Is Disney Just A Money Pit?
How to plan for your adventure and still have money left to live happily ever after.
It’s the happiest place on earth! It can also be the most expensive one if you don’t plan accordingly. From the flight to deciding what to eat, I’ve got you covered!
I can’t say that I am a Disney travel expert, but I love to visit, and over the years I’ve learned that there are ways to be cost-effective. When you think about taking a trip to Disney, commonly you think of staying at a Disney resort, purchasing a fast pass, and eating dinner at Cinderella’s Castle. While all of those things are extraordinary, you don’t have to break the bank to experience everything that Disney has to offer.
Before booking a trip, consider all your travel options. Don’t go for the obvious and book a flight and hotel package, or an expensive Disney vacation package. Instead, take your time and research, research, research! Maybe you live close by and it’s more cost-effective to rent a car and drive. Another thing to ask yourself is, “When do I plan on going?” If you book your trip during the off-season, and not during the holidays, you can certainly save some money and bypass any potential inclement weather. Traveling during the week is also a great option as the weekends tend to be the busiest for Disney fanatics.
If you cannot find a reasonably priced flight and hotel package (a trip for 2 for 4 days for under $800 not including Disney tickets, is reasonable to me), then try to book them separately. When going through booking sites like Expedia or Priceline, although you can find great deals, it can be costly. Sometimes the best option is to book through the airline or hotel directly as they also offer discounts and packages that may fit your needs.
Staying at a Disney resort would be nice, but it’s not the only option. If you’ve planned for what parks you’d like to visit, you can always stay at a surrounding hotel, or an Official Disney Partner Hotel which can be very accommodating. In addition, most hotels in Orlando will offer free shuttle transportation to the Disney parks. If Shuttles aren’t your thing don't fret, Uber is a very popular and affordable option in Orlando and is another great transportation alternative.
We’ve got our flight and hotel covered, but what about tickets to Disney? The best thing to do before purchasing your tickets is to go on the Disney website, or download the My Disney Experience app and review the ticket calendar to see how much tickets cost on any given calendar date. The Disney app is a great tool to stay organized and keep up to date with what’s going on in the parks. Among many other helpful resources, it has a map of all the parks and includes information on ride wait times, showtimes, and where to eat. You can even book your reservation or order your meal on the app to avoid waiting in line. As eating at Disney can be expensive, take your time when you consider where to eat. Several places offer larger portions so if you aren’t that hungry, consider getting a meal to share or a large appetizer. For instance, the Baseline Tap House in Hollywood Studios offers a charcuterie board as an appetizer for $10, which is a perfect sharable meal or snack!
The moral of the story? Have fun! You are in for a wonderful experience! But do take your time during your research process and think through what your vacation goals are, I promise it will make all the difference.
