Four years ago, my daughter (who wasn’t yet two) ran up to me, barely able to contain her excitement. “Daddy said we go to Disney when I’m 5!” she shouted. I looked at my husband, wondering what in the world he committed us to. Sure enough, now that she is 5, we just completed our first-ever family vacation to Disneyland. I wasn’t willing—or able, with our budget—to pay full price for a Disney trip, though, which is why I worked so hard to plan a budget Disney vacation.
I know there are moms out there who know every trick and hack to make the most of every second at Disney. I’m not one of those. But I am sharing the nitty gritty details of our budget Disney vacation—down to the last dollar. In this blog post, I’ll explain how I saved thousands of dollars on our family Disney vacation.
So if you want to go to Disney but don’t think you can afford it, or if you’re planning to go but just want to save on a Disney vacation, you’ll want to read through to the very end. I have so many good Disney hacks to help you save money—so you can focus on enjoying the happiest place on Earth!
Before I dive in to all my money-saving tips for Disney, though, I want you to check out my book! Road Trip Games & Activities for Kids shares 33 fun, customizable games and free printables that will keep you entertained for hours. Driving to Disneyland was one of the big ways we saved on our Disney vacation—and you can, too. Click the image below to get your copy in e-book or paperback!
And if you want to get even more pumped for your upcoming trip to Disney, you’ll want to get these free Disney quote printables. That way, you can download them and put them somewhere you’ll see ’em often, like your fridge or on the wall of your office. They also make great kids’ room decor! Just sign up here and I’ll deliver them to your inbox ASAP. 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
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How to plan a budget Disney vacation
Now that you’re ready to save big dollars on your Disney family vacation, let’s jump in. Below, you’ll find out how I saved on Disney tickets, a hotel just 5 minutes away from the park entrance, food both inside and outside the park, and Disney souvenirs.
Don’t spend more than you have to. Take my lead and plan a budget Disney vacation now.
How to save on Disney tickets
Want to know how I paid zero dollars out of pocket for Disney passes for a family of four? Here’s a sneak peek.
Don’t pay retail for Disney tickets
Normally, for two adults and two kids, a three-day pack of tickets would cost $1,088. After a bit of research, though, I opted to save on Disney tickets by buying through aRes Travel. Our three days of tickets cost $1,014.
aRes emailed me PDFs of our tickets, which I printed out before leaving home. Disney staff scanned them at the park entrance and gave us our actual Disney tickets (which I scanned into the Disney app on my phone—don’t want to lose those babies!). That means they were “straight to gate” tickets—we didn’t have to go to the ticket counter outside the entrance first.
So to buy cheaper Disney tickets, I saved $74 using the third party ticket-seller aRes.
(I am not an affiliate for aRes; I was just really happy with our savings and the ease of using their service.)
Don’t buy Park Hopper tickets
With Park Hopper tickets, you can go back and forth between Disneyland and California Adventure, which are located just across a plaza from each other. Some people do this to take advantage of slow times at certain parks. For example, during the Paint the Night Parade at California Adventure, crowds might be lighter at Disneyland.
We were doing Disney on a budget, though. We opted to not do Park Hopper tickets at Disneyland since we have never been to either Disney or California Adventure. We knew we’d have plenty to do within one park without hopping across the way. What’s more, Park Hopper tickets are significantly more expensive, even with discounted tickets through aRes or similar third party sellers.
To save even more on Disney tickets, I saved $110 by not getting Park Hopper passes.
Cash out your rewards to buy Disney tickets
Here’s the big, big, big way I was able to save money on Disney tickets: I cashed out my rewards on my credit card. I use Chase Sapphire, where I get 1% back on all purchases, plus 5% back on select categories each quarter, without paying an annual fee. (I am not an affiliate for Chase.)
I hardly use my debit card; instead, I use my credit card for buying just about everything. Then I pay it in full every month before interest accrues. Over a few years, I earned $1,531—more than the total cost of our Disney tickets! So you better believe I used this “free” money to pay for our passes.
By using my credit card as a sort of savings plan, I saved $1,088 on Disney tickets by using credit card rewards.
How to save on food at Disney
Save on restaurants at Disney
Food in Disneyland adds up, especially if you’re buying multiple meals a day for a family of 4.
