Who doesn’t want to save time and money while at Disney World?! Here is an extensive list of all my best tips to save money AND time during your next Disney vacation.
Save Money
1. Pick Up A Free Celebration Button & Souvenirs
First Visit? Birthday? Anniversary? There’s a button for that. Pick up your free celebration button at Disney World and show off your milestone. Read the 3 locations to find FREE Celebration Buttons. Furthermore, read through: 41 FREE Souvenirs To Get At Walt Disney World.
2. Buy Pins Before your Trip
Pin Trading is a free activity at Disney World. Buy your pins ahead of time in a lot of Ebay, look for reputable sellers with 5-Star Feedback and a High transaction rate. They must be in great condition and look for the official Mickey head backings. Even still, trading you may come across scraps (fakes) therefore, trade for the fun and not the value. Look for cast members wearing Lanyards, Pin boards at resorts and some stores too.
3. Buy Discounted Disney Gift Cards
Target offers their Red Card in either a credit or debit. The debit option is great for those who do not want a Credit Card, it is linked to your debit card. The Target Red Card (credit or debit) gives shoppers 5% off everyday purchases (instore or online) + free shipping (online). Even better, shoppers are able to get the 5% savings on Disney Gift Cards. The 5% savings may not seem like much, however over the span of thousands of dollars it does add up. By simply buying Disney Gift Cards at Target you can save $150 (based on $3,000). Save $200 with a $4,000 Disney Gift Card purchase and so on. Spread your purchases out over time, consider purchasing each month, or grabbing a gift card each time you shop (there is a daily purchase limit).
4. Ship Water to your Resort
Save money by shipping water to your Disney Resort. Bottles of water in the parks are 3.00 each! Have a case of water waiting for you when you arrive and this savings quickly adds up.
5. Eat breakfast in your Resort Room
Save money on dining at Disney by eating breakfast in your Resort Room. Saving on the cost of 1 meal per day can add up over your vacation. This can give you extra spending money As one idea, use the savings to buy an ice cream in the afternoon instead of a fancy breakfast! Read items to pack, that travel well and more tips for breakfast in your Resort room.
6. Pack Snacks for park days
Packing snacks for your Disney World vacation can save time and money. Having snacks on hand means avoiding long lines just for a small snack. Consider this list of 10 Favorite Snacks to Pack for a Disney World Vacation. Basically, anything that wont melt or easily be crushed is great to pack. Disney allows guests to bring in a small, non wheeled cooler.
7. Eat for Free at Rainforest Café
The Rainforest Café has extensive rainforest theming with moving animals on the walls and hanging from the ceiling, even passing rain and thunder storms as in the rainforest (sound effects only). Here’s how to eat for free: Join the Landry’s Select Club for rewards and perks, My Points has Rainforest Café gift cards as a reward for redemption and so does SwagBucks. With some dedication and patience, it can be done.
There are 2 locations within Disney World: Rainforest Café at Animal Kingdom & Rainforest Café at Disney Springs
8. Lunch Versus Dinner
Save on dining at your favorite restaurant by going for lunch instead of Dinner. Many Disney restaurants have a separate menu for lunch and more expensive selections for Dinner. Check to Disney menu’s online before your trip to compare prices.
9. Share Snacks
If you do buy snacks in the Parks, consider snacks to share to get more value for your money. Such as, the warm cinnamon bun from Gaston’s Tavern. Many snacks at Disney World are huge!
10. Save On Character Dining
Have your heart set on a Character dining experience? Consider one that offers a Character breakfast to save money. Enjoy a Character Dining for breakfast instead of lunch or dinner, for an easy savings.
11. Pack Tinkerbell Gifts
Traveling with children? Tinkerbell Gifts are a great idea to save on souvenirs. Basically meaning, buy souvenirs before your trip and surprise your children with them while you are there! Its a win-win, child gets a present and parents save money.
12. Earn Disney Gift Cards before your arrival
Offset your Disney vacation costs by earning Free Disney Gift Cards! Read: 7 Savvy Ways to Earn Free Gift Cards and 6 Ways to Get Free Gift Cards. Disney Gift Cards can be used to pay for your hotel room at Disney World, park hopper option, Dining, souvenirs and most anything at Disney.
13. Skip Park Hopper
Easily save your group a few hundred dollars by skipping the Park Hopper option. While some cant visit with out it, many find once they are in Disney they are too tired to hop or find enough to do in one park per day.
14. Go Before Your Child Turns 3
Children under 3 do not require a ticket, they are 100% FREE to enter. Plus, no Fastpass+ needed for rides or attractions under 3 either. If you can, take your child BEFORE they turn 3 to SAVE big.
15. Skip Park Tickets On Arrival Day & Departure Day
Save some money by skipping park tickets for the day you arrive and the day you leave. There are plenty of Arrival Day Activities that can be done on your first or last day which require no park ticket. Also consider Resort Hopping with these 35 Free Resort activities!
