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!
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.
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.
I’m excited to show you a few simple ways you can save for your Walt Disney World vacation with this budget-friendly guide.
So, let’s get started!
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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.
- 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.
- Multi-day ticket is valid for one theme park per day for each day of the ticket.
- Park Hopper addition allows you to enjoy same day admission to all four theme parks on each day of the ticket.
Hipster Power Tip: 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 on average $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.
Where to buy your cheap Disney World tickets?
You can also safely buy the cheapest Disney World multi-day ticket from authorized ticket sellers such as the Undercover Tourist, Tripadvisor or The Park Prodigy.
The team at Undercover Tourist and The Park Prodigy can also help you understand the new Genie+ ride reservation system prior to your visit.
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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.
How much do you need to to save for Disney World?
Now we’re going to get into the meat of this article. I’m going to go over what your Disney travel vacation budget should be for your trip and what a family of four can expect to pay.
Remember that with each estimate I give you as a solo theme park traveler or family of four, you can adjust the amount based on more people joining you for the adventure!
The cost of a solo 4-day Disney vacation on a tight budget is about $1500, but let me breakdown that number for you.
While a family of four on a 4-day trip can be about $4500 (which I will break down later).
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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.
However, 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?
Check out the Disney World ticket breakdown below:
One-Day Ticket VALUE Season
| Adult | Child | |
| 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.
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.
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 take advantage of the Extra Magic Hours in Walt Disney World theme parks, allowing for more time to conquer the essential attractions.
Disney Resort Hotels Average Cost
- Deluxe Villas – From $350/Night
- Deluxe Resort Hotels – From $380/Night
- Moderate Resort Hotels – From $230/Night
- Value Resort Hotels – From $155/Night
- Campgrounds – From $53/Night
Other Select Deluxe Disney Hotels Average Cost
- Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel – From $219/Night
- Walt Disney World Swan Hotel – From $219/Night
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How much can you expect to spend on Souvenirs and Entertainment at Walt Disney World?
When budgeting for your trip to Walt Disney World, be sure not to forget to include miscellaneous items like souvenirs when trying to save money for 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 69+ FREE stuff at Disney World here!
The Cost of Entertainment at Disney World
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?
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.
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.
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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.
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
| Week | Amount 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.
6 Months Disney Savings Jar (Printable Image)
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.
| Week | Amount 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.
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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.
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 vacation!
Why not enjoy yourself?
Walt Disney World is one of the most magical places to enjoy yourself alone or with family and friends.
Are you planning a Disney vacation soon? Read the Disney World Vacation Planning Guide for your next dream trip!
My Final Thoughts on the Best 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:
- Decide which park or parks you want to visit.
- Determine the total cost of your trip.
- Start your 6-month savings plan.
- Book your vacation once you have saved approximately 50% of your goal.
- Track your spending while on vacation.
- Have fun!
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:
- How to Pack for Disney World
- Do’s and Don’ts of Drinking at Epcot
- Walt Disney World Free Dining
- How to Save for Walt Disney World
- Tips for Planning a Trip to Disney World on a Budget
- Magic Kingdom for Adults the Complete Guide
- The Walt Disney World Dining Plan Explained Quick Tips and Tricks
- Top 10 Hollywood Studios Rides
Until next time, Happy Park Hopping Hipsters!
About the Author
My name is Nikky. I’m a wife, a mother, a pharmacist turned theme park blogger, USA Today 10Best Contributor, and a writer who loves ALL things amusement park related!
Traveling alone to the parks has changed my life and I want to show how you can create your own solo theme park memories.
Connect with me on Instagram!
Planning a trip soon? If so, read the Disney Vacation Planning Guide for your next dream trip!
(Original Article Date: May 19, 2018/Updated On: June 12, 2024)