You can save money at Walt Disney World I hear you ask? You will be pleasantly surprised to find out that there are so many easy ways to save money at Walt Disney World, from your hotel stay to eating, drinking and even on those souvenirs. In this article we will share how to save money at Disney World during your vacation.
For many of us a vacation to Walt Disney World is a dream come true, whether you are travelling with or without kids it can often work out to be an expensive trip. For those planning their first visit or for seasoned guests saving money to help fund the trip is always a good thing and you will be surprised at the many ways in which it can be done.
Here is our guide on 26 great ways on how to save money at Walt Disney World.
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1.Use Disney Dining to Save Money.
Book when the “free” Disney dining comes out for the best savings. Disney often opens these offers a couple of times during the year, especially during those “quieter” seasons. There are different offers depending upon where you live but whichever free Disney dining you get this is always one of the best ways to save money on food and drink at Walt Disney World.
If you opt to pay out of pocket for the Disney dining, then make sure that you do your research. There are three different types of Disney dining plan on offer and it’s always best to do your number crunching before you decide to add this on.
Any of the Disney dining plans are a great way to save money at Walt Disney World, as you would expect the food at Disney World is not cheap and especially so if you want to try the fine dining and character meals, it can often work out a lot cheaper to have a Disney dining plan to cover these. There are several ways that you can use the credits on the dining plan from meals to snacks and beverages and most items in the parks and resorts are covered by this (unfortunately alcoholic drinks without a meal are not included).
So, if you can, take advantage of the free dining when it is offered and research into the cost to pay out of pocket to save money at Walt Disney World. If you do decide to buy the dining plan it can be a great way to budget for your vacation knowing that much of your food and beverages have already been paid for.
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2. Bring Your Own Food and Drink.
If you decide that the dining plans are not suitable for your vacation, then another way to save money at Walt Disney World is to bring your own food and drink.
Walt Disney World allows for guests to bring in their own food and drinks with minimal stipulations (see our article here). Pack the car with your weekly supplies before you head to Disney World or hit the grocery stores off Disney property when you get there to buy basic supplies. Cereal, snack bars, fruit, milk, bottles of water or soda as well as chips, cookies, bread and sandwich fillings are great things to keep in your hotel room to take into the parks or to make a quick lunch or breakfast to save buying whilst in the parks. You can even order online and get this delivered to your resort the day you arrive so you can hit the parks, pool or even your bed when you check in.
Remember to pack or buy food storage bags and wrappers to keep food fresh and ice packs to keep drinks and food cool whilst you are in the parks. Don’t forget the disposable bowls, plates, spoons etc too.
Having your own food and beverages on hand not only saves you money at Walt Disney World but it can be useful to have on hand to snack on whilst waiting for rides or if the lines for the food kiosks are busy. Making sure the basics are covered can allow for some money to be saved to put towards treats such as ice creams, candy and popcorn.
3. Make Use of Those Refillable Mugs.
Available at your Disney World resort, refillable mugs are a great option to save money whilst at Walt Disney World. These can be purchased from your hotel and are valid for the duration of your stay or are free to those guests who have a dining plan. The refillable mugs can only be used at your resort, but the number of refills is pretty limitless (can be refilled after 2 minutes from last use), and you will find that there is a wide range of choices available. Selections can include soda (Coke products), Powerade, water and hot beverages such as hot cocoa, and a variety of tea.
One cup can be shared easily, especially between two or even more if you have small children. You can fill these up and take them into the parks for use during the day, to take back to your room or to use whilst out and about. Refillable mugs can be utilized by transferring the contents into more suitable and easier to carry bottles such collapsible or smaller bottles (more on these below but we use these ones) that can be taken into the parks. These clips are great for attaching to your stroller, bag or your belt if you don’t want to hold them all day.
Available in the water parks are refillable mugs that can be purchased for an initial cost and refilled for free. These offer great value for money; they can be shared between a family (as long as you all agree on what you want to drink!) and work out a lot cheaper if your party prefer soda to the free iced tap water on offer. In terms of refilling you can swap between beverages on offer (soda or water) from the refill station and again can be refilled every two minutes. These are only valid for the day purchased so to get the best value buy as soon as you get there and refill on your way out for your journey.
