Disney World Planning - Budget tips

We are spending the first 11 days and last two days of our holiday in Orlando. This was due to an amazing flight deal that I found (more on that in another post). So we fly into Orlando on the 27th November at 9:30am.
My 8-year-old son and 4-year-old daughter are beyond excited. To a child, there is nowhere better in the world. An adult would probably prefer New York or Vegas :)

So let's break a Disney holiday down into steps.  I am ignoring flights and the other Orlando theme parks for now.

BUDGET
Disney is insanely expensive. There is no getting around that fact. Park tickets start at $99 per adult for a one day pass. Then you need to find accommodation and transport. Don't forget about food. It all gets a bit crazy but there are ways to save money. Here are my five tips:

1. Stay off-site or at a Disney Value resort
I have found some super cheap off-site deals. On Booking.com I found a hotel room that sleeps 4 for $50 per night. DON'T expect any level of luxury for that kind of money. If you plan on being in the parks all day and you are just using the room to sleep, it can be a great money saver. If you need to be in the heart of the magic - check out the Value Resorts. They are really well themed and your kids will adore them. Prices start at about $90 per room.

2. Stop at Walmart or Publix
On your way to your hotel stop at a grocery store and stock up on snacks. Water in the park costs around $2.50 and you can get 24 bottles for that price in Walmart. Buy a few snacks and easy breakfast items. Most hotel rooms in the US have at least a small fridge. Having a few small items on hand can be a great way of staying budget friendly. Disney allows you to take your own non-alcoholic drinks and snacks into the park. Great for when little people want an apple and you don't feel like spending $2 on a piece of fruit. Note: this applies to drinks and snacks. You cannot bring a full meal into the park.

3. Tickets
DON'T buy your tickets from Craigslist or any other seconds sites. The prices may be great but you will not get into the park. Disney tickets are assigned to a particular person and you can't use tickets that aren't linked to your name by Disney. In the past, I have bought tickets from the Disney website but this time I am trying UnderCover Tourist. They are official Disney Ticket sellers and slightly cheaper than the official site. If you find very cheap tickets, they are often from timeshare sales groups. You make get cheap tickets but you will need to spend one morning of your holiday at a sales presentation. I know that the pitch says that the meeting will take two hours but expect it to be closer to five hours in reality.

4. Souvenirs
Avoid the souvenir shops in Disney. If you really need to buy a few Disney themed items, try getting them outside the parks. Target, Walmart, and Publix all have awesome Disney stuff at a fraction of the price. You can always buy the items in stealth mode and have them waiting for the kids in your hotel room after a day in the park. Another option is to budget a small amount of money for each person to spend in the parks.

5. Do free things
Yes, there are free things to do at Disney. This list gives you some Disney magic without even going into the parks.
* Ride the monorail. The monorail has three different routes and smaller kids will find the trains to be a fun ride.
*Take a boat ride from Disney Springs to the Port Orleans resort. A lovely boat ride that shows some stunning scenery.
*Walk around the resorts. There is no charge for going to the Disney resorts. At Animal Kingdom Lodge you can walk around the savannah and see all the animals there. The theming at the resorts is amazing. Taking a self-guided tour around a few of the resorts is a great way to spend a non-park day.
* Watch the fireworks from the beach at the Polynesian resort or Fort Wilderness. Both spots offer fantastic views of the fireworks each evening. Bring a blanket and find a nice spot on the beach for the perfect end to a magic day.
*Kids will love the Camp Fire with Chip and Dale at Fort Wilderness. Only Disney guests are supposed to join the fun but I can't find any evidence of them checking that people are staying at a Disney hotel. Take a boat ride from the Magic Kingdom to Fort Wilderness and spend a fun-filled evening. The resort offers a Smores pack for $10 but you are welcome to bring your own. Chip and Dale lead a campfire sing-a-long and if you are really enjoying yourself you can stay to watch a Disney movie under the stars.

I hope that you have enjoyed these tips. Tomorrow there will be a post about the different accomodation options in Orlando and how to book them. Thanks for reading and please comment below. I love hearing from you.