Save on Disney Trips: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Disney can be a little expensive. And by a little, I mean really freaking expensive. The real question is whether you need to rob one bank or two. Your kid doesn’t need those braces anyway, right? Fortunately, there are ways to save on Disney trips, some more effective than others.
What Do You Need To Know to Save on Disney Trips?
1. Do Not Sacrifice Quality to Save Money on Disney Vacations
2. Ways to Save Money on All Types of Disney Trips
2a. How to Save Money on Disney Gift Cards
2b. Travel at Off Peak Times to Save on Disney Vacations
2c. Use Miles and Points
3. Ways to Save Money on Disney Theme Park Trips
3a. Rent Disney Vacation Club Points to Save Money on Walt Disney World Vacations
3b. Ways to Save Money on Disney Tickets
3c. Save on Dining
4. Ways to Save on Disney Cruises
4a. Book Cruises Early
4b. Use a Travel Agent for Cruises
4c. Book a Future Cruise Onboard
4d. Book Shore Excursions Directly with the Provider
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How Do I Save on Disney Trips?
1. Do Not Sacrifice the Quality of Your Trip
It is natural to look at the Disney price tag and start frantically thinking of ways to save. Some people will tell you to stay off site and bring your own food, then label this advice a “Disney hack to save money”. As much fun as parking six miles away and hauling a cooler around all day for a warm bologna sandwich may sound, don’t follow this advice.
You are investing a substantial amount of money to go on this trip. Don’t make it miserable.
How can I save money on a Disney vacation without sacrificing my experience? There are several solid ways to do so.
2. Save Money on All Types of Disney Trips
2a. Save Money with Disney Gift Cards
If you’re wondering how to save in Disney World, Disney gift card specials should be stop number one.
They are one of the best ways to save money at Disney because they are accepted everywhere. Use them to book hotels, purchase tickets and dining plans, and spend them in the parks and on the cruise ships. You can also use them at Disney Springs and the restaurants at the on property resorts to save money on food at Disney.
Purchase these at a discount from several places.
How Many Do You Need to Bring on Your Trip?
You can use gift cards for meals, snacks, and drinks to save money in Disney World and the other theme parks. Before your trip, research what you might buy and where you plan to eat. Disney has all of its menus online. Stock up on enough gift cards to cover those expenses during your trip.
Places to Makes Your Disney Gift Card Purchase
There are several places to save on Disney gift cards.
Year Round Sales
Disney gift cards can be purchased year round at stores like Target (with a Red Card), Costco and BJ’s (with a membership). These stores usually discount the gift cards by around five to six percent. This is not a great discount, but you can consistently find them.
Grocery Deals
Watch your local grocery store for Disney gift card sales. For example, Meijer offers ten percent back on gift cards a few times per year. When you combine the savings with what you can earn in miles and points on your credit cards, this is often a great deal.
Online Disney Gift Card Deals
Raise
Raise sells discounted Disney gift cards that earn Raise Cash. They are often sold out, so you need to check back frequently.
Gift Card Deal
For the brave amongst you, Giftcarddeal.com sells gift cards at a better rate than other stores, often between fifteen and twenty percent off. However, it is not for the faint of heart.
Some reasons it may not be a good option for you include:
1. They don’t always have the Disney gift cards in stock. You need to keep checking.
2. They do not accept credit cards. You have to pay through Zelle, Skrill, Google Pay or Apple Pay.
3. My order is routinely not filled in a timely fashion. This is not an option if you need the gift cards quickly.
With all of that said, I was incredibly nervous about essentially wiring this company money the first time I used it. I have done it a few times now, and nothing disastrous has happened. There was once an issue with a gift card not having funds on it, but they promptly issued a new one.
What Are the Downsides to Using Disney Gift Cards?
You Have to Keep the Disney Gift Cards Until Your Trip is Over
Save the Disney gift cards until your trip is over! If you need to cancel, the refund will go back onto the original gift cards.
