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How can I Save Money at Disney?

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 The Disney Price Tag

Disney is expensive. How expensive? Well that depends on you. If you carefully plan which aspects you are willing to spend less on you can sometimes afford the things you really want. In a word, you need a budget. How can you save money? Read on and I’ll show you!

Resort Accommodations 




Disney World appears to offer three price levels of resort accommodations, but if you’re looking to do Disney on the cheap, stick with the Value Resorts. The Values are the least expensive resorts, but even within the Values there are the cheaper and the not as cheap. A four person room at the All Star Resort is significantly cheaper than one at Pop Century or Art of Animation. What do the more expensive Values offer? The option to ride Disney’s Skyliner  to Epcot and Hollywood Studios. If this is important and it fits your budget you should book it. But, if it isn’t important and you want to save money for special dining or souvenirs then maybe the All Stars are your best choice. By the way, the absolute least expensive accommodation isn’t a hotel, it’s the campground. If you can see yourself roughing it in a tent or glamping in a camper then you are going to save even more!

Tickets

All over Florida you will see offers to buy cheaper tickets or even get free tickets from roadside places that promise things that are too good to be true. Why? Because they are, in fact, too good to be true! In other words, it’s a scam. Don’t fall for it! Where should you buy your tickets? I suggest buying them straight from Disney on their website. Why? The more you stay the cheaper you can play! The magic number is four days. After four days of park tickets, each additional day is significantly cheaper. Should you buy Park Hoppers? Personally, I would be more likely to hop on a short trip. Once again, set your priorities and run the math. If it’s important to you and it fits your budget then make it so!

Food and Beverages 

One thing that some people aren’t even aware of until they arrive is the Resort Mug. What is it? A plastic Disney themed mug that contains a chip inside that is programmed at the register for free beverages for the length of your stay. Should you buy one? It depends. If your trip is less than four days, no way. If your trip is four days or longer, then you need to consider how often you will use the mug. The refills are only valid at your hotel quick service restaurant. Plan to be in the parks from open to close? Then it wouldn’t be a good investment. Plan to take it easy and possibly drink coffee in the morning? Then it starts saving you money!

As for food, I recommend spending a little time on the My Disney Experience app. Go to the Mobile Food Orders button and click. Once in, you’ll be able to look at the menus and prices of Quick Service restaurant food items. Know ahead of time that drinks are not included with meals, with the exception of the kid’s meals. You can, however, ask for cups of free ice water when you pick up your order. In fact, there is  another money saver. I’ve heard so many people complain that there aren’t enough water fountains in the parks. No worries! You can get a complimentary cup of water from most Quick Service locations. Good rule of thumb: if they are selling bottled drinks, they can’t give you free cups of water. If they have a drink tower, they have cups and water. All you need to do is ask politely!

What about sit down dining? Once again, you’re going to want to look over the menu ahead of time and make decisions based on what is important to you. One piece of advice: the buffets and prix fixe tend to cost a good bit more. If everything on the menu is the same price, then you’re paying for the steak even if you only get the salad. These places can be a wonderful meal and allow you to make some nice memories, but make your choice before you go so that there is no sticker shock that ruins your experience.

Souvenirs

The biggest pitfall with buying souvenirs at Disney is buying more than you planned on which causes you to spend more. It can be difficult to plan ahead what you will purchase. When my kids were young, I had a Wednesday rule. Basically, they could look at everything, but we weren’t going to buy until halfway through the trip. This cut down on those impulse buys and the have to have it purchases. By the time Wednesday came, they usually had their minds made up on what was most important.

Keep in Mind

None of this advice is meant to shame you into spending less. The point is this: If you’re on a budget, before you travel, make some decisions about what the most important things on your trip will be. Your Disney trip is yours! With a little planning who knows? Maybe it won’t be as expensive as you thought?

Questions?

I am happy to answer questions about today’s blog topic as well as anything else Disney vacation related! Simply type your questions in the comment section below! Please remember, I am not a Cast Member nor do I receive any compensation from Disney, but I am more than willing to spread my knowledge of what I have learned over the years. Oh, and most importantly, it is your vacation and you should plan it your way! 

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