6 Easy Steps to Save Money for Disney in 6 Months

Do you think it’s too hard to save money for Disney World in just 6 months?

Well, I’m here to help show you how to save for Disney without breaking the bank. All you will need is self discipline to get through these next few months in order to hit your money goal!

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HOW TO FIND CHEAP FLIGHTS TO ORLANDO. #cheapflights #disneytips #disney

Whether you’re going solo or with family, I’ve got you covered.

When most people think of Walt Disney World, they think of the Magic Kingdom Theme Park, but the Disney Resort has way more offerings than you think.

Walt Disney World Resort is the biggest Disney-themed area in the world with four theme parks, two water parks, and countless resort hotels.

Epcot Food and Wine Festival with Mickey Mouse in front of Space Earth Globe
Epcot Theme Park

Walt Disney World Resort Theme Parks

  • Magic Kingdom
  • Epcot
  • Hollywood Studios
  • Animal Kingdom

Walt Disney World Water Parks

  • Typhoon Lagoon
  • Blizzard Beach
Typhoon Lagoon Where are Disney Parks Located blue water park lazy river
Typhoon Lagoon Water Park

I know you’re probably thinking that this is way too much information than what you thought Disney had, but the breakdown of what Disney has is why you need to start thinking about the best way to save for Disney World.

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Disney Budget Planning

In this step-by-step guide, I will show 6 steps to saving for a trip to Disney World. I will also show you how to create a Disney budget for your solo trip.

Do you keep in mind that you can use the same Disney hacks and savings secrets for a family trip.

Disney Skyliner Pop Century Resort
Disney Skyliner conveniently transports guests between Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Epcot to four resort hotels – Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort, Disney’s Pop Century Resort and the new Disney’s Riviera Resort, scheduled to open in December 2019. (Disney) 

We’ll accomplish your goal with these 6 steps to save money for Disney:

  1. Decide which park or parks you want to visit.
  2. Determine the total cost of your trip.
  3. Start your 6-month savings plan.
  4. Book your vacation once you have saved approximately 50% of your goal.
  5. Track your spending while on vacation.
  6. Have fun!

I’m excited to show you a few simple ways you can save for your Walt Disney World vacation with this budget friendly guide!

Have a DIFFERENT kind of Orlando vacation with a Resort home next to Disney World. Find Your Disney Resort Vacation Rental here!

How to Save for Disney World

Walt Disney World Planning Guide. Disney itinerary with Cinderella Castle.

Step 1 – Decide which park or parks you want to visit.

There are many different ticket options available for Walt Disney World. I’ve listed the three basic types of offers you will find for the parks.

  • The 1-Day Ticket is valid for one admission to any one of the four parks on the date that is valid for the ticket type.
  • The Multi-day ticket is valid for one theme park per day for each day of the ticket.
  • The Park Hopper addition allows you to enjoy same day admission to all four theme parks on each day of the ticket.

I recommend buying the multi-day ticket if you’re planning a vacation or visiting Walt Disney World for more than three days in one year.

Plus, you can save $20 when purchasing the 3-day or longer tickets online from the official Disney website or through one of the best authorized travel agencies for Disney World.

You can also safely buy the cheapest Disney World multi-day ticket from authorized ticket sellers such as the Undercover Tourist.

The team at Undercover Tourist can also help you book your Disney FastPass+ selections prior to your visit.

You can use your MagicBand to book Fastpasses in the park or to redeem Fastpasses at attractions.
You can use your MagicBand to book Fastpasses in the park or to redeem Fastpasses at attractions. Copyright Disney.

FastPass+ can reserve your time slot for select rides and other attractions for either 30 days or 60 days depending on whether or not you’re staying at a Disney Resort Hotel 

If you’re a hotel guest, you can use your FastPass+ to make reservations up to 60 days in advance. 

If you’re a ticket or Annual Passholder booked elsewhere for your stay, you can reserve your slot for up to 30 days before your trip.

Grab your free Walt Disney World Parks One-Day Itinerary Below!
Walt Disney World One-Day Game Plan with Mickey and Minnie Mouse in parade.
Click image to grab your Disney Parks one-day game plan!

Step 2 – Determine the total cost of your trip.

Once you have your Disney itinerary set, figure out how much food, tickets, transportation, lodging, souvenirs, and entertainment will cost.

