A Disney World vacation doesn’t have to be big and expensive. I’m sharing all my money saving hacks you can use to plan your Disney vacation without going into debt. I believe a Disney vacation can be financially possible for anyone with a little creativity. It’s possible to scale down a trip to Disney so it fits within your means!
Disney on a Dime
I come from a long line of Disney lovers. My childhood was sprinkled with a healthy dose of Disney animated classics and visits to Walt Disney World. Now, with a family of my own, my husband and I absolutely love watching our kid’s faces light up when we tell them we’re going on a Disney World vacation! Nothing beats the fuzzy feeling you get while watching your little boy run with open arms toward Mickey Mouse at Epcot or your daughter gasp in amazement at Cinderella’s castle at the Magic Kingdom. We’ve done it plenty of times over the years, and I’ve been asked on numerous occasions how we’ve done it on a budget. So here it is, everything I can think to write about saving money on a Disney vacation!
When to Go
We always shoot for the off-season as opposed to peak times. Crowds and costs are both lower during these times.
Start by checking a crowd calendar like this one: Undercover Tourist Crowd Calendar
If staying at a Disney Resort, they will tell you right on the resort page when their “value season” is. See this link for example: all-star-movies-resort/rates-rooms
UPDATE: I don’t think there really is such a thing as a value season anymore, but there are definitely days when rates are cheaper. I just double-checked and found rates as low as $113 a night.
We have historically gone somewhere between mid February to mid March. Of course, the weather can be unpredictable that time of year. Florida averages in the low 70’s during January and February, which is still an upgrade from snowy Michigan!
I understand that not everyone can get away during the off times. School and work schedules can complicate things. If at all possible, make it work.
UPDATE: In recent years, the idea of an off-season has become less and less of a reality. January through February and early September are still generally lower crowd levels, but not nearly as low as they used to be.
Read: How to Plan a Disney Vacation for Under $1,500
Creative Budgeting
When we first started taking our kids to Disney World, we were a family of 5 living on $30,000 a year. Our family has grown now to 7 and our financial situation has changed a little, but we still live pretty tight.
Many times, our trips are fairly spontaneous and based on deals that come up or flash sales on ticket prices. Sometimes our trips are based around areas where we have family or friends who are willing to let us stay with them, borrow a guest house or rent a cabin at a discounted rate.
There is a growing trend in today’s economy, to tack on vacation days to business trips, making them dual purpose. We do that at times too. If my husband has a conference to attend, we will save on gas by tagging along and spend an extra day as a family doing something fun.
Our budget for vacations has always been summed up in a phrase: As cheap as possible
We have always made the habit of setting a monthly amount aside for vacations, and when we receive an unexpected amount as a gift or a bonus, we put into our vacation fund.
When times are tight, we have come up with money by selling things on Facebook Marketplace or picking up a side job. I sold a gold necklace from an old boyfriend one time, we’ve also sold guitars, baby items, furniture, books, toys, etc. We’ve also cashed in credit and debit card reward points for gift cards that can be used on the trip. It might take a little bit of creativity, but there are lots of ways to fund a vacation.
You may want to check out my post on creative ways to save for a Disney Vacation: HERE
Getting There
There are obviously different ways to get to Florida, and choosing the one that is right for you will be dependent on several factors:
- How far of a drive are you from Walt Disney World in Florida?
- Are you closer to Disneyland in California?
- Do you have a major airport nearby that offers reasonably priced flights?
Option #1: Driving
From Michigan, the drive to Florida is about 19 hours without stops. AAA’s Fuel Cost Calculator currently estimates this round-trip to cost us around $560.00 in our Traverse.
If you’re going to drive, calculate the following:
- cost of fuel
- one night at a hotel (unless you want to drive straight through – which we’ve done and vowed we’d never do it again!)
- cost of meals while on the road
Once you have a good handle on the cost of driving, you can weigh it out against the option of flying.
If you plan on driving and stopping for the night, don’t book a hotel in advance because you never know how far you’ll actually want to push yourself. Grab up a discount hotel book from the nearest rest stop along your route and call ahead to verify vacancy. Plan ahead by packing a small hotel bag within easy reach, rather than take all your luggage in. Keeping things to a minimal also lowers your chances of picking up hitchhikers (aka bed bugs).
Go with plenty of snacks, movies and activities for the kids. Don’t push yourself to the point of exhaustion, remember to enjoy the journey!
Read: Traveling with Kids without Losing Your Mind
Driving Pros and Cons
Here’s a little summary of the pros and cons I like to weigh out before making a decision.
