How to Plan a Disney Vacation on a Budget :
Tips to Save Big Without Missing the Magic

“What are you going to do next?”

“I’m going to Disney World!”

This quote has been asked to all Super Bowl champs in a fun tradition since 1987. Coming from Kansas City Chiefs country, I’ve seen our own quarterback Patrick Mahomes utter this statement and live out the tradition in the years he was Super Bowl MVP. From the Super Bowl stage to movie screens to your local Walmart shelves, it’s undeniable that the magic of Disney is everywhere!

Because Disney has such a generational influence, I’d venture to guess that most people have considered what it would be like to travel to Disney at least once in their lives! But, where do you start planning a Disney vacation? Moreso, how much does it cost to experience the magic? Is it even possible to plan an affordable Disney trip? 

Yes, it is absolutely possible to take a budget-friendly approach to experiencing Disney World and Disneyland! Now, in full transparency, I haven’t had the pleasure of experiencing Disney firsthand, so I’ve partnered with one of the official Disney travel professionals, my lovely sister-in-law, Kelci! Together, we’ve combined her Disney know-how and my budgeting expertise to bring you this ultimate guide to experiencing Disney on a budget. 

Note: This post focuses on planning and budgeting a trip to Disney World, but you can absolutely utilize these concepts across all of the Disney parks and related resorts!

Like any other grand adventure, the easiest way to save is by booking ahead and expertly preparing. For Disney specifically, allowing plenty of time before you travel is key when taking advantage of all of the Disney deals! To get started, grab your calendar and jot down a few timeframes when you might want to travel. Then, consider what you hope to experience during your vacation, such as any holiday celebrations or a food festival at Epcot! Record these dates of travel and all of the experience ideas down on our Vacation Budget Planner – Disney Edition! Now, with your loose vacation plan in place, let’s review how to save the most on Disney World tickets and narrow down our adventure!

Save on tickets to Disney

1. Consider off-season travel. Traveling during the “off-season” time period will be less expensive overall than the busier times of the year such as over spring break or Christmas. Think of the off season as an easier way to do and see more for your time. Some of Kelci’s favorite times to travel fall in the early months of the year, right before summer break, September (after the Labor Day holiday) and early December!
2. Search for discounts and bundles. Throughout the year, Disney usually offers promotions like Room + Ticket packages, Room + Ticket + Dining packages, Disney Visa Card discounts, and more! Keep a watchful eye out for promotions, or sign up with a Disney Dream Designer (like Kelci) to get an insider’s scoop on the deals!
3. Plan around ages. Save big on ticket prices by getting tickets for free! If you have children ages 3 and under, they get in for FREE!I know it’s tempting to wait until they are older to “remember” the trip, but under three is the prime princess age and the most inexpensive way to bring kiddos to Disney!
4. Determine your park preference. Disney is so much more than one theme park! With multiple parks to choose from, you should consider the number of days you plan to spend in each park you want to visit. The more days of tickets you purchase, the cheaper the “per day” cost will be. You can choose to purchase a Park Hopper Pass if you think you’ll actually want to visit more than one park per day. Kelci notes that if it is your first visit, you may not want to purchase a Park Hopper Pass, as you’ll have plenty to do in each park by just visiting one per day.

Save on Disney extras

Disney has options for EVERYTHING. With your Vacation Budget Planner in hand, determine what experience fits in your budget and which ones you can DIY! 

1. Dining on a dime. The Disney Dining Plan might be a great option if you want table service or character dining as those amenities can add up when booked separately. There are several dining options so choose the one that fits you, or forgo premium dining and pack a cooler for the day!
2. Pre-purchase the magic. If a birthday or Christmas is coming up, ask for Disney gift cards as your gift! My parents did this one year for a cruise, and the gift card were so nice to have on board the ship. Plus, various places (like Sam’s club) offer discounted gift cards throughout the year and with a little forethought, you can really stack up the gift cards!
3. Pack smart. If you’ve ever been on vacation and needed medicine within a resort, you know it is crazy expensive. So, just as with planning ahead for the direct expenses, consider planning ahead on indirect expenses as well! Buy matching T-shirts, Mickey ears, water bottles, first aid supplies, and more ahead of time! 