Managing Disney Gift Cards is Tedious
Disney gift cards come in various denominations. Inevitably, I end up with two hundred $50 gift cards that I have to manually enter over a period of days. My husband refers to this practice as money laundering. It takes a ridiculous amount of time, but if you’re motivated to save on Disney trips like I am (read: cheap), it is satisfying.
You can combine gift cards on the Disney gift card website, so you only have to keep track of a few, rather than two hundred. The website lets you keep balances of up to $1,000 each on five gift cards. If you have more than five, set up an account under another family member’s name.
You Can’t Get a Refund
As mentioned above, you cannot return gift cards for a refund. If your trip is canceled, you will be sitting on a stash of Disney dollars. There are plenty of people hit hard by COVID-19 who would have preferred to have that money in their bank accounts. Consider your tolerance for risk before diving deeply into this.
Are Disney Gift Cards Worth it?
Disney gift cards require some juggling, but they will save you a substantial amount of money. They are definitely worth it if you are OK with the fact that you cannot get a refund in real money if you cancel your trip.
2b. Save Money on Disney Trips by Traveling at Off Peak Times
Prices for hotels, theme park tickets, and cruises vary throughout the year. If you can travel at an off peak time, you will save a lot of money.
What Are the Downsides to Traveling During Off Peak Season?
Off Peak Season is Off Peak Season for a Reason
Disney doesn’t have an off peak season to be nice. Off peak season is when school is in session and the weather is bad. If you don’t want to pull your kids out of school or risk sailing in a hurricane, this is not the season for you. If you are willing to brave it, pack a poncho.
Offerings Are Limited
Disney limits hours and offerings during off peak season. Rides don’t go down for months at a time for renovation when the parks are most crowded. Traveling with lower crowds off peak is great, but make sure the things that are most important to you will be available.
2c. Use Miles and Points
Miles and points are a great way to save money on Disney World vacations. You have several options, some better than others.
Disney Visa Chase Cards
Disney offers two credit cards through Chase. Eh.
These cards offer some ways to save a nominal amount when you travel, like small discounts at select retail and dining locations. Note that I said select, not all.
Disney Premier Visa
The Disney Premier Visa Card has a $49 annual fee. It earns 2% back on gas, grocery stores, restaurants, and most things Disney. As of the time of the most recent update, the card has an introductory bonus that gives you a $300 statement credit after spending $1,000 in the first three months.
Disney Visa Card
The Disney Visa Card has no annual fee version. It earns one percent on everything. As of the time of this writing, you can get a $150 statement credit after spending $500 in the first three months.
Is the Disney Visa Card Worth Getting?
The introductory bonuses and small Disney Visa perks you get during your trips are nice. I have one of these cards, but do not use it for everyday spend. This is particularly true because Disney Visa rewards come in the form of Disney dollars, not actual dollars. For the paltry reward percentages, you can definitely do better with other credit cards.
Disney gift cards purchased with another credit card are a better deal, but holding the no annual fee version for limited use isn’t going to hurt you.
Pro tip: Chase has a 5/24 rule. If you have taken out or been listed as an authorized user on five cards (not just Chase cards) within the last 24 months, you will likely be declined when you apply for these cards.
Capital One Venture Cards
Capital One’s Venture cards earn bonus miles that can be redeemed by erasing travel purchases from your statement. You can book Disney packages with one of these cards, then erase the charges.
As of the time of this writing, there is an introductory bonus offering 50,000 bonus miles (worth $500) after spending $3,000 in the first three months, and an additional opportunity to earn a total of 100,000 bonus miles (worth $1,000) after spending $20,000 in the first twelve months.
These cards aren’t your best option in all spending categories, but they are great for everyday bills.
Note: Purchasing Disney tickets alone may not trigger the eraser. There are reports of ticket only purchases coding as entertainment, not travel. If this happens, the eraser will not work.
Target Red Card
The Red Card saves you five percent, including on Disney gift cards at Target.
Five percent isn’t exciting, but it is still better than nothing when you don’t have time to screw around with other options. There is no annual fee for this card, so it doesn’t hurt to hold it.
