How to Visit a Disney Park Without Going Broke

Heading to the happiest place on Earth? Unless you heed these tips, you'll need a fat wallet.

Saving at Disney Do's and Don'ts

A Disney vacation doesn't come cheap. With ticket prices exceeding $100, plus accommodations, souvenirs and dining, a family of four traveling to a Disney park could easily spend $2,000 on a week-long trip.

But before you scrap your plans to visit the Happiest Place on Earth, don't fret: There are ways to save, shaving hundreds off your final bill.

Growing up in Florida, I've visited Orlando's Disney World every year of my life — sometimes multiple times a year — and Disneyland in Anaheim, California many times as well. We had a system down pat to help us visit the parks, without breaking the bank.

If you're planning a trip to Disney, follow these do's and don'ts to keep your costs in check.

DON’T: Book a Moderate or Deluxe Resort

Yes, Disney World has some nice properties to stay in. Its moderate-tier hotels and camping cabins (including Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort) give you a health club, playgrounds and a dine-in restaurant.

Deluxe resorts and villas, including the Grand Floridian, are even nicer, with spa services, bike rentals, water recreation and a ton of dining options, from a food court and multiple restaurants to room service and character dining.

But unless you have lots of money to burn, these properties are way too expensive to justify.

As an example, Caribbean Beach, a moderate resort, costs $208 per night, while deluxe resorts can reach up to $600 per night. Add that to steep ticket prices, and you’re facing down a pretty frightening bill.

At Disneyland, there are only three resorts connected to the park. The most expensive is the Disneyland Hotel, which starts at $445 per night, with the Grand Californian just a step cheaper at $417.

DO: Book a Value Resort

Disney World's cheapest accommodations are its Value properties:

- All-Star Movies Resort
- All-Star Music Resort
- All-Star Sports Resort
- Art of Animation Resort
- Pop Century Resort

The Value tier of resorts will cost just $121 per night — nearly $500 per night cheaper than the Grand Floridian!

Though these are less pricey than the deluxe and moderate properties, they come with many of the same perks, including extra Disney hours (meaning you will have an extra hour in the park before it opens to the public) and transportation to each park and between the airport.

At Disneyland, Disney's Paradise Pier is the cheapest, again with all the same perks, at $337 per night.

DO: Stay Off Property

Even better than booking a Disney Value resort? Not booking a Disney resort at all.

Not only are off-site properties typically less expensive, but you’ll be saving on meals as well. Many off-site hotels offer complimentary breakfasts and kids-eat-free amenities. To save even more, you can book an off-site hotel with a kitchen; head to the local grocer and stock up on some items to eat meals in your room.

Worried about the cost of transit? Don’t be. Many off-site properties in Orlando provide transportation to the park, included with your stay. At Disneyland, many hotels surrounding the theme parks are within walking distance, so you don’t have to worry about transportation at all.

DO: Consider Camping

Disney offers a campground for its Florida location with the 750-acre Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Here, you can select from tent or pop-up camper sites or full hook-up sites for RVs. (There are also furnished cabins, for those who don't want to rough it.)

Sites offer grills and picnic tables so you can save on food, free high-speed Wi-Fi, and even TV hookups.

There is also a pool, horseback riding, canoeing and other outdoor fun that won't cost you very much to enjoy.

Best of all? Rates start as low as $56 per night and you still get the extended hours and shuttle service available to Disney Resort guests.

DON’T: Dine at the Park

Dining at Disney comes at a cost. According to USA Today, as of last year, prices at sit-down restaurants ranged anywhere from $15 to $60 per plate. For a family, that can add up extremely quickly.

Quick-service places are cheaper — typically under $14.99 per dish — but still marked up to a pretty significant degree.

DO: Dine Off-Site

In Kissimmee, Florida, which is along the Magic Kingdom's Main Gate, restaurants tout meals under $10 per person, free dining for young kids and buffets to lure you away from Disney's dining options.

The lesson? You can save a ton by eating outside the theme parks.

DO: Look for Deals

You can also save big by keeping an eye out for steals and deals. For instance:

Free water. All Disney parks will give you free water (with ice) at the fast-dining eateries.
Free dining plans. Keep your eyes peeled for free dining plan offers. Disney will offer special packages with this tempting deal during off-peak travel times in the fall.
Credit card. If you want to dine at Disney, consider a Disney credit card through Chase, which gives you 10 percent off dining at the parks and hotels.

