It’s been said time and time again that Walt Disney World is not a place for middle-class families. There are many families who will never even consider visiting Mickey and Friends because the parks are expensive. While it is not your typical budget-friendly vacation, a trip to WDW does not necessarily have to break the bank! Here are some tips on making the most of your money while still enjoying a day at the parks:
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If you live in Florida, take advantage of the resident specials. Most years, Walt Disney World offers a deep discount for at least a few months. In 2013, three-day tickets were available for $120, and four-day tickets, for just $10 more. That is a substantial savings over the regular prices! There are upcharges for turning the tickets into “hoppers,” which would make it possible to visit more than one park each day, but if you stick to going to one park per day, this is a very economical way to see everything that you want to see. There is usually no notice before these go on sale, but in years past, they’ve come out in the winter and have been good until late spring. If you’re planning a trip at that time of year, then call and ask what specials are running before booking.
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Skip the upcharges. For any ticket, adding hopper privileges or eliminating the expiration date on your tickets are going to cost you a pretty penny. These might be spur-of-the-moment upgrades, and aren’t necessary the majority of the time. Decide ahead of time if you need these extra services, and if you don’t, just say no thanks.
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Stay on property. If you stay on Disney property, you won’t pay for parking even if you drive into the parks, and you are eligible for special dining plans, which may or may not save you money, depending on your eating habits. Staying off-season will get you the best prices for your room. For example, I have seen the value resorts priced at $80 or $90 per night during the slower seasons, and staying during these lower-priced time periods will still get you the same discounts as staying during the more expensive summer and holiday seasons.
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Or, stay off-property. There are a lot of low-priced hotels and motels on Highway 192 in Kissimmee, many of which offer free shuttles to the parks, eliminating parking fees even while staying off-property. Some, of course, are much nicer than others; read reviews and ask around before booking. Since you won’t be staying in your room much, you might decide that you will take a less-than-ideal room just for sleeping. Another option is to rent at a timeshare; these are numerous in Orlando, and offer nice, roomy condo-style rooms, along with pools and other amenities.
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Bring your food in. One of the more expensive parts of your Disney vacation will be keeping everyone fed. If you decide against the dining plan, feel free to carry in your own snacks. You are allowed to bring food in in a backpack or a small cooler, and lockers are available. When my family goes, we often carry in fruit and granola bars in order to skip paying for mid-morning snacks. We eat at the casual eateries for lunch, we might have ice cream in the afternoon, and we’ll save table service restaurants for just one or two evenings during our stay. If you do want to eat at a table-service restaurant, be sure to make reservations to avoid disappointment, particularly during the high seasons!
Walt Disney World is not an inexpensive vacation destination, but it might be doable for your family, even if you don’t have a huge vacation budget. Remember that you could always choose to go to the parks for just one or two days, then spend the other days in central Florida exploring the beaches and other attractions in the area.
Do you have any great tips on saving money at Disney World? Share them with our readers!
