Disney World Money Saving Tips

Costs of a Disney Vacation

The costs of a Walt Disney World vacation can add up phenomenally fast. For example:

• Airfare: $350 per person
• Hotel: $150 per night
• Park Tickets: $70 per person, per day
• Meals and Snacks: $40 per person, per day
• Souvenirs: $50 per person

At these realistic rates, a family of four would spend an astonishing $4,400 on a 5 day, 4 night vacation. Even figuring discounts for children’s tickets and smaller kids’ meals, the vacation would still run greater than $3,500 for the entire family. With some careful planning and a budget plan, however, those costs can be drastically reduced.

Basic Disney World Money Saving Tips

Every family will have different financial concerns and savings habits for their Disney World vacation. While not every tip will be applicable to every traveler, these pointers are a great way to cut costs on that magical getaway.

Travel Plans

Making budget-conscious travel plans is one of the best ways to save on a Disney World vacation. Airline rates are continually rising, but booking economy tickets well in advance can save $100 or more off the cost of each ticket. Travelers who are flexible with their plans and can consider multiple airports for their departure may also be able to find better deals.

When guests visit Disney World also affects the price. While ticket prices do not fluctuate, hotel costs are lower in the off-season (September through early November, mid-January through late March, and mid-May through mid-June). Guests who can visit during these slower times may also find that they are able to stay for fewer days because the lines are shorter and they can visit more attractions in a shorter period of time.

When booking a Disney World vacation, a great way to save money is to carefully consider how to pay for the plane tickets, hotel rooms, park tickets, and other necessities. While using cash is the cheapest way, if travelers must use a credit card they should choose one with the lowest fees and lowest interest rate so their vacation does not double or triple in price as it is being paid for.

Accommodations

While choosing to stay at an official Disney World resort does offer many benefits, including some discounts and guests-only privileges, the rates can be much steeper than nearby non-Disney properties. There are hundreds of hotels in the Orlando area, many of which offer free shuttles to local theme parks, which saves on parking fees. Some hotels are as low as $50 per night and may offer free nights with an extended stay.

At the same time, the Disney resort package deals can be attractive. Before dismissing an official resort as too expensive, travelers should consider all the package benefits. If they will take advantage of most or all of the amenities offered, it can be a better overall deal than purchasing independent accommodations and individual tickets.

Another option for larger families and groups is renting houses or condos for the vacation. When split among several wallets, these larger options are often the most economical of all.

Avoid a money mousetrap!

Park Tickets

Park tickets are the single greatest expense of a theme park vacation, but there are many Disney World money saving tips to help ease this financial outlay. Find the cheapest Disney tickets from online retailers, marketing promotions, or group sales, or opt for park hopper and other combination ticket offers that result in a lower daily admission rate. Season passes are another option and also offer other benefits such as dining and merchandise discounts.

Dining

It’s easy to work up an appetite while exploring Disney World, but a high price can sour the best meal. To save money while dining Disney style:

• Share meals to divide generous portion sizes.
• Opt to eat outside the park.
• Bring small treats into the park to avoid expensive impulse snacking.
• Avoid refillable souvenir cups – to recoup the extra initial cost, the cup would need to be refilled dozens of times.
• Bring individual serving drink bottle mixes to avoid buying soda.
• Enjoy restaurant meals at lunch to take advantage of cheaper menu prices.
• Avoid paying extra for character meals – there are many free opportunities to see and meet popular Disney characters.

Souvenirs

No vacation is complete without souvenirs, but prices inside the Disney gates can be high. Instead of purchasing basic souvenirs at the park, visit local malls and outlet centers for discounted merchandise such as keychains, hats, t-shirts, toys, postcards, and other great mementos. Prices can be up to 75 percent lower than identical or similar merchandise found in park gift shops.

Extras

Even the smallest Disney World money saving tips can help park guests avoid spending too much on unexpected costs.

• Be sure to pack plenty of film, batteries, aspirin, sunscreen, and other necessities to avoid inflated park and resort prices.
• Bring a stroller rather than paying to rent one if needed.
• Plan a visit with a recent guidebook borrowed from the library for free so nothing is missed or forgotten.
• Use a park map or Disney World videos to learn about the park and plan an economical itinerary.
• Use free park transportation – ferries, monorails, shuttles – to avoid traffic and extra parking fees.

Saving Not Sacrificing

The key to properly using Disney World money saving tips is to save money for a great vacation, not to sacrifice vacation fantasies for a fatter wallet. Careful planning can help every family take advantage of great deals without missing the experiences that will make Disney World a magical place in their memories.