Money saving tips and tricks

[disneyde]

What are your tips and tricks for saving money on a Disney vacation?

We typically buy gift cards ahead of time at a wholesale club (BJs in MA). We save 4% on gift cards which we then use to pay for our food/room/shopping for the trip. We also normally fly Southwest so we use one or two of our free checked luggage bags to pack things like water and snacks so we don’t have to buy them at the parks. I’d love to hear other ideas!

[Lovedisney20]

I also do gift cards! If you have a Target Red Card (it is a visa, not a credit card. The amount comes directly from your bank account) you get 5% off every purchase. We typically book about 8-9 months in advance and then every pay check, we buy X amount of gift cards. We then go directly online and use the gift card to pay on the trip (either through our travel agent or directly through the Disney website, depending on how we book that year). So by the time our trip is due, we have already paid it off early! It is also so financially manageable this way too.

It is literally free money and adds up over paying off an entire trip/stuff in the parks. Disney just updated their app and you can mobile order food with gift cards too

[WisconsinDisneyDad]

We always get groceries when we get to Orlando, and bring our cooler into the parks every day. $6 powerades add up really quick, so it's a great way to save quite a bit on food and drink. We still buy stuff in the parks, but not nearly as much if we went in empty handed.

[randyf79]

Hi...a few ideas...

If you have the Disney Visa card...then you can get 'cash back' to apply to a Disney vacation. We just pull an amount and put it on a card that we take to Disney and have them put it as a credit on our bill.

Bake or take some things that you would like for breakfast and eat breakfast in your room. Saves time and money...and we do go out at least once because you gotta have a Mickey Waffle...it's a rule. You can pickup up milk, juice, and butter at the resort shop.

Disney permits you to take some food and beverage into the parks...so if you use that for snacks then you can save your money for the counter/table service event of the day...

Share! Most of the entree's are enough to feed two people...even the drinks...so buy and share.

Keep those ponchos. Yes...it occasionally rains...so...if you do indulge to have the official, Disney, plastic rain ponchos...hang on to them for future trips. If not...you can usually get less expensive plastic ones at places like Walmart and carry them with you.

Make sure you ask what 'perks' a restaurant or store honors when you're at the checkout. D23? Annual Pass? DVC? Disney Visa? You can also check the Disney website for perks and deals to get the latest.

If you think you might need or want to have some over-the-counter pain meds for headaches, muscle aches, (sunscreen) etc....bring them with you. They are available in the resort shops but will be more expensive.

With the reduced hours in the park right now...think carefully about whether you really get value out of a park-hopper add on. By the time you exit a park, get transportation to the other park, and then get in...that can really limit what you get. We found a few weeks ago that it was better to get everything out of what you wanted to do at one park and then take a bus over to Disney Springs for dinner and Disney Springs stays open later than the parks.

Finally...save up to give yourself a gift. Budget so you can pickup that cool t-shirt, sweatshirt, or plush to have as a momento and reminder of your visit.

Enjoy!

[Happy2012]

I also do gift cards! If you have a Target Red Card (it is a visa, not a credit card. The amount comes directly from your bank account) you get 5% off every purchase. We typically book about 8-9 months in advance and then every pay check, we buy X amount of gift cards. We then go directly online and use the gift card to pay on the trip (either through our travel agent or directly through the Disney website, depending on how we book that year). So by the time our trip is due, we have already paid it off early! It is also so financially manageable this way too.

It is literally free money and adds up over paying off an entire trip/stuff in the parks. Disney just updated their app and you can mobile order food with gift cards too

This is a great tip! We did the same thing for our last trip as well. Worked out great!

[Zach]

Some online travel agencies, such as Cheaptickets and Orbitz, often have discount codes for ~15% off hotels. They usually work for Disney resorts so you'd end up saving a significant amount of money.

[WisconsinDisneyDad]

Some online travel agencies, such as Cheaptickets and Orbitz, often have discount codes for ~15% off hotels. They usually work for Disney resorts so you'd end up saving a significant amount of money.

I was surprised to learn that Disney won't match online sites such as Expedia and the ones you listed. You get all the same benefits and save money. Great tip for people to remember

[CH-GenX]

When it comes to drinks-almost without exception most places that serves food or drinks will give you free cups of ice water. Don't buy the bottled water.

[DLandChris]

Hotels by Disney Springs are a great deal and you usually get the same benefits. I’ve stayed at the Wyndham Garden a few times. It’s right across the street from Disney Springs. And though they have a decent shuttle service to the parks because it’s across the street of Springs there’s a little bit of trickery you can do to use actual Disney buses.