Pro: You’ll have your own vehicle to get around in
Con: It can be an insanely far drive depending on where you live
Pro: You can fit more luggage with no risk of an airline losing it
Con: Gas prices can be expensive
Pro: You can pack more of your own food to save money
Con: You may have to factor in the extra cost of a hotel and food on the way there
Pro: You won’t have to rely on public transportation which can take longer
Driving Straight Through
One year, we went to Florida with friends and challenged ourselves to get there and back by spending the littlest amount of money possible. We drove straight through the night to cut out the hotel cost and packed coolers full of food and never once paid for a meal. It was insane, and I don’t recommend it, but it is possible!
Option #2: Flying
Ticket prices can fluctuate and will vary depending on your closest airport. We have flown Spirit Airlines for years, which has always been our cheapest option. Back in the day, we would fly quite frequently for $20 a person, round trip. Today a good price is closer to $100 a person round trip.
If you’re going to fly, factor in the following things:
- Will I need to rent a car while there?
- Do I need to pay extra for checked bags or a carry-on?
- Will I need to pay to park my car at the airport?
If you’re staying at a Disney resort, remember that Disney no longer provides free transportation on the Magical Express. You will need to arrange for transportation to your resort, but once you are there, transportation around the Disney resort is free. Some people would rather have their own car. We have found that car rentals through Costco are the cheapest option!
How to Find Cheap Flights
When checking for the lowest airfare, you can start with some of the usual places: expedia.com, hotwire.com, orbitz.com, delta.com, southwestair.com, etc. Or, take my tip and go straight to Spiritair.com or even better, utilize Google Flights to compare prices across all airlines (note, Google flights do not include Southwest Airlines).
When making the decision to fly, we always start by checking the list of airlines flying out non-stop. Making stops or changing planes is basically not an option for us with 5 kids and a tendency to get motion sick! Spirit and Delta are some of the only airlines with non-stop flights from Detroit to Orlando, so we start by frequenting their sites (and when I say frequent, I mean checking in daily!).
Airlines can run deals and promotions at any moment’s notice – Spirit has been known to offer some crazy good deals, especially to “$9 Fare Club” members, which is totally worth the cost of membership if you know you will be utilizing it.
Tip: Tuesday is generally the cheapest day of the week to book flights! Never book on a weekend!
Watch for Hidden Fees
Spirit wont end up being any cheaper than Delta if you end up paying out big bucks for all your checked bags and carry-on’s. The key is to pack light!
Tip: Pack everything you think you need – then cut out at least half of it!
Use the biggest bag possible and pack everything for the whole family in that one bag. Stay up-to-date on air travel policies, carry-on restrictions (liquids and gels), and what special policies apply to travel with small children and infants. Children fly free under the age of 2 if they are sitting in your lap (sometimes a baby carrier or wrap like this makes this easier – but they may make you remove it during takeoff and landing).
Strollers and infant carriers can be checked right at the entrance to the plane (for free) and will be waiting for you when you get off. If you really want to carry a car seat onto the plane (because you need it for a car ride at your destination), it has to be up to airline codes, otherwise, children are not required to sit in them. Disney buses and shuttles do not have infant or children seats (and actually, they don’t even allow them!).
When we fly and stay at a Disney resort, we check one big bag (stuffed to the maximum weight capacity) and carry-on as little as possible. We take one small stroller for the baby, which gets checked plane side and no car seats.
Follow Sarah {All Things with Purpose}’s board Destination Disney on Pinterest.
Where to Stay
Unless you have relatives in the area and plan on staying with them (which is obviously the cheapest option and one that we’ve enjoyed on numerous occasions!), you’ll be looking into hotels or condo/home rental in the area, camping or a Disney Value Resort.
Vacation Home Rentals
If an off-site hotel doesn’t sound appealing, you may want to consider renting a home off-site in the Orlando. Here are a few sites you should check out for vacation home rentals in the Disney area:
Disney’s Campground
If your family has outgrown rooms at the value resorts, you should try camping! We love Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground! Find my complete review here: Fort Wilderness Campground
Bring your own camper or tent. You can also rent RV’s from Disney or an outside company! Check out these options for the one that fits your budget. For a large family, this may be a better option than a pricey hotel room.
Other Campgrounds
If Disney’s Fort Wilderness Campground is out of your budge, consider another nearby campground!
Disney Value Resorts
We have thoroughly enjoyed staying at Disney’s All Star Movie Resort which is part of the Disney value class of hotels. My husband has attended a conference in Orlando for years now, and what we discovered was that the All Star Movie Resort’s price per night was actually cheaper than the hotels that the conference was recommending he stay at! So, our family has tagged along for the ride and enjoys time at the resort while daddy is away at the conference.
