In the last part of my Walt Disney World Vacation planning series, I outlined everything you need to consider when setting the budget for your magical vacation. Today, I’m going to go over ways to save money on your trip, plus give you a bonus FREE PRINTABLE weekly savings guide… or 4… I may have gotten carried away…
So, get ready to head to the Magic Kingdom with me!
Ya’ll – does this seem boring to anyone else? I have all this important and helpful information to provide, but a Walt Disney World vacation should be FUN – even the planning! So, how do I fix this problem???
I’ve got it! Interpretive dance! Wait… no. That makes no sense. Okay, it’s time to unleash my inner geek and do what I love – make a list! Without further ado, here are my money-saving tips for each aspect of your Walt Disney World Vacation!!!
Flights:
- Consider booking two separate one-way flights, maybe even with different airlines, to take advantage of the lowest prices.
- Search for fares midweek – I’ve heard that Tuesday six weeks before you depart is the best time to book!
- Try to fly at least one leg of your trip on a Tuesday, Wednesday, or Saturday.
- Follow your airlines on social media and/or join mailing lists to get notified of upcoming sales and maybe even get insider deals!
Driving:
- Try to drive straight through to avoid paying for extra nights in a hotel.
- Use a gas price finder app, like GasBuddy, to find the cheapest gas along your route.
- Get an oil change and make sure your tires are properly inflated to help maximize your gas mileage.
Hotels:
- Consider renting DVC (Disney Vacation Club) points from a member. The Disney Vacation Club is basically a timeshare program, and members who aren’t able to use their time for the year will often rent their points out. This can allow you to stay in an upgraded resort for moderate pricing!
- You should also look into booking through a Disney travel agent! I LOVE working with Christine Okhrulnik of Key to the World Travel – she scheduled our last trip and it went off without a hitch! She’s amazing! Working with a Disney Travel Agent doesn’t cost you a dime, but it can help you save a ton in the long run. Christine was even able to apply a discount that was released after we booked! It rocked!
- Staying offsite? Follow the chains you love on social media and join their mailing lists or rewards programs for special discounts and offers.
Tickets:
- Search sites, like Mousesavers, Undercover Tourist, and Park Savers.
- Take advantage of any extra discounts, like those for AAA members and Florida residents.
- Keep in mind, the pricing straight through Walt Disney World is usually the best for multi-day tickets. When it isn’t, you’re typically looking at a savings of $10-$30 per person at most, so don’t stress yourself out searching for a tiny savings here.
Dining Plan:
- The regular dining plan can save you money if you’re planning multiple character meals, plus in 2018 the dining plan will include an alcoholic beverage for people 21+ with each Quick Service or Table Service meal!
- If you get a free dining promo, you will likely be paying full price on your room.
Memory Maker:
- Save $30 on Memory Maker by purchasing it in three or more days before your adventure begins!
Whew! Okay, we did it! I’m so proud of us!!!
Ready for your reward? Here we go – 4 FREE PRINTABLES to help you track your savings for your Walt Disney World Vacation! Pick your budget or print all four, and get ready to save like a boss! Not heading to Walt Disney World? No problem! Feel free to use this adorable tracker to stay on top of your savings for ANY purpose!
Oooooh good times! SO glad I stumbled upon this, because I have a big Disney trip coming up in September! Money saving for the win!
I’m so happy to hear that! I hope this helps you on your trip!!!
Where was this when I visited a few months ago!! Great tips
Hahaha! The good news is, it’s here for your next trip!
Will definitely keep this in mind!
Thank you so much, Jess!
Wow! What great ideas. Never thought of renting DVC points before!
It’s definitely a creative way to have a more luxurious experience! I’m a bit of a convenience freak, though, so I tend to stick with the package deals myself. LoL!
great tips and i love the printouts! i am always looking for great disney posts, pinning for later too!
Jackie, thank you so much! I was just planning to make one printout, but I’m a budget nerd and always end up writing out at least three different scenarios, so… ta-da! Bonus printables! LoL!
These are all super great tips! Where do you find people looking to rent out their points? I’ve never heard of that but its a super great tip!!
Rachel, there are a few different websites available, but you do need to be careful that you don’t get scammed. The most reputable one I’ve heard of is David’s Vacation Club Rentals. I haven’t used them myself, so I can’t be 100% certain, but I do personally know a DVC member who rents out her points through them, and Mousesavers speaks highly of them, as well.
This is great! I had no idea of the savings you could get for Memory Maker! We would love to go back to Disney!
Heather, the Memory Maker savings is fantastic! It’s such an important part of the Disney experience to us, so saving on it just adds to the magic!
Love this! We are huge Disney fans and I cannot wait to take my daughter for the first time! With these, maybe I can get her there sooner
Vicki, I really hope this helps! There will be more of my Disney Planning Series coming very soon!
These are fantastic tips. I definitely like the suggestion of buying two one-way tickets. It always surprises me that you can save money that way. I love your printables for the different budgets, too. that’s so helpful.
Paula, thank you so much! I always forget about buying two one-way tickets, too – part of why I included it here is to help remind myself! LoL!
I’m going to save this post for when we eventually go to Disney world, it’s a bummer it’s so expensive!
Hannah, I agree! It’s a HUGE expense! As a family, we have decided that experiences are where we place the most value, so we often find ourselves not buying the fun things we want so we can save for the best experiences possible, but it still hurts a bit – even when we’ve saved for it – to watch that huge chunk of money go all at once!
I can never stick to savings plans 🙁 How do you stop yourself from dipping into your savings? That’s my biggest setback.
Becca, that’s one of my biggest struggles, too! I created a separate account for my savings. It’s completely disconnected from my other accounts, and I never set up online banking access to it. I have a scheduled transfer that automatically sends money from my checking to my savings each month. That way, I never even see the account or the money in it, until it’s time to use it!
Great tips! Would love to go back to Disney!
Thank you, Cindy! I hope this helps get you there!
What great resources. Saving and planning is so important
Thank you so much, Toni! I couldn’t agree more!
I saved by not going, thank goodness my kiddos preferred to fish at grandma & grandpa’s instead. Lots of courage, patience and strength to all that are fortunate enough to make it there.
I needed all the courage, patience, and strength I could get when I took my daughter! LoL! You’re definitely lucky to have the option of fishing with the grandparents! I know my daughter would love that!
I LOVE these printables – so awesome! Such a great idea, you can bet I’ll be pinning this to print out later!