Hi friends!
I am really excited to be writing this post because we recently booked our first Disney World vacation as a family of three! We won’t be going until next fall (after Willow turns two) but it is never too early to start planning. I am crazy like that.
I’ll be honest – we are on a tight budget these days, and it is no secret that Disney World is not cheap. BUT, this is what we save for. We save for family vacations and these moments that will make us memories to last a lifetime. It’s an investment for our happiness, really. AND with the right mindset and a couple tips and tricks, we save hundreds of dollars. If you would like to plan a budget-friendly trip to Disney World with your family, some of these tips might help.
Some of these tips are things we usually do when booking Disney trips and others are going to be new to us with Willow in tow, but regardless, I am so excited to save while still getting to experience Disney World with my daughter for the first time.
AND YES, I realize she will not remember this, but this is a trip for Joe and I’s memory. I can’t wait to see her reactions in the moment. She already loves Disney characters and songs, so I imagine it will just get better and better. Plus, we wanted to do this trip with just her before we have another baby. Two seems like the perfect age.
But onto the tips!
#1: Consider a Disney rewards credit card. I know this isn’t a tip for everyone, but personally, this has saved us hundreds of dollars. I’ve had a Chase Disney Credit Card for almost 10 years now and I use this card and this card only for ALL purchases. I do this because we go to Disney often and it racks up $1 for every $100 you spend. After not going for a bit, this usually adds up very fast (because I do not use cash… this card only). I don’t use cash because I’d rather get points and money back! By the time we go to Disney every couple of years, I will have a couple hundred Disney dollars to spend. You can use this towards the cost of hotel, food, Disney stores… anything related to Disney, really. It saves us hundreds when booking a hotel! For us, this is worth it. You’ll have to decide if it is worth it for your family, of course. But I had to say this tip, because it truly does make staying in Disney possible for us.
#2: Use Amazon Prime NOW for food. I am the most excited to try this when we go! If you are an Amazon Prime member, you can shop via Amazon Prime Now and have your groceries delivered right to your hotel in 2-hours. I’m planning on having my list ready to go the night before so that when we land in Florida, I can order and expect our food to be delivered within 2 hours.
The reason I am doing this is to have water, dry snacks, fresh fruit, cereal, soy milk, bread, peanut butter, and jelly. This way, we can make our own food versus spending in the parks! If we can eat most breakfasts in our hotel room (cereal, granola, etc.) and pack pb&j sandwiches for our lunches in the park along with cheap water, and tons of snacks, we will save so much money. I’d much rather spend money on dinner at some of Disney’s quick service or table service spots… but at least we are saving during the day. If you are an Amazon Prime member, I highly recommend this! It is very convenient.
The best way to visit other hotels without a car is to take a bus to the nearest park and then hop on a bus from there to the resort you’d like to visit. It’s a bit of traveling, but you can find some really fun things going on outside of parks! Still fun and you are saving money not buying park tickets for everyday.
#4: Choose a value resort. The value resorts are honestly very nice and well-kept. We’ve stayed at Pop Century, All-Stars Movies, and will be staying at the Art of Animation next year. These are budget-friendly compared to other hotels. They are worth checking out if you want to stay on Disney property (which I highly recommend).
#5: Go to one park per day – skip the park hopper. In order to slow it down a bit and save money, you may want to skip the park hopper option. If you are only there a few days, it may be worth it, but if you have the time, just stick to one park per day.
#6: Buy clothing and souvenirs outside of park. I honestly can’t wait to do this. Head to the Dollar Store for some Disney toys, coloring books, and glow sticks. After you’ve done that, try your local Kohls or Target to find some cheap Disney clothing. Pack all of this in your suitcase for your little one(s) and surprise them with new things everyday. It is much cheaper than buying gifts and souvenirs in the park. Be sure to also check out Amazon for some Mickey/Minnie ears and an autograph book!
#7: Utilize the FREE Disney Magical Express. Instead of spending the money to rent a car or take an uber, this is the way to go. It’s a free service that takes you from the airport to your hotel, and then back to the airport at the end of your stay. This is honestly my favorite free service ever. It’s such a nice ride (they play Disney movies/videos on the bus) and takes the stress out of traveling. Your luggage is also automatically delivered right to your room, so you don’t need to wait to pick it up before heading to bus!
#8: Go during off-peak times. Always plan on going during off-peak season for lower rates and a lighter crowd. You can find this information here.
#9: Plan ONE character meal. Don’t feel the need to go to ALL character meals. Just choose one – the one that has the characters that your kid(s) like the most. We are personally planning to do a character breakfast on the morning that we do not go to a park. There are a number of hotels that offer character dining, from ‘Ohana at the Polynesian to Cape May at the Beach Club resort. This way, there’s a bit of magic in the day with characters before heading back to hotel to swim/relax.
#10: Grab rain ponchos at the dollar store. This is a quick little tip, but it rains in Florida A LOT, and Disney is no exception. The ponchos in Disney will cost you over $10 per person. Instead, grab a bunch from your local Dollar Store. You’ll be happy you did.
#11: Skip the meal plan, unless it is free. I know this depends on your own situation and family, but I have found that the meal plan never really makes sense for us – especially since we will be making our own food at hotel a lot of the time. HOWEVER, sometimes Disney will offer free dining plans during certain time periods. If this is the case, you may want to reconsider!
#12: Rack up travel points for low airfare. Like the Chase card, this is also something you’ll have to consider for your own unique situation, but a credit card that racks up travel points for air fare is awesome. I have the Disney card and my husband has a Southwest card. By the time we’re ready to book airline tickets, we end up having enough points to cover the whole trip. To be honest, it may cost $20 or so in fees, but $20 for a round-trip to Disney World saves us – again – hundreds of dollars. If you or your family travel often, this is something to consider.
I hope you have found these tips helpful! I am planning on blogging about our Disney World plans, tips, vegan meals, etc. as much as I can once the time comes. Let me know in the comments if you are interested in these types of posts. I hope so, because I can’t wait to get writing.
Have a magical day! xx bianca
Great tips. Husband and I plan on going on my first Disney trip once our son is four or five!! He has been lots as a kid.
Thank you! That is so exciting! You are going to love it. xo