Careful planning will not only ensure a fabulous trip to Disney World but will save you hundreds of dollars as well, maybe even thousands. There are a lot of things to keep in mind when building your own budget for Disney World and we are going to go through them all.
I once had someone tell me they drop 10K every time they visit Disney. I could not believe this. We’ve never spent anywhere near that amount of money to visit. To me, 10K is heading to Asia on a two-week vacation not going to a theme park. Disney should easily come in under $3,000 and that’s even if you are not pinching your pennies.
The cheapest time of year to travel to Disney is the first week of December or the first week of January. Both are considered the low season and rates tend to be less.
Table of Contents
Set a Budget
When planning a trip to Walt Disney World resort, there are two separate budgets you need to make.
The first is for your trip package. This should include the basics that cannot be avoided. This includes your airfare, hotel, and park passes.
The second budget is how much your family will spend on food and souvenirs during your Disney vacation.
Here is a calculator you can use to determine your costs. Just scroll down and fill out all the lines. You will need to look up current ticket prices or use base ticket prices.
Consider A Disney Package
Orlando is a tourist hot spot, which means there are a myriad of bargain packages for airfare and hotel accommodations on and off Disney property. However, you choose to plan your trip, start early and you will get the best savings possible. This is truly a magical vacation and one that does not have to put you in debt.
Book Through Disney
Walt Disney World offers many packages that will work for your budget. Purchasing a package with hotel and theme park passes included is a wise choice. They offer military discounts too.
If you choose to stay on Disney property, benefits include free bus transportation to and from the parks, Magic Express tickets which transport you and your luggage to and from Orlando International airport, discounted meal plan options, and Extra Magic hours for at least one park every day (either one hour earlier or three hours later).
Disney has its own website: www.disneyworld.com/affordable, which explains the different vacation packages. The prices vary quite a bit based on your hotel choice. They have value resort hotels that will come in under $100 a night up to luxury hotels with over the water bungalows.
Regardless of how you book your trip, staying on the property, using the shuttles and buses will also be convenient and add time to your trip.
Use a Travel Agent
As with any vacation, do your research. Booking your trip with a travel agent is a good way to find great deals. Many local travel agencies hold open house meetings to showcase the different Disney travel packages.
Use a Booking Site
Other online travel services, such as Priceline.com or Travelocity.com also have combined air and hotel packages; however, the number of choices for staying on Disney properties may be limited.
Factor in Hidden Benefits
If you stay off property keep in mind that you will have to pay for your own transportation to and from the Disney parks and parking. When you stay on property you can execute the entire trip without paying for a car rental, Uber, or parking.
Stay Off Property
If your budget is tight, staying in an off-site hotel will still allow you that magical vacation. There are some screaming deals at hotels near Disney World. Some offer transportation to the theme parks, and have great pools for you to cool down in after a long, hot day at the park! Here are the 5 Best Value Hotels Near Disney World.
Food
The Night Blossom drink at Pongu Pongu Lounge in Pandora at Animal Kingdom
Keep in mind that like any amusement park, the food at Walt Disney World can be pricey. Disney World has a number of meal plans available to their guests who are staying on Disney properties. For our family, the Disney Dining Plan was not a good fit. Instead, we found lots of ways to eat Cheap at Disney World!
If you are staying in a hotel that has a kitchen, make the most of it. Make an agreement with your family that you will only eat out for one meal a day, and that you will bring your own drinks and snacks into the park. In our experience, lunch was usually the best time to have our meal out, since we were already at the parks.
Order Groceries
Some Disney properties have a grocery list you can order from and will stock your kitchen for you, but the prices are about double to triple average grocery prices. Your best bet is to order from them only the items that are liquid, refrigerated, or frozen. Amazon Fresh will deliver groceries to most places in Orlando. I recommend ordering milk, orange juice, bread, jelly, chicken nuggets, and frozen pizzas to have in your hotel room.
Bring Groceries
Other dry, lightweight groceries that are perfect to pack in a suitcase include boxes of macaroni and cheese, a jar of peanut butter, powdered Gatorade or other drink mixes, cereals, crackers, cookies, sandwich bags, and whatever favorite foods your kids can’t live without. With these groceries, you can make sandwiches and bottles of Gatorade to bring into the parks, and the room they take in your suitcase on the way to Disney World will come in handy for souvenirs on the way home.
