Think about it, the average family cannot afford a Disney World Vacation. Many families save for years for this trip. So it is very important to get the most for your money! These Disney World tips are designed to get the most bang for your buck! Take what works for you, alter a few but for the most part, you will leave how to save for a Disney Vacation your family will love and remember for years.
Disney World Tips – How to Save for a Disney Vacation
If you are a Florida resident you can also get a ticket discount!
Find alternative routes to buying tickets.
To put this simply. You do not need to buy tickets from Disney. Find another route, unless you enjoy paying full price for tickets. ( not me! )
Are you a military family? Make sure you check out the Armed Forces Salute! They offer great discounts on Disney world vacations for military members and their families. Also military can get a discount at the Shades of Green Disney resort.
If you are not a military family then you can check out Destination in Florida for discount tickets. They have whole packages and even packages on Disney cruises!
When planning your Disney Trip check out the packages deals at GetAway Today. They are Disney Pros and know how to get all the best deals and the #1 Disney Package seller.
Don’t stay on the property
The budget resorts at Disney World aren’t always that budget-friendly. You’re looking at anywhere from $100-$300 a night. Really think about where you will stay to help you save money. This decision can save you thousands. Airbnb has brought a lot to the table for people wanting to save money.
Make sure you check this out before you book any hotel or home close to Disney. You may even want to consider looking for hotels that are not too far from the parks but are not on-site. You’ll get to enjoy the perks that these hotels have to offer, including swimming pools and fitness rooms that can work as a source of entertainment at times.
Related: Two Day Itinerary for Disney World
Cook your own food
Unless you think you will get a great deal with the Disney Dining Plan, bring your own food. You can save money by cooking your own food and even packing your food in the park. If you’re looking for a place to save, then this is it. Sure, cooking your own food isn’t always as exciting as eating out all week, but think about the money you’ll be saving.
Also, think about how you can afford other things because you’re not spending all your money eating out. You’re probably wondering if you should pack a bunch of food and travel with it. Instead of doing that, take advantage of grocery shopping services. You can use Instacart and other similar services to get groceries delivered to your location.
Related: Top 5 Restaurants for the best Disney Dining Experience
Follow blogs that are Disney-obsessed.
Why do extra work when you don’t have to? Sign up and follow Disney blogs that will do all of the hard work for you! They’ll find the best deals and keep you up to date on the best ways to save. Plus they will offer other great tips and tricks.
A good blog to follow is ones like The Disney Blog and the Disney Tourist.
Find free things to do during your stay
While you want to have the true Disney experience by visiting the theme parks and seeing all they have to offer, there’s much more to do in the area than you might realize. Find some free things to do during your stay to make memories, keep the kids entertained, and have a genuinely good time. Not sure what to do for free?
- Consider watching a movie under the stars! When the weather is perfect outside, there is no better way to watch a Disney movie than to sit out in the grass while the sun starts setting.
- You can ride the monorails with the family and enjoy the fantastic views with your family.
- You can even take a walk on the boardwalk while browsing the area to see what types of activities are available.
- Sure, you may end up spending money to do some things during your vacation, but you can always take time to do free stuff as a way to save big time.
Don’t forget to spend time at the pool. If you stay at a place that has a pool, you’ll keep your children entertained by hanging out by the water for hours on end. It’s a great way to spend quality time with the family without going broke in the process.
Related: Free Things to do in Orlando
Don’t buy a lot in the Disney Parks.
If you have ever been to a tourist attraction, you know how expensive everything can be. Saving money is as easy as not buying stuff in the park! Souvenirs and other items can be purchased outside of a Disney Park for much less!
Buy Disney souvenirs before you head out on your vacation
What? It sounds crazy. Hear me out. You know the gift shops are a tourist trap. You’ll go in there with your children to look around, and it won’t take long for one of them to ask you for an Elsa doll or a Mickey Mouse plush toy.
