Happy Ways for Saving Money at Disney World
I have always wanted to take my kids to Disney World. I got to go once as a child and it was so magical – something I really want my kids to experience. To be truthful, though, I always thought it was just way too expensive, so I let the dream go.
Recently, that dream was reignited, so I decided to look into it a bit deeper. And to be truthful, it can be quite expensive, but during my research, I discovered several ways to save on the trip.
With some planning and strategic moves, this dream can be within reach – and I want to share what I found with you. The following are some of the best tips I’ve found for saving money at Disney World.
1. Make a Budget
This is certainly not a new tip – budgeting is something you should be doing regularly and for every big expense you want to take on. A trip to Disney World is no exception.
Before you begin planning your trip, decide how much you can afford and how much you’re willing to pay. This number will help you put everything else in place.
Now, keep in mind that budgets can be adapted. As you go through planning your trip, you might decide that you want to do a little more or less, and that’s okay. The point is that starting with a budget gives you a place to begin.
The Goalry app is a great resource to help you budget for any of your goals – including a fun trip to Disney World. If you haven’t already done it, get your member key and start building your Disney budget.
Explore Possibilities To Save Your Money. Meet Billry.
2. Prioritize
There are a million ways you can spend money at Disney World – often without even thinking about it. And it’s your trip, so you can spend your money however you wish.
The important thing is actually doing that – spending money on what you want to spend it on. Many purchases people make there are unnecessary and can blow a budget immediately.
Deciding what’s important for you is key to saving money at Disney World.
For example, you have several lodging choices – some onsite and some offsite, which we’ll get into in a moment. For some people – including me – staying at a Disney Resort adds to the magic. However, it can cost much more than other options.
If staying onsite to reap the additional benefits is important to you, it can be worth spending that money. If it’s not, you can save a bundle to spend on other areas that are important to you.
If you’ve never been to Disney World or haven’t been in a long time, you may be wondering how to know what’s important to you. There are a lot of online travel blogs that talk about trips to Disney World. Reading several of them can give you a good picture as to what’s available and, typically, give you an unbiased review.
3. Prepare For Your Trip
One of the biggest keys to saving money at Disney World is preparing for your trip. As early as you possibly can, start making a list of everything you’ll need to take with you. If you wait until the last minute, the pressure will likely make you overlook things.
Once you have your list, spread it so you can get a little each time you get paid. Find a drawer or container that you can put stuff in over time. Then, when it’s time to actually pack, you can just transfer the stuff to your suitcase – and you’re not paying out too much at once.
4. Tickets
Let’s talk tickets for a minute as this is a major factor in your Disney World costs. And there are several things to consider when it comes to purchasing your tickets, so let’s dive in.
When Do You Want to Go?
The time of year – and time of day – you choose to go can greatly impact your ticket prices. Visit Disney World’s website to view a calendar of seasonal ticket prices.
By checking this calendar and booking during the slower times, you can save up to $50 per ticket. If you have a family of six like me, that’s $300 you can save each day on park tickets.
Also, don’t think you need to get up at the crack of dawn to get your money’s worth. You can purchase mid-day tickets for significant savings and still enjoy the park from noon until it shuts down. And going during the week is cheaper than going on the weekends.
Do You Really Need Park Hopper Tickets?
If you’re not aware, Disney World is more than just the Magical Kingdom. There are a total of four parks, which also include Epcot, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios. Disney World kindly offers Park Hopper tickets, which allow you to visit all four parks in a day – for a significant price increase over the Base Tickets.
Now, visiting all four in a day might sound exciting, but it is nearly impossible. I mean, sure, you could choose to just enter each park, do one or two things, and then move to the next park – but why would you want to? After dreaming about this trip, planning for it, and working hard to pay for it, why would you want to rush through it?
Each of the Disney Parks provides a lot to do, see, and experience. In order to take advantage of all those things, you are much better off buying Base Tickets. These are available for each park and allow you to enter one park per day. If you want to go through all four parks, it is better to buy a base ticket each day for the park you wish to experience. You can still go to each one – just on different days and for a much lower price.
Check Discount Coupon Sites
Sites like Get Away Today purchase tickets to places like Disney in bulk to resell. They offer a best price guarantee, ensuring you get your tickets at the lowest price no matter how high they are at the Disney gates. Once you’ve decided when you want to go, check Get Away Today and other discount ticket sites before you purchase anywhere else.
