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How to Travel to Disney World on every Budget!
We often get questions about “How to save money going to Disney?” or “Where to get the best deal on Disney World tickets?”. So instead of answering it individually, I decided to write a in depth article about it! The opinions in this article are my own and I am not sponsored in any way by any company or corporation mentioned in this article.
I also like to include a quick TLDR section below for those who want the quick facts!
TLDR Section
- For a Disney Trip, you’re going to need:
- Transportation
- Lodging
- Food
- Disney Park Tickets
- Disney World Tickets
- Disney World Tickets don’t usually go on sale (Think Apple products, you aren’t going to get the new iPhone for 50% off), and if they do, they are directly from Disney’s website.
- Special deals often apply to Disney+ Subscribers and Chase cardholders.
- Tickets are subject to surge pricing. You are going to pay more for a Saturday in the July than a Wednesday in January.
- There are certified partners, like Undercover Tourist that might have a discount compared to the site, but it’s not going to be something crazy like 60% off.
- We found that sites like Undercover Tourist have similar prices to what corporations offer their employees, so check that too!
- Expect to pay (at best) $99 per person per day (as of the writing of this article) when buying at least a multi-day ticket (the more days the cheaper the per person per day price is).
- The best price for a Disney tickets and season passes go to Florida residents (and why a lot of Disney people just move there).
- I wouldn’t trust any other ticket seller with your money.
- I recommend either doing one park a few days, or just two parks to save money. You don’t need to do all 4 parks in one visit.
- Disney World Hotels
- Like Tickets, Disney World hotels will offer deals and discounts through their own website, sometimes for Disney+ subscribers or chase card holders.
- In the pre-pandemic days, I did see some “un-filled” rooms got sold off on Priceline or third party hotel sites for a deal, but I haven’t seen it since. Disney is BUSY and they know it.
- The good news is, that Disney offers hotels for every budget. From All Star Resorts (cheapest) to some of the premium hotels like the Copper Creek Villas!
- Disney World Hotels include free transportation to the parks, the best being on the monorail to the worst, buses.
- Pick a hotel in your budget that is closest to the park you are going to visit the most.
- If you have a rental car, parking is free at the parks, but you are charged at the resort per day. Grab a Mears connect shuttle($$) from the airport (It’s no longer free for hotel guests) to avoid a rental car.
- Best for staying in the “Disney Bubble” and getting Disney perks like early entry and free transportation to the parks.
- Offsite Hotels
- Instead of staying on property, there is a wide selection of hotels and Disney recommended (Good Neighbor) hotels in the area.
- These hotels offer more bang for your buck, but are outside the “Disney Bubble”.
- Some will have transporation to the parks for free, for a fee, or not at all. This transportation does not usually run as often as the transportation at Disney Hotels.
- Best for getting nicer hotel amenities when compared to Disney hotels.
- Air BnBs
- Instead of staying in a hotel , there are TONS of Air BnBs for families in Orlando and near Disney world.
- You will need a rental car or at least an uber for this option.
- AirBnBs offer larger groups and families the best bang for your buck when staying at Disney, but don’t have any additional Disney Perks.
- Some have included pools and playgrounds!
- Best for families.
- Flying
- Getting a good price on a flight is usually between 6 weeks and 3 months from your travel dates.
- Be prepared to bite the bullet on the price if you wait until around 6 weeks or less.
- Traveling via air means you need travel from airport to lodging and lodging to parks.
- Mears Connect is great for traveling between Orlando Airport and Disney hotels.
- Rental cars are good for families with kids with car seats (you can rent a carseat too ($$$)).
- Uber is good for people with grown children.
- Using credit points for miles is best here.
- Driving
- This is the cheaper travel option compared to flying.
- Can bring as many bags as you can carry.
- Factor in Gas, tolls, lodging (if stopping half way) there and back, parking at parks and/or hotel (if applicable).
- Best way in my opinion to get there and save money if you don’t have airline miles.
- Food
- Wherever you stay, get some groceries to save money
- Instacart for hotels and/or AirBnBs
- Drive yourself to the grocery store if you drove
- AirBnBs can cook full meals on rest days!
- Eating in the Parks can be expensive.
- Eating out every night can be expensive.
- Kerney-cation Magic Combo
- In my opinion, this is the magic to getting the best value for a Disney World trip.
