A trip to Walt Disney World really adds up.
We’re talking thousands of dollars between basics like park tickets, airfare, hotels, ground transportation, and regular meals, and extras like character meals, bubble blowers, and skip privileges.
At current exchange rates, the euro is roughly on par with the dollar, so spending for international visitors can seem even more expensive.
“I often say that Disney is the best company to make you happy with your money,” said Don Mancil, who runs Disney discount site MouseSavers.com with his wife Sarah Stone. is like, ‘Oh my god, can I get this for this amount? Well this is my money, take it.'”
Disney definitely takes your money.
But the entertainment giant could cut that down a bit if travelers were better at timing, planning strategically ahead, and prioritizing decisively. A few know-how never hurt either.
1. Find cheap tickets at the end of summer
Theme park tickets are available from $109/€107 a day for a day pass to one park, according to Disney, but the prices are higher on certain days with less traffic, usually when most kids are in school. Valid only at the end of summer back. That means these lowest prices will come out later this month and he will appear on a weekday in September. Purchasing multi-day tickets can lower the price per day, but the overall price tag is definitely higher.
During peak season, the price increases to $159/156 Euro per day.
August and September in central Florida can be hot and stormy, but less crowded when fares are cheaper.
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Cast members aboard the Galactic Starcruiser at Walt Disney World. Photo: disneyparks.disney.go.com
2. Consider sticking to one park a day
Park Hopper tickets allow guests to visit multiple theme parks in one day. Walt Disney World Resort has four parks. However, his one-day ticket cost with this option jumps to a minimum of $174/€171.
TravelingMom.com Affiliate Manager and Writer Breeze Leonard says that when traveling with three children, it’s expensive and enough to spend a day at each park, so upgrade. said to avoid
“You lose a lot of time going to and from the park,” she said. “I know there’s plenty to do and I’m going to save money.”
3. Buy a gift card
Jackie Steele, who worked for Disney in Florida for several years and is now a contributor to Disney’s travel planning site MagicGuides, says warehouse clubs like Sam’s and BJ Wholesale offer Disney gift cards at small discounts. He said he was. As a way to save money on vacation. For Target shoppers who use store-branded credit or debit cards, his 5% discount on purchases also applies to gift his cards.
Gift cards can be used for theme park tickets, dining, shopping, hotel rooms, and more.
4. Buy Disney Merchandise and Souvenirs Elsewhere
Rain ponchos are essential when packing for a trip to Disney, Leonard says, as storms are unavoidable in central Florida depending on the season.
“A random shower appears, but all of a sudden you need it,” she said. (In a 2021 article, the Disney Food Blog reported buying an adult-sized poncho for about $12/€11.80).
After her first trip, Leonard spent “too much money” on soap bubbles and other toys for her children.
“Like giving them something new every day, I would give them one a day so they could bring it into the park,” she said. It was a fun way to get my hands on them, but I didn’t have to spend money in the park to buy them.”
Families also visit Disney Character Warehouses, two outlet stores in the Orlando area, to purchase official Mickey Mouse ears, clothing, and other items at discounted prices.
“When I have souvenir money, I don’t let them spend it in the park,” she said.
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Disney World in Florida. Photo: Getty.
5. Eat strategically
There’s no reason to buy three meals a day and snacks at a Disney park. Visitors can bring their own food. This is exactly what Leonard is doing.
“I just fill my backpack with sandwiches and snacks,” she said. “And honestly, when we’re at Disney, our kids are always going 100 miles an hour and want to see everything. You look happy.”
However, if your family wants a special dining experience with a character, we recommend booking for breakfast or lunch, which are less expensive than dinner.
One thing she spends money on is refillable popcorn buckets. Disney Her Food According to her blog, a standard one costs about $13/€12,80 and she can top up during her stay for $2.25/€2.21.
One thing you don’t need to buy at Disney is ice water. Most quick service restaurants offer complimentary iced water. There is also a water fountain and bottle filling station for those who bring reusable bottles.
“If you have a family of four and buy bottled water two or three times a day, it turns into money quickly,” says Steele.
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Minnie Mouse and Katy Perry at Disney World
6. Take a break
MouseSavers.com’s Mancil said his family often visits Disney for seven to eight days, but only visits the parks for five or six days. The site lists many free or inexpensive activities at the resort complex, including boats, rail systems, and cable cars that serve as Disney’s transportation.
“There are a lot of interesting things to do,” he said. One of his favorites is the monorail tour around the resorts near his Kingdom of Magic.
“They’re all great places to grab a quick bite or snack, relax and have fun, walk around, or go to one of the lounges.” and enjoy all the atmospheres and decorations.”
Steele said there’s something “beautiful” about taking a break.
“By the time the vacation is over, you don’t feel like the vacation has completely killed you,” he said. “It’s a great way to save a little money.”
5. Hunt for bargains at off-site hotels
There are many places to stay in the Orlando area, including onsite Disney hotels, off-property chains, vacation rentals, and timeshares. Consider the best solution for your family and then weigh in. Irish travel agencies such as Tour America, American Holidays and Sunway also offer Florida packages.
On-site resorts can be pricey, but one lesser-known solution that can save you a good amount of money, Leonard says, is Disney’s version of a timeshare, a deluxe Disney Vacation Club property. Borrowing Points. Vacation Club members buy interest on timeshares and acquire points to use to book stays, but when they don’t use their points, they can rent them out.
“You get all the same privileges and benefits as staying on site,” she said. .
For military personnel, Shades of Green Resort at Walt Disney World offers cheaper rooms than comparable hotels.
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