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4. Buy Toiletries and Sundries Before You Go
Many of us will forget something or other when we pack for our Disney World Vacation but making sure that we have at least the basic toiletries will save money at Walt Disney World. Writing a list or using a packing guide (you can find our packing lists here) will help to ensure that everything that is needed is packed, making sure that you have plenty of supplies such as sunscreen, plasters, painkillers as well as creams and medications.
Most basic toiletries including sunscreen and medication (not prescription) can be purchased in the resort hotel but are costly and can set you back at least $10. A trip out to one of the grocery stores or pharmacies can be cheaper than buying from the resort, however this will take time out of your day and can have an impact on your plans.
5. Order Kids’ Meals or Just the Entrees
If you decide to eat in the parks or at the resort hotel without having the dining plan there are a couple of ways to save some money. Order the kids meals at quick service locations (even for adults), these are often decent sized portions, and most come with a beverage, snack and side to fill you up.
Ordering just an entree and not a combo meal deal will save a few dollars, again these can be a good size and you can grab a free iced tap water or use a drink that you have brought in to have with it.
Some of the food available at Walt Disney World is large enough to share between two (or more!), check out the portion sizes before you go. This applies to snack items as well as quick service meals, there are giant cookies, waffles and funnel cake that can be shared between at least two people as well as savory items such as fries.
6. Research Menus
Making sure that you have researched places to eat that are suitable for you and your party is a must do, especially if you want to save money at Walt Disney World. Having a look at the menus and costs will provide a good knowledge of what is available from where as well as giving you some information on the best value for money in terms of quantity and quality.
Make sure to look at all the options available including the table service restaurants. Some meals provide better value for money such as the all you can eat buffets (that can fill you up for hours) compared to the fine dining experiences. Take advantage of the option to take whatever is not eaten away with you in a “doggy bag” to eat later.
7. Find the Freebies
There are many freebies on offer at Walt Disney World that can be found to save money. Grab those free celebration badges to personalize and wear around the parks, whether it’s your birthday or anniversary these make a great souvenir and sometimes can even add pixie dust to your stay; we have had free cupcakes, and birthday cards and from cast members.
There are some free activities to do in the parks, make sure you check out the Sorcerer’s Apprentice card game and the Pirates of the Caribbean treasure hunt both in Magic Kingdom, you get to keep the cards and maps for free and can even earn a free fast pass to Pirates if completed.
Collect stickers, many of the cast members have stickers that they can give out to guests if asked nicely, also transportation cards are available from Disney transport, again ask the driver or cast member nicely for one and try and collect them all.
Make sure you check out our article on free things to do at Disney World here (or click the image below).
Collecting autographs from the characters is also free and can make a great souvenir or presents for those back home, bring your own autograph book, hat, clothing or even the mount of a photo-frame or Christmas baubles to be signed. Most cast members with the characters will have a Sharpie or similar on them but if you want particular colors then bring your own. Take a look at our article on Autograph Books here or by clicking the image below.
You may find free samples, especially at the Main Street Bakery when they are not too busy, sample anything from cotton candy to fudge and cookies. Ghiradelli at Disney Springs has free chocolate samples there too so make sure you stop by.
Plenty of locations on Disney World property offer free iced tap water – a great way to keep hydrated and save $4 on a bottle of Dansani! However, this water can have a funny taste so grab some of these squash shots to add in to make them more palatable (you can find squash shots on Amazon here).
8. Have a resort day
Depending upon your park tickets opting to have a resort day or two can save a lot of money. The resorts are all lovely places to relax and explore and most will have various activities and entertainment for children and adults to enjoy.
Staying on your resort will limit the amount of tickets you will need, with careful planning and utilising the fastpass system and extra magic hours your vacation can be planned to allow for these. If you don’t have a dining plan you can take advantage of eating groceries from your room or even hopping of property to eat.
Remember that all Disney resorts are free to visit and can be a day out in themselves, maybe pick a classic Disney themed one then use the free transport to get to another resort to watch the fireworks from.
You can find out more about Disney Resorts here or by clicking the image below.
9. Use Disney gift Cards
These are a great way to manage and save money whilst you are at Walt Disney World. They can be used in a variety of different ways such as having spending money on one, one for tips, one for drinks and food and if needed separate ones for the kids with their spending money on. You can also buy one for each day – saving the remainder to roll onto the next or for extra souvenirs or treats.
