How to Do Disney On A Budget
A trip to Disney World can get super expensive. Especially for a family of 4-6 people. I know people that have spent almost $10,000 dollars on a Disney Vacation. That is easy to do if you go for every bell and whistle there is. But if you are like me and strive to keep a budget and don’t have that much money laying around, there are ways to do Disney on a budget.
The biggest tip I can give is to start a basic plan that includes your budget. Then you need to figure out what things you must have and what things you can do without. Once you have that finished you can start figuring out how to do your must-haves cheaper. There are all kinds of money saving tips for Disney and I have listed some of the best. If you take your time, research, and save you can have the Disney trip of your dreams without going broke.
Don’t Pay Full Price For Tickets
If you are a member of AAA or another travel site, you could get a member discount on tickets. Have someone in the family that is retired or active? Disney offers special pricing for active and former members of the military. Also, some big companies, unions, and government agencies offer special rates for tickets. It may take a bit of research but you may find the tickets for a cheaper price.
Skip the Park Hopper
Yes, it is really nice to hop around to the different parks, but it also eats up a lot of time. You can save time and money by spending the full day in one park. Plan which park you want to go to each day and then only buy tickets for that day. It will save you a bundle because the Park Hopper is a very expensive upgrade.
Choose A Value Resort Or Stay Off Site
If I had to choose between these two, I would say stay at the Value Resort. The value resorts offer great perks such as early admission and free bus rides to the park. If you stay off site you won’t have those perks. But, if your budget is really tight and you don’t mind renting a car, plus paying for parking, then staying off site may be the best bet.
Skip The Dining Plan and Share Meals
While the dining plan sounds like a great value, it can add quite a bit to your total. You do get a lot of food but there are ways to eat well without breaking the bank. Disney does allow meals to be shared. The meals at Disney are large on portions so you could easily split a meal with your spouse or your child. Another great way to save money is skip the character dining and just dine at the quick service restaurants. They offer great food that is cheaper. If you really want to stretch your dollar, eat one meal in the park (lunch is the cheapest) and eat the rest of your meals outside the park. Orlando has some great restaurants and you can feed a family of four way cheaper at Applebee’s than Le Cellier.
Bring Your Own Souvenirs
Disney up-sells their merchandise in the park. If you must have souvenirs for the kids, buy them before you go. A lot of times you can great items on clearance at the Disney Store. The Dollar Store, Target, and Walmart have great Disney character items that are a lot cheaper. Each day as you leave the room set one out on the pillow. Then when your child wants something from the park just say “Mickey left you a surprise in the room!”
Take Advantage of Gift Cards
When you are saving money it is hard not to dip into it. You start with “Well, I will just borrow from it” and then before you know it, it’s gone. It doesn’t happen to everyone but for those of us that it does happen to, there is a solution. Disney Gift Cards. When you have money for your trip, put it on a gift card. That way it is there and you can’t use it. Also, it is a great way to pay for all of those extras in Disney without using your bank card or cash. If you are taking the kids consider asking family members, etc. for gift cards for special occasions like birthdays and holidays. This will decrease the clutter in your house and also give them some spending money for the parks. Just beware, once it is on the card you can’t get it back. If you use the gift cards to pay for things for the trip, keep them because if for some reason you have to cancel the money goes back on the gift card.
Skip A Day In The Park
If you are staying 5 days or more you are going to get tired of going to the parks. All that walking, the sun, and the heat are going to get to you. The best thing to do is skip the parks one day. If you are staying a resort relax by the pool or take advantage of one of the free activities happening. If you want to keep “doing Disney” take a trip to Disney Springs. You can shop, take advantage of the free entertainment, and have a pretty good meal that is not terribly expensive. It will ease your budget and also give you a break from the crowds.
Save on Memory Maker
I highly encourage anyone that visits Disney to purchase the Memory Maker. It is the best way to capture memories of your trip. Photographers are everywhere and you can get some really great professional shots. It can be expensive though. So always check the Disney vacation website. Sometimes they have great deals on the Memory Maker. The best part? If you are like me, when you are on vacation you are always behind the camera. With the Memory Maker you will be in all the pictures!
Bonus Tip– You can’t bring a cooler into the park but you can bring a backpack full of snacks and drinks. If you are an Amazon prime member have water, small snacks, fruit juice pouches, etc. delivered to your resort. They will be there when you arrive and you will save a bundle when you get hungry!
Katie Reed is a passionate writer and mother of four vivacious boys from Salt Lake City, Utah. Drawing from her own journey through TTC, pregnancy, and the joys of raising children, she offers a wealth of insight into the world of motherhood. Beyond her heartfelt tales, Katie delights her readers with family-friendly recipes, engaging crafts, and a curated library of printables for both kids and adults. When she’s not penning her experiences, you’ll find her crafting memories with her husband and sons—Dexter, Daniel, Chester, and Wilder.
Great ideas for our upcoming trip back to Disneyworld. We are staying at the resort this time. Better price than staying off property last year and bus schedules all day long instead of just twice a day. We only plan to go to one park per day, but the park hopper plus allows free access to both water parks, mini golf and even one of the golf courses for each ticket day.