Planning your next family trip and looking for ways to save money? In this blog post I will share my helpful tips on how to save money on a Disney trip.
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My family and I went to Disney World last April and loved it! It was the boys and our first time going as a family. This made it extra special for us.
Honestly, the last time I was there was probably in 2006. This meant living worry free as my parents covered everything for my sister and I. But now it’s our turn and I wanted to save as much as possible.
Book the Resort
First thing to do is book your stay wether it’s a resort or hotel just book it. You only need to put a deposit down (which is fairly low) for Disney’s resorts. A credit card is needed upon booking.
Any remaining balance gets paid a few days ahead or upon arrival. This is great! You don’t need to have all the money up front for this part. Plus, staying at a Disney resort comes with many perks.
We decided to stay at Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort. This one was affordable for us starting at $119/night. We stood for 4nights/5days. Check out their site as they usually have promotions and deals.
I believe we paid a little more as we went during peak time. Meaning school was out on Easter break. I wanted to go during this time so Alex wouldn’t miss on school days. However, this is up to you and if you rather save some extra money I suggest planning around off-peak time.
Some of Disney resort’s perks include: free airport shuttle, complimentary magic bracelets, extra magic park hours (this is by far my fav!) and early access to fast pass+ planning.
Our resort also had multiple pool sites, playground area, an arcade room, movie nights and Disney magic all around.
Their Disney’s Magical Express service brings you from Orlando’s International airport to your Disney resort and vice versa. Our resort transported us via a motor-coach and included luggage delivery. This means you can be worry-free at the airport and hotel.
They even bring your luggage inside of your room! Just make sure to add their yellow Disney tags.
To avoid having to wait all night for your bags bring a carry-on. Pack any medications, extra diapers (water diapers too), formula, change of clothes, swim-wear (if you plan to hit the pool later) or any immediate items you may need.
Booking your stay in advance is important on how to save money on a Disney trip.
Next, Buy Flight Tickets
Once your resort or hotel is booked move onto your flight tickets. Airline companies are always changing their ticket prices so download apps such as “Hopper” to help you save.
I began searching flight deals from different airlines months in advance. After Cyber Monday (end of November) I noticed round trip flights from NY to Orlando, FL decreasing and so I booked right away. We used Expedia.
My advice, don’t wait too long. They book fast and you can run the risk of having to pay more, especially if its during peak time. Plus, you want to be be able to sit right next to your family so book early.
I also had my infant on my lap during our flight. By doing this I was able to save us money on not having to pay for an additional seat.
Limit the Amount of Theme Parks
When you get on the Disney’s website you are able to add extra features onto your package and this includes the amount of park tickets. I recommend limiting this number to 1 or 2 theme parks. It adds up and if you have little children they are going to get exhausted quickly.
Honestly, young kids are going to be fine with just visiting a minimum amount of theme parks. Attend one theme park a day because there is a lot and I mean a lot of walking. Plus, you want to enjoy the theme park and get your moneys worth.
We took the boys to Disney’s Magic Kingdom theme park only. It was their first time and both got the chance to meet Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse!
You could never go wrong with the Magic Kingdom theme park it’s full of excitement and magic everywhere. Plus their end of the night fireworks spectacular is amazing!
We took advantage of early magic hours at the Magic Kingdom. Arriving early that morning allowed us to take pictures, book an early slot with Mickey Mouse and have their Mickey Mouse hats personalized.
Oh and don’t forget to ask for their “1st time at Disney pin.”
We were lucky to have gone that day because the Magic Kingdom was also having late magic hours. Staying open past their closing time for Disney resort guests only. This doesn’t happen everyday or in every theme park so its important to check their park schedule dates.
Alex went on sooo many rides that night. It’s something I suggest everyone to look out for because it is so worth it!
Don’t get a Car Rental
If you plan on staying around the Disney resort area getting a car rental may not be necessary. However, if you plan to travel around Orlando or the beaches then yes.
I say this because Disney provides their guests with shuttle transportations to and from Disney Springs. Disney Springs is an entertainment center with restaurants, stores, attraction shows and so much more. And by having access to their shuttles and Magic Express service it gave us a reason not to get a car rental.
Don’t be afraid to head outside of Disney. The resort has the Minnie Mouse Van Cab Company that you can use. Download their app, they are everywhere lol. Many cab companies have carseats for an additional fee so this comes in handy if you came without one.
We decided to take the boys to a different theme park outside of Walt Disney World. Since Alex is into the Marvel characters Island of Adventure at Universal Studios was perfect.
