2021 Disney World UK Deal: Stay 2 Weeks, Get 4 Nights Free
Walt Disney World has released its first discount for Spring and Summer 2021, the “Wish You Were Here” UK deal that offers 4 nights free during a 2 week trip, and more. In this post, we share dates and details, what this could mean for future U.S. general public WDW deals, whether the promo makes sense to book, and more.
First, the details of Walt Disney World’s “Wish You Were Here” deal. You’re eligible for this promotion if you are a resident of the United Kingdom or Ireland, and book a full-price Walt Disney World hotel and ticket package for a minimum of 7 nights and maximum of 21 nights. Travel dates are January 1, 2021 to March 21, 2021 and April 11, 2021 to September 12, 2021; deal must be booked by February 2, 2021.
As part of this offer, you can take advantage of Walt Disney World’s 14-Day Ultimate Ticket for the price of a 7-Day Ticket, which includes Memory Maker. Guests booking Walt Disney World’s “Wish You Were Here” deal with Ultimate tickets will also receive a $200 Disney gift card. Here are additional details and commentary…
Stay in the Little Mermaid Standard Rooms at Disney’s Art of Animation Resort or Disney’s Pop Century Resort for 7 to 13 nights and receive 1 of those nights free, stay for 14 to 20 nights and receive 2 of those nights free, or stay for 21 nights and receive 3 of those nights free.
Bump up a tier or two to the Moderate or Deluxe Resorts and the deal is significantly better. Stay in a participating (see below) hotel for 7 to 13 nights and receive 2 of those nights free, stay for 14 to 20 nights and receive 4 of those nights free, or stay for 21 nights and receive 6 of those nights.
Here’s the list of eligible resorts:
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort
- Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort
- Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort
- Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
- Disney’s Yacht Club Resort
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas — Kidani Village
- Disney’s Beach Club Villas
- Disney’s Boardwalk Villas
- Disney’s Old Key West Resort
- Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
- Bay Lake Tower at Disney’s Contemporary Resort
- Copper Creek Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Disney’s Riviera Resort
Note that some Walt Disney World Resort Hotels remain closed. As hotels reopen they may be added to Resort Hotel Offers and will be subject to these terms and conditions. You will be able to cancel and rebook or modify your reservation, should you want to change resorts.
The following room types are excluded from the Resort Hotel Offers: Standard Rooms and Water/Pool View Rooms at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Standard Garden Wing Rooms and Standard Garden Wing King Rooms at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, Tower Studios at Disney’s Riviera Resort and The Villas at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa, River View Rooms, and potentially a variety of rooms at the Port Orleans Resorts if they reopen during the promo.
Next, guests will be able to buy Walt Disney World’s 14-Day Ultimate Ticket for the price of the 7-Day Ultimate Ticket. This offer is available to book now through August 31, 2021 for arrivals next year through September 12, 2021. The last ticket usage date is September 26, 2021. This also includes free Memory Maker that will automatically begin upon the first use of the associated park ticket and continue for as many days as the ticket is valid.
Guests who book a combined package the 14-Day Ultimate Ticket deal plus the resort stay deal consistent with the terms and conditions above, will also receive a US$200 Disney Spending Money Gift Card per booking. This will be provided via a Disney Gift Card loaded with $200 dollars per booking for guests to collect at World of Disney in Disney Spring to be spent at Walt Disney World and select US Disney Stores.
Guests booking this Walt Disney World “Wish You Were Here” package can cancel and receive a full refund anytime up to and including 7 days before the arrival date if booking before March 31, 2021 for arrivals up to and including September 12, 2021.
Cancel your Walt Disney World Resort flight inclusive package with a full refund anytime up to and including 101 days before your arrival date, or from 100 to 7 days before your arrival date subject only to any transport fees imposed by the transport carrier if you book before March 31, 2021 for arrival up to and including September 12, 2021.
Guests can also modify this Walt Disney World “Wish You Were Here” package without fees anytime up to and including 7 days before arrival date until March 31, 2021. Modify your Walt Disney World Resort flight inclusive package without fees anytime up to 7 days before your arrival date excluding any transport fees imposed by the transport carrier.
You will need to pay any difference in price if the new package price is higher and Walt Disney World will refund you the difference if the price is lower, with a deduction of any applicable fees. This would allow you, for instance, to book Pop Century Resort right now and modify to All Star Movies if the latter reopens by Summer 2021, potentially receiving a refund as the All Star option will likely be cheaper.
We typically watch and share this deal for several reasons. One is that our audience in the United Kingdom has grown, and the UK now ranks higher than Canada, Australia, or Japan. So it makes sense from a demographics perspective to share this deal.
Another is that many Americans are interested in the details of the UK discounts, as it’s often a sneak-peek at what will be offered in the United States. In a normal year, that’s the popular Free Disney Dining Plan at Walt Disney World offer. Unfortunately, this is not a normal year…
I’m hesitant to draw any conclusions or speculation as to what this means in terms of whether Free Dining is offered to the United States general public for 2021. While there being no Free Dining Bounceback and now no UK Free Dining deal, there is a critical distinction.
