Planning a Disney World vacation can be exciting, but yet overwhelming, especially if it’s your first visit. I should know, I’ve planned many Disney World vacations over the years for my family. But the good news is, there are many helpful tips and tricks. Explore a complete Magical Budget-Friendly Disney World Planning Guide! It can make all the difference in you having a smooth and enjoyable magical Disney vacation.
If you want to know how to plan a budget-friendly Disney World Trip, then you’ve come to the right place. Key factors are pre-planning, organization, and flexibility. It is best to have a budget in mind, save money ahead of time, map out your stay, find the best booking & ticket options for your family, and determine your needed vacation essentials.
Experience those magical moments from the beginning to the end of your trip by exploring our Magical Budget-Friendly Disney World Planning Guide to a stress-free dream vacation.
Want to Plan a Disney Trip, but not sure Where to Start?
There are some basic planning tools you will need in the early planning stages of your Disney World vacation.
What is your Budget?
Your budget will be the key factor in planning your vacation. It will help you determine what time of year you should visit, the type of ticket you should purchase, where you should stay, and what dining options are available to you. Peak season with price increases is usually around the holidays. Summer and months like January and February offer low-cost saving resort and ticket pricing.
From my personal experience, it is always best to plan a Disney World vacation well in advance.
Pick Your Dates Early
The earlier you can plan the better. You can book a Disney World vacation 499 days in advance for a room-only reservation at a Disney World Resort. You can book a vacation package, which includes theme park tickets, 365–499 days in advance.
For on-site Disney Resort stays, you are only required to put a $200 deposit on your on-site booking. Booking early will give you time to save money, make frequent payments on your stay, or pay off your balance before you even arrive at your resort. Disney Resort balances are due 30 days before your check-in date.
Disney is Flexible
Your reservation is flexible. Once you have your dates and resort locked in the rest is easy. Disney will easily make adjustments to your stay as needed. If you are not sure about the dining plan book without it. You can always add it later. You can even take it off your reservation. Book the single day ticket option and add the park hopper later. Unfortunately, you can not remove the park hopper option after purchasing your tickets.
Cancellations
For some reason, if you have to cancel your Disney trip, and paid your Disney Resort balance in full (including ticket purchases), no problem, Disney will work with you. Disney usually gives a full refund if you cancel 30 days prior to your stay. This includes your $200 deposit. If you cancel less than 30 days prior to your stay, then the $200 is nonrefundable, but the rest of your money goes back to you. The total balance is nonrefundable if you cancel less than 1 day prior to your stay, but I suggest asking a Disney vacation planner for full details on Disney’s cancellation policy prior to booking your trip.
What happens if Disney offers discounts & deals after your booking?
Even if your trip is already booked and discounts and deals “pop” up later on the Disney Website, you can still have those discount and deals added to your reservation so you can receive those additional savings. Simply speak with a Disney travel advisor to make those changes.
How do I know it works? I am always “stalking” the Disney website to find the latest and greatest deals, not only for myself, but for my friends too! I have two friends that had pre-planned their 2025 vacations and when the Disney World 2025 deals hit the website, I called them up. They contacted their travel agent and each saved over $400 on their upcoming vacation!
My Disney Experience App
Another great feature for “collecting” those Disney vacation savings offers is by signing into your My Disney Experience Account, search for offers then on the offers’ page, click on “see if you can apply this special offer to your reservation”. If you qualify, it will allow you to make the necessary changes to your reservation.
2025 Disney World Offerings
Disney is offering great deals for Summer 2025 and it’s not too late to plan that vacation!
- Offers include resort stays from May 1st through July 31st, 2025 when you stay 5 nights or longer for most nights.
- 20% savings on campsites when you stay 5 nights or longer for most nights May 1st – July 31st, 2025.
- 50% off kids tickets (ages 3-9) for visits beginning May 27 through September 20, 2025 (Kids under 3 visit Disney World for FREE, no need to purchase a ticket).
- get a 3-day, 3-park ticket from April 6 through September 22, 2025 (this ticket is only for admission to EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom (one theme park per day, not valid for admission to Magic Kingdom).
