Cheapest Way To Do Disney World

Disney is undeniably expensive, but with our 20+ years of experience, we’ve learned a thing or two about saving money. If you’re looking for the cheapest way to do Disney World, you’ve come to the right place!

With the right approach, a Disney trip can be affordable and magical. The cheapest way to do Disney World can be achieved by planning smart and making informed choices. We’ve had many budget-friendly Disney adventures, and so can you!

Before we dive in, if you can’t afford to go to Disney World, you should wait. While it is possible to do Disney on a budget, I wouldn’t want you to be so strapped for cash that you can’t allow for some indulgences, like buying a Disney balloon for your child, for example. If that’s the case, I would encourage you to wait another year or so, save some more money, and you will have an infinitely better vacation!

To help you save, we’ve written several money-saving articles to help get you on the right track. Remember, money saved is money earned, so the more money you can keep in the bank, the more you can save for a dream Disney vacation!

Cheapest Way To Do Disney World

As with any vacation destination, travel, accommodations, tickets, and food will be your main expenses. Other areas, like souvenirs and alcoholic drinks, are optional. The time of year you visit will be the most critical factor, so let’s start there.

Flights, hotels, and even Disney ticket prices will be higher during popular travel times like holidays and when kids are out of school. Traveling during the off-season will ensure you get the lowest rates on flights, accommodations, and even Disney ticket prices.

Slowest Times At Disney World

One of the best times to visit Disney is after the Thanksgiving crowds leave and before the Christmas crowds arrive. Prices are lower, the weather is beautiful, and the Disney Christmas decorations are up, adding to the magic of your trip.

For the same reasons, January and February are also great. The decorations are gone, but you’ll have much cooler weather. There are cheerleading competitions around this time every year, and thousands of cheerleaders inundate Disney property. Book your trip between these competitions, and you’ll be fine.

Late August and most of September are notoriously among the best times for low crowds and prices. It’s still a little too hot for us, but if that doesn’t bother you, you can’t go wrong with Disney in September!

Authorized Disney Travel Agents

Hiring a travel agent may be your best bet if it’s your first trip to Disney. Not only will they know the best times to go, but they can do all the planning for you based on your budget. The best part? It doesn’t cost you anything to hire a Disney travel agent. They actually get paid a commission directly from Disney. Search Google or ask for recommendations in popular Disney forums to find an authorized Disney travel agent. They are a wealth of information, and the members are incredibly helpful. My favorites are DISboards, WDWMagic, and TouringPlans.

Traveling To Disney World

If you live within driving distance, this is usually the cheapest way to get to Disney World. We live in Nashville, which is a 10-hour drive. The benefit of driving is that you can load up your car with everything you need. We bring cases of water, food from home, and tons of extra health and beauty items, so we don’t have to buy anything on the property. You can estimate what you’ll pay for gas ahead of time.

If driving is out of the question, book the cheapest flight with the lowest extra baggage fees. In this case, I recommend paying for an extra bag and packing as much as possible. The additional baggage fee will often be less than forgetting something and paying full price while you’re at Disney.

Accommodations At Walt Disney World

I always recommend staying on Disney property. While you may be able to save a little money staying off-property, you’ll have more transportation headaches and costs, lose perks like early park access, and miss out on the experience of staying in the “Disney bubble.”

Booking your accommodations is the first thing you should do. Walt Disney World Resorts and Good Neighbor Hotels book up far in advance. I booked our 2025 vacation when we returned from our 2024 vacation. Once you’ve secured your hotel, you can monitor prices and modify your reservation as needed.

Disney Value Resorts, such as Disney All-Star movies, Disney All-Star Music, and Disney All-Star sports, are almost always the cheapest, ranging from $133 to over $200 a night, depending on the time of year.

The Drury Plaza Hotel is the newest hotel in the Disney Springs area. We stayed here on our last trip, and we absolutely loved it. While some value resorts might be less per night, the Drury offers a complimentary hot breakfast buffet, a free nightly hot buffet, and three free alcoholic drinks per adult per night of your stay. That’s a huge savings since food is a significant expense on any vacation.

Disney World Ticket Prices

The price varies daily, with the cheapest Disney World tickets being during the off-season. You can see the most current price on the Disney website. A single-day ticket will always be the most expensive, as the multi-day ticket price decreases each consecutive day. You can also check the Disney World special offers page for ticket and resort discounts. They’re currently running two ticket offers through September 24, 2024.

There are a few different ways to upgrade your ticket, but for the sake of this post, I recommend saving money and sticking with one park per day. Disney Springs is always a good option if you get done at the park a little early and are looking for something to do in the evening!

