If you have kids, let them keep track of a spare change jar. They’ll have fun doing it and they’ll get to practice their math skills! If you already have money set aside for family trips, dip into that and save a smaller amount each week to match your budget.
To apply, go to disneyrewards. com. You can also get 10% off of dining at Disney Resort restaurants, so it’s a great option to cut back on food expenses. Be sure to check in special rewards rates every month because you may get 3 to 5 times the amount of rewards for spending a certain amount in various categories like groceries, dining, or gas. If the threshold isn’t too high, use the card to pay for those things to rack up extra points.
For instance, if you tend to dine out 2 to 3 times a week, cut it back to 0 or 1 times a week. Or, make your own lunch at home instead of going to a cafe during your lunch break. It’s best to start doing this 1 year before you plan to take your trip. However, if you already have some vacation money set aside, you can start saving a few months before your trip.
For instance, if you have a Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card, you’ll at least 1 mile for every dollar you spend. Those miles can be put towards the cost of airfare by selecting “redeem miles” when you book your flight. Keep in mind that you may only be able to use miles on certain flights, so book the flight well in advance and be flexible with your dates. Book it before or around the same time that you make your reservations with a Disney hotel and purchase admission tickets.
September, October, and November can also be pretty slow since children are in school. However, avoid holiday weekends because those are definitely popular times for themed attractions. Keep in mind that if you have kids in school, they may need to miss a day or 2 for the trip—they probably won’t mind! Keep in mind that some rides and attractions might be shut down for their maintenance, refurbishment, and repairs during slow months like January and February. If you have a certain attraction in mind, check online to make sure it’s open a few months before your trip.
For instance, a 4-day “1 Park Per Day” ticket during the slow season starts at $434 per adult and $416 per child (aged 3 to 9 years of age). A 4-day “Park Hopper” ticket is $525 for each adult and $506 for each child. For a family of four, getting the single park per day tickets instead of the “Park Hopper” tickets will save you $362!
If you know you want to stay near a certain park like the Magic Kingdom, filter your results by clicking “Resort Location” and putting a check next to “Magic Kingdom Area. " Filter the results by price range to only show the packages that fit your budget. A package includes both your hotel and theme park tickets. You can also add a meal plan if you don’t want to have to worry about paying for each meal while you’re at the park.
As far as the experience goes, let them know if you’d like to have easy access to the park or if you’re okay with spending some time on a bus (no charge!) to get to the park entrances. If you want a “FastPass+” or “Advanced Dining Reservations,” your travel agent can book that for you ahead of time as well. Agents are a great way to plan your trip because they’re up-to-date on the most recent deals, saving you lots of time spent researching. If a better rate comes along, they’ll even switch your booking to save you some money! TheVacationeer. com or Smallworldvacations. com are great places to start booking with a Disney agent.
It may seem like overkill to create an itinerary for each day, but it’ll save you a lot of stress once you’re there! For instance, you might plan to spend most of your days at Epcot and Animal Kingdom Theme Park, so you might aim to pick a hotel or resort closest to those two (like Coronado Springs Resort or Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel). Be sure to include different attractions you want to see in each park so you have a game plan for each day. That’ll help save time trying to decide where to go next once you’re in the park.
For example, if you want to go to Disney World October 1-6 of 2021, check the rates and set up the package in June or July of 2020. You’ll need to have it paid off in full by September 1, 2021.
To help you save up, log in to your bank account online and set up an automatic transfer each month or so that moves $20 from your checking account into your savings account.
If you want to switch your reservation dates or change the resort you’re staying in within 45 days of your trip, you’ll need to pay a $50 service fee.
If you don’t see your reservation or tickets under the tab, click “Link Resort Reservations” and type in the confirmation number that was sent to you when you booked your reservations. You can also call the Vacation Package Booking department at 407-939-7675 to pay over the phone. Keep your credit card handy and a pen and paper nearby so you can write down your confirmation number.
To narrow your search based on what’s available, type in your check-in and check-out dates as well as how many adults and children are in your family.
If you have a large family and want to save on food, opt for a villa, cabin, or large suite—these come with a full kitchen and all the utensils you’ll need to prepare meals.
All-Star Music Resort - Themed around music genres like jazz, rock ‘n’ roll, country, broadway, and calypso—a great one for a family of music lovers! All-Star Movie Resort - The hotel is decked out with some of the most beloved Disney characters from classic movies like Toy Story and Fantasia. It even has outdoor movie screenings every night! All-Star Sports Resort - Perfect if you or your family members are big sports fans. There’s even an arcade to keep you and your kids entertained when you’re not exploring the parks. Pop Century Resort - The hotel and rooms are decked out to be reminiscent of the 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. It’s a good choice if you’re into funky-retro decor.
If you want to pay in small increments, go to “My Disney Experience,” “My Reservations,” and then follow the prompts to make a payment. Once you’re on the hotel’s page and have made your selection, be sure to select “Room” instead of “Package. " Keep in mind that hotel reservations don’t include a meal plan or tickets to any of the parks. If you plan to visit Disney, decide how you want to experience it. Do you want it to be value, moderate, or deluxe. Call your travel agent to put together a trip for you. Let them know your and your family’s favorite characters or franchises. Get your deposit in as early as possible. Your travel agent will be watching for promos that may drop between your deposit and final payment and reprice it for you.
