• Rent a timeshare.

Yeah, we’re biased because we’re passionate about timeshare resorts, but this really can save you a ton. Many timeshare rentals actually cost less than a basic hotel room (especially when renting on KOALA) and they usually come with multiple bedrooms, kitchens or kitchenettes, and living spaces — it’s really a condo instead of a cramped hotel room. Renting is just like staying in a hotel: there’s no commitment to purchase a timeshare or even do a tour, and Orlando has no shortage of timeshare resorts. Some are basic and affordable; others are more lavish, with pools and restaurants —but still affordable — so your family or group can vacation comfortably in a home away from home. (I’ve vacationed in timeshares most of my life and would never stay in a hotel when timeshare is an option!)

Club Wyndham Bonnet Creek, 2 Bedroom Deluxe.

• Be strategic about grocery shopping.

Most timeshares have kitchens, so you’ll want to stock it with some basics at least. Many of the grocery and convenience stores around the Disney parks are way overpriced, so instead, I head to the Walmart Supercenter located a 15-minute drive from the parks. They have the best prices on groceries, and even some Disney shirts and souvenirs! You can also bring a few things from home to save money: we always pack basic coffee filters and our preferred ground coffee. If you’re a coffee drinker like me, you’ll appreciate starting every vacation day with your favorite morning brew.

• Prep meals in your timeshare rental’s kitchen. 

Cook on vacation?? I know . . . blech, but Disney’s food ain’t cheap, including the totally adorbs Mickey-shaped waffles. We usually eat breakfast before we head out for the day, fueling up with toaster waffles or a bowl of cereal to allow for a splurge later. We also pack whatever meals we can. Unlike Universal, Disney allows soft coolers, so you can make sandwiches and snacks ahead of time and pack them for a picnic in the park. Be sure to check Disney’s most recent policies to know what’s allowed. 

We do eat dinner out a few nights on vacation, but we’ve also discovered a love for grilling at resorts — those fabulous amenities are too great not to utilize! Just throw some chicken or steak in a sealed container with olive oil and seasoning (pro tip: pack your favorite spice mix with you), let it marinate overnight, then grill it up while the kids play at the pool. Serve with an easy side and ice cream. If your kitchen comes with a slow cooker, you can let chicken cook with a bottle of salsa all day for an easy taco dinner.

Club Wyndham Governor’s Green, Picnic tables & grills.

And for the grown-ups? My husband and I aren’t big drinkers, but on vacation, we usually get a bottle of tropical drink mix and rum to enjoy a few budget-friendly drinks on pool days. 

• Plan your park days around affordable eats.

When you are eating in the parks, lunch prices are usually easier on the wallet than dinner. We often take a break mid-day to eat a bigger lunch, saving our packed food for dinner. We structure our Epcot days to enjoy one of our faves, Biergarten. We love it because the buffet is great for picky eaters, there’s great music and entertainment (including a polka band!), and they take advance reservations. Don’t miss their creamy and light Bavarian cheesecake (I always save room for more than one slice)!

Entertainment at Biergarten Restaurant, Epcot. Photo Credit: Laura Gohl

A lot of our other favorites are on this great park-by-park list of affordable spots from our friends at Undercover Tourist. And when you’re off park grounds, there are plenty of options in the Orlando region that serve up healthy, affordable meals (and aren’t big boring chains): Here’s a great list of budget bites from the Visit Orlando folks.

• Use your U.S. military [or other] discounts on Disney tickets.

U.S. military personnel and their families can benefit from Disney’s Military Salute Tickets. Buy your tickets at your local ITT office on base/post. Veterans can get one ticket for themselves plus five additional family members. The most recent price for a 5-day Park Hopper was just $349 each, which is nearly 50% off the regular price! You’ll have to go to Guest Services at the park (or Disney Springs) to trade in your military tickets for ones that work for admission (don’t forget your military ID). While there, ask about getting a discounted Disney’s Memory Maker package, which includes all of your ride, character, and park photos — well worth it if they’re offering a savings.

This blog post is about Disney, but if you’re like me and also love Harry Potter and Jurassic Park, you can also get discounted Universal Studios passes through your base ticket office!

Not a veteran? Here are a few other ways to score discount Disney tickets, including discounts for Florida residents and employees of some companies.

• Set a budget — and stick with it.

Before you go on your trip, set a budget for souvenirs, dining, and other day-by-day costs. Knowing how much you can spend — and setting your family’s expectations — from the beginning will help you all enjoy your time. No one wants to deal with the stress of a tantruming kid who wants a $150 LEGO set (I will neither confirm nor deny whether I know this from experience). If you’re allowing your kids to get souvenirs, set the limit: “You each can get one souvenir, up to $15,” for example. Check nearby Disney outlets for some bargains to stretch that budget!

• Skip Genie+… and still beat the lines. 

If you haven’t heard of Genie+, here’s the rundown on this new service: for an additional $15 per ticket per day, guests are allowed to join a shorter line for rides that are exclusively for Genie+ purchasers. (Alternatively, you can sometimes pay per ride to use Lightning Lane. The availability changes by day, and the purchases are to be made the day of your visit.) Used FastPass+ in the past? Same service, except now they cleverly charge for it. Personally, I’m not a fan of any of these, as the lines would all move at a steady, quicker pace without them. There are time and ride limitations, so check Disney’s app or site for the most up-to-date information. 

Here’s how to navigate parks without the Genie+ upcharge: first, plan your park reservations using the crowd calendar on Touring Plans. (Make sure you reserve parks as soon as you’re able while Disney is requiring reservations! Going to one park that’s busier than the rest will make for an unproductive day.) Second, get to the park right at opening and head straight for the most popular ride. Lightning Lane passes aren’t available until 10:00 am, which means the lines will move quickly until then. Lastly, use the Touring Plans Lines app to track accurate wait times. Disney purposely exaggerates wait times in their own app for crowd control, and doesn’t want you to know that a line advertised as 60 minutes may actually only take 20.

• Look into annual passes. 

As of this writing, Disney World’s annual passes are only available to Florida residents due to limited park reservations. But they’re destined to be widely available again eventually, so keep your (mouse) ear to the ground. For frequent Disney-goers like us, planning in advance with annual passes can save tons of cash. When our kids were younger, we’d buy annual passes (with a Disney Vacation Club discount). We’d travel once right away, then again 11 months later. This way our Disney vacations were almost a year apart, but we could get two trips out of the same passes. (And of course, if you want to travel there more than twice in a year, this would especially be the way to go!) 

Bonus: you get free parking, which is an extra savings!

• DIY your way to being a “Disnerd.” 

The family that Disneys together stays together! “DisneyBounding” is the latest rage, where you dress like Disney characters but not in an actual costume (see photo below!). Family t-shirts and crazy ears are still popular, too, but buying all this swag for an entire family at the parks will be oppressively expensive. 

Instead, if you want to really get your “Disnerd” on (like our family does), get creative and plan ahead! You can make your own Mickey ears and use clothing you have around the house — or even hit up thrift stores for some amazing finds. These are great ways to experience the magic of Disney (and DisneyBounding!) while also getting the family excited for the big trip. 

Laura Gohl (author) and her family, October 2021

We hope you’ve found these tips helpful. Have your own tips? Send them to hello@go-koala.com and we may publish them in a future post! We love to see our community helping each other. 

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