Smart strategies for an affordable Disney vacation
By CARLY NEIL
Wealth of Geeks
As budget-conscious Americans enter the holiday season, they need a break now more than ever. In October, when many families budget and plan their 2025 travels, Walt Disney World announced several significant discounts for those booking with Disney hotels.
Disney parks, in particular, represent a true luxury for many in an industry filled with costly vacation destinations. Travel insurance marketplace Squaremouth reports the average 2024 summer vacation ran families $10,000 – a 7 percent increase from 2023 and a 14 percent jump from 2022.
While these new promotions lower the cost of a resort stay, the overall price of a trip to Walt Disney World remains prohibitive to many.
Save on flights and hotels
Travel experts who take multiple trips to Walt Disney World a year understand the ins and outs of intelligent budgeting.
Travelers stand to save a significant amount of money by shopping around for deals on flights and hotels. Transportation and accommodations rank high among the most significant price variables when traveling to Walt Disney World, unlike theme park tickets, which rarely come at a discount.
Gavin Doyle, founder of Mickey Visit and best-selling author of “Disneyland Secrets,” says picking the optimal day of the week for travel makes a big difference in airfare. He notes, “If you can add a day to your trip to leave on a Monday rather than a Sunday, for instance, or arrive on a Wednesday rather than a Thursday, you’ll be far better off avoiding the peak weekend travel fares.” Doyle emphasizes, “The more flexible your travel dates, the better off you’ll be.”
Frequent fliers use reward points and special airline programs that offer transportation deals. Alex Caspero, freelance travel and food writer at Delish Knowledge, chooses to fly Southwest repeatedly to reap the benefits. Those benefits include Southwest’s companion travel program, allowing a designated plusone to fly alongside the benefits holder free of charge for a minimum of one year Costly hotel accommodations take up the majority of a vacation budget. Theme park editor and freelance writer Megan duBois recommends families consider renting Disney Vacation Club (DVC) points instead. Disney’s timeshare program allows members to rent points out to non-members, often yielding prices a fraction of the hotel’s rack rate. “You can get better room types depending on your family’s needs,” du-Bois adds, noting the DVC accommodations typically include multiple bedrooms, laundry, full kitchens, and more.
If access to top-tier amenities matters less on a Disney vacation, drop down a hotel category altogether. Mikkel Woodruff, editor of Sometimes Home, urges travelers to consider Disney’s more affordable properties. “Consider how much you will or will not be at the hotel before you book so you can assess what makes the most sense for your family. If you’ll hardly be at the hotel anyway, then it’s not worth spending a huge chunk of your budget on the hotel.”
Reduce spending at theme parks
The spending continues after booking a Disney World vacation. Once at the House of Mouse, families contend with costly line items like dining and souvenirs.
Food costs, in particular, add up quickly, especially if the Disney trip spans multiple days. Monica Fish, frequent traveler and founder of Planner at Heart, notes, “Many people don’t know you can bring snacks, drinks, and even packed lunches in your backpack. When standing in long ride lines with kids, it’s great to pull snacks, drinks, and treats right out of your bag to help pass the time.” Fish recommends families use grocery pickup and delivery to preorder essential grocery items.
Disney’s food and beverages make the vacation all the more memorable, and experts agree not to skip theme park dining altogether. Sarah Gilliland, founder of On The Road with Sarah, says Disney’s large portion sizes make it easy to plan around one large meal daily.
Wealth of Geeks