Don’t Forget Points and Cash Back
If you have a credit card that lets you build points, you can use them to purchase your Disney World tickets. The same goes with cash back rewards programs.
5. Lodging
As stated above, you have several options for lodging while at Disney World. And each comes with its own benefits and price points.
Disney World Resorts
These come with some extra benefits, like being able to get into the parks early, complimentary transportation to and from the parks, several pools at each resort, fun resort activities, and more.
Granted, these things come at a higher price, but some of the benefits outweigh the costs. For example, complimentary transportation prevents all of those parking irritations and saves money.
You’ll want to think this through and weigh out your options, of course, but don’t automatically discount staying at a resort. And keep in mind that they have Disney Value Resorts, which still offer great perks while saving some cash.
Rent an RV
What if you could stay in the Disney Resort area without paying the high cost of the resort room? If that sounds appealing, you can rent an RV to stay in Fort Wilderness, which not only gives you an incredible view but also access to hiking trails, horseback riding, canoeing, and more.
Hint: Having access to these activities can save you some extra dough. Instead of paying for park tickets every day, you can explore Fort Wilderness and all it has to offer.
Offsite Lodging
You can always stay in a hotel or a condo that is not tied directly to Disney World, and it can save you some money. You likely won’t get all of the perks that a Disney Resort will give you, of course.
However, many offsite locations do offer transportation to and from the parks. If you decide to stay offsite, aim for a location that provides such convenience.
If you choose to stay in a hotel or condo, search sites like Vrbo to compare locations. Now, if you book through such sites, you’ll end up paying more than necessary. Instead, try to find the property management company or owner, and book directly through their website.
Additionally, you can use credit card points to help pay for many of these locations, saving you even more cash. The best thing to do is start looking for an offsite option early, giving you plenty of time to research and find the best opportunity for your family.
6. Gift Cards
You can use Disney gift cards to pay for your entire Disney World trip, and there are a few ways to go about getting them for free or at a discounted rate.
Ask Friends and Family
Tell your loved ones you are planning a trip and that you would prefer Disney gift cards for any holidays. If you plan your trip early enough, you might be able to get several gift cards for you and your kids for birthday and Christmas presents.
Buy Retail
Places like Sam’s Club, BJ’s Wholesale, and Target often sell Disney gift cards at a 5 percent discount. I know this doesn’t sound like a lot, but it really does add up – especially if you add it to other savings.
Check Your Credit Card
Sometimes, credit card companies like American Express offer discounts for Disney to their cardholders.
Check Discount Sites
There are several websites that offer discounted gift cards to Disney and many other places. You can sometimes save up to 50 percent, though it’s more common to find a 15 percent discount.
Used Gift Card Sites
You know those times someone gave you a gift card to a place you never go to? Maybe your grandmother thought you’d love to shop at a certain clothing store, but you aren’t a fan of anything they offer? Well, you’re not alone. Many people receive gift cards to places they’ll never go. Or maybe they planned to go there and asked for gift cards, but for some reason, they never made it. What happens to those gift cards?
In some cases, they just sit there unused, eventually making their way into the trash. However, others have found a way to put them to use. They sell them on used gift card sites at a discounted rate, such as Raise, Gift Card Bin, and CardCash.
As they are reseller sites, the available gift cards vary. However, if you keep an eye out, you can run across some Disney gift cards at a good price.
And that’s not the only way to use these sites. If you have received a gift card you’ll never use or don’t want, you can sell it on these sites to make some extra Disney World funds.
Social Media
I don’t know about every state and city, but I know that we have several local reseller’s markets – and they often go through social media platforms. For example, our community has several yard sale pages on Facebook.
In the past, I have found people selling gift cards they were given for bill money or just because they knew they couldn’t use them. Check social media and even Craig’s List to see if you can find something similar. Please remember, though, to be careful meeting anyone in person – always do it in a neutral area with plenty of people around.
7. Dining
Eating is another major cost at Disney World. You’ll find that eating in the parks is quite expensive. The only way it’s not is if you purchase a Disney package that provides free dining.
To be fair, I have to mention that dinners in the park seem to be a pretty awesome thing. With characters waiting on you, it adds to the family fun, so it’s understandable to want to experience such awesomeness.