Like any of the moderate or deluxe Disney hotels, your stay at a Disney Value Resort includes the complimentary shuttle service from the airport to the hotel. This has made it possible for us to fly, without spending any money on car rental.
Once at your resort, you can also hop on a Disney bus to any of the other resorts, Disney Springs, and any of the theme parks that are owned by Disney. My husband and his parents, who have stayed at some of the most expensive Disney resorts over the years, have all been very impressed with the value resorts.
Prices fluctuate a little bit based on the season. By going late February or early March we have paid as little as $70 a night and no more than $90. I have seen the price go much higher during peak season. By checking in on the same day as my grandparents, we were able to get a Florida residents rate (just by having them with us) that dropped our price down considerably.
Keep an eye on Disney’s site for Special Offers on hotels and dates that are less expensive
Disney does some very nice package deals that include meals, tickets, hotel stay, etc. We have never used these deals because we figured we could still spend less by coming up with our own meals vs. using their meal plan for 3 meals a day. Watch their promotions, however, because there have been times they’ve advertised adding on free meal plans, etc. to your hotel reservation.
Off-Site Hotels
There are a number of hotels in the Orlando or Lake Buena Vista area, many with great prices, free breakfast or their own shuttle services into the Disney Parks. There are a few nearby that have pretty awesome pool areas of their own, like this one: Holiday Inn Resort Orlando
Non-Disney Hotels Located on Disney Property
Did you know there are a few hotel options that are technically on Disney property, but not owned by Disney? These hotels are located throughout the Disney resort area, but the best value options are located specifically near Disney Springs. These hotels are priced as a package that includes park tickets. A Disney value hotel may be less expensive.
Are Meal Plans Worth it?
Update: Meal plans are not currently being offered.
We don’t usually use the meal plans because we’ve always figured we could eat cheaper without it. Many times, my grandparents that live in Florida have joined us at a resort with a cooler full of food. That obviously helps! If you have flown in and don’t have a car to do grocery shopping, there are grocery delivery services available such as: Garden Grocer and Shipt.
My advice is to add up how much you think you would need to eat on your own, and compare it to the price of the meal plan. My kid are all very small eaters, so a meal plan just didn’t make sense for us. Many times, I have packed as much non-perishable food in our suitcase as I can get away with! There are plenty of options you could pack in your checked luggage, including almond or coconut milk that is shelf-stable. I even have a bread loaf container to keep bread safe.
We plan on eating some meals at the quick-service restaurant and splurge on some character dining as well. We will split some of our meals, share with the kids and eat others from our suitcase, so I think we will still end up spending less. I think it all comes down to how you are used to eating as a family and how cheap you really want to be. For some great advice, check out The Disney Food Blog
Why We Love Value Resorts
Our favorite Disney value resorts are:
- All Star Movies (because of the Toy Story theme and refurbished rooms)
- Pop Century (because of it’s refurbished rooms and proximity to the Skyliner)
- Art of Animation
Here are all the reasons we love Disney Value Resorts:
- Free transportation to and from parks.
- You get the same Disney perks and service as you would at a more pricey Disney resort.
- Large pools and kiddie pools for kids of all ages. There are plenty of lounge chairs and tables with umbrellas near by – we sat here many days while the kids swam, and ate our peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for lunch!
- Cafeteria-style food court. We ate one meal a day here and were able to split 2 adult size meals or a large pizza between the 7 of us, which allowed us to spend only $20.
- The refillable cups – which are expensive at first (around $14) but we only bought 2 and refill them endlessly for the whole family during our entire stay. This would be our coffee in the morning, pop, water and tea all day long. They can be used at any of the Disney resorts (but not the theme parks unfortunately), so when we visited Animal Kingdom Lodge one night for dinner, we took the cups!
- Most rooms include a mini-refrigerator which makes bringing your own food along much easier.
- The whole place is so much fun, our kids would have been content to just stay there and do other free things in the area without paying money to actually go into the parks. You get the real feel of Disney World just by staying there.
- The staff is very friendly and accommodating – they will do everything in their power to give you an enjoyable stay.
- There are connecting rooms available – which can be requested and guaranteed when traveling with kids.
- There is a decent size arcade/game room and good size Disney store on the grounds.
- Rooms are kept very clean and the housekeeping service is very nice! If housekeeping isn’t too busy, they do a fabulous job of adding magical touches. One lady used all the toys in our room to create a window display. It was such a fun greeting when we returned! There are always cute little animals or Mickeys formed out of the towels. UPDATE: In recent years this has become less common.
- Pack and Plays are available, so that is one less thing to have to bring with you!