16. Split Meals
Just as you can share snacks, the meal portions at Disney are also generous. Consider splitting meals to save money as well! Meals to split with generous portions such as:
- Pinocchio Village Haus In Magic Kingdom – Split the Pepperoni Flatbread
- Casey’s Corner In Magic Kingdom – Split the Macaroni & Cheese All-Beef Hot Dog
- Columbia Harbor House in Magic Kingdom – Split the Combination Platter
- Tangierine Cafe in Epcot – Split the Shwarma Chicken & Lamb Platter
- Via Napoli In Epcot – Split the Wood Fired Authentic Pizza 20″
- Flame Tree Barbecue in Animal Kingdom – Split the Ribs and Chicken Combo
17. Become an Annual Passholder
Becoming an Annual Passholder can actually make financial sense if you are planning multiple visits in a year. See this price comparison and this could be an option to save in the long run.
18. Skip The Dining Plan Or Add A Dining Plan
Skipping the dining plan or adding the dining plan can save money depending on your families eating habits. Learn When the Disney Dining Plan is worth it now.
Save Time
19. Stay On-Site
When guests stay on site at a Disney World Resort they are immersed in Disney magic the entire stay. Learn more benefits of staying on-site. Staying off-site may save some money, however the benefits of a Disney Resort can outweigh this savings. For one, Disney World offers continuous complimentary transportation, saving you time to the parks. Other non-Disney resorts may offer shuttles, however they are not reliable as Disney transportation.
20. Save Time By Visiting at the Right TIME
Save time as Disney World by simply visiting at the Best times of year. Simply by going when crowds are lower, you will save time in lines and more. If possible, travel in the off-season, such as January or May. Read more about Best time of the year to visit Disney World for a monthly guide on visiting. Alternately, if you want to save time avoid the 8 worst times to visit Walt Disney World. They are centered around holidays and school breaks.
21. Make Rope Drop
Get to the Parks Early and save yourself some time from waiting. So much can be accomplished during those early morning hours prior to the parks filling up, making rope-drop worth it.
22. Ride not Walk Magic Kingdom
Use the Walt Disney World Railroad at Magic Kingdom to save time walking and take a fun ride. Take the train from the back of the park to the front, for a must needed rest and vice versa. There are 3 stops: Fronteirland, Fantasyland and Main Street, U.S.A.
23. Always Turn Left
Since crowds instinctively go to the right, go to the left and encounter less people and save time at the parks. This includes entering parks and quick service restaurants that utilize both sides of the register. Be aware of what’s available to you for lines, those to the left are often shorter.
24. Eat During Off-Times
Save time while dining by eating at certain times. Have an early or late lunch, and an early dinner or later dining to enjoy lower crowds. Try eating an early lunch around 11am and dinner by 5pm to avoid crowds at Quick Service restaurants.
25. Advanced Dining Reservations
Guests staying at a Disney Resort may book up to 180 day in advance of arrival date and covering up to 10 days after (non-Disney resort guests may book 180 days in advance to preferred dining date). Do not get stuck waiting when you could have made a reservation, or worse not be able to dine at all!
26. Get Your Fastpass+
Plan your must do attractions and get a Fastpass+.Guests staying on site can book at 60 days out and for guests off-site, at 30 days out, plus up to 10 days after for both. Guests are allowed 3 Fastpass+ (same park) per day. Be ready at 7am (EST) to book your Fastpass+ on your eligible day, top picks include Avatar- Flight of Passage, Slinky Dog Dash and more! Pro-tip, go for top rides working backwards with your vacation dates, as everyone with your vacation dates will be trying for same.
27. Download My Disney Experience App
This app will be your best friend during your Disney World vacation. Guests can use the app to check wait times, modify or book more Fastpass+, find Character locations, restroom locations and much more. Now even check bus wait times for guests at Disney World Resorts! Read the My Disney Experience App Guide to learn just how handy this free app is.
28. Use Mobile Ordering
Mobile Ordering allows guests to order and pre-pay for their food at select participating restaurants and skip the line at the restaurant! Mobile Ordering is available across all 4 parks, and even Disney Springs. Guests can access Mobile Ordering through My Disney Experience App.
29. Go To Extra Magic Hours
Pay attention to Extra Magic Hours, a free perk for Disney World Resort guests. Each day a Disney park will have either morning or evening Extra Magic Hours (EMH). This allows Resort guests to head into parks early or stay late, outside of normal operational hours! Save time and get more done with EMH.
30. Take A Minnie Van
If you are really running short on time, take a Minnie Van. If you find yourself stressed out over running late for an experience at Disney – Minnie Van to the rescue! Al though, it is an extra cost, this huge time saver could be worth it under certain circumstances. Plus they are so cute! Learn more about Minnie Vans.
Thanks, Sara!
Learn more about planning your Walt Disney World vacation. Plus overwhelmed with all the planning? Destinations in Florida can help you plan your perfect trip.