- a free dining plan with the purchase of a non-discounted 4-night, 4-day (or longer) package.
- save up to 30% on select Disney Resort hotel rooms when you stay longer for visits beginning August 1 through October 11, 2025.
- free water park admission for Disney Resort guests on the first day of your resort stay.
Resort Pricing
Disney Resort pricing is broken down into 3 categories: deluxe, moderate, & value resort stays. Your budget depends on you. Navigate and search for resort prices that fit into the budget you have set aside for your trip. Resort fees are based on the number of people in your party.
Pixie Dust Tip: Visit the Disney Website regularly before your trip because you never know what savings you might discover: resort, tickets, and dining deals. Explore our Budget the Magic Webpage for more details on Disney Resort offerings, Disney Good Neighbor Hotels, RVing at Fort Wilderness, and Military Discounts.
Ticket Pricing
Values for Disney World Tickets are broken down based on the number of days you plan to visit, how you want to access the parks (single day base park ticket or park hopper), the date of your visit (resort fees and ticket prices tend to be higher during peak seasons). Ticket prices generally decrease per day when you buy multiple day tickets. The longer you stay the cheaper per day the price of tickets. Disney Ticket Price Offerings.
Single Day vs. Park Hopper
- Single Day Park Ticket: If it is your first visit to Disney World, I recommend purchasing a five day, single day park ticket. Single day park tickets allow you to visit one theme park each day of your ticket. I suggest setting aside one day for each of the four parks: Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Animal Kingdom, & Hollywood Studios. If my family chooses this option, they prefer the extra 5th day for a second visit to Magic Kingdom. This option will relieve any stress of missing out on the magic of each park, especially if it’s your first visit. Single day park tickets are also the most cost savings option. I recommend planning for a 6 to 7 day vacation with this option to enjoy some of the perks of what the resorts offer. You can still leave and come back to the park you are visiting as many times as you want within that day. Take a break or a nap and return back for a evening in the park.
- Park Hopper Option: Not your first visit to Disney? Then the park hopper option might be an extra added benefit to your stay, although, it is an up charge to your ticket pricing. The park hopper option allows you to hop to multiple parks in a day. You could hit an early theme park entry at Magic kingdom then hop to Epcot at night. This option allows flexibility in scheduling a quick or shorter vacation to Disney.
Pixie Dust Tip: I do not recommend the park hopper option with small children especially if it is your 1st visit. Make it a magical stay by experiencing a full day of what each park has to offer.
Dining Options
There are a variety of ways to dine at Disney. It all depends on your budget. Disney offers two different dining packages at a cost per person. Dining packages are an extra added cost to your resort package. Unless, Disney is offering a free dining plan with your resort package, the add-on dining plan can cost you up to $95 a day for adults and $30 a day for kids. That is a significant cost increase to your Disney stay. Click to explore the different Disney Dining Plan Options. Disney Dining Reservations can be booked 60 days in advance to your resort stay.
Snacking at Disney
There are many ways to budget your money for meals when planning your Disney vacation. My family and I prefer to either snack around the Disney parks or bring in our own food. You can find menus and meal prices directly on the Disney website. Explore our Budget the Magic Park to Park Snacking Under $10 blog for more insight into saving money and using Disney snacks as a filling cost savings meal. Many of these Disney snack meals include pull pork, mac & cheese, pizza, tacos and so much more. Some are even shareable!
Saving Money on Food
Did you know you can bring your own food into the Disney parks? Bringing foods like sandwiches, peanut better & jelly, and snacks, snacks, and more snacks can save your family a lot of money. I also suggest eating breakfast at your resort or in your room to cut down dining cost.
Pixie Dust Tip: Skip the dining plan. It is not for everyone. The cost savings compared to paying for meals out right are not that significant. I recommend budgeting for your meals and booking just one great dining experience. With kids, character dining is a great way to save time by getting those pics & autographs during your dining experience instead of waiting in those long park meet & greet lines.
My top 5 favorite dining experiences for families:
- Ohana’s at the Polynesian Resort (dining with Lilo & Stitch, Mickey & Pluto (family style serving of food and close to Magic Kingdom).