Woody in front of Toy Story Land. How to save money for Disney.
Woody in front of Toy Story Land.

How much do you need to to save for Disney World?

Now we’re going to get into the meat of this article. We’re going to go over what your solo Disney travel vacation budget should be for your trip.

Remember that with each estimate I give you as a solo theme park traveler, you can adjust the amount based on more people joining you for the adventure!

The cost of a solo four-day Disney vacation on a tight budget is about $1500, but let me breakdown that number for you.
Epcot Food and Wine Festival Burger
Epcot Food and Wine Festival

How much can you expect to spend on Food at Walt Disney World?

If you eat on a budget, meaning you dine offsite or purchase groceries for your vacation with one quick service meal within the parks, you can spend about $30 to $50 per day.

Epcot Drinking Around the World Passport

If you plan on eating onsite for all meals, then you’ll want to increase that budget to $40 to $60 per day.

Hipster Power Tip: The Disney Dining Plan is good option to help you easily stay within budget on your Disney trip. You can learn more about it here!

How much can you expect to spend on Tickets at Walt Disney World?

One-Day Ticket VALUE Season

 AdultChild
1-Day Magic Kingdom   $109$104
1-Day Epcot, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom           $109$104
1-Day Park Hopper       + $60 more + $60 more
1-Day Park Hopper Plus (includes Water Parks, Golf, and the ESPN Complex)         + $80 more + $80 more

*Prices subject to change*

One of the cheapest ways to visit Disney World is to purchase a multi-day ticket. For each additional day that you add to your Disney vacation, the cheaper your ticket gets.

You can learn more about the multi-day Park Hopper tickets here!

How much can you expect to spend on Transportation at Walt Disney World?

If you’re staying onsite at a Disney affiliated hotel, then you will most likely have free transportation to the parks.

Disney Boats and Ferries on the lagoon.
Disney Friendship Boat

The Walt Disney World Resort has its own transportation system that transports guests throughout the property free of charge.

What about cheap flights to Disney World?

The typical domestic plane ticket cost to Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida averages about $185 round trip per person.

Read how to find cheap flights to Orlando here!

How much can you expect to spend on Lodging at Walt Disney World?

The Walt Disney World Resort has over twenty hotels, including Value, Moderate, Deluxe, Deluxe Villas, and a campsite, for theme park guests to choose from.

Reunion Resort Orlando Vacation Home near Disney World
Photo Credit: Reunion Resort an Orlando Vacation Home near Disney World

If you’re vacationing on a budget then you’ll save money by booking a Disney Value Resort or an offsite Orlando vacation home averaging $150 per night.

The perk of staying onsite is the ability to skip the hassle of baggage claim with free transportation from the Orlando International Airport to Disney World.

You’re also able to take advantage of the extra magic hours in Walt Disney World theme parks, allowing for more time to conquer the essential attractions.

Disney Fort Wilderness Cabins in the Woods
Fort Wilderness Campground

Disney Resort Hotels Average Cost

Other Select Deluxe Disney Hotels Average Cost

Have a DIFFERENT kind of Orlando vacation with a Resort home next to Disney World. Find Your Disney Resort Vacation Rental here!

How much can you expect to spend on Souvenirs and Entertainment at Walt Disney World?

When budgeting for your solo trip to Walt Disney World, be sure not to forget to include miscellaneous items like souvenirs when trying to save money for Disney.

Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe Magic Kingdom at Disney save money for Disney
Ye Olde Christmas Shoppe Magic Kingdom at Disney

The price of souvenirs can get really costly. Disney guests usually spend about $250 on theme park trinkets.

Sample Disney World Souvenir Cost

Autograph Book$6.95 to $10.95
Character Toys$12 to $100
Commemorative Pins$10 to $100
T-Shirts$16 to $35

Resource: Fodor’s Travel Walt Disney World *Prices subject to change*

Read how to get over 51 FREE stuff at Disney World here!

Entertainment at Disney is another cost to factor in. The theme parks have wonderful shows included in the park ticket prices.

On your dream Disney vacation, you may want to experience some of the special dining events such as, Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue, a dessert party at Epcot, or a savory Savanna nighttime dinner.

These events range in cost averaging between $60 to $200.

How much does it cost for a family of 4 to go to Disney World?

Magicbands are used for theme park or water park entry at Walt Disney World. save money for Disney.
Magicbands are used for theme park or water park entry at Walt Disney World. Copyright Disney.