You’ll check the price tag and feel instant shock at how high these items are priced at the gift shop. Why put yourself through that kind of hassle? Children do look forward to the things at the gift shop, but you can find these items on Amazon, at Target, and even at the Disney Store in the mall at much lower prices.
So, if you know what your children like and will want, consider buying a few items before heading out on your vacation. Don’t let the kids see these items! Instead, let them think you grabbed these items for them from the gift shop. They’ll be happy with their souvenirs, and you won’t have to burn a hole in your pocket trying to please the kiddos.
Related: 34 of the BEST Disney Lovers Gift Ideas
Pack your own snacks.
Unless you want to pay them your retirement fund, make sure you pack your own snacks! Even making sure you have bottled water with you is a smart move, they charge a ton for water. Just make sure you are aware of Disney's food policy.
Don’t go during the busy season.
You will hate going during the busy season, so it only makes sense to go during the off-season. Plus not with Disney's variable pricing it will actually be cheaper!
Set a budget.
Just because you’re going to Disney, it doesn’t mean you need to spend every penny you have. Set a budget! Keep your budget set on things like food, gas, and “fun.” By doing this—you will save a ton of money. You’ll need to practice self-control while at Disney as well.
Kids always see things and have the “I wants” Let them bring their own money or earn some before you go. Remind them they are on a budget for those I want and it will come out of their money. Let them spend it how they want and when the money is gone it is gone.
Get in touch with a travel agent.
If you know a reliable and trustworthy travel agent, make sure you give them a call. They may know a lot more than you do about going to Disney and saving money in the process. Be sure to ask friends and family for recommendations.
Buy more tickets for more days
It sounds nuts to save money this way, but it works. If you plan on staying more than one day, then you need to look at bundling your days with Disney. The more days you buy ticket-wise, the more you save. You can always play around with their website to see what will help you save the most money. You can also save thousands by picking one park you want to visit. You don’t have to visit all the parks. If you look hard enough, there are tons of ways in which you can save money at Disney. Those small ways really add up! Like the more days, you stay and play the more money you will save. Looking at the tickets today online for 1 day it is $101 OUCH! If you stay for 4 days it's $81 a day but 5 days drops it down to $65 a day. Get brave and go for 10 days and get your tickets for $40 a day.
Purchase midday tickets instead of all-day tickets
Did you know that Disney offers midday tickets? Instead of getting up early in the morning and buying all-day tickets for yourself and your loved ones, get up when you feel like it and get midday tickets.
These tickets cost less money and will give you access to many attractions. You will still have plenty of time to get on rides and participate in activities. Best of all, you don’t have to get up as soon as the sun starts to rise. You’ll get to enjoy your vacation and can sleep in if you’d like to do so. The difference between the cost of these two types of tickets will save you more than you might know. This is an important tip when trying to save money on a Disney vacation.
Related: Disney’s Frozen Gift Ideas
Buy the dinner packages.
Disney has done some amazing dinner packages in recent years. You need to check these out, especially if you have a large family. Get more info on Disney Dining Plans.
Disney is not something most people do every summer. However, if you do plan on going as a once-in-a-lifetime event, it’s still nice to find ways to save without breaking the bank.
The truth is that some families avoid going on a Disney vacation because of the expense. If you’d like to make those Disney memories with your loved ones while having an unforgettable time, you can do so without spending too much money. If you follow these simple tips, you can save thousands of dollars and still have the best time possible. You can explore the area, spend time doing free things with your family, and even save on food by having groceries delivered to your hotel room.
What are your “How to save for a Disney Vacation” tips?
Great list! I actually disagree though about staying in a Disney hotel. There are so many perks to staying on property including free transportation and Orlando traffic is horrendous so you’ll be thankful. Also, if you can stay on property you can can the meal plan which is a great deal especially if you’d like to eat in some of the high end restaurants. There is also a huge savings in buying multi-day passes. 🙂 Another tip, take a cooler with waters and other beverages into the parks. It’s totally allowed and will save you tons of money!