Taking a trip to Walt Disney World can be life changing. Unfortunately, it is not the most economical in terms of pricing. But, have no fear! I am going to give you a few shortcuts and discount hacks my family and I have found useful over the years.
Special Events
Walt Disney World offers two special events that allow you to enter Magic Kingdom for much less than the average ticket price.
| Ticket | Price (age 10+) | Price (age 3-9) |
| Very Merry Christmas Party | $72-$95 | $69-$90 |
| Not So Scary Halloween Party | $80-$110 | $74-$104 |
| Magic Kingdom (Standard) | $197-$239 | $192-$234 |
| Magic Kingdom (Florida Resident) | $117-$159 | $112-$154 |
The price difference is very noticeable. Most people don’t know they can purchase event tickets without purchasing a day ticket. It really allows you to get the full experience as well as some extra Disney magic.
Attending special events give a much better experience than attending the parks during the day because of:
- Low crowd levels
- Complementary treats
- Special parades and shows
When using a special event ticket, you are able to enter the park at 4 pm. The actual event starts at 7 pm, so by 6 pm you will see the day crowd being ushered out of the park unless they have purchased the event ticket as well.
Stay Offsite
Although staying on Disney property is ideal, it is very expensive. To save money in terms of lodging, staying offsite would be a great alternative.
The surrounding areas have many quality hotels to offer for more than half the price of one night at a Disney Resort. For example, my family and I stayed at Hampton Inn & Suites Orlando at Seaworld from July 2nd-July 7th, 2019. The nightly rate was $67 per night plus tax. For the same nights, Walt Disney’s Fort Wilderness Cabins were $279 per night plus tax.
I would recommend Hilton and Marriott Brands because they offer many perks like:
- Special rates (AAA, AARP, Govt/Military, etc.)
- Complementary Breakfast
- Suites
- Shuttles
- Loyalty programs (earn free nights)
Purchase Tickets During Promotions
During the spring, Disney offers a 3-4 day pass for a special price. When I was kid, my parents were able to get a 4-day ticket for $90. Today, a 4-day ticket goes for $159 plus tax. It isn’t $99, but it certainly beats paying $110+ per day.
This special promotion is only available to Florida Residents and usually takes place in February through early May.
Timeshare Presentations
A timeshare is an opportunity for sales agents to convince tourists to buy a vacation unit with them. Attending timeshare presentations are annoying, but it’s a useful way to get extra cash or theme park tickets.
Sales agents try to impress you with lunch or breakfast, then give you the strongest sales pitch of their life. I have been approached at restaurants, in the mall, and even at stop lights, but most of them accept walk-ins for presentations as well.
Just for listening, they offer attraction tickets or cash as a thank you. For fair warning, the sales agents are really good at their jobs, so stay strong and don’t buy anything! Remember we’re trying to save money, not spend it.
Avoid Eating Inside The Parks
Disney is a pretty pricey place and the food is no exception, but hunger is tough to fight, especially in the Florida sun with kiddos. To offset the cost of snacks and drinks my family and I put a backpack together consisting of:
- Water
- Gatorade
- Snacks (granola bars, trail mix, chips, etc.)
- Juice boxes
- Hand Wipes
By the time true hunger sets in, we try to head out to a restaurant or fast food joint for something quick. If we have too many things planned for that day, we bring in food to share like:
- Subs or sandwiches
- If you don’t feel like making them yourself, Publix offers nice portioned sandwich platters and subs for decent prices
- Chicken wings
- Checkers and Zaxby’s offer a lot of wings for low prices
- Place wings in snap tight container to avoid spill in bag
I hope this encourages someone to take their Disney trip. There’s no need for disposable amounts of cash. Just plan ahead and follow the tips above.
Enjoy Disney!
Orlando In A Breeze 