Disney Theme Parks

You’ve been thinking about it and your kids have been dreaming about it, that trip to Disney you have been saving up for.  Whether you are going to Disney Magic Kingdom Park, Epcot, Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Animal Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, or Blizzard Beach you know it is one of the best family vacations but also one of the most expensive.  You have probably been saving your money but there are ways you will be able to save on your Disney vacation if you plan ahead.

Many people try to think and plan ahead to save money because it is so expensive and can cost a small fortune even for a small family of four. Of course you have probably already calculated the hotel, car rental or airfare, theme park tickets, and other fixed expenses you will know ahead of time.  But where your budget can really explode is on the incidentals particularly inside the park.  Those $4 waters and $6 hotdogs add up fast.

The first key to cutting costs and saving money is to get organized.  Talk to your family and discuss ideas you have for saving money so they understand the goal and ideas you have to accomplish it.  If you are the only one trying to save and cut corners on a trip with 5 other people it is not going to have much of an impact.  So make sure to have a discussion so everyone is on the same page. One example could be that when you eat out for dinner everyone orders and drinks water.  Some restaurants now charge $2.50 just for a drink.  For a family of 6 that means a savings of $15 per meal.  If you eat out every night for a week that a savings of $105 you can keep in your pocket.

You can also save and make your trip more affordable by planning ahead with other items so you can have an affordable Disney family vacation.  Check in hotel lobbies for the racks of brochures of local attractions.  Most of these brochures contain coupons or savings that your family can use to save money while you are staying at your hotel. If you have a concierge you should check in with them and ask for any money saving ideas or discounts.  Many times they have special tickets with discounts they can sell or give to you for additional savings. And don’t forget to ask at the front desk, tell them what you are planning on doing while you are there and they usually have tips or advice that can save you money too.  They may also have a hotel shuttle that can take you and pick you up from the Disney theme park so you do not have to pay for parking which can be another $20 savings per trip.

If you are planning on staying more than one day you should check into multi-day theme park passes that can save your family money.  Also depending on which park you visit you call also save money with park hopper passes for savings on entry into multiple parks.  Don’t forge to check out the terms and conditions to make sure you understand the limitations and restrictions of your tickets and any expiration dates.

Of course one of the best places to save money is on the transportation you use to get there.  Unless you are extremely far away from the Disney theme park it may be cheaper to rent a car and pay for gas than for everyone to fly.  Typically the cheapest days for air travel are Wednesday, Thursday, and Saturday.

Buying food at theme parks is definitely expensive and you should avoid eating meals in the park.  Most all theme parks allow you to exit and re-enter with a hand stamp for free.  Because of this you can pack a nice lunch for everyone in the morning and keep it in a cooler in your vehicle in the parking lot so you can exit the park and eat much cheaper than in the park.  Most theme parks are centrally located near restaurants so it would still be cheaper to exit and drive to a nearby restaurant to eat lunch or dinner than eat inside the park. By doing this you will be able to stay under your budget.

You should always try to save money on your hotel. Staying at Disney is very expensive so look for deals at hotels nearby.  It is definitely a good idea to shop around prices for rooms on the internet.  Once you find a good deal you should call the hotel and talk to them to find out if they have a shuttle that can pick you up from the airport if you need one, are there restaurants, grocery stores nearby, how far they are from Disney, their pool, and other amenities, also by calling and talking to them they may offer a special discount code or a particular website where you can get a better deal when booking a room with them.

One of the best tips for saving money while in the park is to take a water bottle in with you.  Buying water inside the park will typically cost $4 to $5 per bottle but there are water fountains where you can get a drink and most importantly refill your water bottle throughout the day.  If you have a large family and go for multiple days this can prevent the trip from becoming a budget buster.