American Express
You can book the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resort through the American Express travel portal. This is not an on property hotel, but comes with some of the same perks.
Delta Vacations
If you have Delta miles to burn, you can book Disney World trips through Delta Vacations. Be sure it is a good value redemption before you book this way.
3. Save on Disney Theme Park Trips
3a. How to Save Money at Disney World Resorts by Renting Disney Vacation Club Points
What Are Disney Vacation Club Points?
Disney Vacation Club is Disney’s version of a timeshare. Suckers Customers are locked into recurring dues for decades, well after their children leave the nest.
Fortunately, those who no longer wish to use their points can rent them to others. You can book Disney World, Disneyland, Aulani, Hilton Head Island, and Vero Beach in this manner. This is the single best way to save on Disney hotels.
As an added bonus, resort parking is included when you stay on points. If you drive to Disney World, this is a great way to save on Disney parking.
Why Should You Stay on Property?
You can save money staying off property, but should you? I personally wouldn’t.
Convenience
I enjoy saving money as much as the next guy, but I do not like to travel halfway. Some offsite properties are lovely, but they lack convenience. There is something magical about the Disney bubble that your kids will miss elsewhere.
Early Park Admission
Disney World announced it is introducing a program that allows on property guests to enter all theme parks thirty minutes before everyone else. This may not sound like a big deal, but it is a huge disadvantage for people off site. Rope dropping to beat the crowd to the most popular rides will be impossible.
Is Staying On Property Worth it?
Disney has peeled back the perks of staying on property in the last year, but it is still worth it. If nothing else, you get a well themed resort and the convenience of the transportation to the parks that is included with your stay at Disney World. In addition to the hassle, staying off property comes with the added cost of daily parking.
Where to Rent DVC Points for Disney World and Disneyland
David’s Vacation Club Rentals
David’s Vacation Club Rentals allows you to rent from Disney Vacation Club owners. They accept credit cards, so you can accumulate miles and points.
DVC Rental Store
DVC Rental Store provides the same service, but charges a fee to use a credit card. Not cool when you are trying to collect miles and points.
Rent Disney Points From Owners Through a Private Contract
A quick Google search will lead you to forums where private owners rent points to individuals to save on Disney World vacations. You may be able to save a little more than if you go through one of the brokers above, but it comes with more risk. The owner has control of your reservation. If you get ripped off, Disney will not do anything about it.
What Are the Downsides of Renting Disney Vacation Club Points?
When you rent Disney Vacation points, there are downsides. You will need to decide if you can live with these to save money at Disney World parks and Disneyland.
Advanced Planning Required
Disney Vacation Club points can rarely be rented at the last minute. You need to book WAY in advance.
Disney allows its members to book eleven months before their trips. You should aim for that timeframe as well. Availability is limited. If you wait until a couple of months before your trip to try to book, there will be no inventory.
Pro tip: You can contact David’s Vacation Club Rentals at the twelve month mark to put in your request.
Bonus pro tip: People who can no longer travel sometimes try to sell their confirmed reservations. No changes whatsoever can be made to these types of reservations. If you want a last minute booking and can be flexible, you may be able to find a great deal.
Payment in Full Required at Time of Booking
When you contact a Disney Vacation Club rental company to submit a request, you generally put down a small, refundable deposit. When they confirm a reservation, payment in full is required.
No Refunds
Once your reservation is confirmed, there are no refunds. Really. Exceptions were not even made for COVID-19 cancellations while the parks were open.
Pro tip: If you think you might need to cancel, buy trip insurance or skip renting Disney Vacation Club points altogether.
Limited Housekeeping
When you stay on Disney Vacation Club points, you get limited housekeeping, or “mousekeeping” as Disney nerds lovers like to call it.
The official position is housekeeping will only change your trash and linens on the fourth day of your trip if you stay seven nights or less. However, the last time I was there, linens and trash were exchanged daily. You don’t get a full cleaning unless you stay eight nights or more. This is a big fat who cares for me, but it might matter to your family.
