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Let’s face it, vacations to Walt Disney World can get very expensive! It is the happiest place on Earth, but the cost of visiting can add up quickly. I am always looking for ways to save some money while staying in The World. Here are my best ways to save on your Disney World vacation:
1. Buy an Annual Pass
I know it may seem counterintuitive to buy an Annual Pass, especially if you plan to visit The World only once a year. However, the Pass has several additional perks that can help you save money!
These are additional Annual Pass benefits not available to those with a regular park ticket are:
- Up to 20% discount on select dining
- Up to 20% discount on merchandise
- Discounts on resort stays
- Free standard parking at the theme parks
- Designated entrance kiosk at the front of the theme parks
- Ability to attend special Annual Passholder events
- Ability to purchase exclusive Annual Passholder merchandise
Now here’s the kicker… Only ONE member of your family has to be a Passholder to receive these benefits! Be sure to check out the latest post where I do the math to see how the Annual Pass can save you money!
2. Order Groceries
During our last stay we ordered groceries through Amazon Prime. All of our items were delivered within our chosen delivery window (less than 2 hours from order time) to Bell Services (as of April, 2019, Bell Services charges a $6 fee for deliveries!). Our order included perishable items that Bell Services stored in refrigerators until we arrived. Our grocery purchase included breakfast items for overnight oats, snack foods, and several packages of bottled water. I’ll talk about overnight oats in #3 below, but I’ll show the savings of snack foods and bottled water here:
In terms of snacks, we purchased individually packaged Goldfish crackers through Amazon Prime (see my thoughts on packaged snacks here!). Disney World sells Mickey Puffy Cheese Crackers (3 oz) for $3.99. We saved a ton of money by ordering the snacks via Amazon!
You will absolutely need bottled water in the Disney World theme parks! We saved a lot by purchasing water through Amazon Prime. Disney charges $3.50 USD for just ONE bottle of water!!
Pro tip: If you order alcohol, you have to be present at time of delivery to show ID. If you do not purchase alcohol, they will simply leave your order with Bell Services.
3. Eat Breakfast in Your Hotel Room
I mentioned above that we ordered groceries from Amazon prime, including ingredients for overnight oats. We love eating this for breakfast because it is easily prepared the night before, ready to eat in the morning, and very filling and nutritious. By making our own breakfast during our 8 day stay, we saved approximately $350 USD! If you don’t have the option to make overnight oats, Belvita biscuits are an excellent alternative. Bring along a jar of peanut butter to schmear on for extra calories to keep you fuller longer! One morning we “splurged” and ordered the Community Chest (a breakfast option at the Boardwalk resort). For $55 this included scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, breakfast potatoes, and choice pancakes or waffles; served with orange juice and coffee. This was supposed to feed 4 people, but we got two breakfasts out of it! There was so much delicious food!
4. Check ShopDisney.com for Souvenir Sales
I LOVE shopping for merchandise at Disney World. Finding the perfect souvenir is so much fun, however, sometimes I get severe sticker shock! Merchandise is not cheap, so I decided to see if I could get a better deal online at ShopDisney.com. Sure enough, the shirt I was admiring at Mouse Gear in Epcot was on sale for 25% off the regular price! I ordered the shirt online instead of paying full price in the store. Not only did I save a few bucks, I conserved precious luggage space and looked forward to getting my item in the mail at home!
5. Limit Table Service Dining
Disney World has some simply outstanding restaurants, but eating at table service locations can really add up. I’d suggest picking a couple of must do table service meals and then stick to quick service or ordering groceries for the rest of the time! For example, we were starving one day and hastily made a dinner reservation at La Hacienda de San Angel at Epcot’s Mexico pavilion. An appetizer, 3 entrees, and 1 kids’ meal was over $200 USD!! A meal at a quick service location would have been significantly less.
I hope these 5 tips help you save money on your next Disney World vacation! Comment below if you have any other cost saving suggestions.
Cheers!!