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Money-Saving Tips for Family Vacations at Walt Disney World
Prioritize Convenience: Family Vacations at Walt Disney World
When you tell your kids that you're taking them to Disney World, you know their eyes will light up and there could be some screaming and jumping around on furniture as well. As rewarding as this response can be, taking your family to Walt Disney World can be an expensive vacation if you don't plan it well. Take a little extra time before you go to plan ahead and use several or all of these seven tips for Walt Disney World fun on a budget.
Eat Lunch in Your Hotel Room
Many hotel rooms have a small refrigerator, or you you can rent one for around $10 a day. By returning to your room to eat lunch, you can save a substantial amount of money and provide your children with a healthy lunch, rather than the fast food you would likely purchase if you were to eat out in one of the restaurants. Also, by midday, most kids need a break from the constant stimulation of the park. Everyone can rest a bit and return to the park ready to take in more sights.
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Look for Discounts and Freebies Online
Recent economic dips mean Disney itself offers surprising discounts and freebies with certain packages! Just be aware of peak season blackout dates (July and holidays). Look beyond Disney too – third-party sites can help snag deals. Finally, grab discounted gift cards online – a great way to manage spending and save even before you enter the park!
Buy a Pass to the Park
Don't be fooled by the upfront cost of multi-day passes! They're actually a budget saver. Park access with a pass is much cheaper than daily tickets. For example, a 5-Day Hopper Pass costs $228 for adults and $190 for kids (over 10), while a single day's admission is $85. Even a 3-day trip justifies the pass! Money-Saving Tips for Family Vacations at Walt Disney World
Don't Buy Souvenirs Until the End of Your Trip
Souvenirs can quickly drain your Disney World budget! Set expectations with your family beforehand. Limit them to a set number of trinkets on the last day, letting them keep an eye out for their favorites. This is also the perfect time to use that discounted gift card you snagged online!
Get Breakfast for Free
You're on vacation so of course you'll want to eat out from time to time. Many restaurants around Walt Disney World offers breakfast specials where kids under a certain age eat for free. If you are traveling with a young family, this means you could potentially only pay for one or two meals at breakfast. There are also hotels that offer free continental breakfast with a room, which can be a real money saver for a family traveling on a budget.
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Travel Off Season
Walt Disney World prices skyrocket during school breaks, but consider a magical post-Christmas getaway! Aim for late August, September, or January – these slower times offer cheaper rates and shorter lines, making it a win-win for budget and sanity.
Get Lodging Away from the Park Center
Saving on your Disney World stay? Skip pricier center-area hotels and consider the Swan & Dolphin or similar options on the outskirts. You'll spend most of your time in the parks anyway, and free shuttles connect you to everything!
Money-Saving Tips for Family Vacations at Walt Disney World
Great tips!!
Some great tips here and I wish I’d read this before we went! I think a lot of people get caught up in the excitement and end up way overspending. Sometimes it’s good to do some planning first before you get too excited and end up spending way too much.
Lodging away from the park is a great idea.
Great tips thanks as a Mom that has never been with kids and thinking about going next year I need all the tips I can get on saving money and enjoying ourselves while we are there.
Most are pretty obvious, but my favorite is to not shop for souvenirs until then end of your trip. I’d never even thought of that one but it makes total sense!
I like the waiting until the end to shop too- some of the WOW factor is gone and then it is more of a focus on what character or thing they really liked the best. It would mean more to them!
Great tip about eating lunch in room too!
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