5 Ways to Save at Disney World - The Minivan Bucket List

We wanted to kick the new year off at the Happiest Place on Earth but we kept it a total surprise from the kids until the day we left. We did a big scavenger hunt that ended with having them unzip a carry-on suitcase that had Mickey Mouse ears and matching Star Wars t-shirts. “We’re going to Disney World!” We know Disney World isn’t exactly an ultra cheap road trip close to home for most people–but we did do it on a budget. And we rented a minivan and it is a bucket list item, so it’s still allowed on this blog! Here are our top 5 ways to save at Disney World:

*This post contains affiliate links to products that we use and recommend to optimize your Disney experience*

5. Ways to Save at Disney World: Buy Disney Merchandise Before Entering the Park

And that brings us to our first tip, which is buy most of your Disney Merchandise ahead of time. First, you get to do cool surprise reveals like we did with our scavenger hunt. Second, you can show up on day one in your Disney gear. Finally, you save a ton of money by paying half of the park prices.

SHIRTS: When we went to Disney World in 2021, season 2 of The Mandalorian had just ended and Baby Yoda was at the peak of his popularity. So, naturally we had to rock some Baby Yoda shirts! And it’s our favorite picture from the whole trip. DRESS-UPS: if you’re going to Disney World and you know it will be moderate weather (not to hot or cold), bring a dress up and tennis shoes. we loved our $20 Frozen 2 Elsa dress-ups. Plus, dress-ups are a fun way to recreate pictures and memories.

Merch Tip: All the Wal-marts near Disneyworld have giant Disney store sections. Amazon, Wal-mart and Target compete with the Disney Store:

MASKS: And of course, a must-have for a trip to Disney World are Disney / Star Wars masks. Since Disney World is very strict about requiring masks right now, we got ours ahead of time.

BAGS:Check out these Disney Loungefly bags if you’re looking for a unique collector’s item to show off at the park!

MICKEY EARS: A favorite past time about Disney world is finding Mickey ears that compliment that things we love. Since we were stoked for Star Wars land, we found intergallactic sequin ears. But the possibilities are endless on Amazon for your Disney taste.

STILL BUY SOUVENIRS! Even on a budget, it’s OK to leave room for special souvenirs that you can bring back to commemorate your trip! We allowed our kids to each pick one out from the park.

4. Ways to Save at Disney World – Stay in a non-Disney hotel

Lodging at official Disney resorts is great but so is a villa with amazing amenities for half the price. Orlando is full of resorts with competitive pricing and you won’t forfeit a magical experience. Also, give yourself a beach day. And check out this post if you’re looking for other things to do in Orlando beyond Disney World.

Tips:

The majority of Orlando hotels have amazing amenities and Disney themes throughout.
You don’t have to stay at a motel to save money
Be willing to switch hotels
Plan ahead. On the days you plan to be at Disney, don’t worry about staying at a nice hotel with lots of amenities because you won’t use them!
Weeknights are always cheaper than weekends, so if you want a resort experience, book it during the week on days you won’t be at Disney.

Where we stayed on the weekend:

South Lake Buena Vista Springhill Suites The rates were hard to beat – we paid less than $90/night.

Springhill Suites is always a reliable and affordable option when we travel, especially with the free breakfast included. This one ended up being surprisingly fun, though! It has a cool zero-entry pool, which was great for our toddler. And it had some fun water features, a water slide, and even a splash pad.

Where we stayed on weekdays:

During the week, prices are lower which means the nicer resorts with all the amenities are more affordable. Not to mention, they’re less crowded and more quiet during the week. We stayed at the Marriott Lake Harbour Villas Orlando and it ended up being one of our favorite hotels we’ve ever stayed at! Second only to Koloa Landing in Kauai, which was a major splurge a few years ago.

Things we loved: When we weren’t at the park the kids here played all day! I swear they went down the pirate ship a million times! There are two pool, endless waterslides and a massive splash pad (which was a little chilly in January). The park was so fun as well as the outdoor game room and basketball courts. Plus, the delicious poolside food and entertainment, karaoke and dance parties were beyond amazing! We also enjoyed the extra space, full kitchen, and dining nook offered in the villas.

TAKE A BREAK WITH A FEW BEACH DAYS Side note: with Clearwater and Cocoa beach an hour away, make sure you get there.