For example, at Racho del Zocalo—a quick-service restaurant in Frontierland—kids’ meals are $8 and adult meals are around $15. But a fountain drink is $4, so with beverages, expect to pay about $60 for a family of 4. Other quick-service restaurants (e.g. Galactic Grill in Tomorrowland) are similarly priced.
Here’s the thing, though. I hate standing in line for food and paying for a full meal my picky eaters won’t even eat. That’s why I packed food for everyone—and saved money during our family Disney vacation.
We would have eaten three lunches at Disneyland, and at $60 apiece, I saved $180 by packing our lunches.
Save on snacks at Disney
I’ll give Disneyland this: Their restaurant prices are actually fairly comparable to food outside the park. That said, though, drinks and snacks are so expensive inside the park!
Disneyland allows you to bring in outside food and drink—so take advantage and plan ahead for a budget Disney vacation!
Bring a variety of snacks you and your kids can eat on the go—and especially in line. While you’re out exploring the park, your kids won’t want to sit still to eat, but while you’re waiting to meet princesses or ride the carousel, you can totally get your kids some calories.
Here’s a list of snacks we brought in:
- crackers—mini-Ritz cheese sandwiches, cheddar rocket ships from Trader Joes, etc.
- granola bars
Level 10 travel tip: I recommend the ones that aren’t coated in chocolate, as they melt in the heat and get your kids’ hands majorly messy
- fruit—sliced apples, grapes
- veggies—cucumber slices, cherry tomatoes, baby carrots
- dry cereal
- tofu dogs
- sliced turkey and cheese
- fruit leather and squeezie fruit pouches
- hummus and pretzel dip packs
It’s hard to say how much we helped our budget Disney vacation by bringing in food. Conservatively, you’d pay $30 a day in snacks at Disney for a family of 4. So by packing food every day, I estimate I saved $90 by bringing our own snacks.
We did end up eating a few snacks bought in the park, though. We bought popcorn ($5 for a medium-sized carton) and frozen chocolate-covered bananas (also $5 each). My advice for buying snacks inside Disney: Choose wisely. I didn’t mind buying frozen bananas for the girls because it was hot and bananas are actually good for you. And I didn’t mind buying popcorn because I love it (YUM!) and I didn’t buy the super-spendy souvenir popcorn “purse.”
Additionally, look for snacks you wouldn’t be able to get outside the park. My mind explodes at the thought of spending $3.99 on a small container of sliced apples, for example, but you can’t get Dole Whip anywhere else.
Finally, avoid buying beverages in the park if you can at all. Bottled water is $4, as are fountain drinks. Bring in your own refillable water bottles, juice boxes, even pop! I brought in bottled iced tea every day because mama needs her caffeine.
Save on restaurants outside of Disney
Now there’s an iHop right across the street from the Disneyland entrance, but I’m not a giant fan of chains, and I’d rather save money than spend a bunch on low quality food. Most hotels have a free continental breakfast, but the hotel we chose—the Grand Legacy—didn’t. (That’s one reason why a night stay at this hotel is cheaper than others in the same area.)
If you go out to eat at breakfast, you can expect to spend about $7 on a kids’ meal and about $13 on an adult entree. Add in beverages—juice for the kids and coffee or tea for the grown-ups—and you’ll probably pay about $55 for breakfast for a family of four, including tip. That adds up!
Instead, I brought food to eat at breakfast. Two mornings we had quick breakfasts, so I had bananas, bagels, yogurt, milk and cereal as options for our family of four. But one morning we planned a leisurely morning at the hotel—my girls needed extra sleep to recover from staying up late for the fireworks show at Disney. So while the girls slept in, I cooked a super-easy hot breakfast in our hotel room!
With a little planning on our budget-friendly Disney vacation, I saved $165 by eating breakfast with food from home.
Additionally, we ate dinner in the hotel instead of a restaurant. We made sandwiches (I even brought gluten-free bagels from Trader Joe’s for myself). I also bought several premade salads before we left and had those on-hand for our meals.
The girls ate instant macaroni and cheese, yogurt, tofu dogs, make-your-own Lunchables (with crackers, turkey, cheese and cucumbers), and “grilled” cheese sandwiches. We were able to warm up food in the microwave, and we made good use of the mini-fridge.
My kids are picky eaters anyway, and they ate much better in a calm, controlled environment of the hotel as opposed to a restaurant (or when watching an episode of Spirit—ha!). And for a family of 4, it would cost about $75 to eat out—and to throw away all that food my kids didn’t touch.
