Let’s face it, everything at Disney or having to do with Disney is expensive. Having been to Disney hundreds of times and most of them being on a very strict budget here are a couple of ways that we use to save money where we can.
Buy gift cards from Sam’s Club.
You can pay for pretty much everything with a Disney gift card. When you plan to use gift cards and you stick to the amounts you have on the cards you have a smaller tendency to overspend on things. I know that Target offers discounts on Disney gift cards but I have not personally purchased them this way. I purchase my gift cards from Sam’s Club, here is the breakdown of what they offer. (As of February 20, 2025)
Value $50 You Pay $47.98
Value $75 You Pay $71.98
Value $150 You Pay $144.98
Value $500 You Pay $484.98
To boost the savings even more I pay for the cards on my Disney Chase Visa Card, this way I get rewards dollars plus the gift card savings.
Share meals when possible
I don’t know about you but thinking about food at the parks can overwhelm me! I have read and heard so many different opinions about eating at a table service restaurant, or only quick service, or even bringing your own food into the parks. Food can add up quickly, especially those favorite mickey shaped snacks. At Quick Service places adult meals are definitely large enough to share between two people to save money and room in your belly for snacks later. When I go for a normal day in the park I usually get one meal in the early afternoon and just snack the rest of the day with snacks I bought or purchased.
Buy multi day passes
A one day ticket for Disney is quite expensive. A recommendation I have given people is to save a little longer and be able to go for three or more days to save money on tickets. If you are a Florida resident most years they have a Florida resident deal during certain times of the year. For example in 2025 they ran a special from January through May that a 3 day ticket is $225 and a 4 day is $240. If you are not a Florida resident and are coming on vacation it is definitely well worth your money to purchase a three or more day park ticket. I am a Disney Travel Advisor so let me know if I can help you book a budget friendly trip.
Buy souvenirs before your vacation
The Disney Store online, Amazon, Sam’s Club, Walmart, Costco, in fact most retailers have a good selection of Disney items. When I go to the parks my kids are always asking if they can get a toy. Because of this I always try to keep things that I have purchased from other places for much cheaper than at Disney in my bag. Some of my go to items that I like to always have are glow sticks, stickers, notebooks, pens, bubbles, and small toys that I can easily fit into my bag.
Use a Brita bottle or water bottle for water
Disney World is in Central Florida which means summers are brutally hot and humid. Water is an absolute must no matter when you go. Bottles of water can cost over $3.50, and that adds up very fast when you should be drinking four to six bottles of water a day. All Quick Service restaurants have free water for you to drink; you just have to ask for it. It comes with the central Florida water taste of chlorine. I get away from that by bringing my insulated Brita bottle that helps filter the taste and makes it much cheaper to drink water. I also will take an insulated water bottle and bring drink mix packets to add in to my water.