However, this goes back to priorities. You might want your family to experience “magical” dining, and that’s fine, but that doesn’t mean you have to blow your budget on food. Try these tips to help.
1. Eat only one meal at a Disney restaurant. You could make a dinner reservation once during your trip, and then use the rest of the tips for other meals.
2. Trade dinner for another meal. For a fraction of the cost, you can do character breakfasts or lunches instead.
3. Eat breakfast before you go. Try eating in your room before you go. Just remember not to get too full, or your walk around Disney World will not be quite so fun.
4. Pack your food. You don’t have to eat Disney food. You can pack your own food in a cooler backpack and have a picnic lunch instead.
5. Cook. Okay, yes, it’s a vacation, and you might not want to cook. I get that. However, you can use a Crockpot to make easy meals, keep lunch meat in your room’s fridge, and even some frozen corn dogs or something similar. It is vacation, after all, so you can gorge out on microwaveable stuff you might not normally be okay with eating.
Saving on food while traveling is possible but not as easy with kids. Get ready to stand your ground and don’t fall under the influence of their cute faces.
8. Don’t Just Do Disney
Here’s an enlightening fact: a trip to Disney World doesn’t have to revolve solely around the parks. Take a day to enjoy your lodging amenities.
For example, if you rent an RV, you’ve got that wonderful Fort Wilderness to experience. If you’re at a hotel, resort, or condo, you’ve got pools and other great things to enjoy.
And you can always act like a tourist, walk around Orlando, and take pictures.
You can save a lot of money simply by taking a day off from Disney World.
9. Souvenirs
It doesn’t matter how old you are, Disney World can bring out the kid in us all. You might think Mickey ears are silly, but you’re probably going to want some once you get there. And don’t forget those awesome autograph books. I still remember all the characters signing mine – and your kids will want the same thing.
On top of that, your little ones will be wanting princess costumes, bubble wands, Disney pins, and much more once they see all the magic in the park. This is all completely normal – and crazy expensive.
You can, however, save money with some preparation thanks to another magical place – the Internet. You can find pretty much anything you find in Disney World online for a much lower price. That includes the autograph books and Mickey ears.
As for the costumes, make use of after-Halloween sales when possible. You can purchase a pretty princess costume for your girls to wear in the park for $20 or less.
Also, there are two Disney Character Warehouses close to Disney World. What’s so great about them? Well, those expensive souvenirs you find in the parks can be found in these warehouses. Many of them can be as low as $1 to $5.
10. Other Park Purchases
So what else do people spend cash on at Disney World? Well, that list can be limitless, but some common items include:
Snacks
Drinks
Stroller rentals
Photos
In-room food
On-site store purchases for necessities
The following are some ways to avoid or minimize these costs:
Pack snacks – You’re going to want some munchies, so pack a few things you and your kids love to snack on.
Buy a refillable popcorn bucket – On your first Disney day, buy a popcorn bucket. These cost about $10, but you can refill them for $2. That means you’re saving a ton of money on snacks during your entire trip.
Forget sodas – You don’t want to spend $30 on sodas several times a day – especially not when there’s a free option. Pack a refillable water bottle. There are several places throughout the parks where you can get ice and water for free.
Take a stroller with you – Stroller rentals can be ridiculous.
Carry your camera, an extra battery, or a portable charger – Don’t pay for photographs in the park – take your own for a much lower price.
Order groceries and other necessities – You know you can purchase what you need on Amazon and it is typically delivered in a couple of hours to Disney resorts and surrounding areas? No need to pay extra for in-room food when you can save cash on groceries.
Don’t shop on-site stores for necessities – Need a bandaid? Forget to pack your toothbrush? Don’t use Disney’s on-site stores or those in the resorts. Order from Amazon instead. Before you do that, though, ask the staff for what you need. Sometimes they can provide it for free.
Take ponchos – A common complaint I’ve found is that it starts raining, and park-goers have to stand in crazy long lines to purchase expensive ponchos. Instead, make a trip to your local dollar store before heading toward Disney World.
Conclusion
A Disney World vacation may seem like a dream – one that is too expensive to follow through on. However, by budgeting, planning and preparing early, following these tips to save on your vacation, and finding ways to sock away some cash, you can make your vacation dreams come true.