Different Room Configurations
It varies by the property you choose, but you generally get a villa when you rent Disney Vacation Club points. The villas often have different sleeping arrangements than regular hotel rooms. Our last room came with one bed and one pullout couch. My kids didn’t notice, but yours might be more observant.
You can find the layouts of the rooms online. Make sure the room will work for your family.
Is Renting Disney Vacation Club Points Worth it?
Is it worth it to rent Disney Vacation Club points? Absolutely. No question.
Upscale Disney hotels are notoriously steep. Renting Disney Vacation Club points to book hotels can cut the cost in half without sacrificing your experience that much.
You can still add a dining plan and ride the free shuttles to the parks at Disney World on points. This is a no brainer.
Pro tip: If you’re too late to rent Disney Vacation Club points, you may be able to find discounted rooms on sites like Expedia or Travelocity.
3b. Save on Disney Tickets
The rack rate prices for Disney tickets are astronomical. Ten year old kids are adults in the land of Disney. Do not pay full price for that nonsense.
How can I save money on Disney World tickets?
Children Under Age 3 Are Free
Children under age 3 are free, so definitely don’t purchase tickets for them.
Skip the Park Hopper at Disney World
Disney World and Disneyland offer single park per day tickets, as well as park hopper tickets that let you bounce around at will for an added charge. Skip the park hopper tickets to save at Disney World. The time it takes you to travel between the parks is not worth your time, effort, and money.
The two Disneyland parks are located directly across from each other, so park hopping is more worthwhile there. If you still opt for the cheaper ticket, it won’t ruin your trip, but this is not necessarily how to save money at Disneyland.
Stay Longer
What now?
Disney tickets get cheaper per day as you purchase additional days. Consider booking a longer stay to get a better value per day and not have to rush.
Consider an Annual Pass
Annual passes won’t make sense for most people, but if you are planning to visit multiple times, you may be able to save on Disney World tickets buy purchasing one.
Places to Purchase Tickets
Direct Purchase
Theme park tickets will not be the cheapest on Disney’s website on their own, but if you purchase them with discounted Disney gift cards, they might be. Do the math.
Pro tip: Check to see if any of Disney’s discounts apply to you. Florida residents, military personnel, and miscellaneous others might be entitled to a better price than the general public.
Discount Brokers
Websites like Undercover Tourist and Viator are a great way to save on Disney tickets, as well as those of other theme parks. Check Getaway Today in addition to the others for Disneyland to look for the best deal. You can’t use Disney gift cards on these sites, but they are good options if you want to pay with a credit card.
Check Your Local Grocery Store
If you live near a theme park, check your grocery store. Some have discounted tickets. Target even sold Disneyland tickets nationwide at one point. These may not be your best option, but compare the prices just in case you can save on Disney park tickets while purchasing your White Claw.
3c. Save on Dining
Disney Dining Plan
Disney World offers a dining plan (suspended as of the time of this update due to COVID-19). It is natural to think it will save you money, but it often will not. Check menu prices to ensure the dining plan is worth it to you. It can be purchased with gift cards prior to arrival if you decide to go that route.
Grocery Delivery
If you will be spending a lot of time in your room, a grocery delivery is an option to further save on food. These are available through companies like Amazon and Garden Grocer. Be sure to only order what your room and refrigerator can hold.
Free Water
Counter service restaurants at Disney will give you free cups of ice water. You don’t need to purchase a drink every time you are thirsty.
Eat Your Most Expensive Meals Early
Meals at Disney World cost more at dinner. If you want to do an expensive character meal, book it for breakfast or lunch.
Order What You Want
You can share meals, and adults can order off the kids’ menu. I am not advocating for this. I love food. However, if you want to share or order a kids’ meal, you do you.
4. Save Money on Disney Cruises
How can I save money on a Disney Cruise? It will be expensive regardless, but you can make a dent.
4a. Book Disney Cruises Early to Save on Disney Trips
Disney Cruises are the cheapest they are ever going to be on opening day. The prices continue to rise as more cabins fill. Booking cruises early is one of my favorite money saving Disney tips.
