21 Insanely Easy Ways to do Disney World on the Cheap

Disney World can seem so expensive – and well, it totally can be. But you can easily save money at Disney World if you know how and where to cut corners that still let you have a magical vacation without feeling like McScrooge. We’ve been to Disney World on the cheap several times, and honestly each time we go I seem to find a new way to make it just a little cheaper than before. With a lot of trial and error, we’ve figured out how to go to Disney World for a week for around $1200 (not counting our annual passes) and we don’t stay in a value hotel. These are the tips and tricks I use to help us save thousands of dollars on Disney Vacations several times a year. 

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1. Buy an annual pass. I know… they aren’t cheap. However, if only one person (usually whoever books the trip) has a pass then all of the discounts apply at restaurants and gift shops. Over and over on this list you’ll see how having a pass can save money at Disney World.

Save on Disney World Hotels

1. Shop Around – I almost always suggest going through Disney World itself (or an authorized agent) to find the best deals. But every great once in a while you can find a better deal on Trip Advisor. It’s rare… but I have seen it happen so it’s definitely worth the 30 seconds it takes to check.
2. Book on off season – Have some flexibility in your schedule? Off season booking can save you hundreds of dollars. we’ve booked Caribbean Beach Resort for as low as $97 with a pass holder discount in the off season – that’s more than 50% off! Even without a pass, you can still save 30-40% if you go in the off season.
3. Check all the discounts – Pass holder discounts seem to be consistently lower than the other discounts, but make sure you check all the special offers on the Disney World Website before choosing which one works best for your needs.

Save on Walt Disney World Tickets

1. Free under 3 – Children under 3 years of age do not require a ticket to get into the parks. Which is great if you can take your little one before then. Although you may think they are too young to enjoy it – they certainly will. Your memories of the trip will be that much sweeter because they truly will believe in the magic of it all.
2. Buy through work perks – Not all businesses offer this perk, but many large corporations give access to all kinds of discounts, including Disney World tickets. My daughter’s boyfriend bought 4 days of tickets and got 3 days free, which saved him around $200.
3. Plan for off days – Going to be at Disney World for 7 days? Buy 6 days of tickets and take a day off in the middle to relax at the hotel, check out Disney Springs or even head to the water park. It’s not a huge money saver for one person – but multiplied by 4 (or more) it can add up to be enough to pay for one extra night.
4. Become a pass holder – see…. I told you this would be a recurring theme 😉 We pay once for all the days we care to go in a year. This year (2017) they’re having a promotion where you get 13 months at the price of 12, so you can get in even more Disney for your dollars. If you go more than 10 days in a year, it’s definitely worth it.

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How to Save Money at Disney World on Food

1. Split Meals – portions are HUGE at WDW. As a couple, at table service restaurants we often split an appetizer, one entree, plus a dessert. And we’re more than satisfied. When we do quick service, we simply order one plate and share it. 
2. Eat your big meal at lunch – quick service prices don’t change much, but table service restaurants can be significantly cheaper. Be Our Guest is a great example of this – it’s kind of a hybrid at lunch and full service at dinner. And, yes, we still split that cheaper meal, too.
3. Choose character breakfasts – if you want to hang out with your favorite Disney pals, start your day with them. Prices are much cheaper (and once again multiplied with larger parties.) For instance… the Crystal Palace breakfast is $27 for adults ($15 for a child) – lunch is $30 for adults ($16 for a child) and dinner is $42 for adults ($20 for a child).  Which means 2 adults + 2 children could save $40. And that’s just one meal. 
4. Go grocery shopping or order Amazon Fresh – if you drive, I highly suggest finding the nearest Publix and getting a few essentials. If you’re not, then order a few things from Amazon Fresh and it will seriously help your budget. 
5. Take snacks into the park – Disney World is great about letting families bring in drinks and snacks – so take advantage of it. We usually bring in 2-3 small snacks each, which keeps us fueled up all day (sometimes even with skipping a meal.)
6. Go when the dining plan is free – Usually in the fall, Disney offers a “free dining plan” promo. By all means – take it! It’s like free food, so you can save up to 30% on your trip with just that one incentive.
7. Use the pass holder discount – Yep, that pass can save you up to 20% on table service meals. Buy a snack in a gift shop (or even water?) – then that discount works there, too! Not sure if the discount applies… just ask!
8. Ice Water is ALWAYS free – just go up to any quick service counter and ask. If you replace 4 bottles of water a day (one per person) at $4 each, then you can save $112 in just one week. Ask for the water.

Other Ways to Save Money at Disney World

1. Drive instead of fly – if you live within driving distance, it is almost always cheaper to fly. Unless you have a credit card with points… yada, yada, yada. We don’t do credit cards – so I’m honestly not sure how that all works. We live 12 hours away and always drive. This alone can easily save a family of 4 up to $1000.
2. If you do fly, take Magical Express – it’s a free shuttle from the airport to the hotel (you have to book in advance). That way you can save the cash from renting a car.
3. Pack proper essentials – Although it can seem a little daunting, packing well can save you some serious cash. Essentials like sunscreen, pain reliever, etc are going to add up to a big savings if you bring them from home. {PS – get my free Disney Packing List to keep you on track!}
4. Take your own photos – Passholders get a free photo pass (that can save you up to $199), but even if you don’t go that route, you can take photos with your phone. Many park photographers will snap a shot with your phone if you simply ask.
5. Character Warehouse – this is my best kept secret. I’ve actually never seen it mentioned on any other tip list (other than my own.) We learned about this from a cast member: Disney gift shops don’t have clearance areas, instead they send the merch off site to 2 different stores in Orlando Outlets called Disney Character Warehouse. You can get insanely good deals there – I’ve seen things up to 90% off on property prices. It is a short drive off property, but if you have a car, then it’s totally worth it. We’ve bought pins for 1/3 of the regular price – shirts for 1/4 the price – and I bought my authentic WDW autograph book there for $4.95. It’s the clearance rack of Disney World shops – and the prices show it. We’ve easily saved $500 there in one trip versus full price.