It’s the highest ride at Walt Disney World!I have a crazy idea for saving money this week. It is not something that would work if your Walt Disney World vacation includes children. It’s also not for anyone for who this would be a once in a lifetime vacation. If you’re reading this because you relate to the “Over 50” part of the name of this website and you’ve been to Walt Disney World often, hear me out.
My suggestion to save some money is to skip the theme parks. Book whatever on property hotel you can afford, and have a relaxing vacation! Think about it. Wouldn’t it be nice to sleep in and go at your own pace? You can’t easily relax if you’re rushing from one ride to another!
There are plenty of things to do at Walt Disney World that cost less than a theme park ticket. Enjoying your resort pool is free. So is Disney Springs. Explore as many resorts as you can. Ride all three routes of the Disney Skyliner. Catch Chip ‘N Dale’s Campfire Sing-A-Long, which is also free to attend. Head to Disney’s BoardWalk after dark and watch the street performers. Then walk over to the bridge near the International Gateway entrance to Epcot to see the fireworks portion of Harmonious. Watch Disney Enchantment from the observation deck at Disney’s Contemporary Resort. Don’t forget the Electrical Water Pageant! These are just a few free suggestions.
There are some choices that aren’t free, but also aren’t too expensive. The miniature golf courses are well themed and affordable. Water park tickets cost much less than theme park tickets. You can see Walt Disney World from high in the sky at Disney Springs. These are three ways to get your “Disney fix” without stepping foot in one of the four theme parks.
If you are staying on Disney property and don’t have a car you can still get around. Take a bus to Disney Springs. From there, you can take another bus to any of the Walt Disney World Resort hotels. You could also take a bus to one of the theme parks, and then head to your new destiny. For example, if you want to visit Disney’s Contemporary Resort, take the bus from your hotel to the Magic Kingdom, and then walk to the hotel. It only takes a few minutes.
Not everyone likes the idea of totally skipping the theme parks, so maybe plan just a day or two, but stay a few extra days. That will give you a chance for some thrills, but you’ll be able to chill out some too.
There is more to Walt Disney World than just the theme parks. Much of it is affordable or even free. A Walt Disney World vacation without theme park tickets could end up being your best vacation ever. Think about it; no waiting in long lines, no micromanaging your schedule, no trying to justify paying an additional $15 for a ride when you could just wait in standby. It sounds like a great vacation to me!