If you are considering a vacation to Disney World, your budget can make the decision for you. My previous blog 6 Ways to Save Money on Your Next Trip to Disney World helps not breaking your bank account while you are there! This article will help you stay within your Disney World budget.
Disney World is expensive no matter how you slice it. There are ways to cut unnecessary costs and still enjoy the most magical vacation ever. First, for any Disney related travel plans, let me encourage you to utilize the service of a travel professional that specializes in Disney Destinations.
Staying within your vacation budget at Walt Disney World will make your trip less stressful. Let’s not waste any of your time, I’ll dive right in.
Share food/Order Off the Kid’s Menu
At any quick service location, you can mobile order off the kid’s menu, even if you are an adult. The kid’s menu at most of the quick service locations are smaller portions of items on the regular menu. However, are generally large enough to satisfy a full-grown adult. Actually they are adequate enough to satisfy a teenage boy! That says a lot.
At sit down restaurants and signature dining locations, I recommend ordering one appetizer and one entrée between two people. Then both split each dish. Again, the portion sizes of the Disney World food service locations are large! It should be, right? The cost is also large!
This also prevents leftovers. No one wants to waste food. I can’t imagine anyone wants to carry the leftovers around in your park bag for the rest of the day. Yuck!
photo: @bizzy.runninganddizn
The last thing you want is to walk approximately 10 miles a day in the hot Florida sun, riding thrill rides on a full stomach. Save your larger meals for the end of the day. Remember the portion sizes are big enough to satisfy two people in most cases, especially when paired with a great starter dish.
Spend Time Outside the Parks at Disney World
If you have been to Disney before you may have heard the term “resort day”. Essentially, this is one or more days of your vacation NOT spent inside the theme parks. Instead, you enjoy the amenities of your Disney resort. Whether you are staying at a value, moderate or deluxe Disney resort, you have spent your hard-earned money to be there.
Photo Credit: Disney Destinations
Not only does it give you a break from the chaos of the parks, but it also affords time to relax and doing so saves you the money. There are so many magical extra activities to enjoy at the Disney World resort area that don’t require a park ticket. You can read all the options in No Theme Park Ticket Required.
While some activities such as horseback riding, Segway tours and Sangria University do have a fee, other options are free and inspire relaxation. You can spend a day or two lounging by the pool or visiting the other Disney Resorts.
My husband and I spent the day hopping from one resort to another on one vacation. It was a lot of fun. The lobbies and resorts themselves can feel like destinations alone.
Say No to Park Hopper Option to Stay Within a Disney World Budget
Choosing the park hopper option on your park ticket is a waste of money. If you have 4 days to visit the theme parks at Walt Disney World, then I suggest you purchase base tickets. Plan to visit one park per day.
It is difficult to see, do and experience the individual parks if you are spending your morning cramming it all in at one park. You may be missing a great deal of the details and theming that make each park unique.
Plus, the amount of time spent on transportation between the parks can put a damper on the fun and add stress. Disney transportation, specifically the buses are notoriously overcrowded. If other people have the same idea, you may end up waiting a long time for a bus.
Lastly, I suggest getting to your park for early theme park entry. Disney World resort guests can enter the theme parks 30 minutes earlier than the general public. It’s one of the biggest advantages of staying on property.
Some Disney Good Neighbor Resort guests are extended the same privilege. As a result, you can jump on a few attractions while it is relatively cool and not crowded.
Travel During Discounts at Disney World to Stay Within Your Budget
One of the best times to travel to Walt Disney World is during off peak seasons. More specifically, when Disney is offering a discount. You can save 20%-35% on the cost of your stay. In fact, it’s possible to add a new discount to a preexisting reservation if applicable.
As a travel agent I keep an eye on the discounts offered by Disney to their resort guests. Disney regularly announces discounted room rates on select hotels. In general, the larger discounts apply during off peak times of the year. Lastly, DizN Vacations has created crowd calendars for clients to use when planning for a trip to Disney World.
If I notice Disney has announced a discount, I can apply it to an existing reservation and save you money. In addtion, may also benefit you to consider booking a “split-stay”. You can book one resort for half your trip and another for the second half. Some guests do this between Universal Studios resorts and Walt Disney World hotels as well.
Don’t Purchase Genie+ (every day) to Stay Within a Disney World Budget
*Update: On July 24, 2024, Disney Genie+ will transition to Lightning Lane Mutli Pass allowing guests to choose up to 3 Lightning Lane reservations per park ahead of their visit.
For an indepth look at Disney Genie, read A Simple Way to Explain Disney Genie, Disney Genie+ and Individual Lightning Lane Purchases.
Disney Genie is free to everyone with a park ticket. It is built into the My Disney Experience App. It is the tool that every guest uses to plan their day efficiently. As a guest, you tell genie what your priorities are, and genie will spit out an itinerary for the day. It takes your selections and let you know the best plan.
Disney Genie+ is a paid for option through Disney Genie that allows guests to book attractions without waiting in the regular line. This is what was formerly fast pass + and the cost is varying from at least $15/person per day to use. However, you can only book one attraction at a time if a time window is available.
Disney Genie+ is not necessary on all of your park days. For example, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park and Epcot have fewer attractions with less wait times. Click on those links to learn about how to navigate without the Genie+ service.
photo: @bizzy.runninganddizn
I’ve given you more ways to save money on your trip to Disney World. Continue to read my blogs for information related to travel to both Disney and Universal Studios. In addition, my tools page will offer tips and tricks as well as a packing list suggestion for your trip.
If you are interested in in a vacation to any Disney destination or Universal Studios Park, reach out to DizN Vacations. Thier expert advice and experience will help you personalize your trip and create the vacation you’ve been envisioning. You can also submit a free no obligation quote request to start planning your trip.
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