The US Free Dining deal does not necessarily involve as much advance notice. Whereas the bounce-back would be released almost a full year in advance and this UK offer is likewise coming out far in advance of some promo dates, that’s not necessarily the case with the general public Free Dining release to Americans.
In recent years, the lead-time on Free Dining has varied considerably, from as little as a few weeks ahead of time to as many as 6 months in advance. With so much still up in the air, that release date flexibility is crucial.
It’s entirely possible that Walt Disney World will not offer Free Dining in Fall 2021. It’s certainly likely that the discount won’t be first released in January 2021, as has been the case the last couple of years. However, it’s entirely possible that things crystalize by Spring 2021 and the Disney Dining Plan returns, followed shortly thereafter by a release of Free Dining dates for late summer and fall. That’s not necessarily our prediction–we’re just presenting what’s within the realm of possibility.
Beyond that, I also hesitate to offer any discount assessment on this Walt Disney World “Wish You Were Here” package for United Kingdom residents as I’m not nearly as well-versed in UK discounts as their US counterparts. In doing some back of the napkin math (editor’s note: I attempted to ‘translate’ that idiom to British slang…but I’m not publishing that on this blog!), it appears this deal is slightly worse than the normal Free Dining offer if using a 14 night stay as the baseline for each.
Of course, actual value of the 2021 Walt Disney World “Wish You Were Here” discount will vary by party size, resort tier, and perception of the Disney Dining Plan. If you’re a larger party that loves the DDP, this will unquestionably be a worse discount. Smaller parties favoring for expensive accommodations might be better served with this. This deal is better than current US general public room-only discounts, but inferior to Florida resident or Annual Passholder rates.
Given the uncertainty of everything–from Walt Disney World’s offerings to the status of international travel from the UK to US–I’m honestly a bit surprised that Walt Disney World isn’t offering a more aggressive discount. Hopefully this is not a preview of the paltry 2021 offers in store for Americans once Walt Disney World starts releasing those.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
What do you think about the 2021 Walt Disney World “Wish You Were Here” discount for United Kingdom residents? Do you wish we got offers like this in the United States, or do you prefer getting the room-only discounts and shorter minimum stays? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Im looking to go the end of September 2021 and the prices are going up and down on a weekly basis now, one minute caribbean resirt was £2100 for 7 nights now its £1600 and if i went within the “wish you were here” deal time frame it is £1200.
Do you think it will get lower than £1600 for 7 nights late sep/oct?
Thanks so much for this Tom. I’m from over the pond and had booked Art of Animation for a family trip May 2020. My agent (Trailfinders) rang me to tell me about this deal and said they would refund the price drop AND I woukd have the $200 Disney credit. After reading your blog I contacted them and have changed to Caribbean Beach Resort for only £80 extra for all of us for 1 week. Excellent recommended. Still hoping free dining gets released but so happy right now. Thanks again.
Sorry, May 2021
Hi Tom,
Great blog, used it to plan a trip last May, that Covididnt happen
You may not know the answer to this, but I was looking at re-booking 6th April to the 23rd of April, so 17nights in total, but starting before the promotional period, but also includes 12 nights within the promotion period.
What do you recon the offer will be?
Zero free nights
2 free nights
4 free nights
I’m hoping for some kind of deal to be released for January 2021 soon. We’re getting close to that 60 day window and that would affect my food reservations – we totally max out the meal plan!
We’d love a discount here in Australia and our travel is over twice the distance the U.K. residents travel… come on Disney!!!
ÃŒHi Tom really dissapointed.
We were due to travel fron the UK to Florida in April this year with the fre dining plan included.
This holiday was planned a year earlier for 3 generations of the family following somectragic news. It wasxmeant to be the dream holiday – something postive to focus on.
We could have cancelled undervthe current circumstances but decided to keep the faith with Disney.
But it looks like they will not offfer the dining plan or honour the offer / deal wechad when we first booked.
So dissapointed. We expected better from Disney
Having been going to Disney World since 1974 every year. We staying at the Polynesian most of the time. We have NEVER been offered anything close to this offer. Actually, nothing is offered even to repeat customers at all – no benefits, no points systems on cruise ships, no rewards like other resorts – nothing. This a bit of a slap in the face to Americans, who I’m pretty sure make up the bulk of constant visitors. I will need to rethink my next vacation where I can get more for my money
This deal amounts to less than 30% off room rates, and ONLY if you book 14 days. If you book fewer or more, the discount decreases.
By contrast, there’s a 40% off deal for Annual Passholders right now: https://www.disneytouristblog.com/40-percent-off-disney-world-hotels-christmas-2020/
What’s wrong with welcoming Americans! First my family then my husband and I have been supporting Disney since Disneyland opened when I was young – been going there since and threw in a few trips to Disney World. NEVER have we had any sort of discount!
Right now while so many things are closed or scaled back, this was a perfect time for us to make the journey to Disney World again….a discount wouldn’t have hurt my feelings.