Kelci’s Travel Tip – “When planning gifts throughout the year before a trip, we love to plan to buy items according to things that we will need and/or use on our vacations. This could look like a suitcase for Christmas, new shoes or gift cards for birthday gifts, or something to keep the kids entertained on a flight! So, in the long run, much of what we bought for our trip, not only helped during our trip, but we also have some fun souvenirs and memories attached to those items to look back on later!” 

Now that the fun is booked, let’s focus on the transportation section of our Vacation Budget Planner. How will you travel to Disney, and once you are there, what are the expected transportation costs? 

• Driving or flying. I have driven to Florida from Missouri, and let me tell you, it is a trek! Regardless, driving can be very cost effective if you are toting several family members with luggage! On the flip side, air promotions can help you save on flights or score luggage discounts. So, depending on where you are traveling from, it will be important to weigh the drive-versus-fly cost decision. 
• Shuttle options. As for actually arriving at Disney, there is a fee for airport to resort transfers, but once you arrive on Disney property, all your transportation is included from there. This Disney transportation could be by way of buses, boats, skyliner or the monorail. 

Perhaps the most important piece — and a large portion of your vacation budget — will be lodging. Where will you sleep after a long, fun day? There are several options for lodging to fit any budget.

• On-site resort. It might be tempting to stay off site and travel into the park each day, but Kelci notes that Disney often has multiple bundle promotions that can be more budget friendly. Disney categorizes their resorts into three tiers: Value, Moderate and Deluxe resorts. All have the Disney touch and service that you expect but with different price tags. If you are traveling on a budget, narrow your focus to the Value resorts if you decide to stay on a Disney property.
• Campgrounds. If you love to camp or have an RV, check out Disney Fort Wilderness! This is a unique resort that can offer a lower price tag and fun amenities like golf cart rentals and pet-friendly accommodations!

You can get creative when it comes to eating at Disney on a budget. As mentioned before, you can pack a cooler and bring it into the park each day, or decide to dine at one of the many options in the park. Overall, the most cost-effective plan will be one in which you utilize several dining methods. Every day does not have to consist of three sit-down meals, but think of dining as a spectrum where you consider packed picnics as well as special dining moments along the way. This helps you save money overall while ensuring you experience a few special dining moments, if that is important to your family. 

• Planning meal expenses. Start by deciding what you want your “core meals” to look like, and consider if you want to invest a little bit more into these meal times and where you can be more flexible later! For example, you can book dining reservations up to 60 days in advance, so some families may decide to always have a sit-down dinner each night and then grab breakfast and lunch on the go. On the flip side, perhaps you want to have a character breakfast one day, then a lighter fare day full of picnic finds later on. (Psst — this is one of Kelci’s planning specialties!)
• Sharing is caring. Outside the standard three meals per day, you can also consider an array of yummy snacks and treats! Be sure to include a “snack budget” line item in your Vacation Budget Planner because you will inevitably want a little treat at some point during your vacation. When those sweet treat moments arise, consider if you can share snacks to stretch your budget further and try more things!

The fun doesn’t just start and stop just within the iconic Disney World gates. Disney also offers FREE themed adventures and outings for your non-park days!

• Disney Springs. This outdoor shopping and entertainment complex is free to visit and walk around, plus it has several events to check out as well! Parking is complimentary and a shuttle services from the resorts. 
• Disney Boardwalk. Similar to Disney Springs, the Disney Boardwalk near Epcot and Hollywood Studios is another great idea for your non-park days! Experience the street performers, classic games, and more fun dining options. Shuttle services are complimentary from the resorts, but keep in mind that driving there may incur parking costs. 

• Resort activities. If you stay at a Disney resort, check the resort’s event calendar! Oftentimes, you can catch a poolside Disney movie or other fun themed night.

Kelci’s Travel Tip: “I always suggest to my guests to take a non-park day within the middle of your vacation. So, you might do a 6-night vacation arriving on a Sunday, with a 4-day ticket, and do park days on Monday and Tuesday, a “Resort Day” on Wednesday for a nice little mid-week break, and finish out your park days on Thursday and Friday. That way you can also enjoy your resort amenities with their amazing pools, resort activities like Movies Under the Stars, Mickey Tie Dye, bead necklaces, smores and more! Plus, it may give you some time to rest and recharge and maybe even time for a visit to Disney Springs for a little shopping and quick bite too!”

There you have it — all of the insider tips from a Disney travel professional to make the most of your Disney vacation on a budget!