Not only is this an easy way to manage your money at Walt Disney World by ensuring that everything is accounted for and paid for in advance, it’s a great way to help kids (and adults too) to budget their money as once it is gone it is gone. The temptation to just add to your credit or debit card via your magic band will not be so easily available. The gift card balance will be printed on every receipt after a purchase or a cast member in a shop will be able to tell you.
10. Buy Your Tickets Carefully
To save money on tickets at Walt Disney World you really must shop around and research which ticket types you will need. There are so many different options out there from tickets that encompass all six Disney parks for 7, 14 or even 21 days to on the gate, single park options, that can be purchased from Disney itself and other third party companies such as Best of Orlando.
There are some great deals to be had, make sure that you plan what you want to do and what is doable in a day for your party before beginning to compare prices and deals.
11. Use Mears Connect
Another way to save money at Walt Disney World is to use the Mears Connect s to get from Orlando International Airport to your Walt Disney World resort. Not only is this a pretty affordable service that is available to all onsite guests that are flying into this airport it really is a great way to save money.
12. Bring Collapsible Water Bottles
Saving money at Walt Disney World is real easy with this tip. Before you go purchase each of your party members a collapsible water bottle to take with you round the parks. These can be used to fill from your refillable mug at your resort, supplies in your room or from the free iced tap water found in multiple locations and at all food outlets.
We like the ones below which you can find on Amazon here or by clicking the image below.
Not only are these are easy to carry or attach to your bag, stroller or scooter with the attached clips and can be folded down when not in use they are also can save you a lot of money in buying drinks throughout the day.
13. Ponchos
If you are wanting to stay dry on the water rides or from the notorious Florida downpours this is a must if you want to save money at Walt Disney World. Buy before you go, they are so much cheaper and you can buy multiple quantities so you can wear and throw rather than lugging around a wet poncho for the day. You can find Poncho’s on Amazon here or by clicking the image below.
Instead of ponchos consider purchasing re usable rain coats that can easily be folded into a small bag or into itself which can fit easily into your backpack or attached to a bag, belt or stroller.
14. Pins
A really fun thing that many people enjoy at Walt Disney World is pin trading. This is enjoyable for all ages but can work out to be very expensive as pin packs are approximately $10-20 plus tax for 2-4 pins. In order to save money at Walt Disney World you can buy genuine pins in bulk off of ebay before your vacation. These packs normally include a variety of styles and you can choose which ones you want to trade or any that you want to keep.
15. Souvenirs
Everywhere you go you will be inundated with things to buy to bring back home whether for yourself or someone else as a souvenir or gift from your vacation. As is everything at Walt Disney World the majority of items are costly and will set you back a fair few dollars. Thankfully there are a few ways to save some money on souvenirs.
Firstly you can make these purchases before you go from many retailers or online stores this especially works for kids who don’t particularly care where things come from, buy some Disney-themed coloring books, pencils and pens to give to them as well as dolls and soft toys.
Instead of buying from the Disney parks and resorts pop to the outlets or stores off Disney property where you can find many similar items at a much lower price.
Set a budget and stick to it, perhaps give each person a certain amount per day or for the whole vacation or buy one thing under a certain price on the last day.
Make use of the freebies on offer, autographs and photo opportunities all can make a great souvenir or gifts.
Take a look at some mistakes you don’t want to make at Disney World
16. Mousekeeping
Another way to save money at Walt Disney World is to opt out of the mousekeeping (housekeeping) at your Disney resort, known as service your way. Currently available at value and moderate resorts you can request to not receive the standard housekeeping/mousekeeping that you would expect at a hotel and receive a gift card loaded with $10 for every night of your stay (except the first and last day of your vacation).
For those staying for 7 nights will receive $60 on a Disney gift, $130 for 14 night and so on that can be used pretty much everywhere on Disney property. This is a great way to gain some extra spends for dining, souvenirs etc.
Opting for this saving means your room will not be serviced, vacuuming, cleaning and bed making will not be done although you can always call mousekeeping for new supplies and clean bedding and towels.