- Driving (yes).
- I don’t need to worry about:
- Rushing to the airport.
- Worry about security at the airport.
- Losing my bags.
- How many bags.
- When I need to leave for the airport.
- Worry about transportation (rental car or Disney park transportation).
- Price of renting a car.
- Bringing my carseats.
- I don’t need to worry about:
- Staying in an AirBnB
- Fly and stay in a Disney hotel at least once before trying this option if you want the full Disney experience.
- Saves money overall vs. staying in a hotel.
- AirBnBs are roomy and comfortable, I pick one with a pool.
- I can park in the driveway, some Disney hotels have BIG properties and far walks after a park day ( I sound like an old man, yes).
- I can buy groceries to save money.
- Everyone gets their own room (sleep is nice).
- Doing only two-three park days with rest days in between.
- Maybe visit Universal or SeaWorld instead of a third Disney park?
- Rest days in between are key. You’re probably going to walk like 40 miles when you’re there. If you don’t walk like that every day, you’re going to be wiped out. Take a rest day.
- You can always come back.
Overview: What Do You Need When Traveling to Disney From the Midwest?
If you’re in the Midwest, you’re going to need most, if not all of the following to experience Disney World. Not of all us have an Aunt or Uncle to stay with when we’re in Florida.
- Transportation
- Lodging
- Food
- Disney Park Tickets
The key to saving money when going to Disney World is reducing the cost of each one of these categories in a way that makes you happy! For example, don’t stay at a cheap hotel if that’s something that’s going to ruin your trip. Or don’t drive if you don’t like a long car ride. We will dive into each category below and how to save money on each, then I’ll go into building your best package!
It’s also worth mentioning that Disney World Travel agents exist and they don’t cost anything, so if you hate planning I recommend working with a travel agent to help you plan your Disney trip (for tickets and hotels for at least a couple days).
Transportation – How the Heck Are You Going To Get There!?
So coming from the midwest, it’s going to be a long drive in the car and at least a decent 2 hour flight. The first thing we need to figure out is if you’re going to fly or if you’re going to drive. If you hate driving, just skip down to the flights section.
Driving to Disney World
Yes, it’s going to be a long car ride, but if you have a bunch of kids, flying is usually pretty expensive, so driving the family down to Orlando might be your best bet at saving some money. It’s also nice to have your own vehicle while your down there in Orlando so you don’t have to worry about transportation to and from the airport, to the parks, or if you’re experiencing Universal or SeaWorld too!
So I would start by typing into Google Maps on “how far” Disney World is and “how long” it’s going to take. I am personally too old to drive anything longer than 10 hours straight. For us, we stop half way (Charlotte is nice for Ohio travelers) on the way there and the way back to break up the drive. Be sure to factor in the cost of the hotel per night there and back when comparing against a flight.
When traveling via car, I like to leave after my last day of work. So if I have to work Thursday, we hit the road Thursday night, stop half way at a hotel, then drive the rest Friday morning. Try and line up arriving to your hotel or AirBnB during check in time to avoid waiting around. Thursday nights are also cheaper for hotels vs. Friday and Saturday if stopping half way.
Keep in mind, that you will also need to pay for parking at the Hotel (if applicable) and at the parks if you drive to the parks. Be sure to factor this price in when comparing against a flight. So I’ve included the stuff to keep track of price wise below when driving:
- Cost of gas to drive there.
- EX: 948 miles from Columbus Ohio
- 948 miles divided by 20 MPG (your car is probably different) = 47.4 MPG
- 47.4 Gallons x $3.21 per gallon == $152.16 x 2 = $305 ish
- Tolls along the way.
- I like Toll Guru – $8.00 x 2 = $16
- A hotel to stop half way (drive straight through with a friend if you’re brave) there and way back
- Half way for Columbus would be Charlotte ish.
- I like hotels that are just outside major cities to avoid hotel parking costs.
- I also like hotels that have free breakfast.
- EX Hotel $121 per night before taxes and fees.
- $121 x 2 = $242.
- Parking at the Hotel (look for free parking when choosing a hotel, or AirBnBs offer free parking).
- Disney World Hotels offer parking complimentary as of January (Swan and dolphin are $36 per day).
- AirBnBs are usually free.
- Offsite hotels are Usually free, but check to be sure.
