How To Do Disney On The Cheap

Whenever my husband and I take our family to a baseball game or local fair or even putt-putt golf the topic always comes up — a day at Disney isn’t much more than this!

Think about it. To get a decent seat at a professional baseball game you have to be willing to shell out $60 minimum, depending on the time of year and how well the team is doing. And that doesn’t include parking. And the food? Many times it’s more than the counter service at Disney.

Local amusement parks and fairs aren’t much better. Dollar for dollar, after an hour round of putt-putt golf my husband always says, “Hmmm, multiply what we just spent for an hour of putt-putt compared to what we would have spent on a 10 hour day at Disney? We could’ve saved a few bucks.”

That’s not to say Disney is cheap. It isn’t. And for many, it’s a once in a while, if not once in a lifetime, expense. But there are ways to do Disney on the cheap.

1. It all depends on WHEN  you go. The most expensive time of year to go is during the Christmas holidays. Following that is the Easter season and mid-summer. If following a school calendar is not an issue, try mid-August, just after Labor Day or late January/early February.

2. Let me preface this next tip with the fact that I am NOT a travel agent. I gain nothing from encouraging you to call a reputable, Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. And I strongly encourage that you do! I didn’t for years. I was too much of a control freak and wanted to be in charge of my own Disney destiny. But one year, overwhelmed with a young family and a spur of the moment trip, I broke down and called an agent. I have NEVER looked back. She has saved us thousands of dollars. She is in touch with Disney every day. And when a discount is available for our reservation, she applies to our trip. Call an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. (You can even call mine.) You won’t be sorry.

3. Eat breakfast in your room. We pack granola bars, bread, dry cereal, nut butters, paper bowls and plastic spoons. My favorite is a peanut butter sandwich. We buy a little milk, yogurt and fresh fruit once we arrive. Breakfast in your room saves time and money!

4. To really do Disney on the cheap bring your own food into the parks. Pack snacks (pretzels, fruit, crackers and cheese) and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. With the bulk of your lunch carried in you can “splurge” on a soda or Dole Whip Float to wash it all down. Or…..

5. BYOW – Bring Your Own Water! We do this every trip. At least a case. We freeze some, keep others at room temp, and everyone grabs one on the way out the door.

6. For cheap meals try counter service. Sit down eateries can be expensive. Counter service is your best bet and with the amount of food with each entrée, sharing is do-able. If you are craving a sit-down experience, do so at lunch. It’s less crowded, the menu options are nearly identical and the prices are much cheaper.

7. If you really want to experience a character meal try it for breakfast. You can save anywhere from $5-$10 per person this way. Our family likes to go, go, go first thing in the morning. So having a sit-down breakfast when we’re raring to go is….restrictive. I try to make a reservation as late in the morning as possible. That way, we can do as many attractions as possible first thing and then slow down a bit for brunch. Then we’re rested and ready to go until late afternoon.

8. And then there’s always “free money” when Disney pays you to come visit. Get a Disney Visa card. Make purchases that you can afford to pay off each month and you’ll earn Disney dollars for every dollar you spend. You can use your Disney dollars for just about anything from meals to souvenirs to Mickey bars. Since it’s “free” money, we use ours for a splurge. We’ll try a pricier sit-down dining experience like California Grill or get tickets to Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. One year, we did the charter fishing experience – unforgettable!

9. For park tickets try Undercover Tourist . Stay away from other third party sellers, like ebay and Craigslist. They try to sell you “unused” tickets but with Disney policy and finger scan, they won’t work. Undercover Tourist is a tried and true discount ticket company. The savings aren’t huge, but every little bit helps!

10. There is no shame in sneaking a little Disney souvenir magic ahead of time. You can find great deals on Disney merchandise online and in discount stores before you go. Wrap them in Disney paper and surprise your kids with a little something each day while you’re there. My favorite thing to stock up on ahead of time is glow in the dark necklaces and other light up toys. You save a ton of money this way. Staying out of the stores helps, too. With little gifts to yourselves each day it keeps the temptation at bay.

Now you know how Mouseter Planner does Disney on the cheap!

What’s YOUR favorite money saving trick?