Unlocking the Magic: How to Do Disney on a Budget

We all know Disney World is an expensive vacation, but it is not only for the elite. There are ways to make a magical vacation at Disney happen, and I am sharing tips for how to do Disney on a budget that you can use for your next Disney World vacation.

When I hear “Disney on a Budget” I often think of packing lunches and staying at the local budget motel.

You can do Disney this way if you want, no judgement, but there are practical ways to save on a Disney trip that won’t make you feel like you are missing out and won’t break the bank.

I really love vacationing at Disney World as a family. We started in 2013 when my kids were all under 5. Everything was way less expensive.

These days we have to get creative with making our Disney trips affordable. There are ways to save at the Disney parks that are easy, practical, and keep that Disney magic on your trip.

Planning Your Disney Trip

First thing you need to do is be realistic about what this trip will cost.

I go into full details in this post: How much does it cost for a family of 5 to go to Disney World but expect to pay around $4500.00 – $6000.00.

This is not true for everyone and every time of year. This is for a family of 5. If you are a family of 3 it will cost less. If you visit during the busy season the trip will cost more.

Budget Basics

There are 5 categories of where we spend the most money on a Disney World vacation. They are:

• Accommodations
• Park Tickets
• Dining
• Transportation Costs
• Souvenirs/Gifts/Extras

Depending on the Disney vacation you are planning and the needs of your family these may vary, but most people have the same 5 categories when planning a family vacation.

Choose the Best Time to Visit

• Do not visit during peak times like spring break and holidays. Plan during the off-season. These times typically have lower price and lower crowds.
• Do some research before you book anything. Don’t be afraid to shop around and find the best price.
• Look at the Disney World Crowd Calendar to see what the best times to visit are.

Saving on Accommodations

You have two options for accommodations when visiting Walt Disney World: On-site Disney Resort Hotels or Off-site hotels and vacation rentals.

On-Site Disney Resorts

This is definitely a personal preference but staying on-site gives you access perks that off-site guests do not have.

If you are staying on-site you receive, early entry and extended evening hours (deluxe resorts), on-site transportation, and purchase Individual Lightning Lane at 7:00am day of visit.

Disney World has three tiers of accommodations: Value, Moderate, and Deluxe. Each level offers different amenities and price points.

Guests wanting to stay on a budget for their Disney trip will want to look at the Disney value resorts. These resorts are the most budget friendly at the Walt Disney World resort.

Check out our reviews for the value resorts we have stayed at:

• Disney Art of Animation Review and Family Suite Room Tour
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort Review for Families
• All-Star Sports Resort (Coming September 2024)

I like staying in the magic, so Disney World resorts are always the best choice for us. Especially when you add up rental car and parking fees. It makes sense for our family.

What You Get When You Stay Off-Site at Disney

• A break from Disney. This is great if you are planning to visit other places or are not planning on visiting multiple parks.
• Usually more spacious rooms for the cost. You can find large rooms on property at Disney but they can get expensive.
• Food options outside the park that may save you money. You can purchase your own food to take to the parks and make meals at home.

We have stayed at Encore resorts during a visit and think they are a great option for off-site accommodations when visiting Disney World.

Many off-site resorts will offer amenities that Disney resorts may not have but be sure to check the daily resort fees and parking fees. These can add up and put a dent in your budget.

You will also need a car to get to and from the theme parks. Parking fees are also at the theme parks and need to be factored into your costs.

Often you may not save much money and staying on-site may be a better choice.

The Walt Disney World resort offers special discounts throughout the year. Check here for the latest.

Recap of Best Ways to Save on Disney Accommodations:

• Compare the different accommodation choices, on-site vs. off-site.
• Factor in renting a car vs. not renting a car
• Check Walt Disney World website and Undercover Tourist for best current offers.

Maximizing Savings on Park Tickets

Tickets are where it is the most difficult to save and can be very pricey. Usually the best place to purchase tickets is the official Walt Disney World website.

I have also purchased through Undercover Tourist but it is not always the best price. Mousesavers.com has one of the best lists of ticket deals and I check often to see if I can find a deal.

Walt Disney World tickets are based on the day you are visiting and how many days you visit.

If it is a high season, like during Christmas break, the daily price of the ticket will be higher than a low season day.

Also the more days you visit the less per day you pay.

The picture below shows what the pricing is like as of May 2019. If you purchased a 6 day ticket your total price would be $420.

If you purchased a 2 day ticket the price would be $214. The more days you purchase the less per day you pay.

If you are trying to do Disney on a budget it is best to stay on-site and only visit the Disney parks because your dollar will go further.

If you break up your trip with a visit to Disney and another Orlando theme park the cost will be more.

