Disney World on a Budget

It’s every child’s dream to go to Disney World; however it may also seem like every parent’s nightmare. From park passes, hotels, food and drinks, it turns out to be an expensive trip. While you don’t have to be a kid to go to Disney World — after all, I was just there last month — it is important to know how to turn a seemingly expensive trip into an affordable one.

When it comes to planning, you can save in numerous ways. We’ve compiled a list of a few tips to help make Disney World not only the Happiest Place On Earth for you, but also your wallet.

Look up travel package discounts and shop around. Don’t automatically assume the deals on the Disney site are most affordable and the best option.

If possible, drive instead of fly. If you are going with a large group of people and are only a few hours away, it’s probably cheaper than flights and a rental car.

Visit Disney at non-peak times. Check out one of the various Disney crowd charts online and choose a non-popular time where you can save between 25–35 percent on hotels.

Pass on the meal plan. While various Disney deals will try to sell you a meal plan, if you don’t eat three full meals a day on Disney property, it’s not worth it. If you eat a small breakfast in your hotel, then pack lunch or grab a snack in the park and eat out just one meal, it saves a great deal of money.

Stay on Disney property. Disney offers value resorts from $93 a night to deluxe villas for $318 a night, so you have plenty of options. By staying in a Disney hotel, you’ll save on parking fees by taking hotel transportation. You can also take advantage of the extra Magic Hours at the parks.

Skip the Park Hopper Pass. Save money by picking a park for the day and staying there.

Don’t skip out when it rains. Bring your own rain ponchos and enjoy hours of fun in a nearly empty park.