However, we used Uber instead of the Minnie Mouse van company. It was cheaper and they picked us up at our resort.
Later that night, they also dropped us off at our Disney Resort. You do have to show proof of your staying when at the Disney resort entrance gate so bring along your Id and/or magic bands. We took advantage of all Disney could offer but mixed it up a bit.
Skip the Character Dining
I must say the character dining wasn’t a priority for us at the moment. We knew that we wanted Alex to meet Mickey but that could happen at the Magic Kingdom theme park. Since to see Mickey takes time, the characters do their best to interact with the kids.
I loved that and captured it all on my camera.
Zach did not cry which made me so happy 🙂 He was laughing and smiling the whole time.
Don’t get me wrong, character dining is cute and a very smart idea. You get to see multiple characters all at once. But, personally I felt that I would be too busy worrying if I miss a moment (having to change a diaper), thinking about when the characters are coming to our table or if they missed us.
Plus, their prices aren’t cheap either especially for a family on a budget. However, if your child has a favorite character check their site for where they will be on that exact day. And make the reservations ASAP! They get full quickly.
Perhaps we will do the character dining the second time around. But in this case I opted out in order to save my family money on our Disney trip.
Not Having a Disney Meal Plan
Another way to save money on your Disney trip is by thinking twice about getting their meal plan.
We saved money by bringing our own snacks from home (oreos, goldfishes, candy, snack bars, etc) and baby food/snacks inside our luggage. This was helpful when going to the parks or as a late night snack. Just make sure to put food items thru check-in.
Also, by staying at the Disney resort we had the option of buying breakfast. Alex loved having Mickey Mouse waffles for breakfast. This was really cool especially right before heading to the parks. The kids meal was not bad at all, it came with a side and drink. No reservations needed!
Plus, we knew we wanted to eat out for most of our trip. When you have a meal plan with Disney there are limitations on where and what you can eat. The best way to decide if a meal plan is right for you is to look at their choices when booking. Only you know your family best.
Calculate your food expenses. How much do you spend when eating out? How many times a day do you eat? Include everyone and remember not to forget snacks and drinks in between. Multiply that by the days you plan to visit.
We calculated this and knew we didn’t need a Disney’s meal plan.
I remember we ate an early Dinner at Columbia Harbor House located in the Magic Kingdom theme park. The price and food were both really good.
They have the option of letting you place an order thru their app. Once its ready you can go right ahead and pick it up.
Another thing is to bring your own reusable water bottle. They provide free refills all around the park.
We ate at different places all the time. In our resort, Disney’s Springs and at Universal Studios (Jimmy’s Bufeet’s Margaritaville was really good).
Start a Savings Account
Open a savings account with your bank if you don’t have one already. This will help you on how to save money on a Disney trip. If you rather not, that’s okay use envelopes, they work great too. For the record, I am not a financial advisor or professional just sharing my own personal tips on what worked for my family.
I suggest putting away a few dollars a week/or biweekly. This savings method can help you save money for your Disney trip. The more you put into a savings the better. Another way to avoid credit card debt later.
Every time we got paid I would transfer money. It didn’t matter if it was $20, $50 or $100. Anything helped. The best thing about having a savings account is that you see the numbers increasing right away. However, by using envelopes you are able to separate funds.
For example, having an envelope titled “Food Expenses” and another “Magic Kingdom Tickets” are all ways to distinguish where the savings is going.
I used both of these saving methods:
- Transferring from my Checking Account into Savings Account.
- Withdrawing from my checking account and adding it to a marked envelope.
As a result, my savings account funds covered our remaining Disney resort balance, souvenirs, cab rides, and etc.
In addition, I also had funds in these labeled envelopes: 1.”Magic Kingdom Park $”, 2.”Universal Studios Park $ (included the fast pass cost here too)”, 3.”Alex & Zach Birthday Money” and 4.”Food Money“.
At your resort make sure there is a safe inside of the room. I advise you to put the envelope(s) inside and access when needed.
Oh and if you are wondering where we got those Mickey Mouse shirts? They are from Kohls. I used a Kohl’s coupon and saved even more.
Link to Adult t-shirt is here. The link to Mickey & pals kid shirt is here. I picked a navy color for us all to match.
Well that’s pretty much all of my tips for Saving Money on a Disney trip. I hope they help you.
Also, check out my YouTube Video on Why Staying at a Disney Resort is Worth it.
I hope you have a great time on your Disney trip and talk soon!
Hugs,