Disneyland back in the good old days of being open, we always stay in a close “Good Neighbor” hotel because it’s easy, has private transportation, kids loved it. Disney World we always stay with Disney for the sheer ease. Never a discount for anything. Right now would have been perfect…..I’m pretty irritated about the UK deal even if it doesn’t truly sound like a great deal.
Really….I am booked at value season, in a value hotel, not during the 50th. They are charging $186.00 a night. If there is not a fun in the sun sale or a sale of some kind I will be canceling!
I couldn’t agree with you more! Honestly, I can’t believe what I just read. Hope they get it together soon.
Hi Tom! All EU citizens can benefit from this offer, as it also includes Ireland. Fan communities in Spain use to target the free dinning plan, this offer has not created a big amount of excitement. Moreover, besides the foreseeable difficulties to travel, I don’t see the advantages in staying on site at such prices at this moment.
Please Disney, offer this to American travelers too (like you did in 2009). I’ll book it today.
Thanks tom this has giving me hope for the future. I like too think that maybe they know something we dnt about international travel , however I’m quite happy too book for next year not bothered by big discounts (or lack of) let’s see what happens.
Thanks again tom for all the time u put into your pieces
Desperate London millennial here: I cannot wait to get to Galaxys Edge (Im starting to worry it might never happen)… but this is a rather underwhelming offer to me. Stay 10 nights at a deluxe resort and get two free… it just feels a like an average pre-Covid deal.
The problem is we’re already getting used to spectacular deals on travel (BA and other airlines are discounting beyond what they’ve ever done, I’ve seen month stays in nice hotels for Eur1500) and this doesn’t feel that remarkable.
There is going to be a LOT of fuss and uncertainty getting into the USA when it reopens (I imagine private sector covid testing etc) and rightly or wrongly I feel I am ‘owed’ more by Disney to entice me over.
Hey Tom, you know the slang means “cigarette” in the UK? Whilst the US meaning would be understood in the UK, if someone said they were desperate for one, they would mean they needed a smoke! VERY different!
Haha, I’m aware…but probably still not the best slang to use on a blog read disproportionately by Americans who may take that to mean something very different! 😉
Well, this is a big slap in the face to the military. Disney has given the military a discount for many years…until this year. There are NO military discounts for 2021. But they’re giving one to people living in a different country on a different continent. Nice to see where Disney’s priorities are. I’m done with Disney!
Again, I’d stress patience. This discount for the UK is being released over *six months* later than it would be in a normal year. The Disney Armed Forces Salute is normally released at the end of September, so it’s not even 3 weeks late at this point.
Being “done with Disney” over a ~3 week delay given everything going on right now seems like an extreme overreaction. Just give it some time.
like your translation of back fo napkin to British idiom . Absolutely accurate and something we use often over here on this side of the pond
As a UK resident, I was hoping for a bit more. I don’t think I’ll make the trip until things look a lot more normal, though a significantly more aggressive discount may have swayed me. As you say, this is no better than the usual UK discounts.
I also saw the Facebook advert for this and most of the comments were negative, saying people won’t return until things are back to normal (FastPass+ was particularly important to most commenters). Usually these discounts just get a bunch of positive comments from people saying they intend to use them.
I don’t blame you or anyone from the UK. It’s a big trip (assuming you’re allowed to make it) with a significant time and monetary investment. Given all of the cuts, I would’ve expected more of an incentive to visit.
4 nights out of 14 for “free” is basically a 30% room discount.
So comparing it to what might be expected for American guests — 25-30% room discounts over the summer would be fairly typical.
They are likely really trying to strike a balance with these early discounts because of all the unknowns:
– They don’t know when capacity will truly increase nor do they know the future of travel restrictions. Thus, they don’t even know how many European guests they can take, or how many they can fit.
-As you point out, I wouldn’t take this to mean that there is no free dining. But I might take it to suggest Disney doesn’t have the answers about the dining plan either. They don’t know when it will return. And further, they don’t necessarily know what it will look like when it return. It’s pretty typical to make year to year adjustments to the details of the dining plan. With this big window to make adjustments, who knows what the dining plan will even look like when it returns.
UK visitors are Walt Disney World’s “whales” so I’d imagine they will want to take as many of them as they can get, and find ways to shift capacity away from APs, CMs, and FL residents if that’s what it takes.
I just looked at pop century prices for October 2021 it’s 35.00 more than September. Even at that it’s a lot higher than I usually pay. My hope is all star movies opens and I can switch, it probably won’t be as good as the fun and sun from last year, but it will not be $185 a night for a value hotel.
2022?!? Noooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Tom, good article with potentially exciting news for the future! You need to fix the dates for booking the 2021 trips (it says “travel dates … January 2020 … etc). Just an fyi 🙂
Hopefully POFQ will open soon, any word on that?
Thanks for the heads up. Literally the second time I’ve done that today. Think I need my afternoon coffee!
No word on the Port Orleans Resorts. My assumption from the beginning has been that those would be last to return. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’re not back until 2022.