- Disney tickets can be purchased right at the front desk and added right onto your magic band.
- Each park has a day of the week that offers “extra magic hours” for those staying at a Disney resort. This could add an extra hour onto the beginning or end of your day in the park.
- On certain nights, Cartoons are shown on a big screen down by the pool.
- They have a very nice playground with sand, right next to the kids pool.
- They have a very nice laundry facility which makes packing light all that easier. This is located right next to the kids pool.
Tips
Here are a few extra things to keep in mind:
- There are 3 All-Star Resorts: Movies, Music and Sports. All 3 are located side by side and are in walking distance of each other.
- Pop Century and Art of Animation are connected by a bridge and a Skyliner station. You can easily walk between these two resorts and utilize their pools.
- For a change of pace, we hopped on a shuttle and ate dinner one night at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. We ate for the same price we had been paying at our resort, but got a change of scenery. The Animal Kingdom Lodge comes highly recommended by us as well (to visit for free!).
- Standard rooms allow up to 4 adults and one infant under 2. When booking online, you cannot include a 5th person, but you may be able to add them later over the phone.
- When using Disney transportation, plan on it taking a full hour from the park to the resort. This is the one draw back, but still a really nice perk.
- We always pay an $10 extra a night to be in a preferred room. This guarantees a spot in one of the 3 closest buildings to the pool and cafeteria. At All-Star Movies, the three preferred buildings include the Toy Story building, Fantasia and 101 Dalmatians. There is no map of the grounds for this resort, but you can visit googlemaps.com and look up Disney All-Star Movies Resort to find maps and more pictures than Disney even has on their site.
One Last Money Saving Tip!
Kids will inevitably see all kinds of things at the Disney resort and inside the theme parks that they want. Rather than spend big bucks there, I like going prepared with our own special Disney toys! Shop around ahead of time for deals. We take our own Disney toys, all the makings for a princess outfit including dress, crown, “pixy dust” and jewelry, Disney pool toys, floaties, and Mickey ears! Our kids have warn the same Mickey and Minnie hooded sweatshirts that Grandma bought, for the past 3 trips! We still get inquiries about them while there, and we have to say – sorry, they’re from Walmart in New Jersey!
Pin-It for Later!!
But wait, there’s more!! Disney on a Dime (Part 2)
- FREE Things to Do at Disney
- Disney Theme Park Tickets
- Theme Park Comparisons and Tips
- Visiting with Young Children
Anne
I’m sort of alarmed that you make so little money, and have so many children and the only money you have left to spend, you spend it on an expensive Disney vacation.
Sarah Lemp
Anne, since you have been so bold to write a rather harsh comment, let me share a few bits of info you may have missed…
When I wrote this post, we had 3 kids. Since then, our family has grown through foster care and adoption and our income situation has changed considerably. My point in writing this post was to challenge the perspective on Disney vacations. I believe a Disney vacation can be within reason for every family, regardless of income! A Disney vacation doesn’t have to be expensive. There are ways to do it inexpensively (many of which I share in this post) so that every child has a chance to experience some Disney magic. When our first child was born, we stayed with family members in Florida, went for free rides on the monorail and visited the Downtown Disney area for free. The next year, we had a relative that worked for Disney who got us in to a park for free. In years to come, we have saved money and done things very inexpensively without all the extra add-ons and frills. We stay with family, buy 1 day tickets and eat PB&J. I believe there is so much value in family vacations and traveling with your kids when they are young. A trip doesn’t have to be elaborate or expensive to make lasting memories. Every family has their own set of values and areas they spend extra money. 10 years ago, our family of 5 chose to go without cable, own 1 car, wear hand-me-downs and skip the drive thru so we could afford a 1 day ticket into Disney World. I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat!
Deb
Loved your kind reply to a very rude comment about your income and choice of vacation! I commend you on being able to budget to give you the high quality of life (a vacation), amazing. One thing my now adult daughters talk about their Disney vacation was when they’d arrive back to the hotel after each park day, there would be a little gift from Mikey Mouse, all wrapped up for them! I simply bought dollar store items with Disney, beach or princess themes before we left and packed them in the suitcase, all pre-wrapped! So cheap & so exciting for them! :)
Sarah
These are all good tips. Once your kids get older the expense will go up considerably. My kids are all ages 10 and older so we have to buy adult tickets for all. This year, 3 day tickets, non park hopper will run $1500 for our family of five. I prefer to stay on site and there are only so many hotels that offer rooms for five that are not really expensive. So we are staying at the campground and renting a camping trailer from an off site company that brings it on for you, sets it up, and includes all linens, dishes etc. This way we can cook a few meals, and have room to spread out on the campsite. My older children are also old enough to explore the campground on their own. Campsite, trailer, and tickets was @$3500.00. We figure about another $1500 for gas, hotel one night on the way there and food in parks etc. Obviously this isn’t on the super cheap, but we only go to Disney about every 4-5 years and our other vacations are usually less exspensive beach vacations.
