Walt Disney on a Budget
There’s no way around it, Disney is expensive! – but it doesn’t have to cost as much as a car for a wonderful vacation week. By planning, being mindful of your budget and skipping some of the magic moments you can plan a Disney vacation on a budget without having to take out a second mortgage.
Growing up within driving distance of Disney, a Disney vacation used to be “easy.” Every Time I’ve bought tickets, I always get sticker shock but with newer offerings prices just seem to go up and up and up. Recently the lines are longer, parks are more crowded and prices are high. It’s still a wonderful experience but the times where you could just show up and expect to have a good time well – that’s past.
A trip to Disney World can still be a magical experience, but it is a pricey one. With so many different ticket packages, hotels, and dining options, it can be overwhelming to plan a trip that won’t break the bank. However, with some careful planning and research, it is possible to visit Disney World on a budget.
Plan ahead and do your research
The first step to visiting Disney World on a budget is to plan ahead and do your research. Look for deals and discounts on tickets, hotels, and dining options. If you’re traveling during busy weeks, then you will need to book your lodging earlier. During less crowded weeks, you can monitor the prices to look for better deals.
Websites like Undercover Tourist and MouseSavers are great resources for finding discounts on tickets and hotels. Additionally, Disney World’s website often offers deals and packages that can help you save money.
We have been very successful finding last minute deals within 2 weeks of travel but generally I would recommend booking several months ahead of time to get the best deals. For busy weeks, you may want to book over 6 months prior to the trip.
If you want a package deal then a Disney Planner may be the way to go. Disney planners can work within many budgets and can help with the stress of planning. If you want the lowest budget then you may do better booking places on your own.
Travel during the off-season
Disney World can be crowded and expensive during peak travel seasons, such as summer and major holidays. Traveling during the off-season can not only save you money, but it can also mean shorter lines and less crowded parks. Consider traveling during January or February when the crowds are smaller and the weather is cooler.
We have visited Disney during very busy weeks (near Thanksgiving) and during slow times. The experience is much better on slower weeks. We have also visited during the summer and the winter. Winter is generally still warm (but occasionally can be chilly). Summer can be uncomfortably hot and very crowded with afternoon thunderstorms. When we visited in August we could only stay at the parks half a day due to heat. Mid day in the summer is just not fun due to the heat and the afternoon had thunderstorms.
Our favorite day at Magic Kingdom was a day where the park closed at 4 (we did not know that until a few days prior). It was like the “old days” – we used Genie to get the two longer lines and everything else was generally 10 minutes with a couple 30 minute waits. It was so much fun.
Getting Tickets
Unless you have a season pass, there is really no good way to avoid the sticker shock of Disney Tickets. With the current reservation system, you must purchase your tickets in advance. They are expensive. Multi-day tickets can save a little money. Some 3rd party sites such as Undercover Tourist and Mouse Savers can save a little money.
Expect tickets to be a big expense for any Disney Trip – no way around it.
Florida Resident tickets and season passes are really the only way to make Disney affordable. There are several pass options on the Disney website. We purchased a Pixie Pass for the year which pays for itself after 3 visits. We’re planning on 3 trips in 1 year with 3-4 visits each. We’re going to be so tired of Disney by the end of the year that we’ll be OK with not going back.
You must make a reservation online for every day that you intend to visit. You must purchase your tickets first then you go to a different area on the app or website to get a reservation. You must do both steps to be allowed into the parks.
Consider staying off-site
Staying off-site can be a great way to save money on your Disney World vacation. There are plenty of hotels and rental properties located just a few miles from the parks that offer much lower rates than the on-site Disney resorts. You may have to drive or take a shuttle to get to the parks, but the savings can be significant.
My favorite place to stay recently is the Parkway International Resort near Celebration. It has a lovely pool and the staff is very friendly. Booking a place with a kitchen can save a lot in eating out. We have stayed at Parkway 3 times this year. We’ve saved money by booking through Hotwire and other 3rd party websites. The cost has been less than $100 per day for a comfortable 2 bedroom condo.
For larger homes with private pools check out the areas around Windsor Hills and Emerald Isles. These resort neighborhoods have numerous amenities and can be very budget friendly for larger groups. These homes make wonderful areas to relax in your private pool during off days.
More budget friendly options are a little out of town in the Davenport area. Bahama Bob’s is one of these areas. Budget homes and condos in Davenport may not be as upkept as the ones closer to the resort although some can be a resort by themselves. The drive will be longer and it will be more difficult to take a break in the middle of the day. Transportation from the airport and ride shares may also be more expensive which can adversely effect your budget. If staying farther away, renting a car is a better way to go.
A downside to staying off resort is that you will not be able to get early theme park entry. That means if you want to ride the most popular rides, you will need to purchase a lightning pass or wait a long time. The second downside is having to find transportation. Also taking a mid-day break is a little more difficult staying off site.
Bring your own food and drinks
One of the biggest expenses at Disney World is food and drinks. Bringing your own food and drinks into the parks can save you a lot of money. Pack snacks and sandwiches for lunch, and bring refillable water bottles to save on drinks. There are plenty of picnic areas located throughout the parks where you can enjoy your own food.
