I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of blogging about Disney World. My only issue is that I’m not a Disney expert. That’s why I have a fabulous guest post from Krystal Seijo of Planning The Magic. She’s one of the youngest Disney Vacation Club owners! Read more to see how she vacations to Disney on a budget.
We all know Disney prices, and with the new Disney ticket increases it is more important than ever to be as budget friendly as possible when planning your Disney Vacation. Here are three of my valuable tips to help you plan your vacation.
Prepare your Daypack
This tip alone can save you hundreds of dollars and in fact encompasses multiple tips in one. It is so important that Hannah has written about it in one of her posts. The point is: If you are going to any of the theme parks you should bring a backpack with you with a few provisions.
- Snacks
- Ponchos
- Water
Being at the theme parks will make you both hungry and thirsty. If you put yourself in a position where you aren’t prepared you will spend a lot (more) money.
I’ve actually tested the theory of not having a prepared daypack, it is not a smart choice.
Ponchos can be purchased at Target, Walmart, or Amazon for $1-2 each. Depending on the season Disney will charge $9-15 a piece. Make sure to also bring a small bag with you for putting them in, after you use them, when going on rides.
Rent DVC Points
Interested in saving 35% or more off of your Walt Disney World accommodations?
Disney Vacation Club (DVC) is Disney’s version of a timeshare. You can find out more about that here.
Occasionally a timeshare owner will want to rent their points out for a one time use instead of using them themselves. Renting DVC points can be done by anyone and it allows one to stay in a Deluxe Villa room without paying Disney rack rates.
Here is what it would cost to rent points for a one week stay at Disney’s Grand Floridian.
This chart is from David’s Vacation Club Rentals which is a BBB Accredited company that helps connect DVC members, who are renting their points, with renters.
Here is what the price for the same room, same dates, looks like from Disney.
Disney is expensive enough on its own. This tip will help you get the most bang for your buck. If you are interested in renting DVC points I suggest reading this article and/or reaching out to me directly for help.
Free Transportation
I do not suggest renting a vehicle while a WDW. You don’t need it. While this tip is not going to save you thousands of dollars, it will save you hundreds and even better, a ton of effort.
Take advantage of Disney’s free transportation systems.
Use these options, in any combination, and don’t worry about rental fees, liability, tolls, gas, etc.
- Disney’s Magical Express – Airport (MCO) transportation
- Disney’s Transportation System – Bus, water taxi, and/or monorail transportation throughout WDW
- Uber – a non-metered, inexpensive taxi service
Krystel Seijo has lived in NJ her entire life and has been to Disney over a dozen times! She is proudly one of the youngest people to buy into the Disney Vacation Club aka Disney’s timeshare. She has had a strong love for Disney since she can remember. One of her favorite parts about visiting Walt Disney World is the magic and witnessing other people feel it. Her goal was to figure out how she could help all families attain their Disney dreams and round up all of her expert knowledge in one place. Her first trip to Disney on her own was with her 10-year-old little sister when she was halfway through college, and the college version of broke. Most of her knowledge lies in saving money. She has used the tips she originally gathered plus the ones she has learned through many other trips to really uncover the deepest most well kept and valuable secrets on saving money during your Disney Trip. If you want to learn more I suggest taking a look at her eBook, Disney World on a Budget. It might just be the eBook for you!
That’s pretty cool that you can save 35% or more off your Walt Disney World accommodation by investing in DVC. My aunt would really appreciate learning about this. It sounds worth the time to learn a little more about it.