Honalee
I am so glad how you answered this. We have a large family and always vacation on a budget. My older children say they never know we was not rich bc they was able to do so much. I thank God for blessing us with so many wonderful memories.
Anne
Great tips, we are getting ready to go in October. We are very fortunate that we get to fly for free. We use Southwest so bags are also free. l will be packing my husband and l in one bag and one entirely of food. We are renting a double stroller from a company that will be cheaper than the parks, having food delivered will have no delivery charge because they are through the same company. l got my daughter a $5 princess dress from a thrift store and plan of grabbing her some extra princess gear. Both kids have enough Disney gear for the week and am planning on bringing anything Disney we have in the house so hopefully they will ask for less goodies because they already have stuff in hand.
Ashley
I have never been to Disney but am planning to go next year. I did however, just return from Universal Studios and as far as groceries and exras I noticed that there are plenty of grocery stores, Walmart, Target and even a few Dollar Trees which are personally a favorite of mine!!! Also using sites like swagbucks and different apps throughout the time leading up to your trip you can get different gift cards and some even pay you through PayPal which you can use to book most flights, hotels, ect!!! =)
April
I appreciate your post, especially the stuff about working on their attitude and such before hand and how to behave well.
Unfortunately the budget tips weren’t helpful enough for this family of six living on $30,000.
L
We have visited Disney on a budget quite a few times on a low, 1 income household. Some of the tips that I have. We always stay at a timeshare resort which we get through skyauction.com. Usually we can stay in at least a 1 bedroom unit that has a full kitchen, washer and dryer in unit, and the resorts are always very, very nice. Usually we pay around $300-400 for the entire week.
Since we have a full kitchen, before we leave home I carefully plan the weeks meals. When we get there we go to a grocery store and I get everything for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We do plan on eating out a few times, but you can save hundreds of dollars by not eating out. I have never had a problem taking food into Disney.
Also, we homeschool our kids and each year Disney has homeschool days. This is usually in January. You can get very discounted tickets, along with special activities. This saves us A LOT of money as well.
With doing the above mentioned things we have always been able to visit Disney with 3 children for a total of around $1500 for everything for the entire 10 day trip. I hope this helps someone.
Sarah Lemp
Thank you for the tips!! We homeschool, yet I have never heard of a homeschool discount day!!
Rosie
When my sister and I were older than your kids – about ten – our parents started giving us a small allowance on trips with which to buy our souvenirs. That way it was our choice, and if we wanted to buy anything outside of that budget, it came from our own money (weekly allowance & birthday gifts). Just an idea for the future :)
Rebecca
Could you explain the $9 fare from SpriritAir? I tried joining the $9 fare club and booking a flight that it SAID had $9 fare club seats but, then it charged me $400 PLUS the $9 seat. When I checked Orbitz, I could actually book the same flight cheaper through them than I could using the supposed $9 fare. How has this worked for you in the past? Am I missing something?
Sarah Lemp
Rebecca,
Spirit still calls it the $9 fare club – even though they currently may not be offering any flights for $9. Sometimes they DO have $9 flights though to select locations, you just have to stay on the lookout. In our experience, they still have the cheapest price (and being a $9 club member does earn you an extra discount), as long as you don’t have to check a bag or even take a carry on since they charge you extra for those. We almost always fly Spirit because it usually ends up being cheaper… unless we find a great promo on a credit card for example – a few years ago we did one through Delta that earned us tons of bonus points plus free checked bags every time you use it. It probably depends on where you’re flying out from. We happen to have a large Spirit base out of Detroit and we fly nonstop to Orlando, but not all airports will have that option. Hope that helps!
room offers
Useful info. Lucky me I found your site by chance, and I’m
surprised why this accident didn’t took place in advance!
I bookmarked it.
Kelly
Check with Disney to see if they are giving free dining with your stay. Even with a value resort, you can get a free quick service meal plan. We got it free one year, and have gotten it ever since. Either free or paying for it, we love it.
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Kristin
How awesome is this review! Really the first that I have read where the person writing truly sounded like they knew what they were talking about, not to mention the meaning of “on a budget.” We float in such similar boats, it’s almost scary. Thank you so much for the wonderful tips and I will be reading the updates or more recent reviews soon.
