Money saving tips for Disney World

Here are 15 of the best money saving tips for Disney World. If you’re planning a Disney vacation, you probably know that Disney World can be expensive! That said, a Disney vacation doesn’t have to cost a fortune and there are plenty of ways to save money at Disney World.

At Florida Travel with Kids, we’re Disney Annual Passholders (and Universal Annual Passholders) and love sharing out best Disney tips and tricks, including all the ways to save money on a Disney vacation.

Bonus tip to save money at Disney – get a cheap rental car!

If you need a car for your Disney vacation, we recommend renting a car from Discount USA Car Rental. They offer the best rates with free cancellation, and you don’t pay until you pick up the car.

Plan your vacation with a Disney Travel Agent!

Before we start with these money saving tips for Disney World, let me tell you a little bit about myself. My name is Amy, and I’m a Florida resident, Disney Annual Passholder, mom of the Florida Travel with Kids-kids, and a Disney College of Knowledge graduate. I keep up with the latest Disney news; it’s my job! If you’re interested in saving money and time by booking with a Certified Disney Travel Agent, make sure to contact me!

How to save money at Disney World

Now, let’s get to the best tips for how to save money at Disney World. There are plenty of other money saving tips for Disney World, so if I missed your favorites, make sure to share them with us in the comments below!

When you’re done here, check out 25 Free Things at Disney World for even more money-saving tips for Disney.

Start by creating a budget

While it may not be the most fun aspect of planning a Disney vacation, every list of best tips for saving money at Disney should start with creating a budget! How much can you afford to spend on a Disney trip? This will vary from family to family, but you’ll need to decide this upfront to see if a Disney vacation will work for you.

When creating a Disney budget, make sure to factor in everything you’ll need: flights (maybe), resort, Disney tickets, food, souvenirs, etc.

Travel outside of busy times

I realize that it isn’t possible for everyone, but one of the very best money saving tips for Disney World is to travel outside of popular travel dates. I had a friend looking to go to Disney on Spring Break and asked how people on TikTok are always sharing their cheap Disney trips. The answer is simple: they aren’t traveling during spring break!

If you’re able, traveling outside of popular holidays is typically going to offer the best pricing from Disney tickets to flights to resort stays and more.

Disney Gift Cards

This is one of the best money saving tips for Disney World, and it’s not much of a secret but still worth sharing here. Get discounts on Disney Gift Cards and use them to pay for souvenirs, tickets, and anything else! I recommend using your Target Red Card to purchase Disney gift cards because you’ll get 5% off.

Gift cards can also be a great way to set a budget for kids. You can get a gift card for each child in whatever amount you decide, and let them know that any souvenirs or other special items must be purchased on the card. When the money runs out, it runs out!

Apply for a Disney credit card

Please don’t go into debt for a Disney vacation, but a Disney credit card can be a good way to save money at Disney if you’re responsible with credit cards! I have a Chase Disney card, and just for signing up, I got a $200 gift card plus a $200 statement credit. The card does have a $49 annual fee, but I still have $351 to use toward my next Disney trip for free!

Plus, how cute are these cards?!

Check for the latest deals and discounts

This is one of my favorite money saving tips for Disney World. Unless you’re traveling during a busy time (think Spring Break, Christmas, etc.) you’ll rarely need to pay full price for a Disney vacation! Disney is always running promos from free Disney dining plans to half-price kids tickets to hotel discounts and so much more.

The best way to keep up with the latest discounts is to work with a Disney Travel Agent. It seems like a full-time job to keep up with Disney, but fortunately for travel agents, it is our full-time job! Contact me if you’d like help booking your Disney trip.

Be aware of anything that seems too good to be true

While on the topic of deals and discounts, be aware of anything that seems too good to be true. You know the old saying, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is.” Be aware of any spammy sites offering great deals, they may not be legit. You also don’t want to spend your vacation time in a timeshare presentation! Stick with deals directly from Disney, Disney Travel Agents, or trusted third parties only.

