Disney can be pretty expensive if you aren't careful and do a bit of planning. However there are some ways to help lower your costs, you just need to exercise a bit of creative thinking. To that end, keep reading for some great tips on saving some cash on your Disney vacation.
So, first things first. You really need a plan. So make your plan and stick to it. The best book I have read about this is The Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide. Written by a former employee, you can learn all of the inside tricks to saving money on your vacation.
- Surf The Web! Instead of hiring an expensive travel planner, do your own leg work and search out the best deals for your trip. Disney fans tend to be fanatics, so there are always up to date message boards and social groups all about Disney and the latest and greatest deals.
- This might be a no brainer, but avoid peak season. Off season is usually the time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, as well as late August on through September. These are times when good deals seem to pop up, so be on the look out.
- Buy your Mickey gear ahead of time online. You can pack small stuff in secret for the kiddies to give them little Disney gifts throughout the trip. You will also save a load of money rather than paying full retail on site.
- Take advantage of interest when saving for your vacation. Set up a savings account that acru's interest, or invest in a certificate of deposit to put towards your next Disney vacation.
- Consider a 10 day pass instead of a 7 or 8 day. The longer you stay, the more you milk your dollar to the limit. Another option might be to purchase an Annual pass, and then plan your first vacation the first of the year, and the next year's vacation a couple weeks early so that you can use the pass twice and really get your money's worth.
- Make lunch your dinner. Prices are always lower at lunch time than at dinner time, so plan on having a late lunch in lieu of dinner. Usually lunch time in restaurants run till about 3pm, sometimes even 4pm, so plan on eating your evening meal then and you will save a bit of cash. You can pack some after dinner snacks for a little later in the evening to keep the munchies at bay if needed.
- Use the Disney perks. Many perks go unnoticed and unused by vacationers simply because they weren't aware of them, and are included in the pricing of your vacation. For instance, using the Disney buses and saving on car rentals and parking between parks. You can also purchase refillable mugs for your drinks throughout the parks which can save quite a few bucks if you have thirsty kids.
- Buy groceries and other staple items. You can pack a suitcase with light staple items, or hit a local grocery store when you arrive to stock your hotel. Or you can Google online grocery delivery services and have food delivered right to your door.
- Rethink character meals. I know it's hard to resist as a parent, but you can really save some money if you limit your character fun to snapping photos as they walk about the parks. It really isn't worth the money when you stop to think about it, and there are so many other opportunities to meet and socialize with the characters of Disney that don't cost you a dime.
- Finally, consider giving your kids their own spending money. Sounds a bit counter intuitive I know, but handing out a spending limit before shopping can cut down on impulse buying. Or you can do gift cards with preset limits and that works great as well to keep a handle on your spending habits. Once the money is gone, it's gone, no negotiations.
So there you have it. 10 great ways to save money on your Disney vacation that you can put into practice on your next trip. The best guide to saving money at Disney World is: The Ultimate Disney World Savings Guide I recommend this guide without hesitation.
Happy saving!
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