 6 days, with prices from $265 to $529 in peak season.
• Premium Student Ticket: The most complete package, including park hopping and extra activities. Available from 2 to 6 days, with prices starting at $275 and up to $540 in peak season.

Performance Package Pricing | Florida

• Starter Package: Ideal for Florida school groups for a single-day visit to one park. Available from 1 to 6 days, with prices starting at $116 and going up to $446 in peak season.
• Park Hopper Option Package: Enables Florida groups to visit multiple parks each day. Offered for 3 to 6 days, with prices from $326 to $507 during peak season.
• Premium Package: The ultimate option for Florida groups, including park hopping and extra activities. Ranges from 3 to 6 days, with prices starting at $336 and up to $518 in peak season.

Academic Workshop Pricing | Florida

• Starter Package: For Florida groups engaging in single-park academic sessions. Available from 1 to 6 days, with prices beginning at $132 and increasing for longer stays.
• Park Hopper Option Package: Combines educational workshops with the chance to explore multiple parks. Available for 3 to 6 days, starting at $342 and increasing for peak season dates.
• Premium Package: Offers an extensive academic and entertainment experience. Prices for 3 to 6 days start at $352, rising with additional days and during peak season.

Student Tickets Pricing | Florida

• Starter Student Tickets: Tailored for Florida student groups visiting one park per day. Available for 1 to 6 days, starting at $94 without tax for a 1-Day EPCOT or Disney’s Animal Kingdom ticket, with prices increasing for longer stays.
• Park Hopper Option Student Tickets: Allows Florida students to explore multiple parks each day. Offered from 2 to 6 days, with pricing beginning at $265 without tax for a 2-day ticket, increasing for peak season.
• Premium Student Ticket: The most comprehensive option, including park hopping and additional experiences. Available from 2 to 6 days, starting at $275 without tax for a 2-day ticket, with incremental increases for peak season and longer stays.

Each package type includes varying options and additional details, such as seasonal pricing variations. For the most accurate and comprehensive pricing, it’s recommended to visit the official Disney Imagination Campus website or consult directly with The Vacationeer. They can provide detailed information and assist in selecting the best package for your group’s educational goals and budget.

Disney Imagination Campus for School Groups

Disney Imagination Campus offers a plethora of educational and performance opportunities, enhancing the traditional theme park experience with a focus on learning and creativity. Here are the programs available to students in 2024:

Science & Technology

• Technology of Disney Parks: Explore the cutting-edge technologies that make the magic happen.
• Physics of Disney Parks: A practical look at how physics principles are applied in the park.

Performing Arts

• Disney Broadway Magic: Learn the art of stage performance from Disney’s Broadway productions.
• Dance Disney: Experience dance workshops led by professional choreographers.
• Marching Band Performances: Showcase your school’s marching band in a Disney parade.
• Soundtrack Sessions: Instrumental & Vocal: Learn the intricacies of performing and recording music.

Arts & Humanities

• Immersive Storytelling: Dive into the art of creating compelling narratives.
• Theme Park Design: Understand the creative and technical aspects of designing a theme park.

Leadership & Innovation

• Leadership the Disney Way: Gain insights into Disney’s approach to leadership.
• Teamwork the Disney Way: Explore the power of teamwork in a Disney context.
• Disney Leadership Assembly: A seminar on leadership strategies and practices.

Theme Park Experience

• Student Tickets: Special rates for educational groups to explore the parks and participate in learning activities.

For more information on courses offered by Disney Imagination Campus or to book your school group for a Disney World workshop, please contact The Vacationeer. They can be your Disney liaison and coordinate every aspect of your visit!

How to Book a School Trip to Disney World

Here’s what you need to do as you book a trip for your senior class trip, band trip, or other school group or organization.

• Pick the Dates

Determine the best time to go to Disney World for your youth group. This decision will be based on certain factors like crowds, seasonal weather, availability of  Disney Youth Programs classes, academic schedules, etc. Consult our Disney Crowd Calendar to get an idea of the crowd sizes.

• Choose a Disney Resort Hotel

There’s an in-park resort to fit any budget.

Disney Value Resorts are the least expensive tier of in-park hotels. They offer basic accommodations, no-frills (but very adequate) dining options,  and bus transportation to the theme parks. Disney Deluxe resorts are the most expensive resort tier and offer the biggest rooms, nicest amenities, and the best transportation options to the parks.  Disney Moderate resorts offer a nice middle-ground in terms of price,  amenities, and transportation to the parks.

All Guests staying at Disney Resorts will receive an advance booking window for dining reservations, Lightning Lane ride selections, and more perks than Guests staying at non-Disney hotels. See our Comparison of Disney World Hotels page for more on the resorts.

• Decide on a Dining Plan

Disney’s Dining Plan simplifies the way you eat at Disney World. There are several different tiers of the Disney Dining Plan to accommodate a wide range of eating habits and budgets. Learn more on our Disney Dining Plan Calculator page.

Another option is to just pay out-of-pocket. Paying as you go may save you money (especially if you’re a light eater), but, if you plan on eating at table service restaurants and/or have a big appetite, then the Disney Dining Plan may be the way to go.

See our Best Magic Kingdom Restaurants, Best Epcot Restaurants, Best Animal Kingdom Restaurants, and Best Hollywood Studios Restaurants pages for more dining information.

• Book the Dining Reservations 

Booking your dining reservations in a timely manner is crucial to the success of any school trip to Disney World. You really have to make your reservations early or else you may get shut out of some of the best dining experiences at Disney.

See our Disney Reservation Calculator and determine when you should book your reservations.

• Coordinate Payments

It can be a pretty complicated process to coordinate a payment plan for every single person in a group of 10+. Why not let the Disney travel specialists at The Vacationeer help you with this process? They can book every aspect of your Disney school group trip, including purchasing the park tickets, hotel stays, dining plans, and booking your dining reservations (not an easy task!). Plus, your dedicated Disney travel planner can process separate payment plans for each student.

All of this and their services are 100% free of charge. It’s really the way to go!

Fill out the free quote form for school groups below, and someone will get right back to you with the details.

• Create the Itinerary

It is a good idea to create an itinerary before your school group arrives at Disney World. But where do you start? After all, Disney World is home to 4 theme parks, two water parks, and dozens of resorts and restaurants. It’s a huge place!

I’d start your research with our Best Magic Kingdom Rides, Best Epcot Rides, Best Animal Kingdom Rides, and Best Hollywood Studios Rides pages. We also have Best Disney Character Dining, Best Shows at Disney World, How to Plan a Disney Vacation, Disney World Map, Taking School-Aged Kids to Disney World, and Homeschooling at Disney World pages.

If this information overload is stressing you out, then I’d recommend reaching out to The Vacationeer for assistance. They can help you make sense of this massive resort and plan a magical school outing.

Thanks for reading, and have a wonderful trip!