Five Smart Ways to Save on Your Disney Vacation
Walt Disney World may be the happiest place on Earth, but when you see the prices for tickets, food, lodging, and souvenirs, it can also seem like the most expensive place on Earth. Fortunately, the fun and family memories created during a Disney vacation make it all worthwhile, and with some smart budgeting and plans, including a Kissimmee vacation rental, you can save a surprising amount of money.
Entrance Fees
Tickets to Disney World don’t run cheap, and even kids as young as 10 have to pay full adult prices. Fortunately, there are a number of ways to purchase discount tickets. During the off-season, Florida residents can receive some great discounts. Military families — service member, spouse, and up to six family members — can also receive discounted rates for three- and four-day visits. Times and availability do change, so be sure to check before you make any final decisions. Another option available to anyone is Undercover Tourist, one of the few reputable discount ticket sites. As well as Disney World, you can also get discount tickets to other local parks, including Sea World and Universal Orlando Resort.
Lodging Costs
As with just about any vacation, much of the overall cost comes from lodging costs. While the convenience of actually staying in one of the hotels or resorts at Disney is tempting, the cost can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there are other hotels, resorts, and vacation rentals available in the surrounding area that offer more affordable prices. Fantasy World, a Kissimmee vacation rental, offers the amenities of the high-end resorts, but at affordable prices. You get spacious, family-friendly villas, as well as transportation to the parks, saving you money on parking costs, as well.
Food and Drink
Snacks for a family of four can quickly add up. Fortunately, you can bring outside food and drink into the park to help keep costs down. It may take a bit of extra planning and work in advance, but the savings will be worth it. With a Fantasy World family villa, you’ll have the kitchen space to make this easy. Make sure you have a cooler bag to keep food fresh and be careful about the ingredients you choose to avoid food spoilage in the warm temperatures. The park has many water fountains available for filling up water bottles and you can get free cups of ice water at concession stands, rather than buying expensive bottled water.
Costumes
Lots of kids love to dress up as their favorite Disney character when they visit the park, but purchasing even parts of a costume in the park can be pricey. If you’re crafty, try making your own version, and if you’re not crafty, you can find much more affordable costumes in Target or on eBay.
Souvenirs
It’s easy to get caught up buying T-shirts, dolls, plates, toys, and more in the many gift shops at Disney. To help rein in the costs, give your children (and yourself!) a budget. Not only will it teach them some financial responsibility, they’ll start to think about what they really want the most and they’ll be more likely to treasure that item. Keeping a journal or scrapbook of your visit is a fun and affordable way of creating memories. At the end of each day, write down all of your favorite memories and what you did. You can then take this information home and pair it with your photos to create a memory book you and your family will enjoy looking at for years to come.
