You can still save money, even during the Peak Season!One of the biggest ways to save money on a Walt Disney World vacation is to visit during a Value Season. Unfortunately, that isn’t always possible. Whether it’s a school vacation, your work schedule, or something else, for many it’s only feasible to visit during the busiest times of the year. Even though you’ll pay more for many things, it is still possible to save money. Here are a few suggestions.
Watch the Extras
There are many upcharges that you can purchase. Look them over, and decide which ones are really important to you. Park Hopper and Memory Maker are nice, but they will also add quite a bit to your final cost. Only purchase these if you’re sure that you will use them. Also, MagicBands are convenient, but not necessary. I’m not going to say whether or not you should buy Disney Genie+ or Lightning Lane. I will say that they add up.
Stay Off Property
The end of Disney’s Magical Express makes staying off property a little bit easier. There are some great hotels in the area that cost a fraction of what you’ll pay on property. I recommend checking the list of hotels on MouseSavers.com. There are some shady hotels in the area, and MouseSavers has done the work for you. Whatever you do, don’t book if you don’t know what the hotel is! You can read why I’ll never book with Hotwire again here.
Speaking of MouseSavers…
If you’re looking for a great savings resource, head to MouseSavers.com! Not only will you find hotel information, but there are also discounts. Sign up for the email newsletter to keep up with the latest. There are often last minute deals, and you might even find a discount on tickets. You won’t be spammed, there’s a monthly newsletter around the 15th of each month, and then an occasional special offer. I helped a friend save over $100 on tickets a while back because of an email that I received from MouseSavers.
Snacks
You can bring your own snacks into the theme parks, so do it! Not only will this save you money, it will save you time. If you don’t want to carry a heavy backpack all day, rent a locker. That will still cost you less than purchasing snacks would. Pack things that will not melt or go bad in the Florida heat. You can bring a small cooler, but loose ice is not allowed.
Meals
You need to eat, but leaving the theme park to find a fast food restaurant will take a chunk out of your day. Not only can you bring in snacks, you can bring in a light meal. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches or bagels are cheap, and they will help you to save some money. Eat breakfast at your hotel, carry your lunch with you, and then you’ll only need to buy one meal! Quick service restaurants are usually cheaper than full service. You can see prices for most restaurants on the My Disney Experience App or the Walt Disney World website. If the price isn’t listed, you probably can’t afford it on a budget-friendly vacation.
Rent a Car
Renting a car might save you money if you fly. You need to get to and from the airport, plus having a car will allow you to head to a nearby Publix grocery store to pick up snacks and a few things for breakfast. (The local Walmarts are all madhouses, and Target can be packed as well.) Check before you rent the car to see if your resort has a parking fee. You’ll also want to know if there is a shuttle to Walt Disney World from your hotel, how often it goes, and if there is a fee for it.
Drive From Home
Depending on where you’re traveling from, driving your own car might be a cheaper option than flying. While there are many discount flights these days, there are also reasons why those flights are cheap.
Souvenirs
If you’re like me, you’re going to want one of everything! Before you do that, think about whether or not you’re going to use/display the souvenir. When we go to Disneyland, we wait until the last day of our trip to buy our souvenirs. That way, we had a chance to see everything and we know what we really want. If you didn’t buy Park Hopper, wait until the end of the day to buy your souvenirs. Impulse buying will add a lot to your vacation budget! Speaking of your budget, make one and stick to it. I often recommend buying Disney Gift Cards and using those to pay for souvenirs, because that way you already have a budget. You can sometimes find discounted Gift Cards at places like Sam’s Club, which will also help you to save.
Splurge
Plan for one splurge during your Walt Disney World vacation. Your splurge doesn’t have to be expensive. It could be a Dole Whip or a pair of Minnie Ears. If there’s a full service restaurant that you really want to try, make that reservation. While you are trying to spend as little as possible, you’re still on vacation. You deserve something special.