Walt Disney World Budget Planning Guide

My family is fortunate enough to visit Walt Disney World quite frequently. However, I will be the first to admit that it can get expensive very quickly, especially if you are traveling from out of town. You don’t need thousands of dollars in order to take a Disney vacation, but it will take more work and planning. Here is the Walt Disney World Budget Planning Guide!

WALT DISNEY WORLD BUDGET PLANNING GUIDE

Track prices to get the best deals

If you are looking for the best prices, this means you will need to monitor your hotel and travel prices for a few weeks. This also includes your park tickets. Do some math ahead of time and figure out how many days you need to, and can afford, to stay in order to get the best price.

Stay during the off-season

You can still have a Disney resort experience, but if you plan on doing this, you are going to have to stay off-season. If you aren’t staying a resort, you will still find lower prices at nearby hotels during the off-season. Off-season for Disney parks is Monday-Wednesday in late January and early February.

Skip the upgrades

If you are trying to stay on a budget, you need to skip the upgrades that Disney will offer. The Dining Plan and Park Hopper are great for those with wiggle room in their budget, but you will save more without them.

Bring your own food

Disney allows you to not only bring food into the resorts but also to the parks! If you still want to enjoy park food while you are there, pack your own breakfast and/or lunch to save some money.

Skip the souvenirs

Many of the items you’ll find in the gift shops and in Disney Springs can be bought online! If you are on a tight budget, consider saving up for these souvenirs and buy them after your trip.

Take your own pictures

Everyone wants their picture taken in front of the castle, but you don’t need to pay a photographer to get that photo! Ask a photographer to also take a photo with your phone or camera so you don’t have to buy Disney’s photo, and you can still have your photo taken with the whole family.

Buy your tickets using an authorized Disney retailer

There are a lot of authorized Disney sellers out there who can help you save money on your park tickets. If you book through Disney, you can be sure you’re always paying full price. However, if you book through a retailer, you can sometimes save some money. I recommend purchasing your park tickets HERE. This is where I always refer my family and friends. 

Be flexible with your travel plans

If you are flexible, you can save the most money! Be flexible with your travel and airline dates and go with the cheapest price!

Consider specials and packages

Sometimes Disney has specials or packages that are going to be worth the cost. Do the math and see if a package or special could save you money.

As you can see, you can plan a budget friendly trip to Disney! I hope that these tips help you plan your next trip to Disney and help you stay on budget.