By heading back to our hotel for dinner (which even left time to go back to Disney for nighttime fun), I saved $225 by making dinner in our hotel room.
Other ideas to save money on restaurants near Disney: Search restaurant.com and Groupon for discounted gift cards you can buy. It’s not uncommon to find a $25 card for $10, for example, which saves a ton!
How to save on hotels at Disney
When I was researching hotels near Disney, I found that paying about $150 per night for a standard two-queen room was about average for a basic hotel. I chose to stay at the Grand Legacy at the Park in Anaheim because it’s a 5-minute walk from Disney and it has a pool.
Rooms at the Grand Legacy are $157 per night during the low season of November. (They may vary depending on when you go to Disneyland.) Instead of paying for the hotel nights, though, I used rewards from a hotel bookings website.
You see, I travel for work, and I nearly always book through the same website so I rack up loyalty rewards. Every 10th night I book, I bank a free night. I saved up my free nights and redeemed them at the Grand Legacy for our family Disney vacation. So by planning a budget Disneyland vacation, I saved $471 on hotels by using a hotel loyalty program.
Word to the wise, though: We did have to pay $17 per day to park at our hotel. When you’re comparing prices of hotels near Disney, double-check to see if breakfast and parking are included. Those factors may influence where you decide to stay on your budget Disney vacation.
If you’re looking for a budget-friendly hotel near Disneyland, compare prices here:
Booking.comSave on Disney souvenirs
With all the Disney swag being sold on every corner, it’d be easy to double the cost of your Disney vacation just by buying souvenirs! Here are three ways to save on souvenirs.
Avoid the shops
It’s impossible to avoid all the merchandise—after all, every street is lined with shops and stands with blinking, glowing, musical stuff.
That said, the entrances of both Disneyland and California Adventure are primarily stores. They’re not rides or attractions, just places to spend a ton of money! So steer your kids away from these shops and toward the characters who also make this zone their home base.
Buy Disney gear ahead of time
Before we left town, I bought a few items the girls would love—and would want to buy at the park. For example, I bought a plush Minnie Mouse for each child from CVS for $10 apiece—much better than the $30 each inside the park!
I also talked to a few other moms and read up on Disney blogs to find out what other souvenirs kids tend to want at Disney. I went to the Dollar Store and bought glow-in-the-dark jewelry and wands, plus Disney bubbles. When we went to the fireworks show at Disneyland, the first thing they wanted was glowing bubble wands. Lo and behold, I had a version of what they wanted! I had paid $4 instead of $52!
I also brought along crowns we already had so they wouldn’t want to glam out at the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique ($$$$$$) or even buy mouse ears (at $28 apiece). And I ordered Disney character autograph books online for $7 each instead of $20 at the park.
The one thing we did spend an exorbitant amount on: glow-in-the-dark Mickey balloons. The girls asked for them every single day, multiple times a day. They finally wore us down. And that, my friends, is how we spent $30 on two balloons. #AndYetShePersisted
So we spent $68 instead of $238, and I saved $170 by bringing souvenirs from home!
Get a Disney gift card
Our family knew we’d be taking the girls to Disneyland, and so for their birthdays, my mom gave them a Disney gift card. I held onto it for something special that would be a gift from their Nana and Grandpa Shempy.
On our last day, the girls found a toy they absolutely begged for: Jessie and Woody from Toy Story. So I busted out the Disney gift card from Nana and bibbidi bobbidi boo, the girls had their precious toys—at no expense to me! We sent Nana a video of the girls playing with their toys on Pixar Pier saying “thank you!” There was even enough left over to buy milkshakes.
So we saved $69 on toys by using a Disney gift card that was given to my girls as a birthday present.
Dollar by dollar: What I spent on our budget Disney vacation
Budgeting is hard. Budgeting for a budget Disney vacation is even harder. It’s difficult to figure out exactly how much you’ll need for every aspect of a Disney family vacation, so I’m sharing it all in this blog post.
Now that I’ve given you a play-by-play of everything I spent on our budget Disney vacation, it’s time for the grand reveal. Here’s the breakdown of what I spent on our budget Disney vacation:
Park tickets: $1,198 $0
Hotel: $471 $0
Parking: $51
Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks: $465 $15
Souvenirs: $238 $68
Cost of our 3-day Disney vacation for a family of 4: $138
TOTAL SAVED on our budget Disney vacation: $2,289
One caveat: I didn’t count the money I spent on groceries, since I’d be paying for that at home anyway. I also didn’t include the gas money it took for us to travel to Anaheim, California, since families travel to Disney in all sorts of ways. So as you plan your budget Disney vacation, keep those details in mind: You’ll have to budget for groceries just as you would at home, and you have to figure out transportation.