You can cancel cruises before your sail date and get a full refund most of the time. The deadline by which you can cancel varies by the sailing, so check your individual reservation. With concierge bookings, the deposit is nonrefundable, but can be transferred to another booking.
What is the Downside?
Generally, the only real harm in booking early is parting with the money you use to pay the deposit. Cruises increase by thousands of dollars from the day bookings open to the sail date. You definitely want to jump on that early.
4b. Use a Travel Agent to Save on Disney Trips
Disney pays travel agents a commission that is built into the price of the cruises. If you don’t use a travel agent, Disney keeps that money. The fare will be the same whether you use a travel agent or not. You can still pay over time with Disney gift cards either way.
Can a travel agent save money on Disney? Not directly, but you still come out ahead.
Travel agents often give incentives to book cruises with them. Dreams Unlimited Travel, for example, gives a generous onboard credit. The amount of the onboard credit is calculated based upon the price of your cruise, but is generally hundreds of dollars. This is a great way to save on a Disney Cruise because it requires no effort on your part.
If your travel agent doesn’t offer a financial incentive or charges you a fee, I would find another one.
What is the Downside?
There really isn’t a downside to using a competent travel agent. However, Disney cannot accept payments directly from you or make changes to your reservation if you have a travel agent. There are horror stories online of botched reservations and people being ghosted, so vet your agent before you sign up.
4c. Book a Future Cruise Onboard the Ship to Save on Disney Trips
Reserve a Future Sailing
Rebooking onboard is one of the best ways to save money on Disney vacations. While on a cruise, book another cruise. If you rebook on the ship, you can get 10% off a future cruise on most sailings. You are used to eating Ramen every night at home. Why stop now?
Note: When you book a specific sailing onboard, you pay the rate on the day you book. You will probably not get the cheapest rate that ever existed.
Book a Placeholder
To get the best rate, book placeholders.
You can purchase a placeholder onboard for $250. You have two years from the date of purchase to assign it to a sailing and sail for ten percent off.
Pro tip: Wait for a new batch of sailings to open, then book on opening day with your placeholder. The $250 is applied to your deposit when you book.
Bonus Pro tip: Whether you book a future cruise or placeholder, you can list your travel agent to get onboard credit from the travel agency on the next cruise as well.
Note: You must SAIL, not book, within two years, or you will lose the placeholder. If the placeholder expires, the $250 is refunded back to the card you used to put the money down. Keep that gift card!
What Are the Downsides?
As long as you can afford to part with the money you put down onboard, there isn’t a big downside here. These deposits are generally refundable. However, some cruises are blocked out from the onboard booking promotions. Make sure you can use it for the cruise you want.
4d. Book Shore Excursions Directly with the Provider to Save on Disney Trips
Disney is not new to the whole profit thing. You can book shore excursions operated by independent companies directly through Disney. For a substantial markup.
Booking independently is one of the best ways to save money on Disney Cruises. Peruse Disney’s website to figure out what you want to do, then go directly to the shore excursion provider’s website to book.
Note: As of the time of this update, cruises are not sailing. It is possible Disney will require you to book directly going forward. Confirm the policy before you book anything that cannot be canceled.
What is the Downside?
If you do not book shore excursions directly with Disney, the ship can leave without you if you return late. While this sounds bad, I doubt it is actually an issue.
Shore excursion providers bend over backwards to make sure you get back to the ship on time. These companies make their money from cruisers. The last thing they need is a reputation for making people miss their ships.
Final Thoughts – Save on Disney Trips
The cost of a Disney vacation is going to sting. You will probably find yourself thinking (or saying aloud in mixed company) something along the lines of “WTF, how is this balloon $36?” several times throughout the trip. Hopefully, the smiles on your kids’ faces (between the crying and whining about being too hot) will make it all worth it.
Save on Disney trips and make memories. You will not regret it.
Such helpful tips! It can be so expensive to take a Disney trip. I will have to try a few of these. I had never thought about booking excursions through the actual provider.
This was super helpful! I’ll need to keep this in mind the next time I go to Disney.