You can go through a lot of cash fast on these trips; which makes knowing how to budget these vacations all the more important.
What's really great is you can take a frugal approach, save big bucks "and" still have a quality vacation. Below, you'll find smart ways to save money at Disney.
This is transportation, lodging, meals and tickets.
- Transportation
I'll tell you we've saved a great deal of money by avoiding rental car costs. If Disney is going to be your only destination, you can find a hotel that has a shuttle to Disney or is within walking distance.
You can take a taxi or shuttle from the airport right to your hotel. In fact, some hotels will provide a shuttle service to the airport and Disney.
Leverage off of the internet. We've used online Expedia, Orbitz and Hotwire to find great airfare and hotel deals. It's a fantastic way to quickly shop and compare costs.
You can also check Disney's website for airfare promotions.
Try to schedule your airline tickets at least 2 months in advance of your disney vacation. Airfare will generally cost you more the longer you wait to book your tickets.
- Lodging
You'll save a ton of money by "not" staying at one of the Disney Resort Hotels. I know, they're nice and you can't beat the park access, but you will pay for it in spades to the tune of at least triple of what you'd pay for budget hotels near Disney.
First, you can write down a figure that you are willing to pay towards a hotel. Then, you can begin searching online for a place to stay that's within your budget.
You'll be pleasantly surprised that there are several hotels near the Disney at an inkling of the cost you'd pay at a Disney resort hotel.
Don't forget about additional lodging discounts. Ask the hotels you’re interested if they're offering a special. Also, don't forget to ask them if they offer credit union, AAA or AARP member discounts.
- Meals
It becomes a bit more challenging doing Disney on a budget when it comes to meals. Meals in the park are not cheap, but you can check the menus of the park's eating establishments to find the more economical places to eat in advance. You will spend much less money this way.
Here's another Disney budget tip we've used successfully: Order pizza out of your hotel room in the evening instead of eating a much more expensive dinner at Disney.
We also like to pick a hotel that includes a free continental breakfast in their cost. You can eat bananas, other fruit or granola bars that you brought from home for breakfast if the continental isn't available.
You can also buy a Disney refillable mug in the park and get free refills of beverages for your entire stay. This will save you a great deal of money; especially if you have kids.
Another way we budget disneyland vacations is to bring snacks with us into the park. You cannot bring a cooler, but you can pack snacks into a purse or backpack - another big money saver.
Bottom line, the less you pay for food and drink at the Disney park rates, the more money you'll save; and it's substantial.
- Tickets
When it comes to budgeting a Disney vacation, tickets are a big considerations because there expensive.
To budget Disney tickets, you'll want to buy them separately instead of as a package. Package rates are extremely expensive at Disney.
You'll also find that tickets (and hotels) will be cheaper in the off-peak season.
Also, the fewer days you stay at the park, the cheaper will be your ticket cost. We've found that spending 3 to 4 days max at Disney is plenty; not to mention it'll also cut down your hotel costs.
When it comes to your personal budgeting, knowing how to budget Disneyland vacations will be a tremendous help in keeping your finances in check.
