Many of you are probably planning your 2017 Walt Disney World vacations. This post helps you figure out ways to budget for the trip to make it cost less! To help you get the most out of your vacation dollars, we’re here with 15 money-saving tips for your next Walt Disney World vacation. Regardless of your budget, it’s never a bad idea to consider ways to save more money. For some of you, cutting spending may be the only way you can afford a trip to Walt Disney World. For others, saving money might not be strictly necessary, but rather is a way to fund a slightly longer trip…or a second Disney trip.

1. Bring Your Own Food

Many people don’t realize that Walt Disney World allows you to bring food into the parks with you. Packing sandwiches for a meal and a few snacks can save you a bundle! My family almost always packs at least one meal on a Disney day. Be aware that Disney won’t allow large coolers, so stick to a cooler bag or smaller, hard-sided model. If you don’t want to lug your cooler around all day consider renting a locker to store your meal; it’s far cheaper than paying for food!

2. Visit in Off-Peak Season

This can save you big in a lot of ways. Hotel and airfare are likely to be lower, and Disney sometimes offers promotions like free meal plans during periods of lower visitation. If you’re buying a single day ticket (far from the best deal, but sometimes a day is all you have!) they are cheaper during off-peak seasons. 

3. Pre-Shop for Souvenirs

This little trick worked great for my family on our last vacation. Before we went to Disney World, I bought Mickey T-shirts, hats, light-up spinners, and stuffed animals at local discount stores and mall Disney Stores. Then we presented the kids with their new items while on vacation. They weren’t begging for souvenirs inside the parks because they were excited about their great new items, all purchased for far less money than park merchandise!

4.  Stick to Tap Water

A soda or a bottle of water in the parks is going to cost more than $3.00 each. While it might seem tempting, tap water is free at every quick service location. We also always pack water bottles and refill them at the fountains. In the hotter months, some dining locations even set up huge water coolers so you can easily refill. 

5. Use Gift Cards to Budget

For older kids (and adults), gift cards can be a great way to budget. Everyone gets a gift card at the beginning of the trip with his or her souvenir budget. When the money is gone, it’s gone. It’s a great way to keep yourself from over-spending, and a good way to teach kids about budgeting. 

6. Bring Your Own Camera

There are PhotoPass photographers all over Magic Kingdom, eager to take your perfect family photo in front of Cinderella’s Castle or in another awesome location. You may shy away from these photographers because you don’t want to pay for the pictures, but you don’t have to! While the PhotoPass photographers will always take photos with their equipment, they will gladly snap a photo or two with your camera or smart phone. If you think that you want the professional photos or a lot of ride photos, consider buying Memory Maker before your trip; you will save a lot of buying many individual photos, and there is a discount for buying before you go.

7. Avoid Parking Fees

Parking at Magic Kingdom is expensive. There are many ways to avoid this fee! If you are staying at a Disney Resort Hotel you get complimentary parking at the theme parks or you can take Disney transportation (boat, bus, or monorail). If you are planning to stay off property, be sure your hotel offers a free shuttle to the parks. It will save you a lot! And if you are paying for parking, by all means skip the extra fee for “priority parking.” Yes, you will get a parking place closer to the Transportation and Ticketing Center, but the regular parking areas have a courtesy parking tram that will take you directly there. 

8. Plan Sit Down Meals for Breakfast or Lunch 

While skipping sit down meals will save you a lot of money, sometimes you want a special treat or a character meal. Try to make your dining reservations for breakfast or lunch, when the prices for these meals are often much cheaper. 

9. Price Check

My husband recently found a book that he wanted at a souvenir store in Magic Kingdom. A quick scan with my smart phone turned up the exact same book at an online retailer for $15 less. This certainly isn’t true for everything in the shops, as many items are “park exclusive.” But a few seconds of search time could save you some big money, and it can’t hurt to look!

10. Plan Ahead

You can buy almost anything you need during the day at Magic Kingdom. Sunscreen, diapers, batteries, rain ponchos, and phone chargers are all available, but at a considerable markup over your local discount store. Be sure to pack your bag carefully so you don’t get stuck paying Disney prices for everyday items.

11. Embrace Quick Service Dining

Magic Kingdom has some of the best quick-service dining locations in Disney World. There is a large quick-service restaurant in every land. These restaurants have varied menus and large seating areas, so they’re a great place to get a meal and take an air-conditioned break, for far less money than a sit-down restaurant.

12. Share a Meal

There are no rules about sharing meals at a quick-service dining location. Many have very large portions and can easily be split between two people. It’s a true waste to pay for two meals that you cannot finish, so consider sharing. 

13. Eat Like a Kid

While not always allowed in sit-down restaurants, there is no rule against ordering a kids’ meal for yourself at a Quick Service dining location. Kids’ meals are often about half the price of an adult meal and include sides and a drink! If you don’t have a huge appetite it’s a way to save a few dollars and a few calories.

14. Skip the Deluxe Dining Plan

This one is up for discussion – some people argue that the dining plan saves them a bundle, while others say that it provides too much food and is a waste. It’s certainly the way to go if you are visiting Walt Disney World during a free dining promotion, when you will get a Dining Plan included with your tickets and resort hotel. But unless you have the largest of appetites, skip the Deluxe plan, which includes 3 meals and 2 snacks. Most people can get by eating a large breakfast, having a snack in the afternoon, and then an early dinner.

15. Consider Skipping the “Hard Ticket” Parties

This one is bound to stir up some controversy. “Hard Ticket” parties refer to events at Magic Kingdom that require a separately purchased ticket to attend. These include Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party. While some people love these parties and swear they are worth every penny, they are very expensive. Carefully research what is offered at each party and whether it is worth it to you to spend the extra money. 

Via howtodisney.com