Last Updated on August 9, 2022
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Learn How To Save Money At Disney World
Everyone dreams of visiting Disney World at least once in their life. It is a place full of magic that reminds us of our childhood. From the mysterious adventures to the interesting characters, hotels and resorts, there are tons of places for you to visit at Disney. Whether you are an adult or a kid, it would definitely be fun to visit this magical place. You can choose from 100+ attractions, such as:
- Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
- Avatar Flight of Passage
- The Pirates of the Caribbean
You can even visit the most popular attraction, Space Mountain. Either way, it is clear that you have a lot of options to entertain yourself while you are there.
To get there, you need to have money saved. Disney World is not cheap, but it is definitely worth every single penny. Vacations at Disney are quite expensive in 2022. Luckily for you, there are some things you can do to lower the costs.
In this article, we will guide you on how to save for your trip and how to save money at Disney World. It won’t be easy, especially if you struggle with saving money. But if you are determined to visit this wonderful place and have the vacation of your life, you will make it.
Saving Money For A Disney Vacation
To visit Disney World, you first need a savings budget. You need to plan everything early to have an impeccable trip without worry. To determine how much cash you are going to need to visit Disney, you should consider the following:
- When you are going to be there.
- Where you are going to stay.
- What attractions you must visit while you are there.
- The number of people you are going with.
After establishing all this, you can start saving money. To make a budget, you need to see how much your monthly income is and how much you can save from each paycheck. That way you will also determine the time necessary to save the amount of money you will need. There are various ways for you to save money for a Disney vacation, and we advise you to use them in conjunction with a solid budgeting strategy.
Use a budget
If you plan to save money by using budgeting methods, consider these two methods:
These methods are used by many people around the world for different purposes. They would be helpful if you plan to save money for a Disney trip. You can use them for a long or short period.
To visit Disney World and plan your budget, you can use the table below for guidance:
Disney Budget Plan | Example |
How much to save to go to Disney | $4,000 |
How much to save per month to go to Disney | $800 |
How many months to save to get to the goal | 5 months |
How to Save Money At Disney World on Tickets
To be able to save the most money you can at Disney, you should do the following:
- Pick the right season to visit.
- Make your trip longer.
When is the best time to visit? There are seasons when prices rise due to the increased number of guests. It would be better to visit Disney during the off-season when there will be less of a crowd. They call this the adventure season. That way you will be able to enjoy the place better and even save a significant amount of cash. The cheapest months to visit Disney World are January, February, August, and September.
You must think that if you stay more days at Disney it would cost you more, but that is not true. It is quite the opposite. After each day the ticket prices at Disney World get cheaper. Why not use that and visit various places while you are there? It is cheaper to add days to the Disney ticket than to buy separate park tickets. We’ve made the comparison below for you to see:
Length | Age 10+ – price (before tax) | Age 3-9 – price (before tax) |
1 day | $140 | $135 |
2 days | $261.52 ($130.76 per day) | $251.78 ($125.89 per day) |
3 days | $374.43 ($124.81 per day) | $360.37 ($120.1 per day) |
4 days | $465.17 ($116.29 per day) | $447.55 ($111.88 per day) |
5 days | $504.80 ($100.96 per day) | $485.63 ($97.12 per day) |
6 days | $523.22 ($87.20 per day) | $503.30 ($83.88 per day) |
7 days | $541.44 ($77.34 per day) | $520.79 ($74.39 per day) |
You may notice from the table above that prices per day go down. For example, if you buy a ticket for 5 days, it would cost you only $100.96 per day as an adult, or $97.12 per day as a child. That is a huge difference when you compare the prices for a 1-day ticket.
You can save around $40 and enjoy even more days at this great park. Ticket prices vary throughout the year, so make sure to do your research before setting up your budget.
How To Save Money At Disney World on Hotels and Food
Hotels and resorts
When you go on a vacation, you need accommodations. The same goes for Disney World. They have many deluxe hotels and resorts for you to stay at, but they can be expensive and eat up your budget.
The best option is to rent a place somewhere near but not on the grounds of the park. Try to find a place close to the parks so you can get an affordable Uber or Lyft fair. Also, you can find a hotel with a free shuttle.
If you want the whole Disney experience, and you want to stay in a Disney resort, the best option would be to go to moderate resorts. Choose Gran Destino, the tower within Coronado Springs, or choose Caribbean Beach. They are both great resorts with lots of relaxing views.
