If you’re planning a trip to Disney, you must be prepared to spend some money. However, that doesn’t mean you have to drop your entire life savings into one vacation just to make sure your family has the time of their lives. There are many secrets to doing Disney World on a budget that not only doesn’t require you to sacrifice the quality of your experience, but can actually allow you a more luxurious journey. Regardless of how much you may have allocated for your getaway, there’s nothing wrong with trying to save money whenever possible, or trying to get the most bang for your buck. The following suggestions will significantly help you in planning a trip to Disney World on a budget.
Disney World Lodging & Homes
Accommodations tend to eat up a large portion of any vacation budget, but it doesn’t have to if you choose where you stay carefully. So the first thing to factor into your budget are your Disney World lodging options. There’s no question that Disney resort hotels are going to be more expensive than staying somewhere off-site. The good news is that by renting a vacation home in one of the resort-like communities nearby, you can spend less and get more.
Disney World homes come in all sizes to comfortably accommodate the size of your party that come complete with a fully loaded kitchen, private pool and spa, game room, washer and dryer, and many other amenities that will make you feel like you’re right at home. Some of them even come with access to top-rated golf courses and movie theaters right on the premises. Compared to what you get with your stay at a resort hotel, these Disney World homes can end up being the far better and more gratifying deal.
Attractions
The rides and parades are only a small fraction of the attractions you’ll find at the Disney World resort. Look for deals to either of the two waterparks, try your swing at one of the three championship golf courses, take a bass fishing excursion, reserve a backstage tour, or grab a seat at one of the world-famous shows. Pick up a copy of Birnbaum’s Walt Disney World to help guide you through the park and take advantage of the exclusive coupons for different activities in the back.
Dining
If you really want to do Disney World on a budget, you need to take in account the amount of money that you spend on food. While you don’t want to skip out completely on the experience of character dining and some of the better table service restaurants at the resort, you can nevertheless get around paying an exorbitant amount for food. Character meals that are on the cheaper side but are still good include 1900 Park Fare, ‘Ohana, and Garden Grove. Consider sharing meals while at the park and bringing in your own snacks and drinks, and dining outside of the park when you can.
Tickets
There are many sources that offer Disney World tickets at a discounted rate. Though you’ll probably still pay a good percentage of the original price, the little you save on each ticket can add up for bigger families. It’s advised that you do your research and look for these discounts in advance and not wait to buy your tickets at the gate. If you plan to visit more than one theme park, calculate the price difference between purchasing a park-hopper ticket, and instead, just adding extra days to a regular ticket. You’ll often find the latter turns out to be cheaper.
Using these tips, you’ll be able to do Disney World on a budget, while still feeling like you’re living in the lap of luxury.