- Parking at the resort per day.
- Disney Parks are $30 per day for standard parking
- Disney Park preferred parking is $55 per day.
- EX: 4 park days – $120
- Total: $688 ish?
Flying to Disney World
So if driving isn’t your style, you’re probably going to be flying. I recommend to start looking at flights at around 4 months before your trip to get an idea on what prices are, then look to buy between 3 months and 6 weeks away. Just be warned, that it’s a rule of thumb. You might find the best price for a flight 6 months out.
In my experience the 3 months – 6 weeks time frame is best because they are usually trying to fill up planes and people aren’t buying early because they “have” to go, or buying late (less than 6 weeks) because the “have” to go. It’s the sweet spot. Just be prepared to eat a higher price if you don’t see it drop before 6 weeks.
You’re going to need to determine if you’re willing to fly budget or fly “premium”. Are you willing to try and save some money by flying frontier or spirit and risk delays or cancellations? Flying during peak times like holidays, summers, or anytime the kids are out of schools, I believe there is a higher chance for these budget airlines to experience delays and cancellations. Frontier Airlines doesn’t have a very good customer service option (or even a phone number to call).
If you are flying budget, also be sure to calculate in bags and seats. Budget airlines often charge an arm and a leg for choosing your own seat, checking a bag, or bringing a carry-on. If you choose this option try and check one bag then have everyone else bring a personal item like a back pack. If your kids are older, avoid paying to reserve a seat and be sure to check in your flight online or in the app 24 hours before hand.
If you are flying American or United, you often receive a free carry-on. Sometimes that’s enough to hold everyone over for a few days. Checking a bag is usually only $30 or so if you need it. Consider joining an airlines credit card to help use miles to get free flights for Disney World. This is ideal to help save money on a Disney trip if you can make it happen.
Lastly, get TSA pre-check. The Orlando airport (MCO) security lines have gotten out of control. If you don’t have pre-check plan on getting to the airport at LEAST 3 hours before a domestic flight. Even that is pushing it during peak seasons. TSA-Precheck lines are getting worse as more and more people are signing up, but it’s still better than standard at this airport. It’s also nice to keep your shoes on :).
Also, if you are flying, you will transportation from the airport to your lodging destination. Depending on your lodging destination, you have a few options. Mears Connect is good for transportation to any Disney hotel. It’s about $71 round trip for a family of 5.
If you need a rental car to your hotel or AirBnB, you’ll need to factor that in to the cost. If you have kids, you might need a rental car for carseats, unless you’re flying with them, checking carseats is free (but a pain in the BUTT! since I am already carrying luggage for my whole family lol).
Lastly, if you don’t have small kids with carseats, you can probably just uber. Just factor that into the cost when flying.
EX:
- Note: Prices at time of writing and WILL fluctuate
- Columbus to MCO for 2 adults and 3 kids:
- Spirit
- Flight – $650
- Carry on and Seat Selection (optional) – $500
- Total – $1150
- Southwest
- Flight – $1,395
- Includes 2 checked bags and a carry on
- Southwest is open seating (or was).
- Flight – $1,395
- American
- Flight
- Main Cabin – $1832
- includes seat and a carry on
- Basic Economy – $1,345
- No Seat selection
- Includes Carry-on
- Main Cabin – $1832
- Flight
- Spirit
- If Staying On Disney World Resort – Mears Connect Shuttle
- $13/Child, $16/Adult, One-Way.
- 2 adults and 3 kids there and back – $71
- If staying at an Offsite hotel or AirBnB
- Rental Car or Uber?
Lodging: Where to Stay?!
So your drove or flew down to Disney World, now what? You need a place to stay and put all your Disney merchandise you’re going to buy before you head home. Where should you stay? In my opinion, there are three different options here, and we will go over each of them below.
- Disney World Hotel – On Property
- Offsite Hotel
- AirBnB
Disney World Hotel
Often the most expensive option, but it’s a great option if you want to stay in the Disney bubble. If you don’t know, the Disney Bubble just means everything is Disney from sun up at your hotel, to your park day, to when you get back to your room at night. Nonstop Disney.
Make sure to sign up for our email newsletter, as I will be breaking down Disney World hotels further in a separate article.
