Think a trip to Disney World on a limited budget is out of the question? Think again! While a trip to Disney can certainly cost more than the average family wants to spend, there are plenty of things you can do during your stay that will keep the trip both reasonable and cost effective. Pack your bags - here we go!
Visit Disney During the Off Season
We all know that vacations anywhere cost less during the off-season, and Disney is no exception. Great times to visit include the months of January and February, April and May (between Spring Break and Memorial Day holidays), and mid-August through early September. The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas have also been known to be slower, but they’re becoming a little more popular than other times of the year. You’ll pay less, and you might have better weather, too!
Stay on Disney Property
Staying in a hotel on Disney property may seem out of the question, but there are plenty of Disney hotels that range in price from inexpensive to moderate. They may not be the ones closest to the parks, but they offer the same high quality amenities and services you’d expect anywhere within the complex. Check out Disney’s Port Orleans Resort, the Pop Century, or Coronado Beach for ideas.
Planning for Reasonable Transportation within Disney
A perk to staying on Disney property is that all of their public transportation services between the hotels and parks are completely free for guests. They’ll even give you a ride to and from the airport! You may save money on the hotel rates if you stay at a discount hotel in Orlando, but you’ll end up paying for a car or taxi to get you into the parks, essentially eating up all of your savings.
Purchase a Disney Meal Plan
Disney meal plans offer an incredible value that any family should know about. Meal plans allow you to pay one lump sum for a set number of meals, including breakfast, dinner, and daily snacks. You’ll be able to pick your own restaurants, but the meal plan saves families anywhere from 30 - 50% depending on the size of the group. Watch carefully for additional savings - Disney often reduces the price of the meal plan or gives it away for free as an added bonus during the off-season.
Free Disney Activities
You’re going to pay a reasonable amount of money for hotel rooms and park passes, but there are ways to maximize your stay if you can’t afford Disney theme park passes for each and every day. Take a trip to Downtown Disney and relax while browsing the shops, or stop and see the free digital Design Quest show. If you’re a guest on Disney property, you can also hop on the bus and visit the different resorts to check out their pools!
Disney Activities for a Fraction of the Price
Disney offers a wide variety of options when it comes to purchasing theme park passes. For example, a three-day theme park pass with a water park option translates into three days in the major parks (Fantasyland, Epcot, etc) with an extra day of time in the water park. Water park passes can also be purchased separately and often cost much less than a day in one of the major theme parks.
Disney has a number of combination packages available, so you’ll want to ask your booking representative about which will work best for your family when you book. Make sure you ask about the Park Hopper pass, too. The feature costs a little more but will allow you to visit more than one park in the same day!
Purchase a Disney Photo Pass
One of Disney’s newer features is the Photo Pass. When you see an official Disney Photographer, ask him for a pass. You can then ask any photographer you see during your trip to take your pictures. Have them printed out daily, or wait until you get home to view them online and have your favorites mailed. You’ll save on film development and won’t have to worry about losing your camera in the parks!
Set a Disney Budget and Keep It
Before you leave, set a daily budget for extra spending and then do your best to stick to it. Make sure your children understand that they are on a budget as well, and do not feel guilty when you can’t afford to purchase every stuffed animal, pin, or keychain your child sees during your trip. You’ll maintain control and they’ll learn about good spending habits.
Do not get caught up in the room key purchase whirlwind either. Disney allows you to use your room key as a credit card and will then deliver your items to your hotel room later on. It’s convenient to not have to carry all of your personal information, but this is a really easy way to lose track of your spending and blow your budget out of the water. Besides, you can always purchase Disney items online later on and give them as gifts during the next holiday season.
Remember, a trip to Disney doesn’t have to break the bank. You and your family will have an incredible time with Mickey and the gang, regardless of how much you spend in the process!
On the other side, see some of the most expensive Disney vacations. Or if you are looking for more things to while you are in La, check out our Top 25 Things To Do in Los Angeles
Some good tips here. I’ve stayed on Disney property once and it was definitely the way to go.
Commenting usually isnt my thing, but ive spent an hour on the site, so thanks for the info