We all know it - Walt Disney World itself is now a luxury experience. It costs A LOT to visit the Mouse these days. And while many people are accustomed to living beyond their means, there are others who want to make those amazing Disney memories without totally going for broke. Good news! Even the cheapskates, like me, can find ways to save money on a magical vacation in the World.
Don't get me wrong - splurging during vacation is no crime. I mean, it is vacation after all! However, if you are like Chris and me, you don't want to squander your life savings just to escape from daily life for a few days. I don't want to come back from our trip feeling guilty on the amount of money we spent. As a cheapo, I've found that even in Walt Disney World I can get great pleasure out of saving some money on my vacation! Challenge accepted? Here's how to make it happen!
Saving Money on a ResortValue Resorts - If you want to stay on property, but don't want to break the bank, then Disney's Value Resorts are for you! If you are going to spend more time in the Parks than in your room and even simple amenities (ex. thinner towels and toilet paper) will be enough to satisfy you, then please look into this option. Sure the theming is very gaudy; if you don't enjoy it, you'll only have to look at it for a few days. Still, this is Disney and the bar is raised to a degree above some off-property options. Convenience is key, and being able to stay on property will be an advantage for saving time. (*Warning - All Star Music & Sports are Disney's go-to resorts for competitions and large foreign-teenage travel groups. Things can get loud with this over population of teenagers, so be aware of this in advance. We're not saying you shouldn't book a cheap room here, just warning you of what to expect.)Keep An Eye Out For The Discounts - It almost seems like Disney runs a perpetual deal on rooms. Obviously this is not the case for all times of the year (holidays, major breaks throughout the school year, etc.), but be sure to check the Walt Disney World website for Special Offers/Packages. A lot of the time, you can get a 15%-30% discount on the room. The discount will be smaller at Value Resorts, but every little bit helps!
Stay Off Property- If you have a car (or even if you don't - many resorts have vans/buses to transport you), staying off property can save you money. If you don't mind adding a few more minutes onto your travel time and you are a good navigator, then by all means consider staying off Disney property to get a discount. Be careful, of course, that you do your research to make sure you really are saving money by not staying at a Disney Resort. Just because a hotel is off-property doesn't automatically make it cheaper.Saving Money on FoodSplit Meals - Disney portions are MASSIVE! In the heat, you don't want to make yourself so totally stuffed that you will be uncomfortable. A great way to stay feeling good and to save money is to split meals, especially at Table Service restaurants. We do this all the time and never leave dissatisfied. In fact, we often regret it when we haven't chosen to split a meal. Many times, the restaurant will even split the food for you, giving each person their own, perfectly portioned plate.
Have A Big Breakfast/Lunch, Then A Little Dinner - One great way to save money is to make breakfast or lunch your big meal of the day. Breakfast and lunch menus are generally (not always, but often) cheaper, even if they are serving essentially the same food as in the evening. This way you will not be hungry for hours, and can easily make do on one of those iconic Disney World snacks and a counter service meal for dinner (maybe even one you can split!).
Don't Obsess Over Table Service - With Advance Dining Reservations causing such panic (as well as the various Dining Plan options), people get really obsessed with eating their meals at Table Service restaurants. Avoid this expensive trap. There are, naturally, so many fantastic sit-down restaurants on property, but you don't need to eat there ALL THE TIME. Counter Service at Walt Disney World is miles and away better than your regular theme park food, especially at the different Moderate and Deluxe Resorts. There have been times when we have stayed in the World for five or more days and only had two Table Service meals. Check out the menus in advance and see how you can save money by choosing Counter Service (remember, you can still split!).
Avoid The Dining Plan (Unless You Can Get It For Free) - We have never purchased the Disney Dining Plan and we never will. We have done the math and we can easily eat cheaper on our own than by purchasing this option. If we are going to split meals and we aren't going to eat dessert everywhere we go, then the Dining Plan is more expensive than it is worth for us. Now, if you can time your vacation up with the Free Dining Plan promotion, then of course you should take advantage of that! Other than tickets, meals are often our next biggest expense on the trip. If you could avoid spending money on food altogether, that would be truly magical!Don't Order What You Don't Want - At Counter Service restaurants, you will see a lot of the food on the menu comes with fries or a salad. Stop right there! If you don't want that combo, then you don't have to get it. Ask for the entree without those fries or that Caesar salad that you don't really need and Disney will reduce the cost. If you will eat those add-ons, then you should keep them on your order; still, don't pay for food you know you aren't going to eat!