DO: Pack a Bag

Many don’t know that Disney allows guests to enter the parks with their own food and snacks. If you are visiting with kids, definitely bring a backpack filled with juice boxes, snacks and refillable water bottles.

(Lockers are available to rent, for $7-$10, if you don't want to carry everything all day.)

DON’T: Book a Character Meet-and-Greet

Character breakfasts can cost as much as $58, while the Disney Princess meal can cost more than $100 — per person!

DO: Meet Characters for Free at the Parks

Characters roam the theme parks and are available for free photos and autograph-signing. You can get a schedule of the designated spots and times characters will be out and about.

DO: Meet Characters Off-Property

By the way, some off-resort properties in Orlando feature their own Disney character breakfasts, such as the Four Seasons and Wyndham Lake Buena Vista.

Hilton Orlando Buena Vista Palace Disney Springs offers a breakfast every Sunday between 7 a.m. and noon, with three hours dedicated to meeting the characters — every child can take a picture and get an autograph.

The price tag? $26.95 for adults and $12.95 for kids, much cheaper than what you'll find at a Disney park.

DON’T: Buy Full-Price Tickets

In late 2018, much to the chagrin of travelers, Disney World bumped up prices on its already-expensive tickets even more, as it introduced a date-based pricing structure. A one-day, one-park ticket now ranges from $109 to $129. At Disneyland, you'll spend $97 to $124.

In other words: not cheap.

DO: Look for Discounts and Deals

Disney ticket deals are hard to come by, but there are ways to save:

Have AAA? They may have discounted tickets available. Disney also offers deals and specials on rare occasion, which you can find on its Special Offers page.
Buy in bulk. If you plan to visit Disney more than once in the year, consider an annual pass. Good for 365 days from purchase, you could use it for two trips over two different summers. It's also cheaper to purchase multi-day tickets.
Resident deals. If you are a resident of Florida or California, you can get resident discounts at the parks in your state.
Time it right. Visit in the summer for better bang for your buck. With longer days, the Disney parks are open later than they are in the winter months, sometimes by as much as 3 hours!
Avoid the crowds. With Disney's new pricing structure, its cheapest tickets are during non-peak travel periods.

DON'T: Buy Park Hopper Passes

Speaking of tickets: Disney Park Hopper passes are not a steal. It takes a lot of time to get between parks, so after spending more to purchase this option, you'll just end up feeling burned. (These passes range from $164 to $184 for one day at Disney World, and $172 to $199 at Disneyland.)

DON’T: Go to a Disney Park Every Day of Your Trip

Yes, you want to get in as much Disney as you can. But taking off even one day could save you big. And even Disney diehards need a breather sometimes.

DO: Enjoy (Cheaper) Nearby Attractions

There are tons of other attractions to enjoy near Disney parks.

In Florida

Daytona Beach is less than an hour away and great for a free day on a beach, playing in the waves and building sand castles.
International Drive in Orlando offers fun attractions that won't cost an arm and a leg, including the 400-foot-tall observation Wheel at ICON Park, Madame Tussauds, Ripley's Believe it or Not, the uber-cool interactive WonderWorks and tons of mini golf.
Kennedy Space Center, also about an hour from Disney, gives you a chance to see actual space shuttles, artifacts and, if you're lucky, watch a launch.
Wilderness Preserve by Disney features an 11,500-acre area to explore and hike Kissimmee.

In California

Huntington Beach offers a free shuttle between Disneyland and its sandy shores, so you can check out one of the most stunning beaches in Orange County, nicknamed Surf City.

Knott's Berry Farm, in neighboring Buena Park, is a less-expensive theme park with plenty of cool and thrilling rides.

DO: Enjoy a Resort Day

You should also spend a day enjoying your hotel's amenities, especially if you choose to stay at a Disney property.

From oversized swimming pools with lazy rivers and water slides, to kids' clubs, spas, and special activities and entertainment, you can wile away an entire day without having to stand in long lines, surrounded by crowds.