17. Stroller and Scooter Rental
A vacation at Walt Disney World is a very tiring and near on exhausting trip especially for young kids and those with mobility issues. Before you go decide whether anyone is in your party will need or want a stroller or mobility scooter and research your rental options. It is a lot cheaper to hire one from a company off Disney property than to hire the ones at the Disney parks. Usually the longer the rental period the most cost effective – dont get caught out paying over the odds to hire one whilst in the parks.
18. Book a Package Vacation
A great way to save money at Walt Disney World is to book a package vacation. Many travel companies offer to book your trip including travel, hotel and park tickets in one package which can often save money. Shop around for the best discounts and offers, use the internet to explore large and small and even independent travel agents to gain the best deal – don’t forget to give them a call sometimes speaking to an agent can help find the cheapest flights etc.
Package vacations can also unlock other offers such as free Disney dining when hotel and tickets are booked together, special offers on tickets 14 days for the price of 7, free memory maker etc.
19. Sign up for Disney Emails for Special Offers
Making sure that you have signed up for Disney offers is a great way to ensure that you book the best value vacation. Mostly the deals that you get will be available to all those who have signed up for these emails, however you may occasional get an offer emailed that is just for you!
20. Skip Park Hopping
Although we love park hopping, tickets are an extra cost to your vacation. You can visit and enjoy Walt Disney World without purchasing the park hopping tickets not only saving yourself money but time and energy as well. Making sure that you plan your vacation and park days effectively will ensure that you get the most out of your trip without the need to try and manage more than one park in a day. On average the cost for a family of two adults and two kids (under 10) will be around $250 for a four day trip!
Make sure you check the type of tickets you have as some ticket packages include park hopping and if they do you’ll want to make sure you take advantage of these even if just to hop over to a quieter park or to see the fireworks show.
21. Buy Multi Day Tickets
Again to save money at Walt Disney World look at purchasing the multi day tickets. These provide the best value for money and are valid for a certain length of time from the first use. They do not need to be used on consecutive days, for example if you want to visit two Disney parks on your trip with a resort day or off property day then this will work out cheaper than buying two one day passes.
The ticket duration will start from the first day that you use it and normally covers a 7 or 14 day period, giving you plenty of time to use them.
There are multi day tickets that cover the majority of lengths of stays – remember the longer the stay the better value for money (this will not work out the cheapest though!!)
22. Visit in Quieter Seasons
There is no “quiet” time at Disney anymore, especially with all the new attractions, lands and resorts it is bound to become even busier and more popular. Despite this there still peak and off peak times to go.
Any dates around holidays, be it school or celebrations, bank holidays such as presidents day etc will see Disney set its peak prices however to save money at Disney World you may need to research times of the year that work out cheaper.
Historically January and February (avoiding presidents day and marathons) as well as September and early to mid November can see Disney offer some great incentives to take your trip then and fill up those resort rooms.
23. Use Credit Card Special Offers
Before you go on your trip have a look at all the credit cards that you can sign up to in order to save money at Walt Disney World. There are a number of cards out there that you can get that give you discounts and special offers that are a great way to save a few dollars.
A few examples of what is out there include;The Disney Rewards Chase Visa card which will give you a 10% dining discount at some awesome Disney restaurants such as Narcoossee’s. If you qualify Tables in Wonderland will give you 20% discount (including alcohol) on a long list of restaurants – although there is an upfront cost for this it can be worth the initial layout. The Landry’s Select Club card that can be used at the Rainforest Cafe (both at Animal Kingdom and Disney Springs) and the T-Rex restaurant on Disney property will more than pay for itself, the join up fee is $25 – you instantly get $25 off your first meal, $25 off a meal when used during your birthday month and can get you seated faster at the restaurants.
24. Use the Photographers with Your own Camera/Device
All through the Disney parks you will see numerous cast members that are around to take photos for the memory maker package. Although this is sometimes offered free with certain vacation and ticket packages it can be purchased and will set you back approximately $199. However you can save some money here by asking the photographers to take a photo on your own device, smartphone or camera.
These are often in the most popular photo spots and you are bound to get a great photo without the cost. Unfortunately, because of this there is more often than not a queue and they will not be able to offer the “magic” photos.
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Thanks for stopping by you can find our previous article here.
Claire
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