Heather
Thank you for your tips! I plan on applying a few of them towards our Disneyland vacation next year! I tried clicking on your link for your next set of tips and it said I needed an invitation?
Sarah Lemp
Heather, that is odd… hmmm, here is another link to try! Sorry about that! https://www.allthingswithpurpose.com/2012/04/disney-on-dime-part-2/
polly plum
Also, keep in mind you don’t have to stay in Orlandoproper to be close to the parks- look on a map ahead of time. We often stay in Lake Buena Vista orKissimmee. the hotel’s site will say how close they are to the parks.
polly plum
bring a small, insulated lunchbag in your biggest purse, to bring bottles of water , fruit, for snacks.Get to the park as early in the AM as you can, and stay til the parades or fireworks are over, which is free entertainment for the kids. One idea that saves time and stress, but not $: instead of having kids beg for souvenirs, we buy ‘Disney dollars'( basically disney giftcards) at our local Disney store before the trip( maybe $10-15/kid)and give it to them to choose ONE memento/souvenir, also, take lots of pictures- there are TONS of good photo spots- during the trip, buy a small album and/or frame for each child at the $ tree( my fave dollar store) so they can have photos of the trip, since you won’t be buying tons of souvenirs.***Do lots of research online ahead of time!Yrs ago, there was a hotel(initials are H.I.that gave free buffet bkfst( for every guest) and free dinner for kids( limited menu for kids, so we made sure to gt back to the hotel for dinner each night. many hotels have free movie/game nights, which help keeps the kidsfeel in ‘ vacation mode’- they have so much fun that they don’t realize you’re taking the ‘frugal route!:)
polly plum
CanI add my 2 cents?As FL residents, there are perks- a few times/yr there are ‘ buy 2 days, stay for 3’types of offers. We have found some cheaper ways to go to Disney with 5 kid so that we’ve been able to go for a weekend or long weekend almost every year:):1. don’t go during summer if you can avoid it! hot as heck, every school in the country is off, so extremely crowded, long lines at rides and restaurants If you have AAA, before, not at the park.
2.stay at a hotel off-site, not on property- cheaper, and we always rent a condo or timeshare with a kitchen, so we don’t have to eat out every meal.
Disney vacation club member benefits
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Kimberly Silver
Such a great, helpful article! thanks for sharing. Cape Canaveral
Diana - FreeStyleMama
Pinned as we are going next year!
Anonymous
We love to go to Disney and my husband & brother do extensive research. We have never done the Dining Plan and after doing our math, we have come to the conclusion that it just isn’t worth it. We normally eat at Disney, but it is still cheaper for us to buy it on our own than with the Dining Plan. Many have said, “But what if you get the free dining plan”? It is actually a better deal to use the discounted resort stays, which Disney is known to have (you cannot combine the discounted resort and the free dining plan). This year, we have gone with renting points from a DVC member. We are staying at a Deluxe Disney resort (Beach Club) at a pretty great rate. We suggest getting tickets from Undercovertourist.com…a legitimate site that is recommended by Disney guru’s. We usually get discounted tickets through my husband’s work, but have heard many great things about undercover tourist. Oh, and the quick service places at Disney parks offer free water if you ask. You don’t even have to purchase anything. We have, also, taken our own water bottles and packets of Kool-Aid or any other flavoring packs or drops. Just fill them up at any drinking fountain. We like to carry our own snacks, too.
Anonymous
Thanks. Basically I was just wondering if we could wander around downtown Disney and the resorts even if we weren’t staying in one of the resorts. I was looking at all of your suggestions of free stuff to do and lots were at resorts and I was curious if we could do those, too.
Anonymous
one of the greatest things to do at disney is to resort hop and check out the different themes of each resort, it is free and you don’t have to be staying at one of the resorts to enjoy it. It is even fun to do a little research on each one and have a different exotic treat, each resort has a totally different feel and I believe all have the “food court” that offers some treats from the more expensive restaurants for a small snack size fee.
Deborah
That’s what my husband and I started doing a few years back. Especially early December when everything is decorated for Christmas you go from hotel to hotel looking at the decorations.
Anonymous
We are going to Disney in Oct. With 3 kids (the youngest will be 8mo) we got a condo so the kids can have separate rooms. Can we still go to downtown Disney and wall around for free and walk around the Disney resorts?
Sarah Lemp
I am trying to figure out exactly what you are asking – but the simple answer is yes! Downtown Disney is always free and open to the public, no matter where you are staying. Of course there are things to do there that could cost you money, as well as free things to do and see, but anyone can go during their open hours.
