If you’re reading this post then you are probably planning or considering a Walt Disney World vacation. If this is your first trip to Disney or maybe your first trip in a very long while, then let me warn you, a Walt Disney World vacation can become very expensive. However, you should also know that there are a lot of options and ways to plan your trip to suit almost every budget. All those choices and options can be overwhelming to the first timer, so I created this post to help you know what to look for. Here are 15 ways for you to save big and get the most magic for your money at Walt Disney World.

1. Visit in the off-season

You can take advantage of some of the best rates at Disney if your travel dates are flexible and you don’t mind taking your kids out of school. If you’re looking for the best rates at Disney resorts, check out this 2016 rate calendar. Here’s a summary of the best times to visit Disney:
Mid November through mid December (except Thanksgiving week) when the weather is mild and the crowds are moderate. The best part: the holiday decor throughout the parks and resorts.
The 2nd week in January through mid February (avoid President’s Day weekend) The weather is cool and so are the crowds. The best part: Avoid long wait lines. Other than on the weekends, your wait times for most rides and attraction will be minimal.
The last week in April through the first 3 weeks in May. The weather is hot but bearable, and the crowds are minimal. The best part: Epcot’s international flower and garden festival. Enjoy beautiful floral sculptures, live music and delicious food!
Last week in August through all of September. The weather is a little hot, but the parks are not crowded at all! The best part: Free dining. Although there’s no guarantee, it’s a fact that Disney has offered this promotion starting at the end of August every year since 2005. We’re hoping they keep the tradition going!

2. Get more magic for your money when you stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel

When you compare the cost of a one night stay at a Disney hotel vs that of an off site hotel, Disney is more expensive. But it’s also more memorable. This is no accident. Disney wants you to feel like you are living a fantasy from the time that you arrive until the time that you depart. They want you to remember the time spent at the resort as much as the time in the parks. There are also plenty of perks to staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel. Check out this article to help you decide which is the best option for you.

3. Get the most magic when you stay at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel with a Magic Your Way vacation package

You can save on the overall cost of your vacation when you add tickets and other options to create a complete vacation package called a “Magic Your Way” vacation. Click here to learn more about a Disney Magic Your Way Vacation package. In addition, aside from a few blackout dates each year, Disney offers promotions and special offers to help you save even more. In most cases, you must include park tickets and stay 4-nights or longer. Click here to find out what promotions are available right now.

4. Sometimes it pays to stay outside of Walt Disney World

You can save money by staying off Disney property when:
You are traveling with a party of 6 or more
You don’t want to buy a Disney Dining Plan
You want to spend some time visiting other area attractions and parks
Ask about our list of off-property hotels that offer great rates and ammenities

5. Take advantage of ticket discounts

You may be eligible for discount Disney park tickets if you are:
A member of AAA
A Florida Resident
An active or retired member of the military
An employee of a company or government organization that is part of the “Magic Kingdom Club”
Planning on participating in the Disney Y.E.S. Youth Education Series
Traveling as a group

6. Buy a Dining Plan

Assuming that you will be eating your meals within Walt Disney World, most families save whe they purchase a dining plan. But whether you save or not depends mostly on your family’s eating habits. My family of 5 typically saves between $600 – $700 on a 7-night stay at Disney. We are a foodie family. We like to do a couple of character breakfasts and we enjoy a nice sit-down dinner together every night since that doesn’t happen often enough when we are home. We also save time by eating lunch in the parks and since I refuse to carry water and snacks around the park for everyone, we buy that as needed too. Your family might have different needs. The best way to find out is to go to www.mydisneyexperience.com and vising the dining section. You can view each restaurant and its menu with pricing. You can quickly calculate what it would cost to eat at Disney on a typical day and then compare it to the cost of a dining plan.

7. Buy a Disney Memory Maker Photo Package

This is an add on to the cost of your vacation. It costs $149 if you buy it in advance or $169 at Disney, but it is a great way to get more magic and more memories from your vacation. Disney Memory Maker is linked to your magic bands and any time a Disney photographer takes a picture with you in it, it automatically gets loaded onto your band for you to download at a later date. There’s no limit to the number of photos you can have taked, I had over 400 on our last trip! The best part: Capture all those amazing “drop” shots. You know, those candid shots of you dropping down an attraction like Space Mountain. Memory Maker captures every single one automatically.
What most people don’t know is that one Memory Maker package can be linked to multiple guests in different rooms. That great news for large families and Church groups!

