Here are 30 Money Saving Tips For Your Walt Disney World Vacation:
1. Get free water – Every Quick Service restaurant that serves fountain soda will give you a free cup (or two or three) of ice water. Bring some flavor packets if you aren’t a fan of the taste of Florida water.
2. Work with a travel specialist – Don’t wing your trip to Disney! Travel Specialists (like my C2D Dream Team) offer their services free of charge and you get a number of amazing perks. Read over this list to see if they would be a good fit for you.
3. Eat a kid’s meal – Order off the kid’s menu at Quick Service restaurants. It is still very filling and in the Florida heat you don’t want to make yourself miserable.
4. Share an adult meal – Order an extra side and split the adult meal at both Quick Service and Table Service restaurants. As long as it is not a buffet you are allowed to share.
5. Buy pins before you come – If you want to trade pins, purchase a lot on Ebay. Just make sure you check the seller’s rating first.
6. Use your refillable mugs – If you got the dining plan, make sure you utilize your included refillable mugs. Fill them up before you leave the resort and bring a couple bottles of gatorade with you. Ask for free ice at the parks and fill your cups up with the ice cold gatorade.
7. Stay in a value resort – If you are going to spend most of your time in the parks, go for the cheaper resort. You’ll save money while still getting all of the perks of being on property.
8. Buy souvenirs from off site – The Walmart and Target stores near Disney have souvenirs for less than what you will pay in the parks. Head here first to stock up before you pay the higher prices at Disney.
9. Eat lunch at a Table Service restaurant – If you are paying out of pocket, lunch is a cheaper meal than dinner. And if you eat a big lunch, you can have a smaller dinner.
10. Limit your souvenir purchases before you arrive – Decide exactly how many items you want to bring home and stick with it. Put your budget on a Disney gift card and only allow yourself to spend that on souvenirs.
11. Bring your own food – Pack your own snacks, lunch, water, etc. Disney has a huge markup on food and the less you buy there, the better.
12. Watch for discounts – Disney offers special discounts throughout the year. There is always some kind of special out. By working with my C2D Dream Team, they will do this task for you and handle changing over your reservation without you having to do a thing.
13. Are you a member of the military? Disney offers exclusive discounts for military and their family.
14. Are you a Florida resident? You also get exclusive discounts! You can find all the current discounts here.
15. Save with an annual pass. If you purchase an annual pass to Disney, you will be eligible for exclusive rates on your hotel and discounts on merchandise, tours and some dining.
16. Purchase a party ticket – If the Halloween or Christmas party are occurring during your visit, it could be cheaper to purchase just a party ticket and spend the morning at the resort. These tickets tend to be about $15 less than a one day admission. The party ticket will get you into the Magic Kingdom starting at 4 pm.
17. Buy your tickets separately. Sometimes it’s cheaper to buy your room and tickets separate. They almost always have a discount through Disney for room only. This is only if you aren’t interested in the Dining plan.
18. Check with your employer – See if they offer any kind of discount on your Disney trip. My husband’s does, but it isn’t more than what I can get elsewhere.
19. Take your own photos. While Memory Maker is amazing, it is also $169-$199. The Photopass Photographers will also take pictures with your camera if you ask.
20. Sign up for the Chase Disney Rewards Visa. Not only do you get 1-2% back in rewards (in the form of a Disney gift card), but you’re also eligible for exclusive discounts. Some of these are the same ones that are offered to the general public, but sometimes Disney Visa Rewards members get them first.
21. Travel during off season – When you travel during off season at Walt Disney World, the resort prices are cheaper. If you are planning on staying on-site, you will be able to take advantage of the best prices of the year. Plus you will be able to see and do more in the parks because of the lower crowd levels. Off season at Disney World is mid January to late February (avoiding the week of MLK and Presidents Day), September and after Thanksgiving – the week before Christmas.
22. Don’t Park Hop – Park Hopper costs extra and enables you to visit multiple parks in one day. While it is fun to hop from park to park, if you plan wisely you can make the most of your day at just one park.
23. Order groceries -Even if your resort room is not equipped with a kitchenette, you can still make breakfast. Pack boxes of poptarts, breakfast bars, etc. The food court at your resort sells milk if you would like to eat cereal. Every room at Walt Disney World Resorts come equipped with a small fridge. You can also have groceries delivered to Walt Disney World.
24. Buy souvenirs before you arrive – Before you leave for your trip, stock up on items that the kids might like. Check out ShopDisney.com for sales and discounts (it changes multiple times a week so check often) and look for Disney souvenirs at Walmart, Target, Dollar Tree, etc. There is also a Walmart and Target near Walt Disney World that sells inexpensive souvenirs.
25. Get adjoining rooms at a value resort – If you are traveling with more than 4 people over 3 years old, get adjoining rooms at a value resort to save money. If you are parents with kids under 18, it is guaranteed that you will get adjoining rooms. I think this tip is best for those with 6 or more.
26. Parties of 5 – If you have 5 people, stay in one of the rooms at Caribbean Beach or Port Orleans Riverside that sleep 5. You’ll come out less than 2 rooms at the value resorts.
27. Celebrate holidays early – Instead of wanting to visit Walt Disney World over the actually holiday, visit early. Halloween decorations go up in early September and Christmas decorations go up by mid November.
28. Visit during free dining – In the fall Disney offers a promotion called free dining. You will get the dining plan for free with your Disney resort stay. There are usually a list of specifications but you could save quite a bit a money if you qualify.
29. Consider staying off site – If you have a large family, you might want to consider renting one of the many vacation homes around Disney property.
30. Skip race weekend – If there is a Run Disney event, the hotel prices are higher and the parks are more crowded. If you aren’t participating in the race, don’t plan your vacation during these dates.
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.
(Photo Credit: Angie)