When you think of Disney you probably think two things - lines and money! One of the reasons you would be well advised to use my services is I can help on both fronts. I'll use crowd calendars to tell you which park to visit on each day to avoid some crowds, book fast-passes strategically for the right rides at the right times, and create daily itineraries that maximize saving time on the line front. But I can also help you save money. A bit with your booking (I always monitor for discounts, even after you book and can apply things later!) but also with the tips I share here, on my facebook page, and in conversations with clients. Here are a few of my favorite tips for saving money at Disney!
1. Stay on site. A value resort on property will be at most slightly more expensive than options off property. With an on-site reservation you maximize your time (and time equals money) through the extra hours resort guests get in the park but also save money on transportation. Off-site guests pay at least $20 a day in parking fees if they drive to and from the parks. Plus, you need to add in the rental car fee itself for anyone flying. Or ground transportation to and from the airport if you are going to use (the usually inconvenient) shuttles of an off-site resort. If you do drive to Disney, parking is free for those staying on site at both the hotels and the parks. If you don't drive, transportation to and from the airport and around Disney World is included in the price of all resorts on site. So any money saved by booking off site often quickly gets eaten away by transportation costs when you compare an on-site value resort verses an off-site reservation.
2. Bring costumes from home. Shocker I know, but prices in Disney stores on site are escalated due to demand. Your little princess or pirate may very well want to dress up in the parks; don't be caught off guard and subjected to the prices in the park. Bring a costume from home that is already well loved or even better, buy something cute brand new for the trip on Amazon or even etsy for less than what you'd pay on property.
3. Bring toys/trinkets/glow sticks from home. There is lots to buy at Disney. As soon as dusk hits, it is like a 4th of July viewing with glowing and flashing toys everywhere. Head that off with some dollar store or Target glow stick accessories. While you are at it, pick up a few other Disney toys to put out in the morning at the hotel room or pull out as a surprise in a line. Souvenirs are great but they don't have to kill your budget!
4. Bring food from home or use a grocery service. Even if you select a dining plan for your trip, you'll want to bring food from home or get some delivered to your resort from a local grocery company. Granola or other breakfast bars, apple sauce pouches, fruit snacks, and even peanut butter and jelly sandwich makings are great for our family. When we have a car we buy fruit and other fresh treats. We eat at a restaurant either for breakfast or lunch and then dinner and these snacks get us through the rest of the day without us spending $10 on the first thing we see when starvation (and with it, whining) hits. I find with bringing these items I can usually have my kids share one Disney kid meal at a counter service restaurant and then supplement with snacks. This lets us stretch our dining credits or save money when we aren't on the dining plan.
5. Think about autographs before you go. Autograph books at Disney are expensive and they also aren't always the best way to collect or display memories. Inexpensive items to collect autographs from home include a plain white pillowcase for characters to sign, a mat for a frame (if you have a place to carry this in the parks!), a Disney t-shirt, or a dollar store or craft store autograph book or photo album. There are so many creative ideas for this one - just search pinterest! But no matter what you pick, remember to bring a fat sharpie that will be easy for characters to grip!
6. Never buy bottled water! If you are on the dining plan, bottled water counts as a snack credit but you definitely won't get your money's worth on the plan if you spend all your snack credits on these instead of park treats like ice cream in Epcot's France pavilion or breakfast items at your resort. And ice water is free if you ask at any counter restaurant. You can also bring water bottles from home and refill through the park. If you don't like Florida water, use flavoring packets. There is almost never a reason to spend $3 a pop on what you can get for free in so many places!
7. Ask for gift cards for presents for you/your kids. No one needs more stuff in their house anyways, am I right? We give each kid a $25 gift card for souvenirs. They spend the trip picking something special and know they just get to spend that $25 and nothing more. Other gift cards can be used for food or special events. You can even pay for your trip using gift cards - I just need the numbers to apply to your account! You can even buy slightly discounted gift cards at some warehouse stores or at Target with your red card to save a little extra money going this route. But no matter how you buy them, using gift cards to help pay for your trip, especially if they have been given to you by others for holidays and birthdays, it definitely helps with costs! I used a $100 one I was given for Christmas to pay for ALL of my meals at Disney for a 4-day solo marathon trip last year. It was amazing and sort of like a challenge to see if I could eat well and do it!
8. Think about when you go. Disney's prices change seasonally. Hotels, park tickets, and even restaurant prices are more expensive when more people plan to be there. The most crowded and most expensive weeks? Christmas and Easter by far! If at all possible go off-season to save money on costs and to save time in lines. Who wants to pay more to be with tons of people? I can help you pick the best weeks for costs and lines.
So there are some money saving ideas! I'll share others in a later post. And as always, please contact me for quotes, with questions, or to book your magical trip!
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