Dollars at Disney: How to keep expenses low at the happiest place on earth
Megan Conley, Editor-in-chief
Graphic courtesy of Emily Artus
“Please stand clear of the doors!” The warning reverberates through the car as the doors of the sleek, white, futuristic monorail rush open. The sun is out and, in the distance, melodies from classic cartoon films can be heard.
The crowd pushes down the ramp as they all rush to the security gates, taking off their Mickey-faced watches and unzipping the Minnie-Mouse clad Vera Bradley backpacks, preparing for the long stick/flashlight combo that searches their bags for any sign of something that could put a hindrance to the magic of this World.
The guests at the gates begin to cheer as the train toots, arrives full of characters and the melodies begin to flow from the voices of mice, ducks, royalty and villains. In moments, the intricate green iron gates will open, revealing the place where dreams come true.
However, the process to get to this land of magic was not easy. Planning a vacation to Walt Disney World is no simple task, but, if done right, can make your experience at the happiest place on earth worth every penny you’ll save, and you need to save a lot of pennies.
A simple search on Disneyworld.com will show, for a four-day package with park tickets and a hotel room for two adults and two children, the total cost amounts to just under $2,000. If other expenses are added in, such as food and transportation to Orlando, the number increases quite rapidly. With a bill that large, guests should take the extra step to save money, in whatever ways they can.
First tip to maximize your time at Walt Disney World: download the app. The My Disney Experience app shows wait times, your FastPass reservations and maps of the park.
Perhaps the biggest way guests lose money is by picking dates on which attendance in the parks is substantially high. Unfortunately, there will never be a day when you have the parks to yourself. However, there are certain times of the year that are seasonally less busy and the hotel rates will be cheaper during these windows.
According to the Family Vacation Critic website, which is a subsidiary of TripAdvisor, “Less families visit Disney World in January… and February… After Labor Day, September, October and most of November … are less busy, and the time between Thanksgiving and the week before Christmas is also an ideal time for families to visit.”
Family Vacation Critic also states that Disney World offers volunteer programs through which participants can receive extensive discounts on park admission. The program, titled Disney Y.E.S., allows you to pick your packages, with options for individuals and groups. The post also suggested volunteering at Disney sponsored sporting events, which could possibly earn you a complimentary park ticket.
One of the best tools to utilize when planning a vacation to Disney is an advisor for the experience, such as an AAA agent. When Disney offers discounts on rooms or free dining plans, they notify the agents first, who can then pass on those discounts to their clients, one of whom is Jessie Prescott, 14-time Disney goer.
“Sometimes Disney offers specials if they have rooms they haven’t sold yet, so the trip planner can usually get those deals for you and it’s nice to have someone who is in the loop with Disney,” said Prescott.
While the best place to save money is during the planning process, once the trip begins, there are multiple ways to maximize your time in the parks and to continue being frugal.
One of the best tools that Disney offers its guests is the FastPass. This tool allows users to reserve a spot at an attraction of their choosing, and they simply arrive during the allotted period of time. With this tool, visitors can spend less time waiting in line and more time enjoying all the attractions Disney has to offer.
“I love a good FastPass, you can usually use those on the big, main rides. You have a set time you can use those, and as you’re waiting for that time to come, you can go ride another ride where the lines aren’t as long. You can spend more time riding rides and less time waiting in line,” said Prescott.
Although Disney provides great experiences with their resorts and theme parks, there are certain additions they offer that are not necessary to purchase.
According to blogger Lauren Zimmerman, who just saved $4,000 on her Disney package, one of the easiest places to save money for a Disney trip is with food. Although guests are given the option at booking to choose a meal plan for their visit (which gives guests approximately 50 dollars per day for food), both Zimmerman and Prescott state that this added cost is simply not necessary.
“You can take your own food, eat breakfast in the room and take sandwiches and snacks into the park with you, because you’ll get hungry when you’re waiting in line,” said Prescott.
Another simple way to save money during meal time is to order kids meals, according to www.disneydining.com, which offers “15 Creative Ways to Save Money at Walt Disney World”.
“If you do not have a big appetite, consider getting a kid’s meal instead of the regular meal. Kids meals still come with respectable food portions and can sometimes be acquired at nearly half the cost.”
Perhaps the most valuable asset any Disney guest possesses is their time. Hundreds of dollars are spent to experience the magic of Disney, so plan the days wisely. Know which attractions are must-sees and which ones can be saved for the next visit.
“You have to do all the classic rides, like Peter Pan, Winnie the Pooh, Space Mountain. But the Hall of Presidents is one ride that you don’t have to do, you learn about those in school, as well as the Carosel of Progress,” said Prescott.
When planning a Disney getaway, there are a number of factors to take into consideration and each experience at Walt Disney World is unique. However, with these small steps, each Disney-goer can get the most out of their money and time put into the experience.
And the better the vacation is at Walt Disney World, the more magic there is to enjoy. Everyone could use more magic.
