Top Money Saving Tips for Planning a Walt Disney World Vacation

This post has been sponsored by Melissa Pigden, a travel specialist for Magical Vacation Planner. All opinions expressed by us are 100% our own.

Hi everyone!

We have another really special post today! How many of you are currently planning a trip to Walt Disney World or are at least dreaming of one in the future??? Since the odds are good (if you’re reading our site!) that you’ve got kids–whether they are your kids, grandkids, nieces, nephews or any little one in your care!–I’m going to go out on a limb and say that just about all of us are going to be able to benefit from today’s post about ways to save money on your next Walt Disney World vacation.

Whether you’re in the early planning stages or you’ve already booked your trip, this post contains tons of tips and tricks from a local Disney expert: Melissa Pigden, a travel specialist for Magical Vacation Planner, an “Earmarked” Authorized Disney Vacation Planner.

She joins us today to share her knowledge and help you plan a more budget-friendly family vacation.

But first, a little more about Melissa……

Melissa with the big cheese himself at the Tusker House character buffet breakfast at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park.

Melissa Pigden is a Connecticut native born and raised in New Britain, CT now living in West Hartford, CT.

By day she is a Child Life Specialist helping children and families cope with the stressors of hospitalization but she also has a passion for Disney and works with families as a travel specialist to help plan their vacations.

Melissa has been on many trips to Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and the Disney Cruise Line and also participated in the Disney College Program working as a Fairy Godmother in Training at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique in Cinderella’s Castle.

We hope you enjoy today’s post!

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Top Money Saving Tips for Planning a Walt Disney World Vacation

Written by Melissa Pigden

Walt Disney World has become an increasingly popular vacation destination for guests of all ages including those “young at heart!” and for good reason. With so much to see and do both in and outside of the theme parks, there is truly something for everyone to enjoy.

For many, however, the biggest deterrent against a Walt Disney World vacation is cost. For some a Walt Disney World vacation is a once in a lifetime experience that they save for years in order to do. Every dollar spent on vacation counts. Today, I’ll provide you with some tips on stretching your vacation dollars and give you a rough idea of budgeting for your next vacation. Who knows, you may be surprised at how affordable it may be for your family!

Tip #1: Save Money on Meals and Dining

There are so many different options for dining at Walt Disney World. Whether your family prefers a sit down a la carte or buffet style meal or a quick counter service style meal, there are choices available for a variety of tastes and dietary needs. To help you budget for your meals, Disney offers a few different prepaid Dining Plans that can be included in your overall package. The two most popular dining plans are the Quick Service Dining Plan (which includes two counter service meal credits and one snack credit per person per night of your trip) and the Disney Dining Plan (which includes one sit down meal credit, one counter service meal credit, and one snack credit per person per night of your trip). For some families, with a bit of careful planning, purchasing the Disney Dining Plan can save you 15% or more on the cost of your meals. For those using the Disney Dining Plan to try to save money, here are a few tips you want to consider:

• Kids under three years of age eat off their parent’s plates for free (including at buffet style restaurants). In other words, a dining plan does not need to be purchased for a child of this age. Should you decide to purchase additional kids meals at a la carte restaurants for your toddler, you will need to purchase these out of pocket. In most cases, though, you’ll find you won’t need to with Disney’s portion sizes!
• Using table service meals for dinner will produce the best value. Dinner is not only typically the heartiest meal of the day, but also the most expensive! This will maximize the value of your table service credit.
• Sharing meals is acceptable at quick service locations.  Keeping in mind that your meal credits are per night of your trip, you may have an additional uncovered meal on your last day depending on your transportation. You can always split a meal between two people early in your trip to leave you with credits for that last day. For light eaters, you may also think about using one meal for breakfast for two people and then one meal for the same two people for lunch.
• Use snack credits for breakfast. Though there are many things snack credits can be used for, breakfast pastries or cereal may be the best choice for those who typically do not snack between meals and are on a budget.

Though the dining plans can save many families money, they aren’t for everyone. For some, the structure of the dining plan isn’t conducive to their vacation style. Also, believe it or not, people begin making dining reservations 180 days before they arrive which may not be easy for every family.

The Be Our Guest Restaurant featuring the Beauty and the Beast storyline is one of the most popular dining restaurants in all of Walt Disney World. Guests typically need to make their reservations 180 days in advance to get a table! For a less expensive look into Beast’s castle, try lunch. Although technically a counter service meal at lunch, you’ll still need reservations!

