Money Saving Tips

You want to go to Walt Disney World but fear the costs.  Here are a few simple ways to save money:

1: Go during the off season.  Disney tends to run special offers including discounted rooms at various resorts or free dining.

2: Consider renting DVC (Disney Vacation Club) points.  This is our favorite option.  DVC owners often are not able to use all of their points.  They will rent them, either directly or through a broker.  On average you can save between 40-60% off of the published rack rate. Check out David's Vacation Club Rentals, DVC Rental Store, or Mouseowners.com.

3: Purchase tickets through Undercover Tourist.  On average you will save a minimum of 5%. However, if you are taking advantage of a Disney Special, bundling tickets may be required.  Do your research ahead of time.

4: Don't eat all of your meals out.  Eat breakfast in your hotel room and bring PB&J and fruit to make for lunch.  Many rooms have mini-fridges so you can keep milk and other perishables.  Inquire at booking or check-in.

5. Pre-pack snacks.  I use zip-lock bags and pack 2 snacks a day for each kid.

6. Bring your own water.  Also, you can ask for a cup of water at most places that have fountain drinks.

7. Pre-purchase Photopass or Photopass+.  If you pre-purchase the cost is $120/$150.  If you wait until you arrive at the parks it will cost either $169 for regular photopass, or $199 for Photopass+.

8. Get the Disney Visa Rewards Card.  If offers 1% (or 2% if you are a premium card holder) cash back on all your purchases.  Plus, they give you a $50 or $100 Disney Gift card when you sign up.  I am not advocating the use of credit cards.  We were strictly cash, check or debit prior to this.  But now we exclusively use our Disney card, make weekly payments so we don't carry a balance and earn points towards our next vacation. The month before you leave for Disney, cash in those points.  They will come in the form of a Disney Gift Card.

9. If you can, bring your stroller with you so you don't have to rent one.  Trust me, the littles will need the ride.

10. Buy Disney gift cards (or ask for them for gifts) prior to arriving.  It is sort of like a savings account.  You prepay (which means you are spreading out the cash outlay--say you buy one $50 card a month for 10 months) and then when you arrive, you know exactly how much you have to spend.  This helps keep me on budget.

Do you have tips on saving money?  Leave a post in the comment section below.