If you are a frequent traveler to Disney World in Orlando you will know that these trips can add up quickly. From the cost of accommodations, travel, food, and souvenirs it can become quite costly. However, there are some ways that you can save money on these trips if you plan ahead. If you are a frequent Disney World traveler, there are many ways that you can save money on your trips. By planning ahead and taking advantage of discounts and deals, you can minimize the cost of your vacation and maximize your fun. From buying plane tickets to knowing which purchases to avoid inside the resort there are many ways you can save money when you travel to Disney World. Below are a few budget-friendly tips that will help you save money as a frequent Disney World traveler.
Compare Different Passes
Disney World offers four different types of passes to their customers. These passes have different offers and restrictions at different price points depending on what you are looking for in your annual pass. Although these passes aren't always available for purchase, current pass holders can renew with any of the following options:
- Disney Pixie Dust Pass: This pass is available for Flordia residents at $399 plus tax. You can read what this pass includes here.
- Disney Pirate Pass: This pass is available for Florida residents at $749 plus tax. You can read more about what this pass includes here.
- Disney Sorcerer Pass: This pass is available for Florida residents and eligible Dinsey Vacation Club Members at $949 plus tax. You can read more about what is included in this pass here.
- Disney Incredi-Pass: This is the highest level pass available to everyone. This pass is $1,399 plus tax. You can learn more about what offers are included in this pass here.
Consider Using the Disney Dining Plan
Another way to save money is to take advantage of the Disney Dining Plan. This plan allows you to pre-pay for your meals at certain restaurants and can save you money on your overall food budget. There are three different dining plans available to provide for different types of groups visiting Disney World. Depending on how much your party will be eating, these dining plans may be more affordable than purchasing food as you go. Below are the different types of dining plans:
- Quick-Service Dining Plan: This plan is available at the 100+ quick-service restaurants at the park. Everyone in the party aged three and over receives 2 quick-service meals per night of stay, 2 snacks/non-alcoholic drinks per night of stay, and one resort-refillable drink mug.
- Disney Dining Plan: This plan offers one quick-service meal per night of stay, one table-service meal per night of stay, 2 snacks/nonalcoholic drinks per night of stay, and one resort-refillable mug.
- Disney Dining Plan Plus: With the Disney dining plus plan everyone in the party ages 3 and over receives 2 meals in any combination of table service meals per night of stay, 2 snacks/non-alcoholic drinks per night of stay, and one resort-refillable drink mug.
- Disney Deluxe Dining Plan: With this plan, everyone in the party ages 3 and older receives 3 meals per night of stay in any combination of table-service and quick-service meals, 2 snacks or nonalcoholic beverages per night of stay, and one resort-refillable mug.
Pack your Own Snacks
One way to save money outside of using the dining plans is by bringing your own snacks and drinks. You can bring outside food as well as non-alcoholic beverages into the park. You cannot bring anything in glass containers or any items that may require heating, reheating, processing, refrigeration, or temperature control. Bringing your own snacks and drinks is a good trick to saving money while visiting Disney World.
Purchase a Refillable Mug
If you find yourself drinking soda or coffee a lot while at Disney World you can save money on beverages by purchasing a refillable mug to use for your entire stay. The mugs rotate designs, so after a while, you can have a collection of refillable mugs from all of your visits to Disney World. The refillable mugs offer unlimited refills of coffee, tea, and soda from the machines at any Disney-owned resort throughout your stay. This would be a smart purchase if you often buy soda or coffee throughout the day at the park.
Book a Hotel Off-Site
There are great resorts to stay at on-site, but they are very pricey and not necessary as part of your trip to Disney World. There are many hotels off-property near the park that offer great rooms and some of the hotels offer transportation to the park from the hotel. While staying at a hotel you can get groceries delivered to your room so that you can save money on food while at the resort. A good way to skip meals at the park is by eating breakfast and dinner at your hotel and saving money on the food at the resort.
Another option for the RV traveler is to utilize a local campground. In addition to the growing population, Orlando is one of the most visited areas in the country by RV goers and travelers visiting Florida.
Buy Disney World Gift Cards Ahead of Time
Buying gift cards to use at the park ahead of time is a great way to budget how much money you are going to spend on your trip. This is also a great trick for saving money. You can buy discounted gift cards at supermarkets such as Sams Club or Costco, or you can purchase the gift cards at a location where they offer discounts by using their own visa cards such as Target. Using this budget-friendly tip will allow you to still purchase merchandise and other fun items while ensuring you don't spend more than you anticipated.
Buy Souveniers Off-Site
Buying merchandise at the park can put a huge dent in your budget for your trip. You can buy the essentials such as mickey ears and Disney-branded clothes outside of the park. Although there are some exclusive items that can only be bought at the park. You can use your discounted gift cards to purchase these items so that you do not go outside of your budget.
Be Your Own Photographer
On top of saving money on merchandise, you can also save a few bucks by being your own photographer. Disney offers a Memory Maker package which includes having a photographer take photos for your party at different locations in the park with select characters that you are then able to download after your trip. This package is a big expense at around $170 dollars and skipping this option is a great way to save money.
Plan your Trip During Off-Peak Times
Planning your trip to Disney World during off-peak times can help save money with travel costs, hotels, and even at the park itself. Disney World does not offer any discounts on ticket prices but there are discounts on other amenities at the park on lower-demand days according to this article. Some of the most popular times are during events Disney World puts on through the holidays such as their Micky's Not So Scary Halloween Party and Spirit of the Season. On top of saving money, you will not have to deal with as big of crowds and you may have more time to appreciate more of the park with the time you save waiting in line. This website does a great job of helping plan your trip during off-peak times by using a crow calendar so you can expect how busy the park will be during your trip there.
You can also search and compare ticket prices for different times of the year to help save money on airfare. In general, ticket prices will be more expensive during school breaks or holidays. Smarter Travel does a great job breaking down when is the best times of the year and which days of the week are best for travel prices.
Use a Credit Card for Flight Points
If you are a frequent traveler, you may want to consider getting an airline credit card to earn points on your travel expenses. Many travel credit cards offer hotel points, transferable points, or cash back on travel purchases. If you frequently travel to Disney World, having a credit card to earn rewards on all forms of purchases can be a smart decision. You can also use credit card points to purchase hotel rooms near the park to help save money as well. This article compares some of the most popular airline credit cards to help you make the best decision about which card to use if you choose to consider one.
Save Money on Transportation
Disney offers transportation throughout all four theme parks by either bus, boat, and monorail. Using these options can help save money and time with driving and parking. A lot of hotels around the area also offer shuttles to Disney World that you can utilize to help save money from parking at the resort as well. If you are looking for long-term parking at MCO airport, there are affordable options for off-site affordable parking. STOW IT offers the lowest rates for long-term parking at the Orlando airport. This parking option includes 24/7 shuttles to and from the hotel and is the most affordable parking you can find at MCO airport for long-term parking.
To sum it up, there are a lot of ways to save money while you are enjoying your time at Disney World. These are just a few tips you can use next time you visit to help save money as a frequent Disney World traveler.