- Chef Mickey’s at Contemporary Resort (Mickey & friends, buffet style, and close to Magic Kingdom).
- Crystal Palace at Magic Kingdom (Winnie the Pooh and friends, buffet style, & early access into Magic Kingdom).
- Tusker House at Animal Kingdom (Donald Duck, Mickey, Daisy, & Goofy, buffet style, dancing with the characters, and early access to Animal Kingdom).
- The Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue at the Fort Wilderness Campground (nightly– live entertainment, family style serving of food, & drinks).
- Cinderella’s Royal Table at Magic Kingdom is a fan favorite, but it comes at a hefty price, It is a must do with those little princesses if you can swing it.
Who are You Paying for?
Disney pricing for tickets and meals are based by age groups. Kids under 3 visit Disney for free, kids 3-9 pay a youth price, & 10 and up pay adult ticket and dining prices. Keep this in mind when budgeting for your vacation.
How are You Going to get There?
When planning your trip, you need to consider how you will travel: by air or by car.
Although flying saves time, this does not mean it saves money. You need to evaluate what is most important to you when planning your trip. If you fly then it is best to check calendars for the cheapest times and prices that airlines offer to get the best cost savings on flights. It is best to book airfare at least 4 months in advance but check discounted airline sites, they offer some of the best prices and discounts. Consider the following when flying: added cost of airfare, shuttle or rental car cost, & limited luggage space.
Driving to Disney
For my family of five, driving offers more flexibility on controlling our schedule of when we will arrive at our resort. Believe me when I say we have been stuck in an airport a time or two. Driving has flexibility in how many stops you will make, it is cost effective per person, and gives a bit more room for luggage and extras. Drive at night while the kids sleep and avoid those day time congestion hours.
A good piece of advice when Planning Your Trip and budgeting is to know before you go.
Saving for Your Trip!
Before your trip, there are a few key things to consider when searching for cost effective savings to help pay for a magical Disney experience. Dig into saving money by cutting back on the amount of money you spend daily or on those unnecessary purchases, open a savings fund, set up a vacation fund jar, or explore the perks of Disney offers on cards, rewards, and subscriptions.
One of the reasons I book early is so that I can pay month to month to pay-off my trip in advance. Why? Because then I have that extra spending money for my family to enjoy the parks without worrying about the strain on my pocket book.
Pixie Dust Tip: To explore more in-depth cost saving trip details visit our Budget the Magic webpage on money savings tips for planning your trip.
Packing & Booking For Your Trip
Packing for a Disney World trip is about balancing comfort and convenience. Think about your family’s needs, weather, and money. Don’t forget your wallet, cash, credit cards, identification, insurance cards, magic bands, sunglasses, autograph books, and backpacks. These are the most important Disney vacation essentials!
What to Wear?
It is always important to wear comfortable clothing that is breathable. Depending on the time of year you visit Disney, sometimes it can be a bit cool in the early morning and late evenings, I suggest wearing layers during these seasonal times. It is easier to take off a jacket than sweating in a long sleeve shirt all day long.
Pack comfy shoes like sneakers. It is always best to break them in before your visit to avoid blisters or achy feet. I also recommend bring an extra pair just in case you encounter one of those rainy Florida days.
Vacation Essentials
Other vacation packing essentials: Rain jacket or poncho, swimsuit, medicine & prescriptions, lip balm, sun screen, hand sanitizer & wipes, shout or tide pen, toothpaste, tooth brush, deodorant, floss, body wash, shampoo & conditioner, makeup, face wash or wipes, hygiene products, razor, contact solution, hair brush, room spray, electronics, cell phone, portable chargers, cooling towels, water bottles, portable fans, strollers, scissors, and nail clippers.
Complete all Bookings
Before you hit the ground running at your resort or hotel make sure all your reservations are booked & complete.
- dining: reserve your dining 60 days in advance. If you need to cancel or make changes, you can always do that once you arrive at your resort.
- lightning lanes: Purchase lightning lanes– single and multi-day passes 7 days in advance (on-site resorts). Up to 3 days before your park visit at off-site resorts or hotels.