8. Save time by planning ahead with Disney’s FREE app

Install Disney’s free My Disney Experience app on your smartphone or tablet and plan your entire itinerary before you ever leave for vacation. Make all your dining and special event reservations and select fastpasses early so you can enjoy every minute at the parks.

9. Grocery Delivery

For those of you who opt out of the Dining plan, grocery delivery to your resort is a great way to save. There are several grocery stores near Walt Disney World that will deliver things such as Milk, cereal, bread, lunch meat and fruit to your resort for a minimal fee, usually around $15. Each room has a small refrigerator to store your food for the week. Eat breakfast in your room each morning and pack some sandwiches for lunch, and you can easily save hundreds on the cost of your vacation.

10. Get a Disney Chase Rewards VISA

Credit cards are not for everyone, but if you use it responsibly, you can earn rewards throughout the year to use towards the cost of your trip. Earn up to 2% on regular everyday purchases and redeem those rewards dollars in the form of a gift card that can be applied to the cost of your reservation or towards extra costs of food and souvenirs at the park. You can also save up to 20% on shopping, dining and tours while you are at the parks.

11. Buy discount Disney Gift Cards at your local grocery store

Most grocery stores offer rebates and fuel points on gift card purchases and that is a great way to save on the cost of your vacation. Those gift cards can also be applied as a payment towards your reservation. That can add up to several hundred dollars in fuel perks and store discounts. You can also get an instant discount on the cost of the gift cards when you shop at wholesale clubs like Sams Club and Costco, or when you pay for them using your Red Card at Target.

12. Skip the park hopper

Disney’s park hopper ticket option is a great idea. It gives you more flexibility with your vacation by allowing you to visit more than one park each day. That’s a great advantage when you want to switch your plans at the last minute to avoid bad weather, or you want to catch dinner and a show at a different park. But that convenience comes at the cost, and can add hundreds to the cost of your vacation. Your experience won’t be any less magical if you opt to purchase base passes instead. Take some time to plan ahead so that you schedule and itinerary so that you won’t miss out on anything that’s really important to you. A good Disney travel agent can help guide you so that you make the most of your time at the parks.

13. Plan a free day

Don’t feel obligated to be in the parks each and every day of your vacation. There is a lot of fun things to do for free outside of the parks. Disney Springs is an outdoor shopping and entertainment venue and it’s great place to spend a day. Or spend a day enjoying the amenities of your resort. Disney resorts are known for their pools and outdoor fun like outdoor movies under the stars, kids adventures, storytelling, marshmallow roasting parties and more. Most resort activities are included in the price of your stay.

14. Choose your resort wisely

A value resort is not always the best value. Especially if you have more than 4 in your party. Standard rooms at a value resort accommodate up to 4, and a couple of the value resorts have family suites that accommodate up to 6 guests. But what you might not realize is that a family of 5 can save by staying at a moderate resort where standard rooms sleep 5. Click here to learn more about visiting Disney with a large family. Things can get tricky with special promotions too when some resorts and room categories are excluded from the deal. Often times the better value can be had at a moderate or deluxe resort. A good Disney travel agent will price this out for you several ways to find the best deal for you.

 

15. Go camping!

Disney’s Ft Wilderness Campground is a great value for those of you who enjoy sleeping in a tent. The campground shares all of the same amenities of Disney’s Ft Wilderness Lodge deluxe resort for a fraction of the cost.

16. Use a travel agent

Disney is one of the few resorts out there that pays travel agents so you don’t have to. You will pay exactly the same amount to book your Disney vacation on your own than you will to use a travel agent. The advantage is that a travel agent, especially one who goes through the College of Disney Knowledge training course, can offer tips on how to plan the perfect trip. Most can even make dining and event reservations for you, saving you time. Many Disney travel agents have visited the parks several times with their own families and can offer first hand advice. Sometimes, they will offer extra incentives like gifts and rebates that aren’t available through Disney. I would love to help you make the most of your next Disney vacation! You can even earn a bonus Disney gift card up to $500 when you book your Disney vacation with Magic Family Travel. Click here to learn more about our Special Gift Card Offer.

 

Ready to get started planning the best Disney vacation ever!

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