Anonymous
We are a few years away from our Disney vacation, but I’ve started planning so we can figure out a ballpark number to save for. I love some of your very helpful tips here. You’ve got me sold on the all star resorts. I didn’t realize Disney had resorts that were comparable in price to regular hotels, and so worth it because of the perks of staying on site! We will have to evaluate the driving/flying question when it comes time to see which will be cheaper, though I’m leaning towards flying for the convenience alone. Thanks so much for this post!
starryslippers
Very inspirational! We love Disney too, our flights are crazy prices from UK. but I love to get a bargain when I can. keep up the good work and enjoy!
Anonymous
Garden Grocer charges $14 and you have to buy a minimum of $40 worth of groceries. We brought cereal/pop tarts in our suitcase (as well as chips and snacks), and then just bought a half gallon of milk from the marketplace for about $3.50. It lasted us the week.
Dave Shute
Hi Sara! It’s Dave from yourfirstvisit.net. I just wanted to thank you for the link–and to note that more than 1,500 people have come to my site from this page! Thanks :)
Danielle Reeves
Such a great, helpful article! We aren’t going to Disney World for several years (haven’t ever been, but it’s going to be our family reward when we pay off all our debt), so I’ve got this bookmarked so I can read it again later. Thank you so very much for sharing!!!
Elena
Wonderful hints! The fridges are now standard in every Disney Resort room. Grocery delivery is available for a small fee from a couple places. (We’ve used Wegoshop for the past several years and have heard great things about Gardengrocer as well. We use them to deliver cases of water, and a few perishable/ crushable items like milk, bread, fresh fruit…we pack PB & J, small cereal boxes, canned snacks, candy, etc in our checked bags – Southwest offers 2 checked bags for free per ticketed passenger, and participate as a preferred airline, which means you can curbside check in your bags AT YOUR RESORT before getting on the free shuttle back to the airport) If you do get a meal plan (Even one that is FREE with a special) you now get a refillable resort mug for every person on the plan. If you stay at the All Star resorts, you can use any other All Star pool! This is not true for any other resort except for Port Orleans. Riverside and French Quarter allow “pool hopping”, POR is a moderate resort that sleeps 5 (or 6 if one is a child under the age of 3). Speaking of ages…Any child under 3 at arrival is considered an “Infant” and is not charged. A child that is 3-9 on the first day of vacation is priced as a child and any child 10 and over is considered an adult. Yes, this does mean that you can celebrate a birthday in WDW, but still be charged the cheaper fees the entire trip! FInally, working with a Disney Vacation Specialist is always a great idea, and if you book directly through them, there should be no charge for their services! A good specialist will watch your dates for the best deal, alert you to deadlines, offer suggestions on activities that are sometimes free, but most people don’t even know about (FREE outdoor movies, fireworks on the beach, archery lessons, or campfire smores, anyone?) and can even work on time saving itineraries so you are not standing in long lines in the heat! Anyway, its so nice to read an article about everyday, practical advice that doesn’t break any moral laws LOL! Great job!!
Sarah Lemp
This is great advice! Thank you! I will be directing others to the services you have mentioned :)
Nicole
Thanks, Elena. I will for sure have to remember the grocery delivery service!
Anonymous
I was just wondering were you able to account for the toll cost before your family left on the road trip down to Florida? My dad and I are currently attempting to plan everything out now and we’re not entirely sure how to do so. Thank you!
Sarah Lemp
I am sorry that I cannot remember a specific cost that we would have reached. It will be so different for each situation though. I’d encourage you to calculate the fuel costs with a fuel cost estimator like the one found here: http://fuelcostcalculator.aaa.com/ then add up hotel stays on the way down and while there. Will you be buying food along the way or packing a cooler? Will you purchase a Disney meal plan or add up the cost of meals while there? You can estimate costs for sure. Depending on where we’ve stayed, we’ve spent anywhere from $500 to $2,000 – but never more than that! Hope that helps :)
Anna Callaway
I have tried looking on hotwire.com for a hotel but I don’t know the area enough. there are rooms that say they are in the lake buena Vista – downtown Disney area and also the Disney main gate area. would those happen to be on resorts with free transportation?
Sarah Lemp
Great question, Anna! The only hotels that offer the free Disney transportation are Disney owned hotels. Other hotels may also offer free shuttles, but you would have to check with them directly. I think Hotwire would be a tricky site to go through, as they don’t show you the names of the hotels, so you don’t know what you’re getting into. Expedia.com on the other hand, does offer discounted rates to Disney owned hotels. I’d check there! I hope you have success finding a great deal!!
