How to Save Money at Disney World

How can you save money at Disney World? That’s the magic question, right?!

I’m not saying a day at the parks is ever considered cheap. Unfortunately not. But are there ways to reduce the cost? To save a little cash in your wallet for your next adventure?

You betcha!

Here are a few Princess-approved saving tips. I have used many of these over the years. I sincerely hope you can save some $$$ and enjoy your trip that much more!

Have you read Confessions of a Disney Princess? You’ve GOT to, for great character meeting tips, and a little Disney behind the scenes dirt!

Tickets

How can you save cash on tickets to Disney? That is a tough one, but crackable.

Disney is famous for not discounting tickets, and why would they, with the ever-increasing attendance?  But there are a few ways to get a better deal on admission. Use one of these strategies below to save money on Disney tickets.

1. Go During the Off-Season

Park ticket prices fluctuate throughout the year, according to attendance. Avoid peak prices for holidays such as Spring Break/Easter (March-April), Summer Vacation (July-August), Thanksgiving week (end of November) and Christmas/New Year’s (mid-December to early January).

Tix in January-February or September-October can be as much as $31 per day cheaper as holiday periods. That can really add up if you have a large party.

The Princess’s Guide: Off-season can mean the parks have shorter hours. Closing time may be as early as 6 pm for certain days! But the smaller crowds can make the whole place feel more relaxed, and you can enjoy and experience more than in high attendance times.

2. Take Your Kids Before They Turn Three Years Old

Will they remember meeting Mickey? Probably not. (They’ll still have fun, though.) But, for families with older kids, going before the youngest hits their third birthday can save a whopping $135 per day during the high season. Cha-ching!

3. Visit Mid-Week Rather than During the Weekend

Monday-Thursday tickets are cheaper than Friday-Sun. A quick search of ticket prices for September 2021 shows Saturday at $132, but only $109 for Wednesday. That’s a saving of $23 per person.

4. Buy a Vacation Package Through Costco

Costco frequently has Disney hotel and room packages that are better prices than at the parks. They come with special perks such as Disney cash cards, free theme park parking or complimentary MagicBands. And Costco Executive Members get 2% cash back on your purchases.

5. Don’t Get the Park Hopper Tickets

They cost significantly more than single park tickets. (like $60-$80 a day more!) Visit one park per day and focus on experiencing everything you can-it will fill up your time, I guarantee. Plus, you will avoid wasting precious time traveling to the other park.

The Princess’s Guide: Disney has a fleet of transportation vehicles to get you between parks, hotels and parking lots. The monorail is the most fun! You used to be able to sit upfront with the driver, but no more. Buses are helpful for far-flung destinations, such as Animal Kingdom. And boats are scenic although a little slow. The newest way is the recently opened Skyliner gondola system that connects guests to Epcot and Hollywood Studios from several resort hotels.

Food & Drinks

One of your most significant expenses when visiting the mouse? What you eat and drink. And Disney is happy to sell you $3 bottles of water and $10 snacks. Enjoy a little, but don’t buy ALL your consumables at the parks.

6. Bring Plenty of Water

Who wants to waste money on bottles of water? Especially bottles of water that cost $3 each. Bring LOTS of water with you and save your cash for fun things.

Disney has no rules against bringing water into the parks. So, each adult in your party should have a backpack with a few water bottles per person in your party. If you want to, rent a locker at the front of the park and store your water (and lunch!).

The Princess’s Guide: Any quick-service restaurant will give you a cup of water or ice for free. You don’t even have to order food.

7. Brown Bag It

A great way to save moolah at Disney is to bring your lunch with you. Make a sandwich from home (or your hotel) and quickly save $5-$8 per person for lunch. Enjoy a snack at Disney (Dole Whip, anyone?), but keep a few dollars in your pocket for something else.

If you don’t want to do the sandwich thing, bring filling snacks that will get you through the day: protein bars, peanut butter crackers, whole fruit, nuts or yogurt.

8. Leave the Park to Eat Your Main Meal

For families on a multi-day Disney stay, consider leaving the park in the late afternoon, giving your kids time to rest, and getting dinner off property or in your room (before heading back to the parks).

For guests who frequently visit (like Central Floridians or annual passholders), try having lunch and an afternoon snack at the park, and leaving before dinner. Grab dinner on the way home in Lake Buena Vista or Hwy 192 in Kissimmee, just off property.

The Princess’s Guide: There’s a Taco Bell on Hwy 192 that a certain princess visited many, many times. It was open late after I got off my closing/parade shift! But there are plenty of quick options (with drive-throughs!) that are nice to hit after a long day at the park.

9. Resist the Disney Dining Plan

It’s hard to get your money’s worth on the Disney Dining plan. You almost always end up paying for food you didn’t need to buy. Who needs two snacks a day at Disney? (Next, you’ll need the Disney Weight Loss Plan!)

Make a little effort to bring snacks or drinks into the park with you, and you certainly won’t need this extra expense.

10. But Plan to Enjoy Your Favorites

Smart visitors to Disney review meal options beforehand and choose one special meal or snack to savor at the park. Who doesn’t like to sit in the air conditioning and enjoy some carbs (a day at Disney can feel like an epic workout) or your favorite snack you have each visit?