We had a family theme to say goodbye to 2021: “when life throws you lemons, make lemonade.” Women’s Cupshe Swimsuit Girl’s and Boy’s lemon swimsuit

We almost never go to the beach (or any road trip for that matter) without our beach wagon. They’re much better than strollers for hauling sand toys, beach gear, and of course giving the kids a ride, too. Check out this post on the best beach wagons for toddlers.

FEEL FREE TO BUDGET A NIGHT AT A DISNEY RESORT

We aren’t here to tell you to forfeit the Disney experience. Just strike a balance if you’re on a budget. Feel free to book a night or more on site if you’re okay for a splurge.

3. Ways to Save at Disney World – Pack Some Meals & Snacks Before the Park

(But save room in your budget for some novelty Disney food or meals).

You may have heard of the six P’s: “Prior Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance.” Well that definitely applies to eating at Disney World. Part of what makes Disney World so magical is it has some delicious and unique food, whether it’s a classic Dole Whip, Wookie Cookie or Funnel Cake. We especially love Disney desserts! But there are some amazing restaurants as well. Check out this list of the best restaurants at Disney to plan your meals in advance.

The worst thing you can do is show up without a plan and eat every meal, snack, and drink at random. That can add up real fast! And full disclosure, while some of the novelty items and restaurants are top notch Disney magic, not all the food is on that level. Plan ahead on what meals you’ll splurge on so you don’t end up with hangry kids or a mediocre $15 burger and bring your own food & snacks for the rest.

Pro Tips:

Download the Disney app to order ahead
Bring a backpack full of snacks to reduce hangry kids
Find a space outside on a ledge (sometimes near stroller parking where people aren’t congregating) to sit and eat.

2. Ways to Save – Plan Ahead for the Best Deals on Flights

Avoid the times when everyone else goes, like holidays or spring break. We use Google Flights price calendar to find the cheapest times to go. Cheap times for Orlando direct Flights ($170-$226 average roundtrip):

2nd week of February
2nd week of May
2nd week of April
July
August
2nd-3rd week of September
Always plan at least 21 days ahead for best flight

Traveling during a pandemic means you pay for a seat but because seating is 6 feet apart and middle rows are blocked off, you get more space for your family to spread out. Our kids literally sprawled across the seats! It was was the best! (Airlines are stopping this April 30, 2021).

Bring fun and breathable Disney masks for the kids as kids over 2 are required to wear one on the plane and in the park. My kids loved these and it kept them excited!
Take clear individual baggies of carry-on of snacks for each kid (unless your kids are okay with mixed nuts and a Biscoff cookie, which ours aren’t).
Pack comfortable headphones that stay on kid’s heads.
Give each kid a clip-on special Disney sanitizer (We got ours in the $3 section at Target but here are similar ones). They felt so special having their own special sanitizers with Disney character
Enroll in a TSA Pre-check to avoid long snaking lines with kids and massive crowds. Orlando airport can get quite crazy since you need to stand 6 feet apart.
Airlines are not currently doing curbside check in so make sure you plan to check bags and carseats at customer service. We threw the kids on roller bags and a stroller to speed up the process!
If your child has anxiety about traveling or masks, consider carrying on sensory toys or a weighted blanket . Our baby has autism so he had sensory overload on the flight from all the screens, noises and people. A nice woman brought light up and vibration toys and it calmed him down. We were so thankful!
We found this guide on toddler airplanes toys to be super helpful!

Most of all, BE KIND to flight attendants about masks. They are just doing their best.

1. Ways to Save – Travel Hacking For the Win!

(Plus taking advantage of Disney’s Crowd Calendar Pricing)

If you’ve never heard the term ‘travel hacking’, it’s all about using travel rewards credit cards to earn points or miles to redeem for free travel.

Disclaimer: we only recommend using credit cards if you have excellent credit and have the discipline and ability to pay off the balance each month.

We love the Delta Amex card for:

Free Checked Bags
Signup Bonus is 60k-70k miles which saved us $800 on flights

TO EARN FREE FLIGHTS: Sign up now Delta SkyMiles Amex Gold Card (Tickets as low as 15k miles now). Between that and the free checked bags, this travel hack could save your family north of $1,000!

CHEAPEST DAYS TO ENTER THE DISNEY WORLD PARKS: Plan your days with the Disney World Crowd Calendar. They have flexible pricing depending on weekends, weather, crowds, events etc.

If you found these tips helpful, please share! Sharing is Caring.

And if you’re looking for more things to do in Florida, this Florida itinerary will guide to the best family-friendly attractions beyond the theme parks.

XOXO

Brittany