Disney World can be one of the most expensive vacations a family takes. The park admission costs alone can be a lot for a family on a budget. But there are ways to save money at Disney World without sacrificing too much. It just takes some extra planning!
My husband and I have been to Disney World numerous times. I am a teacher, and he works in digital operations. We definitely don’t have all of the money in the world to spend at Disney! So we look for every discount possible. After years of research and trial and error, here are my best tips to save money at Disney World or at other Disney parks around the world.
Table of Contents
How Do I Save Money at Disney World?
There are so many ways to save money at Disney World and make your vacation cheaper! From collecting gift cards to staying offsite or even going resort hopping instead of park hopping. Let’s dive into all the ways to make your dream trip possible!
Save Before You Go Disney World Hacks
Collect Disney Gift Cards
Whether you ask for them for Christmas and birthday gifts or buy them yourself, Disney gift cards are a great way to save money at Disney World! Disney gift cards can be used on everything at Disney World… parking, Disney resorts, theme park admission, dining, and more.
If you have a Target red card, you can get Disney gift cards at 5% off. That means 5% of every dollar you spend doesn’t ever leave your bank account! Just sign up for a Target card online and then use your new Target card to buy Disney gift cards online or in person at your local Target store. You can even collect the cards over a period of several months by grabbing one every time you’re at the store and then consolidating your cards online so you only have one or two cards upon arrival at Disney World.
Note: Some Disney World locations only accept a physical card. If you order online, make sure to request a physical card to be mailed to you. Additionally, wholesalers will have discounts on Disney gift cards. But they are usually 3%. By far, the best deals are often through Target’s red card program.
Our Personal Experience Saving Money with Disney Gift Cards
We bought Target gift cards for months leading up to our trip. We also asked others to buy them for us for birthdays and Christmas. Then, we consolidated the cards, paid for our park admission, and brought one card with us for all parking and dining expenses. It was so nice at the end of the meal to know the bill had already been paid!
Go During the Cheapest Seasons at Disney World
Going during the cheaper seasons is a great way to save money at Disney World. It’s important to note that the cheapest seasons at Disney World are also usually the least desirable seasons. You will find cheaper prices on both the Disney World parks and most Disney resorts when school is in session, or the weather is less desirable. Prices increase dramatically around major holidays and during the early summer months.
August, September, and early January are the cheapest months at Disney World. However, August is also brutally hot. September is not much better. Those not confined to a school schedule will probably find the month of January before President’s Day to be the best option. The weather may be too chilly for a swim in the pool, though.
Personally, my husband and I like to go in October, preferably one of the last weeks of the month when students are back in school from fall break. The weather in October is often pleasant, and the prices for the Disney parks are reasonable.
We have also gone in early January and had a great time as well. However, the evenings were very chilly. But if you’re trying to make your next Disney vacation as cheap as possible, consider the months of August, September, and January.
Rebook at a Cheaper Rate
Once you’ve made your Disney reservations, check periodically to make sure the price has not gone down. If you find it has, call Disney and ask them to rebook you at a cheaper rate. What an easy way to save money!!
Save Money at Disney By Utilizing Offsite Options
Stay Offsite
There is nothing wrong with not staying at a Disney World resort! In fact, it could lead to big savings! While Disney World resort guests get free parking and early entry to the Disney World parks, these benefits are not likely enough to make up for the additional cost for those on a budget. By staying offsite, you can pay less and often get more.
For example, a family suite at Disney’s All-Star Music (Value Resort) in early March at the time of writing this post costs $427 per night compared to a family suite at Homewood Suites just 10 minutes down the road, which costs $222 per night. That’s a $205 savings!
Additionally, a basic hotel room for two at Disney’s All Stars Movies and Music Resorts (Value Resorts) is $194 per night, while the cost at the Rosen Inn just 10 minutes down the road is $149 per night (with an additional and substantial discount for AAA members!). That’s a $45 savings or a $75 savings for AAA members. Plus, at the Rosen Inn, visitors get free parking, a mini refrigerator and microwave, a splash pad and pool, and more.
Yes, you will pay for parking at Disney World and must arrive a few minutes later than resort guests, but the savings sometimes outweigh the costs!
Our Experience Statying Offsite
My husband and I have stayed offsite twice. Once, we flew into Orlando and didn’t have a vehicle. Getting an Uber was so convenient! We didn’t have to pay for Disney World parking, and we got dropped off at the front of each park. We used the money we saved on parking to pay for the Uber rides. This would be a great option for an adult couple. Those with kids, especially with car seats, may find this option too challenging.
Another time, we drove to Orlando and stayed at the Rosen Inn. We could not have been happier with our accommodations, especially considering that the Rosen offers free parking. We saved so much money staying offsite!
Buy Souvenirs Outside of Disney World
Buying gifts at Disney World can be so expensive! If you’re looking for a few souvenirs to take home, why not grab them offsite? The Winn Dixie and Walmart, close to Disney World, both have so many options for Disney-themed merchandise! Plus, there are two Disney Character Warehouses not far from the parks. However, I will warn you that the merchandise is hit or miss. We have been very disappointed at the Disney Character Warehouses before. Luckily, we’ve been able to stock up on souvenirs at Winn Dixie.
If you are coming with kids, try giving them a surprise gift (possibly even from their favorite character) each morning before going to the parks. Then, if you still want to let them pick out something at the park, set a budget per day and stick to it. This is a great way to save money at Disney World.
