Walt Disney World Money Saving Tips

Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is an exciting and magical place to visit, it is great for families as well as couples. What if you are on a budget? Most people are so Disney provides various ways for you to save money and still enjoy the Disney atmosphere.

Plan Ahead

One way to save money is to plan ahead. Planning ahead may sound boring, but it can be an exciting part of the vacation. Start by organizing your trip, this will increase your enjoyment later and you will see that it was well worth the effort. Get the children to join in, you can make the planning a family event and the kids will love to be involved.

Packing for the Trip

When the time comes to start packing for the trip you may wonder what to take. The parks are casual. So pack some comfortable walking clothes. If you are planning to dine in some of the more expensive restaurants check for dress code, some require a dress jacket. Even in the summer you may need a light sweater, the air conditioning can get quite chilly. If you are going in January or February it can get pretty chilly so take a jacket. The morning and evening are generally the coolest with the middle of the day getting comfortable. In the summer it rains almost every afternoon. I recommend that you take your own rain gear from home and save money. Disney does provide rain gear at a price and it can get quite expensive.

Dining

Dining is another big expense for families. Disney allows you to bring food into the parks. You can take advantage of this buy packing snacks and sandwich fixings and have a picnic in the park. Always pack kid friendly snacks because snacks in the parks can really add up. If you are interested in visiting some of the nice table service restaurants try to do so during lunch. It is cheaper to eat lunch at one of these restaurants than it is to eat dinner there. If you are staying at one of the Disney Resorts, ask for a small refrigerator, they will be provided at no charge. To save money on dining do not plan on eating three meals a day at a table service restaurant this will get very expensive. Souvenir mugs are also available to purchase and they can be refilled for free during your trip. Last, do check out the Disney Dining Plan they have a variety of plans and you may find one that fits your needs.

Tickets

Tickets are a big expense as well, so make sure that you buy the right tickets for your family. The more days you buy the cheaper it is per day. Do keep in mind that the tickets expire 14 days after the first use unless you have purchased the non-expiring tickets. It used to be that the tickets never expired but that is not the case anymore. If you have a ticket for your child and they have “outgrown” it by turning 10 you can trade up for an adult ticket and not loose the days left on it.

Resorts

Disney has a list of “value” and “moderate” resorts that are family friendly. These resorts are economically priced and they are even cheaper at certain times of the year. The best time to book your Disney trip in from January through mid February, late August through late September, and early November through late December, during this time they often run specials. When choosing a resort consider how much time you will actually spend there. If you will be spending all of your day at the parks then you may not need all the amenities of an expensive resort.

Conclusion

Take into consideration the perks to staying on Disney property. Disney provides the Magical Express. The Magical Express will take you and your family to and from the airport at no charge. When you stay on Disney property you are able to take advantage of extra Magic hours. Extra Magic hours are only available to guests that stay on property. While staying at the resorts on property Disney provides bus service to and from all Disney parks at no charge. Also, take into consideration how much it costs to park your car. The last time I checked parking cost about $18.00 a day. This can really add up if you are going all week.

Happy Travels!

Velzipmur aka Shelly Wyatt