Guests need to consider if they want to purchase Genie+ for their visits to the theme parks. Genie+ allows guests to skip long lines and reserve a time to ride an attraction.

It is an add on charge starting at $16.00-$31.00 per person/per day. Read details on Genie+ here. If you are trying to stay on a budget at Disney you may not want to purchase Genie+ for all of your days.

Recap of Best Ways to Save on Tickets:

• Check prices from different places.
• Stay longer and visit the parks multiple times during your trip to pay less per day, or stay less time to spend less.
• Decide if you need Genie+ for every park day.
• Consider planning a resort day and skip the parks. There are a lot of fun things to do on a non-park day that will help you stay on budget.

Dining on a Budget

Dining is one of the places we really try to stay on a budget. We choose quick-service dining over table and character meals.

We share snacks and choose water (free) over fountain drinks.

I don’t want you to think you have to deprive yourself of good food at the parks if you are trying to stay on a budget.

You don’t! Some of our favorite meals at Disney are quick-service meals.

I am often asked about the Disney dining plan. We have priced it out every time we take a trip and it never saves us money.

If you have kids under 9 and/or you are planning to do a character/table service meal every day then you should take time to price it all out.

This will take some time but you will save money either way in the long run. We usually do a table-service(sit down) meal 1-2 times during a week at Disney and the dining plan does not save us money.

Recap for How to Save on Dining

• Choose quick service instead of table service for some or all of your meals.
• Eat breakfast in the hotel room and have an early lunch.
• Order water instead of fountain drinks.
• Share larger meals
• Bring snacks and food into the park.

If dining is a high priority during your trip plan your budget around where you will spend money, and save in other areas.

Transportation Needs

Transportation can carry a huge price tag, especially if you fly or need to rent a car.

Consider the costs of driving and flying. We have done both. If there are budget airlines like Frontier or Spirit, consider those for your trip.

I like to search nearby cities to find the best deals. Sometimes it means a bit of driving but we save a lot of money flying from a different airport.

We also rarely rent a car when staying at Walt Disney World. The only time it makes sense to have a car is if you are staying off-site or visiting other theme parks like SeaWorld or Universal.

When flying into Orlando International Airport (MCO) you have a few options to get to Walt Disney World.

We used Mears or Uber, it usually cost less than a car rental.

If your goal is to stay on a budget, staying at Disney for the duration of your vacation is recommended.

Best Way to Save Money on Transportation:

• Fly during off-peak time and days.
• Stay on-site and use Disney transportation.

Don’t Overspend on Extras

This one is simple for us-we don’t shop very often at the parks. We are usually busy experiencing the attractions that we don’t have time to stop in the stores.

Sometimes we will purchase a small ornament as a group gift.

If you really want to purchase something from the parks consider setting a budget for your kids before you leave or have them bring their own money.

There are not many extra costs when you visit Walt Disney World after the ones I shared about above. All the shows, rides, attractions inside the park are included with your admission ticket.

There are Photo Pass photographers around the parks and this is an added fee to purchase. You can purchase pictures but we always have them use our camera and the pictures come out amazing. Learn more about Disney Photo Pass here.

Best Way to Save on Souvenirs:

• Avoid the shops and stick to the rides and shows.
• Have the Photo Pass photographer use your phone or camera to take a picture for you.
• Set a souvenir budget before you arrive and stick to it.

Tips to Stay on a Budget at Disney World

• Don’t purchase things you don’t need. Take time to think about what you and your family really need. Don’t pay for things your don’t need.
• You may not need a park hopper ticket if you have small children and traveling from park to park will be a lot of work. We rarely purchase the park hopper option to save money and to focus on one park a day.
• Consider the extra cost of things like the water parks, table service meals/character meal, etc. If you are trying to do Disney the cheapest way you will have to cut some things out of your Disney World trip.
• If you do not plan on leaving the resort and theme parks don’t rent a car.
• Florida residents should consider checking the special offers page for deals. If you are not a Florida resident I still suggest starting with the special offers page to see what is available on Disney’s website.

My Best Disney Budgeting Tip

My biggest tip for a Disney trip or any family travel trip is to be clear about what is important to you and budget for Disney in a way that works for your family.

There are no activities that you have to do if it doesn’t make sense for you. Figure out your Disney World vacation budget and figure out what fits and what doesn’t.

I usually use a pencil and paper to write out the cost of the trip. At first I add everything we want to do and then I start removing things that won’t work for us.

Doing Disney on a budget and feeling part of the magic is easy if you take time to plan out your spending. Prioritize what is really important to you and save on the little things that don’t matter as much.

Suggested for You: Best Disney World Itinerary Planning Guide for Families

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