Pack Well
Save Money at Disney By Bringing Your Own Water Bottle
Unlike some amusement parks, Disney World allows visitors to bring their own water bottles, provided they are not made of glass. Disney even offers free water bottle refill stations throughout the park! This can mean huge cost savings!
On a hot Florida day, we all could use more water. Instead of spending money on water bottles, bring a few with you and fill them up throughout the day! This will help you save money at Disney World, plus it is more eco-friendly!
Bring Your Own Snacks
One easy way to save money at Disney is to pack a few snacks for your day at the park. This will both save you money and save you time by not standing in line regularly. While EPCOT at Disney World has several interesting snack options, especially during their food and wine festival, the other parks are not really known for snacks. We usually like to grab a few cold treats like ice cream or a smoothie in the heat of the day. But otherwise, bringing snacks saves us enough time and money that it is worth it.
Bring Your Own Meals
Another option would be to pack your meals for the day and possibly buy snacks throughout the parks. Bringing your own meals can save you a considerable amount of money when each quick-service meal costs approximately $15. Multiply that by the number in your party, and the savings really add up!
So, how do you logistically pack a meal for a day at Disney World? Make sure to bring a few ice packs in your luggage. Upon arrival at your hotel or rental home, throw them in the freezer. You can then use them at the parks each day in a cooler or lunch box.
Another option would be to use ice from a hotel ice machine and bring sealable bags to put it in. Disney does not allow for loose ice.
As far as taking it to the park, I know people who put a small or medium-sized cooler under a stroller. Others rent a large locker at the front of the park or plan to go back to their car for a large cooler. (Note: large coolers are not allowed at Disney World.) Remember, though, that Magic Kingdom requires a monorail ride from the parking lot to the park entrance. So, keeping a cooler in the car could take up quite a bit of park time.
Personally, my husband and I usually pack a small lunch box and put it in a larger backpack that we carry around the park. Even just packing one meal for a day at Disney World can save you money!
Worth noting, Disney World resorts have drink coolers in most rooms. They are not normal refrigerators but can get to a great temperature. If you are worried about keeping items cold, consider bringing a large cooler and changing out the ice every few days or going with a hotel that has normal refrigerators. Several offsite hotels can accommodate this. Plus, Disney villas, as well as family suites at All-Star Movies and Art of Animation, can as well.
Other Ways to Save Money at Disney World
Save Money at Disney World by Ordering Kids Meals
Another great hack to save money at Disney World is to order kid’s meals at any quick-service restaurant. While this is not possible at sit-down restaurants, quick-service restaurants don’t care if you are an adult or not. Anyone can order a kid’s meal! And the portions are almost the exact same as an adult meal. We ordered a kid’s meal at Docking Bay 7 in Hollywood Studios recently and had plenty of food to eat. We saved $5.80 on our kids meal versus the adult meal. And, unlike the adult meal, it came with a small bottle of water!
Save Money at Disney World by Having a Free Day at Disney World
This is one of my favorite ways to save money at Disney World!
Forgo a day at the park for a day exploring the Disney World Resorts!
Did you know you can resort hop around Disney World? With more than 25 Disney World resorts, there is a lot to explore! From restaurants and snack shops to fun gift shops and even just sightseeing, there are so many amazing things to do at Disney World Resorts!
Park at Disney Springs (an outdoor mall with free parking) and take a bus over to any Disney World resort to check it out. You can also make a dining reservation in order to park at a Disney resort instead of parking at Disney Springs, but that, of course, means more money.
Just know parking at Disney Springs may take quite a bit of time when you consider parking, going through security, walking to the bus lot, waiting a few minutes for a bus, and then riding to the resort. Then, at the end of the day, you’ll need to do it all backward to get back to your car. But if you are not under a time crunch and don’t want to make a dining reservation in order to visit a resort, this may be a great option! We have done it a few times!
While you will not be allowed to swim in Disney resort pools without staying at the resort, here are some of the fun things you can do on your day away from the parks.
- Window shop, bowl, or take in a movie at Disney Springs.
- Take a (free!) boat ride to Port Orleans French Quarter Resort and grab a few of their absolutely delicious beignets.
- View the hotels from above by taking the (free!) Skyliner extends from Art of Animation to EPCOT’s back entrance and Beaches Resort. Or take the Monorail that goes by the Polynesian Resort, Grand Floridian Resort, and Contemporary Resort.
- Walk the boardwalk at the Boardwalk Inn.
- View the animals on the savanna at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. There are several viewing areas, and you may even get lucky enough to see a Disney character like Chip and Dale or Donald Duck while there!
- Stop at Topolinos at Riviera Resort for drinks on the patio as the sun sets.
- Grab a DOLE whip and watch the Magic Kingdom fireworks and the Electric Water Pageant from the beach of the Polynesian Resort.
- At Christmas time, view the elaborate gingerbread houses and Christmas trees at several Disney properties around Christmas time, including the Grand Floridian, Beaches Resort, Yacht Club Resort, Wilderness Lodge, and Animal Kingdom Lodge.
- If you’re staying onsite, swim at the pool and roast marshmallows at your resort.
There are so many things you can do on your free day! Even if you do every activity on the list above (which would not be possible to do in one day reasonably!), you would likely still not spend the amount of money you would on park tickets for a day!
Final Thoughts on Saving Money at Disney World
I love going to Disney World! But I know it can be expensive. It is my goal to always get the most for our money. Hopefully, this list gives you some great ideas of ways to save money at Disney World without sacrificing some amazing experiences! Interested in visiting another Disney park? Check out this guide to Tokyo Disney.
Thanks to Alicia of Well and Well Traveled for this Disney post!