Getting the best value on the Disney Dining Plan typically requires advanced planning and research. There may be other factors dependent on your family’s situation that make declining a dining plan the best choice. Only you or your travel agent can determine what is right for your family. For those who decline the dining plan, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Kids under three can still eat off your plate for free (at any restaurant or dining establishment).
• Sharing meals is acceptable. When paying out of pocket, it is acceptable to share meals at either counter service or a la carte table service meals.  Each guest 3 years of age and older will need to pay for their own meal at buffet style restaurants (though guests aged 3-9 are charged a kid’s rate). Remember, Disney portions can at times be quite large. It may be best to order conservatively at first and supplement later if needed. It’s also acceptable to order an appetizer as your meal at a table service restaurant or lighter items at counter service locations.
• Bring your own breakfast. All Walt Disney World Resort hotels come standard with a mini fridge and most come standard with a coffee maker (if not, it can be requested). This makes simple breakfasts in your room easy. Sometimes when traveling to Walt Disney World we like to pack things like cereal, muffins, and granola bars from Trader Joes in our luggage for breakfast. Other times, we take advantage of our Amazon Prime and have items shipped to the resort using Prime Pantry. Some guests also have deliveries from grocery stores (like Garden Grocer) to their resort. Disney will refrigerate items delivered before your room is ready and non-perishables will be accepted a week before your check in date.  When shipping things to the resort, be sure to include the word “Guest,” your name, and your arrival date along with the resort’s address. Milk and other cold items can often be purchased in the food court or hotel convenience shop.
• Plan table service meals for breakfast. Breakfast is typically the least expensive meal to pay for out of pocket. Booking the last possible breakfast reservation of the day may be enough to get you through to an early dinner. In a similar respect, going to many restaurants for lunch can save money over a dinner reservation. Lunch reservations are also typically the easiest to book close to arrival or even sometimes the day you’d like to make them for.

Eating a hearty breakfast like the Tonga Toast or Samoan from Kona Café at Disney’s Polynesian Resort shown here can provide you with the sit down meal you’re looking for at a lower expense than a dinner reservation.

Tip #2: Save Money on Snacks

There are so many temptations around Walt Disney World from churros to candied apples to popcorn and turkey legs. Though tempting, these snacks and treats add up! When thinking about snacks on your trip, keep these tips in mind:

• You can bring your own snacks into the parks. Disney allows guests to bring snacks, drinks (nonalcoholic only), and even lunches into the parks. Guests may not, however, bring in coolers not being used for medication or bring food items that require heating. This is another opportunity to use Amazon Prime or Prime Pantry or a grocery delivery service. It is best to purchase items that do not melt or crush easily like cartons of Goldfish, Welch’s Fruit Snacks, Trail Mix/Mixed Nuts (without chocolate), single serve Pringles, jerky, dried fruit, and single serve cereal. For additional questions on policies related to this tip, take a look at Disney’s Frequently Asked Questions.
• Take advantage of FREE water. You can go up to any quick service location and ask for a cup of ice water absolutely free of charge. Some people find the taste different from their home water. If this is a concern, I recommend bringing True Lemon, Gatorade, or Crystal Light single serve packets. They are easier to carry than bottled beverages and cheaper than buying beverages in the park. If you prefer bottled water, consider getting a case of bottled water shipped to the resort rather than buying bottles inside the park.
• Get your coffee at Starbucks. Bet you’d never expect me to say that! There are Starbucks locations in each of the parks and their iced coffee is about half the cost of iced coffee at other locations in the parks. For the same price as an iced coffee elsewhere, you can get a Tall or even Grande Frappuccino at Starbucks. If you prefer hot coffee, prices are comparable between the two.

Tip #3: Save Money by Coming Prepared

There are a few things you can bring with you to save you money on incidentals in the parks. When making your packing list, consider:

• Clothing and essentials for the weather. Although many people travel to Florida to escape winter, Florida does indeed experience seasons. The one thing that can be said about Florida weather is that it is pretty unpredictable! Bring at least a sweatshirt or light sweater for each person regardless of what season you decide to travel (the air conditioning can be cranked up in the summer) or risk having to buy something in the parks at premium cost. In late fall, winter, and early spring be prepared for some cold temperatures. Also, be sure to bring emergency ponchos (rather than umbrellas) with quart sized ziplock bags to pack them in after first use, weather resistant footgear (that won’t give you blisters if they get wet) and easy dry clothing (think athletic shorts and yoga capris). For summer trips, torrential downpours are imminent. By coming prepared with rain gear you can make the most of a rainy day in the parks without spending money on expensive Disney ponchos.
• Small souvenirs to give to the kids throughout the trip. Temptation creeps around every corner at Disney in terms of shopping. Many attractions even lead right into a gift shop. There’s no surprise that your kids will be looking for little gifts as you make your way around Disney World. As Disney souvenirs can get quite expensive, it may be better to bring little Disney related gifts to give to the kids throughout your trip. You can typically find things at Target, Walmart, Kohls, or other department stores that fit the bill. The Disney Store also has “Twice Upon a Year” sales where you can get greatly discounted items.
  • Are you crafty? Make your own gifts: Pinterest DIY Disney Trip Souvenirs
• Handmade autograph books or other items for characters to sign. This is a biggie if you have multiple kids. Getting characters’ autographs can be a highlight of a Disney trip, but why pay $10 (or more) for a basic notebook for them to write in? Instead, turn it into a family activity and make your own. This way, your memories are personalized to the child and the year you travelled (based on your child’s creative abilities). You are more likely to cherish a home made autograph book than the standard one you paid good money for at Disney.
  • Looking for inspiration? Check out these DIY Autograph books: Pinterest DIY Disney Autograph Books
  • Think a book isn’t really your style? The characters will autograph a variety of items if you have the proper pen/marker with you. T-shirts, photo mats (where you can frame your favorite photo of the trip), pillowcases, Mickey Ears, quilt squares, and small memory boxes are all great alternatives.

Tip #4: Save Money by Planning Ahead Using a Travel Agent

Did you know that most Travel Agents provide their services absolutely free of charge to their clients? On top of that, using a travel agent often saves you both time and money and their knowledge and experience can prove instrumental in making your family trip that much more magical and worry free. Here are some ways careful planning and/or using a travel agent can help you save money:

• Take advantage of trends in crowds and price points. Although Disney “slow” seasons are becoming fewer and far between, those that can travel off season in months like September, November (before Thanksgiving week), January (after Christmas break), and early May will have the best luck at finding “deals”. Travel agents can find the best dates possible for your trip based on price point and scheduling. They can go through and find a few different quotes for you to help stretch those vacation dollars and are happy to take the stress of that research off your plate.
• Decide whether or not a dining plan is the right choice for your family. The Disney Dining Plan system can be confusing, especially for a first timer. There are many ways where a dining plan can save you money, but for some families it may actually cause you to spend more than you would out of pocket. Travel agents know the questions to ask to help you decide what is best for your family and wallet.
• Be well informed on promotions available. Promotions tend to have limited availability. Once the rooms are gone, they’re gone! Travel agents want you to be happy with your experience and will go to all lengths to grab you the best deal possible. When multiple promotions are available they are able to see what deal will work best for your situation and chosen resort. If you are booked with a travel agent, the minute a new promotion becomes available they will attempt to rebook your trip at the lower price whenever possible (without you even having to ask). If you decide to book directly through Disney or other sources, you won’t get informed about new promotions and it is up to you to do the legwork. Booking Disney with a site like Orbitz, Priceline, etc. will not allow you to take advantage of new promotions as they arise as these websites are typically final sale.
• Take full advantage of Disney’s accommodation and ticketing rules. Did you know that a child under 3 doesn’t need tickets to enter the park? What about that a family of 5 can stay in a room for 4 with a Pack ‘n Play provided by Disney at no extra charge? You’ll bet your travel agent knows this and will take full advantage of it when booking your vacation!
  • Keep in mind children under 3 are not charged for tickets, accommodations, or credits for the Disney Dining Plan. Conversely, children 10 and older are charged as adults. If you can, try to squeak by and plan trips before your child’s third and tenth birthdays.

Every guest staying at a Walt Disney World resort will receive a Magic Band like this one. It will be used as your room key, park tickets, Fastpass+, and more! You can even choose what color you’d like to match your outfits (or nails!).

• Choosing the right hotel to meet your family’s vacation needs.
  • There are a few different types of accommodations and depending on how many people in your party, how much you plan on hanging around the resort, and what amenities your party needs, some types may fit your party better than others. Though there is too much to talk about in regards to the differences in resorts here, each tier provides a unique set of amenities and accommodations and each hotel itself provides different advantages to enjoy.
  • In some cases, a higher tiered hotel can actually save you money over a lower tiered hotel. Those with families of 5 or more, those who prefer to return to the hotel for meals, and those who plan on enjoying days outside of the parks may save money by upgrading their hotel, believe it or not!

Each day, your base park tickets will gain you entry to one of four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, EPCOT, and (as shown here) Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Park Hopper tickets will allow you to move freely through the four parks as you wish.

EPCOT stands for Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow. Did you know that inside this giant golf ball there is actually an attraction called Spaceship Earth?

A crowd favorite, Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom allows guests to get up close with wildlife of the African savannah.

