You have decided you want to visit Walt Disney World. Your budget needs a little help. I have 5 money-saving tips for you to help you afford your trip.
- Start paying yourself first when you get your paycheck. Decide on an amount that you wish to save weekly, or monthly. You could have a fancy jar that you save your money in or use a plain envelope. Encourage everyone in the family to add to the envelope. Put your goal in the jar and watch it fill up. Check out the Budget Board on the DISboards discussion forums for more ideas.
- Think of getting a credit card that earns airline miles for purchases. That is an easy way to save money on your park tickets. If you aren’t enrolled in a frequent flyer program, enroll today and start earning those miles. If you are a member of the American Automobile Association (AAA), they offer great discounts if you are a member at many retailers.
- Buy Disney gift cards at a discount. Target and other retailers offer discounts on Disney gift cards. You may also find some Black Friday discounts on Disney gift cards. Just remember, if you cancel the trip, the money will go back to the original gift card, so be certain you want to do that. Also, don’t throw the gift card away once you use it, if there are any refunds or adjustments, WDW refunds the money back to the gift card. Ask family and friends to gift you with gift cards for birthdays and other celebrations.
- While you are at WDW, consider placing a grocery order with an online retailer. Getting water, drinks, snacks, etc., is going to be less expensive than purchasing them at the resorts or theme parks. When my kids were younger, I made it a game to save money for WDW. I told them we didn’t want Mickey to get our money. They were great at finding ways to save some money before and during our trip. They felt involved in the planning. Then we would find a dinner or event where we could use our savings for something we typically wouldn’t do at WDW.
- Use a Disney-certified travel agent. They will be able to answer any questions you might have. They will keep an eye out for any discounts that could be applied to your reservation. They can also advise you of money-saving options when choosing a WDW resort. They are there to help you have a carefree vacation.
What money-saving tips does your family use when going to WDW? Have a great trip!
Kathy Werling discovered Walt Disney World later than most people but has made up for it. Living close to the theme parks hasn't gotten old yet for her. Kathy is an accomplished photographer and is always out finding new and different things to photograph and experience in the Orlando theme parks. Kathy is also part of the DIS Unlimited Podcast team.