If you’re curious about the Disney PhotoPass—the service that gets your professional photos from inside the park—read my post diving into whether the PhotoPass is worth the cost.
The truth of Disney budget vacations
I truly hope that this behind-the-scenes/bank account peek helps you figure out how much you’ll spend on your own Disney family vacation. I also hope it shows there are ways to make even a Disney budget vacation a ton of fun—and that you don’t have to shell out thousands of dollars to enjoy the trip!
I also know that planning a Disney trip can be stressful. In fact, for some of us moms, it can trigger some major anxiety. That’s why I wrote an entire post on managing anxiety at Disney. If you think you’d benefit from the steps I took to get my anxiety in check and actually enjoy the family trip, I know you’ll want to click over to read it through.
So tell me: Have you been on a Disney family vacation? Was it a struggle to pay for it? Do you have any budget Disney tips? Please share in the comments!
PS – I’d love for you to share this post on Facebook, Pinterest and Twitter because I’m pretty sure your friends and family would welcome hearing about all these budget Disney vacation ideas!
Holy moly this is genius!! I have no excuse not to go anymore!
Yes! It makes me think hm, maybe we won’t have to wait another 5 years to go again! 🙂
Packing food is a great idea. I have twin girls, and they are super picky. Who needs to buy a 10 dollar hot dog haha!
Oh my gosh I FEEL YOU.
What amazing savings! Thanks for showing exactly how you and your family saved money!! I love the idea of bringing food along and eating breakfast and dinner in the hotel!
You’re very welcome, Becki! I’m a very concrete person, so I learn by detail and example–I hope this post helps others because of that!
That’s huge how you saved and found smart ways to save money! I also strongly recommend using reward credit cards as long as you always pay the balance each month! Such easy free money!
Yes! Paying in full each month is the catch, or else the math doesn’t make sense.
Woah! That’s a major savings! I know that Disney can be SUPER expensive so I’m sure that so many people will appreciate these great tips!!!
I sure hope so. Thanks for reading Erin!
Impressive! That’s amazing. We still haven’t been to Disney (and my kids are 7). I’ve been holding out. These are great tips!
Saving money wherever you can makes the trip SO MUCH more doable. 7 is a great age to go!
These are such great tips! I don’t have kids yet but my husband and I have been talking about going as adults!
Just about all these tips can be transferred to adults too! Although I can’t guarantee that they’ll prevent your husband from buying a $20 glow in the dark Elsa wand if he realllllly wants one. 😉
I love that you’ve worked out how to use credit card points to your advantage! I keep accruing them and then not doing anything with them, thinking ‘one day’. But maybe I should start spending them. Great tips on staying within budget for Disney, it’s so easy to lose track of what you’re spending.
Yes, time to use the credit card points! I think of it like a set it and forget it savings plan. Every few years, it’s wonderful to cash them out for a big, exciting purchase–like travel.
I love Disney so much !! I am only 20 years old, and don’t have a family of my own, but I am definitely going to use these saving tricks on my next trip to Disney!! (Hopefully it’ll be soon 🤞)
Great post, loved and pinned it ! More people should definitely know these tips and tricks.
Maya, travel-by-maya.con
Hi Maya, Disney is fun for us grown-ups, too! Glad the post was helpful. 🙂
It all adds up, doesn’t it. I know a lot of families save and save for this kind of vacation, so it’s great to know there are ways to trim down the budget a little. I’m sure lots of parents will find this super helpful! A lot of these tips can be applied to other types of travel too, especially around food and souvenirs.
You’re so right, Emily. I’ve never added up all the savings like this before, but we’ll definitely be using some of the same techniques when we travel to other destinations, too.
That was a smart way to do Disney! We did somethign similar when we went years ago. I love the fact you got your own food! We almost always did that when the kids were little. That means, not only for your budget, but you can buy things everyone likes – especially if you have picky eaters (I’ve been there).YOu not only saved money, but made it more enjoyable for your kids; nomeltdowsn I’m sure 🙂 . We do the same with hotel and credit card rewards – and that’s how we can afford to travel. You inspired me to write down all our savings. Thanks for sharing this. Great post!
