How to Plan a Cheap Disney World Vacation

1. Tickets

Disney World admission and resorts will be more affordable during the off-season (January, early February, September). Always check the official Disney website discount page for deals. Also take advantage of outside discounts and packages, such as those for military service, AAA, and Costco members, as well as for Florida residents. Visit “How to Get Cheap Disney World Tickets” for in-depth advice and unconventional ideas for affordable admission.

Pro Tip: If you want to do everything possible in each park, buy full-day tickets. They cost less than Park Hopper tickets. If you only have a few attractions you’d like to enjoy at more than one park, grab Park Hopper tickets and knock out two parks in one day!

2. Where to Stay

Disney offers terrific budget lodging options, such as the Pop Century and All-Star Movies Resorts. The mid-tier resorts are also spectacular. (Art of Animation is our personal favorite.) Disney Resort stays come with complimentary transportation to and from the parks, better meal reservation windows, earlier Lightning Lane selection times, and on-theme atmosphere. Another possible route is to stay off-site, though you’ll need to use a shuttle or rideshare for transportation, and the latter can become exorbitant at peak times.

3. What to Eat

To plan a cheap Disney World vacation, consider: How important is table service to you? One of the best ways to save money is to eat at the quick-service booths or bring your own food. Items must be non-perishable and cannot have a strong odor. That means peanut butter sandwiches, trail mix, chips, dried fruit, popped popcorn, beef jerky, power bars, canned non-alcoholic beverages, and much more are allowed in.

Pro Tip: You’ll need to rent a locker for any cooler larger than 6-pack size. Dry and loose ice are prohibited; solid ice packs are allowed.

4. What to Do

What are your priorities? If you like to window shop, you might want to spend an extra day exploring Disney Springs. If your goal is simply to hit the four main parks, you can do that in four days—five if you add a water park. Would you like to spend one vacation day lounging by the pool? Is it worth it? Consider what you want out of your trip and limit your plans to priorities.

5. Getting There

Check low-fare calendars for the best prices and buy plane tickets at least three months in advance. Browse “incognito” to prevent unnecessary ticket price increases. Once you’re in Florida, rideshare or take an airport shuttle to your hotel. Once upon a time, the Magical Express would pick you up from the airport for free, but that time has passed. Calculate whether it would cost less to rent a car and pay to park, or to use rideshare/shuttles (and Disney parks transport if you’re a resort guest).

…and that’s how to plan a cheap Disney World vacation!