Top 10 Disney Money Saving Tips for Epic Savings

How to Do Disney on a Budget

Who loves Disney? Who wants a family vacation? Who is ready to make memories to last a lifetime? Now here’s the question that really matters, Who wants to learn how to Save Money at Disney?

Doing Disney on a budget can be challenging, but it can also be one of the happiest places on earth with your family! Here are some tips to help you find some Disney savings and prepare for your next adventure!

Note: If you’re looking for a deal on your Disney Vacation, I highly recommend checking out this company (they offer layaway plans too!). If you use my link, you’ll save a few extra bucks!

Top 10 Ways to Save Money at Disney

Here is a list of the top ten Disney money saving tips you can do to save a few dollars and time while adding value to your vacation! AND if you really want to save money at Disney, start with getting a discount on Disneyland park passes or Disneyland vacation bundles! This is my favorite Disney Vacation Planner!

P.S. If you’re still not 100% certain that you want to do a Disneyland Vacation, here are 12 reasons WHY Disneyland needs to be your next family vacation!

1. You CAN bring your own food and drink into the parks!

This is an excellent way to save money at Disney! Meals at the park can be very expensive so pack some snacks, grab some water bottles and even put in a couple of sandwiches for lunch time.

When we travel we try to bring lunch and a snack and enjoy purchasing just one meal at the park. One of my favorite tips is having a picnic over at Tom Sawyer ‘s Island (Disneyland). Take the boat over and there are picnic benches right on the island. It doesn’t get better than that. Getting away from all the excitement for just an hour can be very refreshing, especially when traveling with young kids.

2. Get your free button

Celebrating something special? What’s your occasion? A birthday, anniversary, family reunion, first-time visitor? Get your free button at City Hall on Main Street and all the cast members and even guests will acknowledge your special occasion!

3. Consider sharing a meal or even ordering a kids meal instead of a full adult meal.

One great way to save money at Disney is to share meals! Some of the meals you get at the parks can be large servings so consider sharing for a lighter option.

I have a list of my favorite dining locations that offer good portions and a tasty meal for my travel customers. I would love to share this information with you.

4. Don’t eat your meals at peak hours.

Try eating lunch at 11 am or 2 pm after the lunch rush is over. The lines for the attractions are a little shorter during peak meal times, so take advantage of these shorter wait times.

By eating at “off” hours you’ll also enjoy shorter lines while dining (and don’t forget to make those dining reservations for the table service restaurants).

5. When staying on-property take advantage of the Magic Morning Hours.

When you stay at a Disneyland Resort Property you can enter the parks one hour earlier than the general public. My family and I always enjoy this added hour. Take a walk down Main Street before it gets too crazy and you can get some great photos without all the crowds in the background.

6. Pin Trading is a fun and FREE activity at the Disney parks.

Keep an eye out for cast members wearing a lanyard around their neck or a hip lanyard with Disney pins. Those cast members will pin trade with you for a pin you like and they cannot refuse your trade.

The tip here is to buy your Disney pins online (like eBay or Amazon) and you can get them for less than a dollar each. They do need to be Disney Approved pins, so make sure the seller proves they have the Disney stamp on the back. Then allow the kids (and yourself) to trade for pins that are special and unique to you.

These make for great and inexpensive souvenirs from your vacation. A Cast Member with a green colored lanyard will only trade with kids. So if you have little ones make sure to be on the lookout for the green lanyards (they tend to have the best pins).

7. Stay at a hotel located within walking distance to the parks and save $15.00 per day on parking.

That way you will never be too far from the magic! When not in the parks, be sure to take a stroll in Downtown Disney. The Rain Forest Café allows you to take a look at all the Animatronic Animals in there, without having to buy a meal.

Need some deals on hotels? Check out Get Away Today!

8. Invest in a Disney t-shirt or sweatshirt to take with you on your trip.

You can pick one up on sale at a local store much cheaper than any Disney park. Having a nice new shirt to wear on your vacation will help you resist the urge to spend $40.00 (or more) for a t-shirt on Main Street.

Also, don’t forget to pick up an autograph book prior to your trip to bring with you. I regularly save money by comparing product prices with Amazon prices!

9. Is someone in your family active or retired military?

This is THE best and most inexpensive way to purchase park tickets. Disney doesn’t typically discount tickets because they don’t have to (I found this site that DOES offer discounted Disney tickets!!) but they offer great deals for military so if this applies to you, don’t miss out.

10. By traveling during off-peak times you can save some money on package deals.

Are your travel dates flexible? Disney typically comes out with special deals during the slower months and, in my opinion, these are the BEST times to travel. You can spend more time doing the things you enjoy and less time in line and fighting the crowds.

Disney is busy every day of the year but if you can avoid those peak travel times you can save both time and money. I’d suggest booking your Disney vacation through this company because they are truly Disney vacation specialists!

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