Disney resorts also offer biking trails and bicycle rentals, as well as kayak and boat rentals for properties on lakes. It's just a small rental fee for the gear, but less expensive than a ticket to the park. Some properties, including the Wilderness Resort, offer free tours of the property, as well.

Plus, you'll save money relaxing outside of the parks!

DO: Take Advantage of Resort Freebies

Other special amenities you can enjoy at Disney resorts that won't cost extra?

Scavenger hunts. Disney Resorts provide free scavenger-hunt maps, and if you complete them, you can get a free souvenir pin.

Tours. Disney Resorts offer free tours, even for non-hotel guests. You can take one at Animal Kingdom Lodge, Wilderness Lodge and the Art of Animation resorts.

Classes. You can take a free art class at the Art of Animation Resort.

Princesses. At the Grand Floridian, the princesses make their way down the grand staircase every day at 3:30, and Cinderella will dance with the girls at the end. (You need to visit the M. Mouse Mercantile at the hotel to register for this free event, for kids ages 3 to 12.)
Fireworks. In Florida, you can watch Disney's fireworks for free from the viewing area at Disney's Polynesian Resort — and you don't have to be a guest of the resort — as well as Epcot's Illuminations from the Disney Boardwalk. You can also watch the Electrical Water Pageant from the Polynesian.

DON’T: Pay for Souvenirs

Disney created the concept of having to pass through a souvenir shop after disembarking from a ride — all of Main Street is one long exit past multiple souvenir shops!

And these knick-knacks are expensive. Last year, Disney raised the prices on many of its top-selling souvenirs. Ear headbands will now set you back $27.99, misting fans $22 and bubble wands $27.

DO: Look for Freebies at the Parks

Disney does offer some freebies — shocking, yes, we know! Consider these options instead of a costly souvenir:

The professional photographers walking about the parks will take photos of your group using your camera or phone.
A Disney driver's license is available from Disneyland's Autopia when you ride. And if you ride a monorail, ferry or bus, be sure to ask for the collectible transportation cards they provide.
If you meet with the captain of the Mark Twain Riverboat and steer the ship, you'll receive a Pilot Certificate.
Free pins to celebrate an anniversary, birthday or first visit are available at City Hall at Disneyland and Disney World.
Just like a true park experience, kids can get a free sticker certifying them as Senior Wilderness Explorers when completing the Redwood Creek Challenge Trail in California Adventure.
Is it your birthday? Disney restaurants provide free dessert when you are celebrating it or an anniversary. (Although this means eating a full meal first!)

DO: Come Prepared

Everything inside a Disney park costs more than outside, so you can save a lot simply by being prepared.

Need a stroller? It'll cost you to rent one each day, so bring your own.
If it looks like rain, grab a poncho at a local Walmart.
Bring a hat, sunglasses, sunblock and all the items you think you'll need, preparing as if you are going to the beach for a day.
Staying through the night for the illuminated parades? Pre-purchase glow sticks and similar items at a local store, rather than purchasing these items at the park.

If you don't want to carry it all, store your gear in a Disney locker on Main Street.

DON'T: Rent a Car

Instead of spending a few hundred dollars on a rental car you won't really need, consider booking an airport shuttle to get you to Disney-area properties.

Super Shuttles from LAX will get you to Disneyland in an hour or less and start around $40 per person, roundtrip. (Shared rides are cheaper but make more stops.)

In Florida, Super Shuttles typically cost $56 per person, roundtrip. Plus, you can often find discounts and deals on these shuttles, especially with a AAA membership.

Even better, however, is using Uber, which will cost around $40 to $60 for your entire group.

Weigh the cost of a rental, gas and parking versus the shuttle and Uber services you can receive.

DO: Use ART

In California, the Anaheim Resort Transportation (ART) offers shuttles from 70+ area hotels to the theme parks for just $3 each way.

It will also take you to the Outlets at Orange, South Coast Plaza, Costa Mesa Hotels, the City of Santa Ana, Knott's Berry Farm, Medieval Times, Angel Stadium and other Orange County attractions.

Multi-day passes make the rides even cheaper, with hop-on, hop-off service.

DO: Save on Parking

With so many hotels offering free shuttles to the parks, be sure you use one. Parking at Disney World or Disneyland is $25 per day — that's $100 in savings, if you visit the parks for four days.