So glad this post resonated with you, Emese! You make a good point: Bringing food from home and the grocery store DOES help me ensure the kids have something to eat that they like, and it helps avoid power struggles over meals. Thanks for reading!
Great post! I never would have thought to buy tickets to the park from a third party. Although, I’d feel a little nervous about the tickets being authentic too, so glad to know you found a reseller you can trust. I’ll be going through them when I go!
I know what you mean, Aimee! I did a lot of researching and read a lot of message boards before buying with aRes. I also emailed their customer service people to make sure the tickets I was getting were “straight to gate.” I had a great experience with them.
Yes! I love all things Disney as a kid and even now as an adult. I have a lot of fond memories in the parks, but everytime I visit, it sure adds up quickly. I’m sure many people, especially parents, will find your tips really helpful. Thanks for sharing, Catherine!
You’re so welcome, Waz! It was my first time and so everything was new–but I’d been warned about how expensive things could get, so I prepped for that.
I would say you totally WON at planning a Disney Trip. So smart about using your credit card points to but tickets. And agree about Park Hoppers not being necessary.
Haha, thank you! I didn’t even realize how much I’d saved until we got back and I did the math.
This is amazing! I am from the Orlando area in Florida so I know all too well how expensive a day at Disney is. By doing something as simple as packing lunches alone saves so much money – thanks for sharing!
We originally had planned to go to Disneyworld, but maybe we’ll save it for the next trip. I may be asking YOU for tips next time! 🙂
Never thought of saving that much in Disneyland. Our last visit in Disneyland was in Hong Kong. We bought a package that includes hotel accommodation, park tickets, meals and etc. It was very convenient and comfortable. Thanks for your tips on how to save in Disneyland. Very helpful especially to budget travelers.
A package deal can be another great way to save money. When I priced out everything it turned out not to be the best deal for us, but it sure is convenient!
Genius ideas! I’ve never been to Disneyland, but now the price won’t be a excuse anymore hahaha Thanks for sharing it!
Oh my gosh I know! The kids are already clamoring to go back again. 🙂
Wow u planned it so well..we recently visited Disneyland Hongkong. And outside food was not allowed and as u said we spend big on food ,snacks and drinks. Next visit I will surely follow
Oh wow, I didn’t realize that different Disney parks around the world had different rules about bringing in food. I bet that got expensive!
It’s amazing how much you saved! Myself and my husband have been to Disneyland many times (he is in California sometimes for work) but I can imagine it will be a whole different ball game once we have kids!!!
Oh totally. With kids you have to constantly tell them “no we can’t get that poofy princess dress” or “no we don’t need cotton candy, you don’t even like cotton candy.” hahaha
I can’t believe how expensive it is to go to Disneyland. Good thing they let you bring outside food and drinks. It really helps!
Oh my gosh yes! I don’t know how we would have done it otherwise, especially with picky kids and food restrictions.
Such great, well-thought tips, Catherine! You are so right the money you can save on food by planning ahead. Years ago, I had the Brilliant Idea (read: not at all brilliant) to take our kids to Disneyland for Thanksgiving. We brought our own food and snacks for most of the days, but on Thanksgiving itself, we decided to make it a Big Event and buy our holiday dinner in the park. Such a newb mistake. First, the park hit capacity on the holiday at 11am, and the crowds were oppressive. I couldn’t believe how many people were there, even by Disneyland standards. The food ended up getting was SO expensive, and not very satisfying. In the end, the kids still remember their Mickey Fries, but I feel like the trade-off wasn’t worth it.
Mickey fries are cool, but not worth stressing Mom out! I’m amazed you survived Thanksgiving at Disney. I intentionally timed our trip to one of the least trafficked times at the park over the whole year, before the holiday nuttiness starts.
Wow, you saved so much! That’s nice to know that you can bring in your own food! I never would’ve guessed. And agree with the snacks thing – try and eat the snacks you can only get there! My boyfriend and I have been talking about going to Disneyland (I’m from OK so I’ve only ever been to Disney World), and I will definitely keep these tips in mind when we go – thank you for sharing!
You’re so very welcome, Danielle! I hope you like Disneyland. One thing that sets it apart is the original rides, like Small World – but it was closed when we went. Make sure the things you want to see are open when you want to go!