Make sure to budget that each person gets at least one special treat per day. That $2/per ice cream treat or frozen lemonade will be the best money you’ve spent when tired, hot kids are at a point of near meltdown, and it will keep your family from a revolt against the budget. If your kids beg for extra treats that were not previously agreed upon, explain that they can have it, but they will be spending their own souvenir money. This gives kids a sense of freedom. You’re not saying no to them, but they understand that food costs money too. Is it more important to them to have the Mickey Mouse ice cream treat or that Goofy hat they had their eyes on?
Eat breakfast in your room
There are lots of local grocery stores near the park and you will be able to pick up a few necessary items, such as milk, cereal, Pop-tarts, and breakfast bars. Eating breakfast in your room will be a lot cheaper than eating the restaurants. All hotel rooms on Disney property have a mini-fridge.
Refillable mug
Most resorts offer a refillable mug in the gift shop. The cost is approximately $8.00 – $15.00, but you can refill it in the food courts throughout your stay. Although you are not allowed to take food into the theme parks, you can discreetly pack snacks in your backpack for the day out.
Refill Water Bottles
Bring a reusable water bottle or buy only one bottle of water and keep refilling it at the water fountains throughout the park. Keep in mind that the water in the Magic Kingdom isn’t great. Bring some water flavor packets to cover up the taste.
Eat a light lunch
While at the park, you can snack on the fresh fruit stands in the park. This will help keep you hydrated and the cost is reasonable. If you are hoping for a meal with the characters, choose lunch instead of dinner. Because of the heat, eating a heavy meal may make you or the children nauseous. You can also order a kid’s meal in the parks and no one will question it. The kid’s meals are a good size and cost less than an adult meal.
Dinner
You can find an all-you-can-eat or a buffet restaurant. These tend to be family-friendly places and can are easily found off-site in Lake Buena Vista. If having a meal at the park or hotel, split it among the children, just ask for an extra plate.
You can also save money on restaurants around Orlando by using Restaurant.com. Use zip code 32836 to find restaurants like the House of Blues in Disney Springs and Senor Frogs on International Drive.
Souvenirs
Before your trip, encourage kids to save their allowance. If your family doesn’t have allowances, but you still want them to have a souvenir, consider giving each child a flat amount to spend. When they have an impulse to buy a giant illuminated magician’s hat for $30, you might gently remind them of the limited amusement potential for that souvenir, saying something like, “Yes, that hat is funny, but would you rather have a hat that you can’t wear to school or this $15 Mickey Mouse baseball set that you can play with?” Making them think about the differences in cost and whether they actually see themselves playing with it when they get home helps them to see the value of their own spending money. If your child makes a decision you disagree with, and they have enough money for it, don’t fight them on it. Simply remind them that it’s their money and if that’s what they want to spend it on, that will be it for the rest of the trip.
Pack smart
Don’t forget the basics such as sunscreen, batteries, pain reliever, and a rain poncho. These basic items are much cheaper to buy at home. Also, pack medical items such as aspirin, band-aids, and other products that are needed by your family. Anticipating these necessities ahead of time will not only relieve the stress once you are there but save money. I have an entire post dedicated to what to pack in a backpack to carry into the parks with you.
Stick to one carry-on for each person to avoid checked baggage fees. Bring your stroller to skip having to pay for a stroller rental. Airlines allow you to check a stroller for free.
Add Free Things To Do
Outside of the parks, you may be surprised to find out that there are lots of free things to do.
- Free Activities at and around Disney World
- Free New Year’s Eve activities on New Year’s eve at Disney World
A trip to Disney World can be expensive, but with the right amount of planning, your family can still have a great trip within your budget. You may be worried that your children won’t have as good a time if you have to worry about your spending. In our experience the opposite was true. Setting limits ahead of time meant that our children knew exactly what to expect. Communicate your budget plan to the whole family with the explanation that this budget is what makes the trip a possibility in the first place. This is one of the most important lessons you can teach them about managing money.
Consider these ideas and use them to match your family’s needs. You can also get creative with ways to pay for things. 8 Ways to Pay Less for Disney Gift Cards to Save Money at Disney.
For even more budget ideas, check out our post on 22 ways to save money in Orlando!
The experience at Walt Disney World will be one your family will remember for years to come. Careful planning and saving money prior to this trip will relieve any stress and anxiety. Prepare ahead of time and it will not have to deplete the college fund!
Get ready for a thrilling, exciting, and magical vacation!
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