- special tours: It is best to book Disney VIP, wildlife, Keys to the Kingdom, & behind the scenes tours before you arrive to guarantee a spot on the tour. You can book Disney tours 60 days in advance. You should check availability for specific dates and times when booking.
Checking into Your Resort Online
If you are staying at a Disney Resort, you can check into your resort before you even arrive. Login to your my Disney Experience App–go to home page–click on “my resort” and then click the link to “check in”. Follow the steps to let Disney know your arrival time.
Early Check-in
If you arrive early and your room is not ready (check-in normally between 3 pm & 4 pm), no problem, you can drop your bags off at the bell service and you will receive a text message or notification with the room number when your room is ready. This allows you to skip the front desk check-in and go directly to your room. The bell service will deliver your bags straight to your room. What a perk to still enjoy a park day or other activities without skipping a beat during your trip.
Pixie Dust Tips: Use packing cubes to pack for your trip. Packing cubes help organize your items, compress clothing, and make packing and unpacking more efficient. Pack plastic storage bags too. These are good for keeping things like your cell phone from getting wet on those wet rides and are great for storing “leftover” Disney snacks like candy. View our Budget the Magic details on packing and booking for your trip.
Plan Your Park Day
Pre-plan your park day. Of course, we know that things can happen that might disrupt your day, but even with disruptions, it is best to have a plan!
Know What Attractions You want to See
Map out your day by familiarizing yourself with attractions, experiences, refurbishments, and closures before you arrive at your resort. This will allow you the flexibility in scheduling what you want to do and to know what you don’t want to do while visiting the Disney parks.
Visit the Disney Park Sites
Disney World offers a variety of attractions & experiences from toddlers to teens to adults. It is always best to know ahead of time what Disney attractions & experiences are right for your family. You don’t want to waste valuable park time wondering around or standing in the wrong line. Getting a feel for the park’s attractions and experiences is key to giving you direction to where to head once you arrive for your park visit.
Choose Your 5 Top Attractions
To be honest, you may not have enough time to do everything you want to do in the parks. To avoid disappointment, choose your topic 5 attractions in each park and plan your day around those. This will eliminate any overwhelming feelings you might feel and helps to avoid exhaustion. Keep the mind set that you might not be able to do all that the park offers in one visit, but this just opens up the opportunity to planning another great Disney World vacation!
Pick Your Top Experiences
Choose your top 2 experiences and get those in during your park visit. There are so many things to do and see so plan ahead. You might want to meet your favorite princess, crush a penny (park penny collecting was a favorite past-time of my kids when they were younger), watch a parade, snack around the park, or try to pull the sword from the stone in Fantasyland. Check all parade and show times before you head to the parks so you don’t miss out on your favorite experiences.
Explore the Single Rider Line
Want to cut back on wait times? Utilize the single rider lines for select rides at the Disney World Parks. Not all attractions use the single rider line, but this is a great opportunity to avoid those long wait times. This is usually best for teens and adults since you will not be able to ride with your party. Disney offers a single rider line for four attractions; Rock ‘n’ Roller Coaster (closure soon for re-theming to the Muppets) & Smugglers Run at Hollywood Studios, Test Track at Epcot (currently under refurbishment), & Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom.
Family Friendly Rider Switch
If a child can’t ride a particular attraction due to height requirements or other reasons, then I recommend using the rider switch service. This service allows one adult to ride while the other waits with the child, and then they switch by using the lightning lane entrance. It’s another great way to save time in long lines and it allows mom, dad, and other kids in the group to enjoy a fun attraction experience together. Our Plan Your Park Day has so many details to offer for planning those park days.
Disney World Planning Calendar
The Disney World Calendar is a great guide in planning your park day. All you need to know about the parks; early theme park entry times and closures, special events, lightning lane passes, dining reservations, mobile ordering, wait times, menus, meet & greets, and so much more are easily accessible at your finger tips with the My Disney Experience App.
Want to learn more about saving money in the Disney Parks? Visit our Budget the Magic Website on Disney World Park Tips & Tricks to Savings. Continue to follow our blog as we begin our Park to Park Planning Guide Series on detailed park guides for kids, teens, and adults. There is so much to explore at Budget the Magic.