It’s no secret that taking a family to Walt Disney World isn’t cheap. We know we’ve been going there for years.
The first year we went, we didn’t budget and didn’t take the time to plan and got fun surprise from American Express at the end of the month. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with our Disney World on a budget tips and tricks.
1. Share meals and snacks
Disney is home to so many unique treats, and that doesn’t include special Flower & Garden or Food & Wine Festivals which have over a dozen pop up booths of culinary treats. All these snacks quickly add up. But let’s be honest, no one needs their own funnel cake or Mickey Waffle or Lavender Lemonade. Grab one or two, and share a couple bites. Your waist line and your wallet will appreciate you.
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2. Consider staying off property
The magic of Disney is truly one-of-a-kind, and yes, staying on property does give you some unique benefits like being able to book dining reservations further out from your trip, or getting earlier access to the parks, or not having to rent a car and relying on Disney transportation. But all that comes at a cost. When we go to Disney we usually plan 3 or 4 days of park visits out of a 7 or 8 day trip. That means we’re going to want to do other stuff around Orlando, which requires a rental car. You can find beautiful resorts, hotels, AirBNBs or VRBOs off property for a fraction of the cost.
3. Pay with points
In conjunction with #2, almost every major hotel chain has selection of resorts around Disney and all major airlines fly into Orlando. Save up those credit card rewards or business travel points and save big bucks.
4. Buy gift cards ahead of time
The whimsy of being on vacation and feeling like normal life doesn’t exist gets to all of us from time to time and it’s easy to whip out the credit card for extragent dinners or souvenirs that really aren’t in our budget. Before you go carefully plan how much you can afford to spend and grab some gift cards for that amount. Keep your credit cards and debit cards in your wallet and stick exclusively to the gift cards and your spending will stay in check. As an added bonus check out tip #5.
5. Use Target Red Cards to save 5%
Did you know you can use your Target Red card to get 5% off all your purchases… including gift cards! In the weeks leading up to booking or going on our Disney trips we swing by our local Target and grab $100 or $200 or so in Disney gift cards. Then when buying our park tickets we can use those cards to pay for all or part of cost. 3-4 day tickets with Park Hopper for a family of 5 can be over $2,000 JUST TO GET IN! Knocking off 5% with our Red Card definitely starts to add up.
Target offers the Red Card as both a credit card and one that’s tied to your checking account. So if you’re anti-credit card or think you may not qualify go for the debit card option. Anyone can get the card and start saving!
6. Order off the kids menu
Take it from me, walking around in the Florida heat and humidity after chowing down a huge meal is not a fun experience. When you stop for lunch or dinner use the MyDisney Experience app (download on Apple or Android) to place a mobile order (you should be doing this every time) and order off the kids menu to save time and calories. Yes, the menu is going to be a bit more basic but if you’re looking to experience unique Disney food check out the litany of snack stands. Save money and save room in your diet for snacks by ordering off the kids menu.
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7. Always pack snacks and a water bottle
Whether you think you will need it or not throwing a few snacks in your bag along with an empty water bottle or two is always recommended. If you’ve spent enough money on food and trinkets for the day but your kids need a little pick-me-up before the fireworks show or before that late dinner reservation you can bust out the free goodies. And always, always, always bring a water bottle. Florida is pretty hot for most of the year. You need to stay hydrated and the last thing you want to do is have to drop $5 on a Dasani or $30+ on a refillable bottle. We love this collapsable water bottle that saves space in your luggage or purse when not in use. If you’re looking for something a bit sturdier make sure to get one with a lid that locks shut so you don’t accidentally turn a roller coaster into a water ride.
8. Use a Travel Planner
Travel planners have access to exclusive discounts or sales that you won’t be able to get by booking yourself. We’ve stayed at dozens of different resorts and can help you pick the right one for your family and your budget. We can put together a daily itinerary so you can maximize your days at the park and maybe buy one or two less park ticket days. We even stay on top of dining reservations to help you snag that perfect date night dinner or character breakfast.
Whether you’re planning on going in a few months or next year, call or email us or fill out our inquiry forms and get the planning process started today!
