Dream Disney Vacation Without Breaking the Bank

A family vacation to Disney can be expensive, but with the right planning, it's possible to have a magical time without overspending. One of the best ways to do that is to consider visiting during the off-season, which is usually from mid-January to mid-March, when prices for accommodations and tickets are lower. The Disney All-Star Resorts, such as the All-Star Movies Resort, offer affordable rates starting at $120 per night. Booking a room with a kitchenette, like those found at the Disney's BoardWalk Villas, can also help reduce food costs, with prices starting at $250 per night.

Another way to save money is by purchasing tickets in advance. Disney ticket prices fluctuate regularly, and change significantly closer to the date of arrival. They fluctuate based on demand and peak days become more expensive as they sell out. Your best bet for the best ticket price is to purchase as far in advance as possible, at least a couple months.

My personal favorite way to save significantly is to stay off-site. Sometimes that means sacrificing the option to have free shuttle service to and from the parks, but if you’re okay with that, that little extra drive and parking fee could be well worth it. Some off-site hotels that are partnered with Disney, called Disney Good Neighbor hotels, still offer free shuttles but they may only run a few times a day.

On our upcoming Orlando vacation, we will be going to the Universal theme parks as well as the Disney theme parks. We opted for an off-site hotel but it’s actually not considered a Good Neighbor hotel. Since we will be driving, I’m not worried about transportation. I wanted to find a good hotel with a nice pool area that was within our budget, around $1,000 for a week. We’ll have a rest day in between theme park visits to play in the water park, float in the lazy river, and lay out in the sun, and I couldn’t be more excited. I also wanted to have a kitchen to save some money on food. I’m bringing some non-perishables and will be placing a Walmart pickup order of fridge/freezer food for when we arrive.

ALSO! Disney releases some really great deals regularly. If you would prefer to stay on-site to get that magical Disney experience and the ability to include a dining package, wait until they release their best deals. Right now, they have a promo for 2 free nights at the resort and 2 free days at the theme parks with the minimum purchase of a 4 night/4 day stay. AND kids eat free with a dining plan (with a purchase of an adult dining plan). That’s a ton of savings! As always, the stays are for specific dates throughout the year and must be booked in a certain window. Ask your travel advisor, AKA me ;), for more info.

Making the Most of Your Time at the Parks

To make the most of your time at the parks, consider using the My Disney Experience app to reserve dining up to 60 days in advance. If there is a restaurant or two you just HAVE to eat at, your best bet is to reserve ASAP. Hop on the app as early as 6am EST exactly 60 days from your arrival date. The same goes for Magical Extras like the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique and Build Your Own Lightsaber at Savi’s Workshop, to name a few. Those are really popular and guests are up at midnight EST 60 days prior to arrival to book those special experiences.

You can do the same for Lightning Lane passes up to 7 days in advance if you’re staying at a Disney resort, or 3 days in advance if staying off-site. This can help minimize wait times for popular attractions like Space Mountain and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Lightning Lane options change regularly, so always check the app for the most up to date information on which rides can be booked with a single pass, which ones with a multi pass, and so on. The app also allows you to check wait times throughout the day and even order food from your phone at certain quick-service restaurants.

Dining on a Budget

Eating at Disney can be expensive, but there are ways to dine on a budget. Consider packing snacks and sandwiches for lunch, or taking advantage of the complimentary breakfast offered at many Disney hotels, such as the Grand Floridian Resort. If you are staying at a hotel that has a kitchenette, or at least a fridge/microwave, you can save on breakfast by eating simple things in your hotel room like oatmeal, frozen breakfast sandwiches, toast, boiled eggs, etc. You can easily keep lunch meat and condiments in the fridge to make sandwiches for lunch as well. Many people don’t know but Disney allows you to bring food and nonalcoholic drinks in the park. So bring those refillable water bottles and pack a small lunchbox with sandwiches and save some money!

For dinner, the Disney World parks have tons of quick-service restaurant options. Or if you’re theme parked out, you can head to the nearby Disney Springs area, where you can find affordable options like the Blaze Fast Fire'd Pizza or the Polite Pig, or even grab something in a drive-thru.

Additional Tips and Tricks

Be sure to take advantage of the complimentary transportation options offered by Disney, such as the Magical Express shuttle from Orlando International Airport, which costs $0 per person, if you’re flying in. You can also use the Disney Bus Transportation system to get around the resort, which is free of charge.

Another hack for budgeting for your trip to Disney is to buy Disney gift cards in advance from participating wholesale stores like BJs Wholesale or Sam’s Club, which offer multi-packs or larger amounts with a slight discount. Target also has Disney gift cards and if you have a RedCard you can get 5% off the purchase price. Cashback apps like Fetch or Dosh can give you small rewards that add up to gift cards. Some credit cards will even offer bonus categories like groceries or general spending to earn points redeemable for Disney gift cards. And some grocery stores like Kroger offer bonus fuel points on gift card purchases which can be redeemed for significant gas savings.

This may be controversial, but another way to save on your trip is to consider doing one park per day instead of a park hopper, especially if you have littles who might get exhausted quickly. Park hopping may sound like the best option to squeeze it all in, and it can be, but sometimes it can be very rushed. If you dedicate one full day to each park you will be able to take your time and get the fullest experience of that park. And it can save you lots of money in the end!

By following these tips and being mindful of your budget, you can have a magical and memorable Disney vacation without breaking the bank. Consider budgeting roughly $47 per person per day for food and $35 per person per day for souvenirs.

But the best way to save the most on your Disney vacation? ME :) Using an experienced, knowledgeable travel planner that specializes in Disney can save you tons. We know all the best deals, tips, the ins and outs, and ultimately want you to have the best experience so we’ll go above and beyond to make sure it’s everything you want/need. And, I can’t speak for all agents, but for me, my services are free, so it’s no extra cost to you. I am someone who is constantly bargain shopping and looking for the best deals, so I’m naturally going to have all the best ways to save.

Are you planning or thinking of planning a Disney vacation soon? If you have any questions at all, I’d be happy to help. Send me an email, message on FB/IG, or fill out an inquiry form. :)