Stay on property

It might seem like staying on-property at Disney costs more (because it does) but there are some great perks. The Disney resorts offer a lot of free things to do, plus the transportation is so convenient. When planning your Disney budget, I recommend checking to see how much it costs to stay on-property, some of the value resorts can be surprisingly affordable!

One last tip, there are two value resorts on the Skyliner route. You’ll find both Art of Animation and Pop Century on the Skyliner route, and it’s such a fun (and quick) way to get to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios. Check out more about the Skyliner here: 7 things to know about the Disney Skyliner.

Buy pins to trade online

Pin trading is one of the most fun things to do at Disney World, and you certainly don’t have to buy all of your pins at Disney. You can buy pins online before your trip and take them to trade. You never know, you might even buy a lot online and get some pins that you like before you even go!

Pack the essentials in your park bag

Don’t forget to bring essentials in your park bags, since they can be very expensive to purchase at Disney. Think things like rain ponchos, any pain medication like ibuprofen, sunscreen, bandaids, etc! 20 Genius Disney Park Bag Essentials has even more ideas!

Speaking of park bags, don’t miss the Best Fanny Pack for Disney  or the best bags for Universal Studios.

Buy clothes/gear/souvenirs ahead of time

It can be fun to buy souvenirs at Disney, but it can also be expensive! A good compromise might be to choose one souvenir to buy at the parks (maybe something like Minnie Ears or splurge on a Lightsaber, Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique princess makeover, or custom tiara) and then look for everything else before your trip.

Another fun tip is heading to Target, Walmart, or even thrift stores near Disney because you’ll get some great finds much cheaper than park prices! This is where having a rental car can come in handy! Don’t forget the cheapest way to get a rental car in Orlando is through Discount USA Car Rental.

We have more tips on this here: 20 Genius Disney Park Bag Essentials

Pressed pennies are a fun, cheap souvenir

Speaking of cheap souvenirs, pressed pennies are fun and so inexpensive! Purchase a pressed penny book on Amazon before your trip and see how many you can collect.

Bring your own food

Dining at Disney can be expensive, there’s no question about that. However, I have four tips for saving money on food at Disney. We’ll start with the most simple but least fun: bring your own food. You can absolutely bring your own food to Disney. Even if you plan to eat at Disney, you can bring some snacks into the parks to avoid paying high prices.

Popcorn buckets

Bringing your own food may not be fun (even if it saves money) but you know what is fun? Disney popcorn buckets! It’s a fun souvenir, and the refills are so inexpensive!

Order kids meals

While table-service restaurants may not allow adults to order off the kids’ menu, quick-service restaurants usually do! If you’re not a big eater (even temporarily, as the Florida heat might make you feel less hungry) you can save a lot by ordering a kids’ meal vs. an adult portion. In some instances, it’s almost the same size meal but at a much lower price!

Another option is splitting a meal between two adults.

Bring water bottles

This is one of the most simple money saving tips at Disney World, but $5+ drinks can add up! It’s hot in Florida and you want to be drinking water. Make it easy by bringing your own water bottles and refilling them in the parks. I like to bring a large Hydroflask or something similar.

Money saving tips for Disney World

I hope this list of the best money saving tips for Disney World helped you! Do you have any other tips for saving money at Disney? If so, we’d love it if you shared them in the comments! If you’re still planning a Disney vacation, I’d love to help you! Contact me today.

Do you want more Disney vacation ideas?

• 15 Disney Secrets that may surprise you!
• Disney Vocabulary and Disney Lingo Explained!
• Where to find Dole Whip at Disney World
• Star Wars Land vs. The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
• The best Minnie Ears for Disney outfit ideas

About Florida Travel With Kids

Florida Travel with Kids was started by a family who loves to travel the state of Florida with kids! This site will help you explore the fun state of Florida and all of the kid-friendly activities you’ll find here.

Did you enjoy this post? I would love it if you would pin it for later! Or, make sure to share it with your friends on social media if they are looking for things to do in Florida with kids.