Food and drinks
If you want to save on food and drinks while you are at Disney, there are various ways to do this:
- Use delivery. There are various stores that will deliver your groceries for a small fee. It is a lot cheaper than buying things at Disney gift shops. It would also save you a lot of time.
- Skip eating at the parks and take snacks. To save on meals, you can eat in your room before and after heading to the park. Eat at restaurants that surround the parks and save money. Another great way to save money is to take snacks while visiting the parks. If you plan your meals well, you can avoid spending money on full meals while in the park. A fun compromise might be to have a snack or dessert in the park instead.
- Take advantage of free water and skip the soda. If you visit Disney, know that they offer free water in every drink location in the parks. You don’t have to pay anything and you only have to ask for a cup of water. That way you will stay hydrated for the day, and you will save on soda or other drinks that could cost you a fortune.
Taking Advantage of Free Days and Gifts
If you are on a budget, you could plan a free day. Free day means not going to the parks or spending money. Instead, stay at your resort and take advantage of benefits, like playgrounds, pools, and other amenities.
You could also visit Disney Springs. It is a place where you can shop, eat or entertain yourself. It is a complex full of Disney and non-Disney stores and restaurants. If you can’t stay away from the parks, keep an eye on a special Disney World offer. They tend to release promotions on their website. Promotions allow you to visit some parks for a small price or no price at all.
You could also save money with different gift cards. There are a lot of strategies that work for this. You could save at Kroger, Sam’s Club, and others. Use the gift cards to save on groceries and other things you need to buy at the stores while on vacation at Disney World.
Also, it is advisable to skip souvenirs. They cost money and you could find the same souvenirs on sale at other places, like Amazon. You could buy them online, and act as you bought them there – no one would know, and you would save money.
How To Choose Cheaper Places At Disney
To choose the cheapest places at Disney do some research. As we mentioned above, you could also visit some expensive places by combining different methods. You could use various day tickets, or you could wait for some promotional offer from Disney.
You can use the Park Hopper passes, Genie+ and Lightning Lanes. Park Hopper passes allow you to visit more than one park in the day. Genie+ lets you skip over 40 attractions, while Lightning Lanes is a pass that gives priority to popular attractions. But if you want to have some cheap experiences while there, we advise you to go for the following games:
- Pirates adventure: Treasures of the Seven Seas. It is a free game that requires you to collect trading cards. A lot of kids and adults love it. This game is related to pirates and based in Adventureland.
- Wilderness Explorers. This game is based on the movie Up and is at Animal Kingdom. The idea is to collect nature badges, which are very educational for kids of every age.
You could also walk around Disney BoardWalk. It has a breathtaking view and it is built around a lake. It has similar vibes to Cape May or Coney Island in the 1940s. Another option is to visit the town Celebration which offers vibes of the past.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How to save money for a Disney World vacation?
You can do it by implementing some of the methods we mentioned above. You can also try using the half-payment method to save more money on your bills. That way you will be able to save for a vacation too. Some other ways are by investing, or with the help of budgeting apps.
Which apps could help me save money for a Disney World vacation?
You can try using Mvelopes, YNAB, or Mint. They are really helpful and you could use them to stay organized and disciplined.
What are the cheapest attractions at Disney World?
There are various things to do at Disney for a cheap price. You can choose to visit some parks or resorts for a cheap price. Some of the cheapest locations to visit at Disney are:
Does Disney World ask for Covid vaccination?
If you plan to visit Disney, you should know they encourage vaccination. But they do not ask for vaccination. Although, if you are not vaccinated they recommend wearing a face mask. For guests who are fully vaccinated, Disney has lifted the obligation to wear a face mask.
Sources:
Oskwarek, Z. May 5, 2022. What is the cheapest time to go to Disney World in 2022? Retrieved from https://ziggyknowsdisney.com/cheapest-time-disney-world/#Cheapest_Time_of_the_Year_at_Disney_World_in_2022
Miller, A. June 8, 2021. Each state’s favorite ride at Disney World. Retrieved from https://upgradedpoints.com/travel/each-states-favorite-disney-world-ride-2021-survey/
A ticket for every kind of visit. Retrieved from https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/tickets-visit-guide/
Explore resort hotels. Retrieved from https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/en_CA/resorts/
Disney Springs – open locations. Retrieved from https://www.disneysprings.com/know-before-you-go/