I find that dining at Disney World can be a stressful and expensive experience. Many of the dining reservations book up 6 months prior. Some dining options or events can take 2 hours away from an already busy day. A combination of packing your own food with adding grab and go dining options can save both the budget and time.
Parks will have plenty of options for snacks & drinks but they all come with a high price tag. Epcot is wonderful for adult drinks but many can be as high as $15 per drink. Some booths do offer smaller tasting sizes of beers that can be less than $5 per drink. I do love enjoying an adult beverage at Epcot but pay attention or there may be a mighty hangover when the bill arrives.
Bring empty water bottles and fill them often. There are numerous water fountains in the park.
Use Disney’s free transportation
Disney World offers free transportation to and from the parks, hotels, and other attractions. This includes buses, monorails, gondola and boats. By using Disney’s transportation, you can save money on rental cars and parking fees. I find using the Skyliner Gondola between Hollywood Studios and Epcot to be a fun experience.
If you are staying off-site a rental car may be a more affordable option. Transportation from the airport to off-site lodging can be expensive. Generally Uber and Lyft have affordable options to get from the parks to off site locations.
If you are renting a car then parking fees are another expense. Uber or Lyft may make more sense getting to and from the park and are generally easy to use.
Skip the souvenirs
Souvenirs can be a fun way to remember your trip, but they can also be expensive. To save money, skip the souvenir shops and instead focus on making memories with your family. Take plenty of photos, ride your favorite rides, and enjoy the shows and parades.
We like to start our Disney trips with a souvenir budget or a plan for a particular gift. Usually it’s a $30 set of mouse ears. Snacks, cotton candy and other smaller items add up quickly.
Use a travel rewards credit card
Using a travel rewards credit card can help you earn points or miles that you can redeem for future travel. Look for a card that offers rewards on dining and travel purchases, and use it to pay for your Disney World vacation. Just be sure to pay off your balance in full each month to avoid interest charges.
We use airline points to get to Disney when we fly. We have not explored using points on lodging or car rentals.
Consider a park hopper pass
A park hopper pass allows you to visit multiple Disney World parks in one day. While these passes can be more expensive than single park tickets, they can also help you save money if you plan to visit multiple parks during your trip. By visiting more parks in one day, you can maximize your time in the parks and see more of what Disney World has to offer.
Magic Kingdom and Epcot both need a full day to explore. If you purchase Genie Plus then you may be able to combine Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom.
Get the Disney App
It is really hard to navigate Disney without the Disney App. You use this app for reservation, Genie Plus, Lightning Lane, food ordering and ride times. The app will also let you know where you can find places to eat as well as the price range of eating options. It’s much easier to stay on budget if you can have a plan of where to stop for snacks and food. Wandering around hungry and tired is going to lead to overspending.
Other features of the App include additional photo options and app based activities.
Take advantage of free attractions
Disney World offers plenty of free attractions that are included with your park admission. These include parades, shows, most of the rides and fireworks displays. By taking advantage of these free attractions, you can save money and still have a magical Disney World experience.
Many of the parks (especially Epcot) frequently have additional events so that the parks seem to always be changing with offered activities.
By using the Disney App, you can more easily see what shows are playing when and know the ride wait times. There are so many activities to do in the park that do not cost additional money.
Pick your Priorities
Disney in general can be an overwhelming experience if you haven’t done much research. By picking priorities, the experience can be much more fun and more budget friendly. If rides are a priority then getting Genie Plus (especially for Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios & Epcot) will make financial sense. Genie plus can add $15-$20 per person to the tickets but will significantly decrease line time. Hollywood Studios currently seems to have the longest lines with not many rides at a reasonable wait time. However, there are many live performances that are wonderful if the lines are too long.
Other rides have a lightning lane. These rides have an additional cost (usually around $15). Lightning lane rides currently include Gardians of the Galaxy, Dwarfs Minetrain, Flight of Passage & Rise of the Resistance. Some of these rides can be ridden with a shorter line if you stay at a Disney Resort and make early admittance. That option is not available if you booked off site. Guardians has a free virtual que that can be booked via the app at 7 am or 1 pm and does give a good chance of getting on the ride.
Picking priorities early about which rides are important to you can save money in the long run. I would not expect to do everything – it’s just not possible. Deciding if one lightning pass is better than getting Genie Plus or if you want to splurge for both prior to getting to the park can help keep budgets controlled.
Beware the Magic Band
I love my magic band for ease of using Genie Plus and admission. It’s so much easier than the cards. However, the band can also be used to link to your Disney account through lodging. Once linked all you need to pay for items is the band. So … use with caution. Money can go quickly when you can get anything you want with just a swipe of the wrist.
Our magic bands are 5 years old. Newer bands can be bought in the parks but are most likely cheaper if purchased ahead of time.
In conclusion, visiting Disney World on a budget is not an easy task but can be done with some careful planning, picking priorities and self control. Budget trips don’t have to feel like you’re missing out. Disney can be a magical experience for all ages. Regardless if you are planning a once in a lifetime all in visit or a budget drive by, a Disney vacation is a wonderful vacation.