It is crazy how expensive Disneyland can be! I deffo have to applaud you on those amazing savings though. Luckily when I went I managed to spend relatively little but I can imagine going with kids is a whole other ballgame – like you said $30 on just balloons haha.
Oh my gosh the balloons. But I should feel less annoyed about those since I saved on all the other stuff!
Great post Catherine. I did not know they let you bring in food. Also, pre-gaming the kids with souvenirs is genius. I’m looking forward to our first Disney trip.
You mentioned only spending money on unique foods. I immediately thought turkey legs. I don’t remember how much they cost but I do remember not needing to eat for the rest of the day.
Hahaha I saw SO many people walking around with those turkey legs. I was kind of baffled but apparently it’s a thing! 😉 B will have so much fun when you all head down to Disney.
Eh, I agree with some of these Disney savings — but others are fake savings. I’d argue you went to Disney for a good price, but it wasn’t as low as you say.
– You bought Disney tickets with credit card rewards points. Those rewards points are “money”; they’re just money in a different form. You used those resources, which could’ve been used elsewhere, to buy the tickets — that’s not free.
– Similarly, you didn’t “save” $60 by skipping park-bought lunches (and breakfasts). You used one of many methods to spend less on food — but you were never really going to spend $60 on lunch. You only “save” if you would’ve actually spent the money — otherwise, it’s fuzzy math. For example, say you usually pay $1/pound for potatoes, and they go on sale for .50/pound — if you buy a bunch you’re really saving because you would’ve bought potatoes (or something similar) anyway. On the other hand, if filet mignon is normally $20/pound, and it goes on sale for $15/pound and you’re not “saving” by buying it — not when you would’ve normally bought cheaper cuts of meats.
– You hauled water bottles around to “save” money — again, not really “saved” since you wouldn’t have spent the money. You could’ve asked for ice water at any quick-service counter (as many times as you wanted all day) and avoided carrying the bottles. You don’t want to wait in line for it? No problem. Use My Disney Experience to order ahead of time, and walk right up to the counter to pick up your four ice waters.
– Last thought: we’ve never bought souvenirs (at Disney or anywhere else). We used them as a teachable moment — we go on vacation to have experiences, not to stand in gift stores buying next year’s garage sale fodder.
Hi Theresa, Thanks for sharing your thoughts. You’re right that you wouldn’t “save” some of this money unless you were actually going to spend it on full-price, in-park items. But most people who go to Disney will end up eating at the park, for example, unless they plan ahead—which is what this post is trying to help them do. People have to eat, so it’s not as if they can choose to just not spend the money. Someone who is already great at being frugal—e.g. not ever buying souvenirs—won’t save more than $2,000 by reading this post, but those of us who normally would pay full price (e.g. by buying Mickey ears within the park) will get a ton out reading this post. As always, thank you for reading. I look forward to your insightful comments on upcoming posts!
We took in some Publix subs for lunch ! Worked out great and we’re more healthy than all the fried stuff!
Good call! Even if you don’t make food yourself to bring in, grabbing something quick and healthy from a to-go joint or grocery store can really save you money.
You totally rocked that vacation! Disney is crazy expensive so any way you can save money is a good idea. Smart to save up hotel points and use it on your family vacation. My husband travels for work so he saved up so many points that we are going to Hawaii this summer for super cheap 🙂
Oh my gosh way to go you guys! Getting points or hotel nights for business travel is a great way to save money on family vacations.
I am bookmarking this for when we finally make time for a vacation. So many amazing tips!
Vacations with the whole family are what I live for! I hope you get the time to take one soon, too.
These are some really great tips, not just for Disney travel but all travel! It looks like you all had so much fun!
You’re absolutely right, Amber. Most of these tips can be applied to any family vacation!
Wow! Awesome ideas for saving money and finding ways to pay for vacations. I took my foster daughter to Disney World by using airline miles for two free flights and my teacher discount for a car rental. We are saving up for a trip to Disneyland next. These tips will help so much.
Sarah, I am SO GLAD these tips will help you save money at Disneyland!! Please reach out if you have any questions, and have an amazing time with your foster daughter!
I’m so impressed by how much you saved. As a budget traveler, I love a good savings!
I’m with you, Jordan! I like saving money because that means more $$ saved for the next trip!
