“Even miracles take a little time.” – Fairy Godmother (Cinderella)
Holy Cow! Disney Is Expensive!
There’s no way to “sugar coat” this one: Disney is expensive. A coke in a cute R2-D2-looking bottle will set you back 6 bucks!
Because Disney has temporarily halted the amazing Disney Dining program: it’s more important than ever to think of easy ways to help reduce the sticker shock of a Disney vacation!
Here’s are some easy money-saving tips:
Find a discount on the resort stay!
Typically Disney will offer SOME kind of discount on your resort stay. Some may require you to use a Disney branded VISA card - but they are out there!
As your Travel Agent: it’s MY job to find those discounts. They may require you to change room types or resorts - but those options can be a huge plus.
How HUNGRY are you?
This is a personal questions but there is NO rule that an adult cannot order a child’s meal. In some restaurants the children's meal is plenty of food for a lunch or breakfast. They’re much more affordable!
Use Disney Gift Cards
This may require a LITTLE bit of effort and planning.
Gift cards can be used virtually everywhere! Except some carts in the parks.
Wholesale warehouses will discount. Certain credit cards offer bonuses on top of the warehouse discount.
You need to figure out the math and whether your time is worth it. At a minimum you could use a RED Card at Target and get 5% off.
Bring snacks!
Your resort room will have a small fridge: use it!
Order via Instacart or Amazon Prime and take snacks/lunch to the park.
Cheese sticks, fruit, and water bottles are all allowed!
We often buy our breakfast items and eat those “on the go” like granola bars and bananas.
Purchase SOME souvenirs ahead of time!
Some intrepid parents will purchase stuffies and some souvenirs prior to arrival and dole them out as the trip goes on.
This can work SOMETIMES. Disney isn’t stupid: those gift shops are teeming with sparkly toys and cute stuffed animals for a reason!
If you are going to purchase: look for the larger gift shops (Main Street Emporium in Magic Kingdom) and see what offers they have on items. Frequently you can find a discount on purchasing multiple items (t-shirts, stuffed animals, Minnie Ears).
Accepting the fact that a Disney vacation will be pricey is something I tell ALL my clients to accept. That said: the memories and magic you experience is well worth it!
Magically Yours,
John
PS Next week you won’t want to miss my tips on Disney snacks!
If you’re ready to visit the Most Magical Place On Earth then CLICK HERE for a no-obligation quote!