My family of four will be visiting Disney World next year and we're looking for ways to cut costs. Any suggestions?
Admittedly, saving money at Disney World is a contradiction of sorts, like jumbo shrimp, but there are ways to contain the damage. Consider these options:
LODGING
• Visit during the off-season, which runs September through May with the exception of major holidays. Both on- and off-site hotels offer discounted rates then.
• The All-Star Resorts, with rates beginning at $99, are the cheapest on-site lodging. If you like to camp, tent sites and hook-ups at Fort Wilderness start as low as $72 a night.
• Staying off-site? Call the Orlando Visitor's Bureau at 800-255-5786 to request a vacation planner and Magicard. Area hotels offering discounts to Magicard holders are listed in the vacation planner, and during the off-season, price breaks can run as high as 30 percent.
DINING
• Eat as many meals as possible outside of the theme parks. It's the movie theater syndrome; once you're inside the theme park gates, you're trapped, so prices are about 25% higher than a comparable meal outside the parks.
• The same goes for drinks. On-site hotels offer a deal where you buy a souvenir beverage mug the first day of your trip and get free refills (at your resort only) during the length of your stay. Since drinks at Disney World, even bottled water, run at least $3, this little perk can save significant bucks. If you're staying off-site, carry water bottles in your backpack and refill them during the day.
• Make lunch your big meal of the day. If you'd like to try some of the nicer Disney World restaurants, especially those in Epcot's World Showcase, book them midday, when prices are considerably lower than for dinner.
• Restaurant portions are huge, so consider letting two family members share an entree.
• Some theme park restaurants offer deals where kids eat free. Look for signs outside the restaurant.
• Want to try a classy, atmospheric restaurant? Book a 3 P.M. seating time and just have dessert. You'll experience the ambiance, get a pleasant sugar high and spend far less than the cost of a full meal.
PARKS
• Purchase film, diapers, sunscreen and other sundries outside the parks.
• Except for maybe an autograph book and T-shirt, hold off on souvenir purchases until the last day. By then the kids will really know what they want and you won't waste money on impulse buys.
• Dinner shows are expensive, costing a family of four around $190, and even a character breakfast can quickly set you back at least $50. Concentrate on ways to meet the characters within the parks; the times and places they'll be appearing are marked on your map.
• If you move from park to park in the course of a day, save stroller and parking receipts so you'll only have to pay once. (There are no parking charges for guests of Disney hotels.)
• Theme park admission prices only go in one direction--up. Buy your tickets at the time you make your hotel reservations and you'll be protected in case Disney decides its time for another "adjustment."
• If you plan to visit any of the minor parks such as Blizzard Beach, Typhoon Lagoon or Pleasure Island, make sure to purchase the Park Hopper Plus pass. Without it, you'll end up paying separately for each park, which can add up fast, especially if your kids get hooked on the water parks, as many do, and want to visit them more than once during your stay.
Please keep in mind that phone numbers, addresses, and prices are subject to change. Originally published in November 2000.
Updated March 2006