Go ahead and splurge a little! You are on vacation, after all.

The Princess’s Guide: I hope your favorite snack isn’t those BBQ Turkey Legs in Frontierland. I smelled those things day in and day out forever. Just thinking about it makes me sick to my stomach again. (There is also a rumor they are emu legs, not turkey!)

Souvenirs

Oh, this is a tough one if you have kids! Disney is no stranger to marketing lots of fun, shiny things to your little ones, so you must be prepared! Try saving money on souvenirs in one of these ways.

11. Buy the Big Stuff Ahead of Time

Get your custom Disney T-shirts on Etsy, your toys at Target or Amazon. Let your kids pick things out before the trip and just enjoy the rides at the parks. Maybe even bring it along in the luggage if you have room!

12. Give Your Kids a Set Amount of Money for Their Souvenir

For example, everybody gets $20 per day. Then you’re not facing constant pleas every time you go through a gift shop. (Which are everywhere!) Bonus points for helping your kids learn some financial lessons. Older kids may be able to save up for something big after a few days.

13. Make Your Kids Earn Their Souvenir Money

If you’re planning your trip for several months out, have your kids do extra jobs around the house to earn their souvenir money. If they earn it, it will make the toy/item feel even more special..

The Princess’s Guide: What’s your favorite souvenir ever? My Dad (who worked at the parks for almost 40 years) brought home the Thriller album by Michael Jackson one day! It was when Jackson starred in the Captain EO show at Epcot in the ‘80s. Not technically Disney, but the coolest thing we ever got from the mouse.

Hotels

Hotels are a considerable expense, but there are ways to save a few bucks.

Be sure to read up on these tips to learn How to Save Money So You Can Travel More.

14. Stay Off Property

Nearby communities of Disney Springs and Kissimmee have TONS of hotel rooms that will save you lots of money. You need to figure in the $25 daily Disney parking fee, although some have free shuttles to the park. And you lose a few perks by not staying on Disney property.

15. But Some Hotels DO Give You Those Perks!

Several hotels in the Disney Springs area have a special deal with Disney and allow you to stay at their resorts with the bonus of Extra Magic Hours and being able to reserve fast passes 60 days out!

This is a huge plus, and the resorts are usually less than most options on Disney World property.

Check out these properties:

Doubletree Suites Hilton

Wyndham Gardens Lake Buena Vista

Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista

Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace

B Resort & Spa Lake Buena Vista

Wyndham Lake Buena Vista

16. If You Do Stay on Property, Use a Value Resort

But if those Disney perks are just too tempting, then book your room at a value resort. The All-Star hotels, Pop Century and Art of Animation can be 2-3 times cheaper than rooms at more prominent resorts like the Contemporary or Polynesian.

And you know you’re not going to be in your room that much anyway. Save some cash and enjoy the same Extra Magic Hours with those who are pay $500+ a night! (ouch)

17. Try Camping

Did you know Disney has a campground? It’s very close to the Magic Kingdom, and it is even cheaper than a hotel! Fort Wilderness Campground is located on Bay Lake and has its own water taxi to take you to the Magic Kingdom.

And even though it’s camping, it’s Disney…so it’s spotless, comfortable and full of amenities. The only drawback is that it’s hard to get a reservation. With all these advantages, you shouldn’t be surprised! Reservations (like all Disney accommodations) can be made 499 days out, so mark your calendar and go for it.

The Princess’s Guide: Fort Wilderness feels like a vacation away from your vacation. You can come home to your tent, RV or cabin each night, nestled in the woods, and feel like you can truly relax. You may be tempted to rent one of their zippy golf carts, though, to get from your site to the pool, etc.!

Miscellaneous Tips

Bonus tip time!

18. Use the Magical Express Shuttle from Orlando Airport

If you’re arriving at the Orlando International Airport and staying at a Disney hotel, skip the rental car and use the Magical Express Shuttle.

You must schedule your arrival with your resort, so the shuttle will know to save you a seat.

19. Save $$ on Stroller Rentals

I am always amazed at the number of strollers stashed around the parks. Seriously, some workers spend their days organizing strollers and helping people find which one is theirs! But if you need to rent one at the park, it’s going to cost you about $15 per day.

If you are traveling without a stroller and will be at the park for more than one day, it’s better to purchase a cheapo umbrella stroller on Amazon and send it to your hotel. Call ahead to let them know, but hotels generally keep packages for arriving guests for several days.

20. Don’t Buy Ponchos or Other Random Items

Ok, so I may be saying this from experience (and possibly multiple experiences), but try to bring all necessary items from home so, you don’t have to buy them in the parks. Where they are more expensive.

Items such as sunglasses, hats, sunscreen, or those ubiquitous Disney ponchos that pop up every time it rains. (Which is kind of a lot in the summer!)

Make a list and check it off before you head out to the door to the park. If you’re staying off property, you can stop at a CVS anywhere to pick up these necessities for cheap. You are not the only tourist stopping in to grab one of these items.

I hope you have a memorable and (slightly less) expensive trip to Disney World! What are your favorite tips on saving money at the parks? Share in the comments below!

Due to Covid-19, the Walt Disney World resort is open but not operating as usual. Be sure to check out the latest official Disney info before heading to the parks.