Food Prices At Disney World

If you include drinks, meals, and snacks, an average family of four can spend well over $50 a day per person. Here are some ways to save!

Get some groceries! On the first day of your trip, either drive to the closest grocery store or place a delivery order for cheap snacks and breakfast options. I suggest getting a case or two of water. Of course, if you drive, you can bring non-perishable items from home.

Have your first meal of the day in your room. Most people only eat a little at breakfast, so having some quick and easy options in your room pays off. We stock up on yogurt cups, cottage cheese, and granola bars. The mini fridge in the room won’t hold much, so remember that when choosing groceries. However, if your family loves breakfast, this is almost the cheapest meal of the day at Disney World.

Snacking in the park can add up, so I suggest bringing a few non-perishables, like granola bars, nuts, and jerky. However, no Disney is complete without enjoying a few iconic Disney treats like a Mickey ice cream cone or a Mickey pretzel. Familiarize yourself with the Disney World Food Policy to know what you can and can’t bring into the parks.

Avoid sit-down restaurants. They are costly! As a foodie, we also believe that the quick-service restaurants are where you’ll find some of the best food at Disney – at the lowest prices.

Disney menus are posted online, so you can know where you want to eat and approximately how much you’ll spend before your trip.

Share meals. Some of the portions at Disney are humongous and easily shareable. Our favorite meals to share at Disney are the Pretzel Breakfast Sandwich at Friar’s Nook, the Jambon Beurre Sandwich at Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie, and the Sicilian slices at Pizza Ponte. If one meal isn’t quite enough,  order an extra side instead of a second meal OR supplement with one of the snacks you’ve brought.

It baffles me that people still pay for water bottles in the park, which can easily cost $50 a day or more. Bring cheap bottles of water with you, or carry a refillable bottle. We LOVE these collapsible bottles! You can refill your bottles at water stations around the parks or at quick-service dining locations and kiosks. The taste of Orlando water could be better, so I recommend bringing some flavor packets.

Best Quick Service Restaurants At Disney World For $10 Or Less

Souvenirs At Disney World

This section is going to be short and sweet. Everything at Disney World is expensive, especially souvenirs. If you can, avoid buying them at Disney altogether. Here are some things I did when my kids were younger.

Some of the cheapest apparel for a trip to Disney World is at H&M, Kohl’s, and Target. Even on a budget, dressing in Disney gear is fun, and you can find some great deals. My favorite Disney sweatshirt is from Kohl’s, and I got it on clearance for around eight bucks.

In the months before your trip, frequent the Dollar Tree and stock up on Disney items. When your kids ask for something, pull a little surprise out of your backpack. This is also a great way to keep younger kids occupied in long lines.

Inside the parks, the refillable popcorn bucket is your best bet. The popcorn buckets can be refilled for around $2.50 for the entirety of your trip. Mickey Ears and Disney autograph books can be purchased on Amazon for much less than you’ll pay at Disney.

Is Disney Genie Plus Worth It

Time is money at Disney World, so while people recommend skipping Genie+ on a budget trip, I sometimes disagree, as waiting in long lines can consume hours of your day. Genie+ is an add-on to your regular ticket, allowing you to wait in shorter lines. It can cost between $15 and $25 per ticket per day, so a family of four can spend anywhere from $60 to $100 extra. Once you purchase Genie+, you can book individual Lightning Lanes rides, a reservation that guarantees you can get on the ride you choose at a specific time.

If you visit Disney during the lowest crowd time, you may only need it at some parks. Magic Kingdom, for example, has a lot of rides for kids, and it’s a lot to fit in in one day. Genie+ may be beneficial here. However, at Hollywood Studios, young kids probably won’t be able to go on Slinky Dog Dash or Tower of Terror, so you may not need it at this park.  I recommend looking at the Genie+ rides for each park and deciding whether or not it’s a good fit for your family.

Cut Back On Theme Park Days

The parks are a ton of fun, but one of the cheapest ways to do Disney World is to cut a park day. Depending on the ages of your children and how many days you’re there, you might want to consider only doing two or three parks. Riding the Disney Skyliner or monorail to other resorts is one of our favorite ways to spend a non-park day. The last time we were there, we made the monorail loop with our two-year-old grandson, and he LOVED playing with the oversized toys outside at the Contemporary. Take advantage of the resort you’re already staying at, let the kids swim, and relax. The parks can be exhausting, and a break is usually necessary!

More Disney Posts You May Enjoy

• Best Breakfast at Walt Disney World
• Complete List of Stores at Disney Springs 
• Babies and Toddlers at Disney World FAQ
• Best Quick Service at Epcot – Savory Edition
• Disney World at Christmas + Questions & Answers

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