• Choosing the right tickets for your party. Purchasing tickets is another confusing portion of planning a Walt Disney World vacation.
  • First of all, there are three types of tickets:
    • Magic Your Way Base Tickets: These allow you in one park per day you have purchased tickets for. You can come and go from that same park freely throughout the day.
    • Park Hopper Tickets: Tickets that allow you to travel to multiple parks within the same day.
    • Water Park Fun and More Ticket: For each day you purchase a ticket, you get an additional admission to a waterpark, Disney’s Oak Trail Golf Course, ESPN Wide World of Sports, OR a round at one of the Disney mini golf courses.
  • The possibilities in ticket options are truly endless. Should you go with a 4 day or a 5 day ticket? Should you add the Park Hopper option? Is the Water Park Fun and More Ticket worth it for your family? A conversation with a travel agent along with some number crunching can help you determine these answers.
    • What about going to Universal or SeaWorld? On a budget trip, I’d say “No Way Jose!” The way Disney tickets work is that the more days you “play” in the parks, the less you’ll pay per day. In other words, that one day at Universal or SeaWorld could be MUCH more expensive than adding an extra day at Disney.
      • Don’t forget the transportation either! By staying at a Walt Disney World resort all of your transportation is covered at no additional charge including to and from the airport and to and from all theme parks and Disney destinations. To travel to Universal you will either need to take a taxi, rent a car, or use a paid shuttle service.

• Once you have placed a deposit down for your trip, your price is locked (unless your travel agent can secure you an even better deal). When reserving one room at Disney, a $200 deposit is all you need to secure a package. From there, your trip must be paid off at least 30 days in advance of your arrival but your payments are up to your discretion. This means, if there is a ticket price increase, room prices go up, or a promotion becomes unavailable after you’ve placed that deposit you won’t have to worry about an increase to your package.

Your child’s favorite movie characters will come to life at Walt Disney World through the many parades, shows, dining experiences, and meet and greet locations.

• Booking in advance also allows you to take full advantage of all services available. Walt Disney World is all about advanced planning nowadays. Guest make their dining reservations at the moment it turns 6:00 am 180 days before their trip (the very first moment this booking window is open to them). Believe it or not, there are some restaurants that will have no availability days or even hours later in peak seasons. No worries though, a travel agent will get up at the crack of dawn to do this so you won’t have to!
  • Although dining reservations are the biggest concern, there are also experiences you will want to book ahead of time that may be available up to 180 days in advance.
  • You can also reserve basically front of the line access to three attractions per day in a single park with Fastpass+. For guests staying at Walt Disney World resorts, these reservations can be made at midnight 60 days in advance of arrival.
  • You can take advantage of reduced prices for Memory Maker. Disney truly thinks of everything, folks! Have you ever gone on vacation and realized when you got home that you were in none of the pictures you took of your family? Disney stations Photopass photographers strategically around Walt Disney World to prevent that from happening. If you opt to purchase the Memory Maker you will be able to download all of these photos and use and print them as you please. By purchasing early, you will save $20. Want to save even more money? Photopass photographers (as well as any other cast member) will take the photo with your camera absolutely free. In fact, they are trained to. All you have to do is ask!

Toy Story Midway Mania is one of the most popular attractions at Disney’s Hollywood Studios with wait times upwards of two hours in peak seasons. This is a great choice when making Fastpass+ reservations.

Using Disney’s Photopass+ photographers and Memory Maker service, everyone can get in the shot. The photographers can even put in magic touches like the balloons we’re holding here and the Memory Maker service allows you to add fun borders to your photos.

• To take advantage of all the above and ensure availability of the accommodations you are looking for and applicable promotions, I recommend booking as early as possible. Although not required, if you can book more than 6 months in advance (especially for peak times) it is worth it to do so! Remember, you can secure your package for a deposit of $200 per room and pay the rest at your convenience up to 30 days prior to arrival. Disney also has a generous cancellation policy.
  • Should you cancel prior to your paid in full date (30 days before arrival), you will receive 100% of any monies paid toward your package (less any travel insurance elected and outside vendors paid).
  • Between 2 and 30 days before arrival you will receive all but your original deposit (and any travel insurance elected and outside vendor payments).
• Therefore, it is better to make arrangements and cancel them if you need to than to wait until the last minute to book at least for the Walt Disney World package portion of your trip.

You and your children alike will be in awe when you see Cinderella’s Castle in the Magic Kingdom for the first time. Disney Imagineers used forced perspective to make the castle look larger than it truly is.

Tip #5: Is a Walt Disney World Vacation Realistic For Your Budget?