Anna Callaway
Thanks so much for the help! I will have to check Expedia. After I asked I just googled hotels with free disney transportation and it took me to some pretty good deals with some pretty cool activities that they offer. One of the best ones was Holiday Inn Resort. It said it was a “neighboring resort” and had free transportation and if you booked 2 nights you get a third one free for the same trip. I think I almost have my husband convinced thanks to your post! :)
Lynell Firebaugh
Only if it is a Disney Resort hotel or specifically says Disney transportation offered. However, we stayed at in Lake Buena Vista a couple of times that offered transportation to and from and found it clean, comfortable and timely. One thing you don’t want is to spend an hour or more waiting for transportation to the park it eats into your park time and coming back you and kids are exhausted.
Nicole
Found this on Pinterest. Bu far the BEST money saving info I have found. Practical stuff. I do have one question. I love the idea of storing food in the mini fridge (I found out that they do all have one now) but I think we would be flying. Is there a place close to buy to purchase groceries or did you pack them with you? Or maybe only had them when you drove? I am hoping to go next year and am starting to save. Living in AZ growing up, I remember many Disneyland trips as a kid. I would love to take my son to Disneyland, but now that we live in PA, Disney World just makes more sense, so I am ready to try it out. Thanks again!!!
Sarah Lemp
Thank you so much for the kind words! Great question. When we drove, we obviously had a car to drive to a nearby grocery store. When we’ve flown, my grandparents that live near by were able to bring us food. What I can tell you, is that the food court there at the resort does sell loaves of bread, milk, etc. but at a higher than normal price. I’ve thought many times that if my grandparents were not there, I could always try packing dry goods in a suitcase and carry a loaf of bread in my purse! I’d pack cereal, pop tarts, peanut butter and jelly, etc. You can’t carry-on any liquids, so it kind of rules out a cooler full of dairy with ice, etc. I’d lower myself to purchasing milk there on the premises. Sorry I can’t give you a specific answer, but I’d check google maps, trip advisor, or the Disney mom panel: http://disneyworldforum.disney.go.com/ for ideas! I hope that helps! :)
Sarah Lemp
Check out the response Elena posted (down a few comments) – she mentions a couple grocery delivery services they have used! Good stuff :)
Nicole
Thanks!
Nicole
We Are Bringing Some Shelf STable Milk With Us On OUr Upcoming Disney Vacation.I’ve Been Buying ItFor A Few Weeks Now To Get The Kids Use To It.They Seem To Like It.I Honestly Don’t Think They Know TheDifference.But Its Cheaper Then Buying Milk There And Doesn’t Have To Be Refrigerated Till Its Opened.
Sarah Lemp
Thanks for the update, Nicole! What a great idea!
Lynell Firebaugh
If you are driving, there are grocers outside of the Disney Park and as noted there are grocers who will deliver to the park, but you have to be in the room to accept the delivery so that ties up your time in the park.
polly plum
If you have AAA,I think you can get a driving map on the website or at their office/store that gives driving directions,mileage, bathroom stops, tolls, road construction updates, etc.Look up grocery stores on the web before you go- the FL supermarket chain is Publix, but walmart and target also have groceries.look for addresses before you go.
Ashli
Great list! We love Disney and go about every 12-18 months. I’m fairly certain that age 3 is the cutoff for the smallest in the room, it’s a fire code thing. :( Once you have to start paying for their admission, you have to have a ‘legal’ room. Thanks for sharing!
Sarah Lemp
Thanks for the tip Ashli! And thanks for reading :)
Melanie Robinson
I will be back to really check out this post. We are wanting to take our very first trip to Disney within the next year and would like to know all the ways to save money.
anne
Planning ahead of vacation is the best to do. But if you don’t want any hassles avail the Stroller Rental in Orlando
Geoff Silve
Planning ahead is right! Not to mention, there are all sorts of awesome resources online to get good prices to Disney. All you’ve got to do is be a little google savvy. Anyone can find great prices if they look, and that can make it easier to have extra money to buy souvenirs and ice cream ^_^
You guys recommend keeping an eye on Disney’s special offers! That’s definitely a good idea.
I found this pretty helpful when I needed the cheapest tickets possible for my Disney trip: http://quickvacation.net/
Jennifer Davis
Thanks for the great tips!! I too, am a mother of three! We just returned from our 2nd Disney trip this past October and I am already saving/planning for our next trip in Nov 2016. I sell on eBay and Craig’s list also, as we are on a fixed income with only my husband working . one question I have for you, your article stated Art of Animation has the cheapest suites. Did they recently lower their prices? We tried staying there and they wanted $296 a night. We ended up with a suite at All Star Music, which was amazing!! It was $224 a night. Was hoping you could let me know and maybe we could try AOA suites next time, if the price is right! Thanks!