Oh wow I had no idea just Disney park tickets were so expensive! I have a newfound appreciation for my mom figuring out how to take me here when I was younger. You have such inventive tips. I would definitely pack my own lunches too (I do this so often – for instance going to the airport). But I wouldn’t have thought to buy some Disney souvenirs ahead of time! Great idea!
Summer, I’m so glad this post was helpful! Sometimes families budget for parts, but not all, of a Disney trip. That’s why I wanted to outline every dollar I spent (and didn’t spend!) in our 3-day budget Disney vacation.
These are fantastic ideas! I admire your extensive research, especially on the souvenirs – what a smart idea to buy them beforehand. Souvenir stores are ridiculously overpriced everywhere! On food, I do the same as you on most vacations. Grocery stores are my go-to option instead of restaurants.
Yup, I was shocked at how much souvenirs cost inside the park. My kids were just as happy with their few goodies, regardless of where I bought them!
Wow, we had no idea that a Disney trip could cost this much! Good thing that we don’t like Disney at all that have kids… haha! Even if you got to save a lot of money in the end, let’s hope your kid won’t want to go back there anytime soon. 🙂
Haha! Yep, my kids wanted to go back immediately. It’s such an undertaking that we’ll probably need quite a while before we go back again!
A Disney trip can get so expensive so I absolutely loved coming across your budget guide for the Disney vacation – it’s so impressive that you were able to save so much with these tips. You’re right – those shops are so expensive in Disney – sure the souvenirs they sell look great but nothing tops a family picture with the favorite Disney character. Great post!
Thank you Aditi! I’m with you: I loooooove family photos, and getting to meet the characters in Disney was one of my kids’ favorite parts of the trip.
These are good money saving tips but for mostly Americans only. Your two major saving tips of using credit card and hotel.com reward points does not applicable to me. But I agree with you on taking the ready to eat items does save lots of money at most of the expensive tourist attractions
Nitin, I didn’t even realize that – thank you for pointing it out! I’ll have to think on how to add more tips that anyone can use, even folks outside the US.
That’s a crazy amount you saved! That’s the best way to do it! Thanks for sharing!
Absolutely – happy to share every penny we spent on our budget Disney vacation if it means more families can benefit!
I am soooo impressed with your thriftiness. I mean, you had those points for your credit card, so you’d have to use them for something, but making the Disney holiday as cheap as this must have felt great!
All the snacking tips are fantastic- especially as you didn’t have to wait in line to buy food! 😉
Are there water fountains in the park? Or do you have to carry enough water for the whole day?
Great question, Josy. There are water fountains throughout the park so you can fill up your reusable water bottles whenever you run out. You can even find the nearest water fountain on the Disney app. (I have a post all about the best ways to take advantage of the app, too! 🙂 )
You are definitely a great budgeter! I also try to use my credit card points for travel. It’s a great way to save on a trip!
Thank you Ann! I’m super proud of our family budget Disney vacation.
Holy cow! I am glad I don’t have to do that anymore. We had a family reunion at Disney world in Orlando, Florida and each daughter was in charge of her family’s budget. Nobody nudgeted. They said it was the time to splurge. So they did. I would have done exactly what you did if I had to spend for everybody.
Yep, just spending whatever it costs is easier and takes less time. That’s great for folks who save up and can afford a luxury Disney vacation! For everyone else (including me, haha), it’s better to use these Disney hacks to save money.
I love your post! We have gone several times my husband and I by ourselves and then lots of times with our kids. We try and go every year. I’m impressed with how much you saved.. any amount of savings in Disneyland is a win win!! One water bottle cost $5.50! We always bring our own food and snacks and reusable water bottles. We used to always book through ares travel but recently we started booking through the walt disney travel company.
Way to go!!
I hear you: Any savings is good! (I think of savings for travel as $ I can put toward the next trip, haha!) I hear you on bringing in your own food and drink—especially with the markups inside the park.
So many great ideas! As a Florida family of 7, we are all about budgeting our Disney trips! I have 1 tip to offer you may not have been aware of or considered. In reference to the ‘super-spendy souvenir popcorn “purse.”’, the popcorn bucket may run $10 BUT, it’s $1 refills……forever. For my family, that works out to be a great deal. We have 2 buckets that we bring every time we go & we refill them just about every time we see a popcorn stand.
Rebecca! I did NOT know that! Thank you for the tip. I actually LOVE popcorn (it’s my favorite snack) so I’m 100% going to get one on my first day on our next Disney trip so I can reuse it. Thank you for the excellent tip!