Let's be honest: Disney vacations with your family can get pretty expensive pretty quickly. From adding on extras like the Disney Dining Plan, buying souvenirs for your kiddos, and planning out activities the whole family can do together, your budget could take a beating. But, there's plenty of magic you can make at Walt Disney World or Disneyland without totally overspending — if you know how to hack it. Luckily, we do! We've rounded up 15 of our best budget-saving tips for families going to the Disney parks that don't sacrifice an ounce of family time (or fun). Read on to see them all!
Dining in the Disney Parks can be quickly add up. One way to stretch your budget, especially with a larger family, is to cook some of your own meals in your room. For example, the kitchens at Disney's Bay Lake Tower outside of Walt Disney World are spacious and have plenty of counter space for prepping and enjoying meals throughout your vacation.
Even without a handy kitchen nearby, you can still purchase snacks from outside the park to eat during the day. Disney does allow guests to bring in their own food and drinks, which is a great way for your family to save some money. This is especially true if one of your children is a picky eater and only likes certain types of snacks — no hunting for toddler-friendly PB&J when a meltdown is imminent.
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Don't Buy Water at a Disney Park
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When your kids are thirsty, there's no need to buy bottles of water for them. Quick-service restaurants and Starbucks stores throughout Walt Disney World and Disneyland will give you cups of water for free! You can also always bring your own reusable bottle and fill it up at the water fountains throughout the park (usually by the restrooms). The savings here can be huge!
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Consider Ordering Kids Meals For Everyone
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Disney kids meals are usually quite large and filling. This pictured kids meal from Satu'li Canteen at Disney's Animal Kingdom is a nicely sized piece of fish and a salad — plenty for an adult lunch! Plus, all kids meals come with carrots or apple slices, and a drink.
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Always Ask About Discounts
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Disney vacations can be full of discounts for your family — as long as you inquire about them! Walt Disney World, for example, often runs discounts on rooms for annual passholders, Disney Vacation Club members, and Florida residents. You can also get discounts on dining with an annual pass, Disney Vacation Club, and Tables in Wonderland.
Target allows shoppers to purchase Disney gift cards with their Target Red Card and get five percent off of the total gift card amount. This can add up to a huge savings when you're shopping in the park. Disney gift cards can be used like cash in the parks when buying food, souvenirs, and more.
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Do Your Research on the Disney Dining Plan
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There are quite a few different types of Disney Dining Plans at Walt Disney World, which essentially allows guests to pre-pay for meals and use credits to pay for food and drinks in restaurants. Depending on how your family eats, the dining plan can be worth the investment. But for other families, it can be a huge waste of money. Carefully read the details of the plans to find the best options for you!
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Be Flexible With Your Travel Dates
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One of the easiest ways to stretch your Disney budget is to not be locked in on your travel dates. Disney recently implemented a new ticket pricing strategy that makes peak days more expensive and non-peak days much less expensive. If you can, try to be as flexible as possible when picking your vacation dates so you can get the best ticket prices — and save a good bit of money.
Buying an annual pass is something you're going to need to calculate out for your family, but the price could be worth it — passholders get discounts on dining and merchandise, free parking at the theme parks, and a whole year to enjoy the Disney parks (especially great if you live nearby). There are different levels of annual passes for Walt Disney World and Disneyland, so be sure to look at all of them to see if any might work for your family.
Got a kid who constantly asks for just one more souvenir to bring home? One of the easiest ways to keep them on a budget for merchandise and souvenirs (without having to say "no" a million times) is to give them a Disney gift card with a set amount and let them know that's what they have to spend for the entire vacation. Some kids might use it all on one toy, and others might spread out their spending over the whole trip — either way you're staying within your budget, and your kiddos are only bringing home stuff they really want.
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Bring Some Essentials With You
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Of course, there are many essential items you should be bringing to a Disney Park, but some unexpected ones that you might not think about: Disposable ponchos for water rides or unexpected rain, and a handheld chargeable fan! Even though both of these items can be bought at the Disney parks, they are much cheaper if you buy them before walking in the gates.
The cheapest place to stay at Walt Disney World is the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds, where the typical campsite is about $75 a night. Not only do you still get all of the amazing amenities that Disney offers — including free transportation to and from the park, and the ability to book FastPass+ options before non-resort guests — you can save some money and have a unique experience with your family!
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Utilize Disney Transportation
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If your family is staying at a Walt Disney World resort hotel you should utilize Disney's Magical Express transportation system to and from the airport. This free service will save you the cost of a rental car. You can also use the free Disney buses to get to and from your hotel to the parks and Disney Springs throughout your vacation. In Disneyland, a convenient monorail will take you from Downtown Disney straight into Tomorrowland.
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Take Advantage of Free Activities at the Resorts
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No matter what Disney resort you choose to stay at, there will be some super-fun and family-friendly activities to do each day. From movies each night in the common areas to roasting marshmallows, or fun tours of the resorts, there's something for every guest — at no extra cost.
If your kids are still under 10 years old, their ticket to get into the Disney parks are cheaper . . . even free, depending on age! Tickets for kids age 3-9 are a little less than adult tickets (considered ages 10+), and kids three and under get into the Disney parks for free — making for a great savings.