Remember that traveling alone cuts the vacation in half, especially if you have to do one without your whole family.

The average cost for a day at one of the central Florida theme parks with a family of four can range from $500 to $800.

This cost usually includes the ticket price, food, hotel, transportation, and souvenirs.

Walt Disney World for Adults with Cinderella Castle in the Florida Sun

The good news about traveling to Disney alone is that you’ll have a little bit of change left to splurge on that spa day you’ve always wanted to do, or that special V.I.P. tour that’s on your theme park bucket list.

Step 3 – Start your 6-month savings plan.

If you’re going to make this a big trip or just an extended weekend trip, then you probably could save in 3 to 6 months.

Hoop Dee Doo Revue NikkyJ Dinner Show Disney World. save money for Disney.
Hoop Dee Doo Revue Dinner Show

As mentioned earlier, the cost of a solo four-day Disney vacation is about $1500.

Now let’s go through how to set up your own Disney vacation account.

How to Save Money for Your Solo Disney World Trip in Six Months

WeekAmount to Save
1$20
2$35
3$45
4$100
5$20
6$35
7$45
8$100
9$20
10$35
11$45
12$200
13$20
14$35
15$45
16$100
17$20
18$35
19$45
20$200
21$20
22$35
23$45
24$200

TOTAL SAVED

$1500

Hipster Power Tip: Open a separate savings account to help organize your vacation funds and keep track of your savings goal.

Disney Savings Jar
Disney Savings Chart. Save Money for Disney.
Disney Savings Jar

How to Save Money for Disney World (Four-Day Trip with a Family of Four)

Now that you know how to save for your solo Disney trip, let’s learn how to create a Disney savings tracker for a family of four.

WeekAmount to Save
1$125
2$150
3$175
4$300
5$125
6$150
7$175
8$300
9$125
10$150
11$175
12$300
13$125
14$150
15$175
16$300
17$125
18$150
19$175
20$300
21$125
22$150
23$175
24$300

TOTAL SAVED

$4500

Hipster Power Tip: You can change your Disney budge planner savings goal to twelve months by dividing each amount to save in half.

Step 4 – Book your vacation once you have saved approximately 50% of your goal.

Booking through certain travel agencies or authorized Disney planners give you an opportunity to set up a Disney World vacation payment plan.

Once you’ve paid for half of your vacation, continue saving the other 50%.

The additional half may include the cost of dining, entertainment, souvenirs, and any other miscellaneous items you may want to purchase.

ORDER NOW to secure your ticket reservation in the parks! GET MY DISNEY TICKETS!

Step 5  – Track your spending while on vacation.

You can use a tool like, Every Dollar, to track each item that you spend on vacation.

Other ways to keep track of your Disney fund while on vacation are:

  • Create a little note in your phone
  • Carry a small notebook with you
  • Download an app to keep track of how much you spend on each budgeted item

The Trail Wallet app is an easy travel expense tracker for iPhone and iPad. Designed to be fast, it takes the headache out of expense tracking so you can focus on the fun.

Trail Wallet Travel Spending Tracking App to help save money for Disney
Trail Wallet Travel Spending Tracking App

Hipster Power Tip: Consider purchasing travel insurance to keep the money you’ve invested into your Disney vacation safe!

Steps 6 – Have Fun!

After all, you’ve done all the “adult” planning for the perfect solo vacation!

Why not enjoy yourself?

Walt Disney World is one of the most magical places to enjoy yourself alone or with family and friends.

Final Thoughts on Ways to Save Money for Disney

I hope that I was able to help you learn ways you can save money for Disney even with a tight budget.

What to remember:

  1. Decide which park or parks you want to visit.
  2. Determine the total cost of your trip.
  3. Start your 6-month savings plan.
  4. Book your vacation once you have saved approximately 50% of your goal.
  5. Track your spending while on vacation.
  6. Have fun!
Disney savings jar. SAve Money for Disney with Mickey Mouse in front of Spaceship Earth at Epcot.

If you’ve save up for a Disney trip before, what was your best way of saving money fast? Let me know in the comments below!

If you enjoyed this article, then you’ll love these:

Planning a trip soon? If so, read the Disney Vacation Planning Guide for your next dream trip!

Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!

NikkyJ

(Original article date May 19, 2018/Updated July 25, 2020)

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