Bring Your Own Snacks - We live and die by this one! People who buy water bottles and snacks all day long are wasting so much money. Argh! A box of granola bars and peanut butter crackers dispersed over your party's luggage or personal items aren't going to weigh you down. Save some money and bring a few of your own snacks. Yes, you still will buy a Mickey Ice Cream Bar and a Dole Whip! But this way you won't have to fork over an exorbitant amount of money every time someone in your party gets hungry from the heat.
Drink Water in the Parks - Make a promise to yourself that you will drink water while in the Parks. Don't pay an arm and a leg for soda. You need the water anyway to make it through the day. If you need flavoring, then purchase some drink packs before you leave on your trip. We have shamelessly gotten a free glass of water from Counter Service restaurants and then poured in the drink mixes we bought before traveling. This tip is just good for your body and your wallet at the same time.
Refillable Mug - If you are staying on property and you simply cannot live without soda, then the Refillable Mug to be purchased and filled at your Resort is a good way to save money on pop. Think about it - if you fill up on your way to the Park, then on your way back to your room in the afternoon, on your way to a Park in the evening and then (depending on the time when you arrive back that night) on your final way back to the room to sleep, you've almost already made the mug pay for itself in one or two days. Plus, you get a souvenir that you can use over and over again at home. And, if you Resort hop, you can fill up your Mug at any Disney Resort as well! Seriously, bring a gallon freezer bag so you don't have a mug leaking in your Park bag, and carry that thing around to get the most out of it. Refillable Mugs may seem expensive on the surface, but you can easily justify purchasing the mug if you need your caffeine/soda fix.
Eat Off-Property - If you have a car and don't mind leaving Disney property, there are always your generic restaurants off site. They'll be cheaper than Disney prices, if you are really that concerned. Obviously don't make special trips to go do this, but it is an option. (*This does NOT apply to Disney Springs, unless you are eating at Earl of Sandwich.)
Bring Your Own Cooler of Food - If you have a car or order groceries to be delivered, you can always bring your own food into the Park. Disney does allow coolers. If you really need to save money on meals, packing your own drinks and sandwiches is a possibility. Saving Money on Souvenirs
Never Buy From Your Resort Gift Shop - Purchasing souvenirs from your Resort gift shop is a trap! Taxes are higher here, so you're going to be paying more at your Resort than in the Parks. Never buy what you can find in the Parks from your Resort.
Wait For The Discounts Online - Disney Parks Exclusive merchandise can be purchased online on the Disney Store Website or app. Various times through the year, they will run a special of 25% or so off Disney Parks merchandise. Other times, you'll be able to get Parks exclusives on Clearance too. If you can wait, you can potentially get your Parks souvenirs for a discount. This is also a nice way to keep your luggage from getting too heavy on the way home! If you spend enough, you'll have free shipping too. We've purchased Christmas presents for loved ones this way multiple times.
Bring Your Own From Home - Kids aren't dumb, but are they really going to know that plush or T-shirt came from your local Disney Store and not Walt Disney World? Okay, they might, but if you want to avoid the high cost of EVERYTHING, maybe pre-purchase some goodies and bring them along as surprises for your family.
Pack A Small Bag With Little Extra Space - If you take a suitcase that won't fit any superfluous items, then you simply CANNOT go overboard when purchasing souvenirs. No impulse buys here! If it won't fit, you are not allowed to purchase it. This is one (slightly drastic) way to ensure that you save money on souvenirs. (It's actually very freeing for the cheapskate deep down inside of you!)
Orange World and Florida roadside gift shops with "Official Disney" merchandise - For the super cheap individual with a car, there are always the sketchy gift shops on World Drive. If you and your child really don't care about quality and just want something that says "Disney World" on it, then this is another option. Of course, less sketchy are the local Wal-Mart and Targets that have a lot of Disney merchandise, though it may not say Walt Disney World on it.
What are your tips for saving money in Walt Disney World? We'd love to hear from you!