For some, this is the only way to go, and that’s ok. Disney has tons of options from budget friendly to ultra premium. Disney hotels also provide Disney perks like free park transportation, early park entry, and more. These are the best reasons to stay on site vs. offsite or an Air-BnB.
If you’re going to stay on site, and you have a couple kids, try and get a a suite at the Art of Animation or All Star movies resorts. These have a separate bedroom and bathroom in addition to a fridge, which is nice.
Make sure to also check out the transportation options at your hotel. Boats and Monorail are best for strollers since you don’t have to break them down. Buses and the Skyline require you to break down your stroller.
Parking is complimentary at hotels except for the swan and dolphin. Hotels do offer valet, but for a price. You can get to your Disney Hotel from the Airport if you flew using Mears Connect. It’s about $71 round trip for a family of 5.
I recommend trying to get some groceries delivered using InstaCart or another grocery delivery app if you can. This will help save some money instead of buying meals at the hotels and in the parks. Buying Breakfast food and snacks is great. I also recommend buying some drinks and bottled water for the room. Disney allows guests to bring food into the parks, and there aren’t any restrictions.
I don’t recommend eating meals at the budget friendly resorts. The food is expensive and it is not good. My favorite thing to do on a Magic Kingdom park day is to have breakfast at Chef Mickeys (on the monorail at Contemporary resort), then take the monorail into the park.
This is usually the most expensive option compared to the others, but offers the best “Disney experience”.
Offsite Hotels
If you’re wanting a little nicer and less busy hotel accommodation, I recommend looking for an offsite hotel not owned by Disney. There are good neighbor hotels that Disney recommends which are a solid choice to get a nice room at a cheaper price.
Be sure to look for things like free breakfast, free parking, and free park transportation when looking at offsite hotels. You will probably need to get a rental car or at least an uber to get to your hotel from the airport if you’re planning on flying.
Similar to the Disney Hotels, plan on using Instacart or doing the shopping yourself at a grocery store to help save some money. Purchasing breakfast and snacks can really help keep the cost down.
This is the “middle of the road” option. Unless you can get a great deal, you can usually find a Disney Hotel or an AirBnB for a similar price and both come with perks that might outweigh staying at an offsite hotel. If you participate in Hotel rewards programs, this is probably the best option for you, since you will earn more points and you might be able to get some free nights with those points (check this out – https://thepointsguy.com/guide/best-hotel-loyalty-programs/ ).
Air BnBs
I personally don’t love booking directly on AirBnBs since there are so many fees, but renting a home during a Disney World stay is a great option for those with bigger groups (aka more than 2). Having your own room, a private pool, and a place to make dinner can really add to the experience. There are plenty of AirBnBs or rentals in the Disney World area, many of which are comparable to the cost of a hotel.
I personally recommend searching on VRBO or finding an Air BnB you like and performing a reverse image search. Usually, AirBnB hosts have their property available for rent through their own site, and a reverse image search will direct you to their site and avoid some AirBnB fees!
Having an AirBnB is extremely nice and I usually only recommend this option if you’re driving or if you have a rental car. It’s doable with an uber, but you can’t really shop for groceries with an uber and the prices rack up.
Try and find an Air BnB that’s no more than 40 minutes from the parks. 40 Minutes is pushing it since you will have a long day in the parks. You’ll also need to pay for parking in the parks with this option if you drive to the parks or at least pay for an uber.
Food
Try and grocery shop no matter where you are. If you’re in a hotel , hit up instacart or drive to get the groceries yourself. If you’re in a home rental, drive up and make dinner a couple nights in the airbnb. Save money and get some cool souvenirs from Disney instead.
Disney World can be expensive buying breakfast lunch and dinner for 7 days, 3 meals a day, for 5 people. Buying at least some breakfast and snacks to bring with you in the parks is a great idea. Disney doesn’t have rules against bringing your own food in, but be sure to check their policies before you visit.
Tickets
To my knowledge, there is no “secret” way to get a crazy deal on tickets from Disney. You are probably going to have to pay list price or take advantage of a Disney World sale on tickets. You can purchase tickets through a reseller, like “Undercover Tourist”, but also check if your employer has any deals too.
Tickets are subject to surge pricing, so if you go on a busy day (aka Saturday in July), it’s going to cost more per person per day and the park is going to be busier. Look for days that cost less per day or a deal through your employer or certified reseller. I would only recommend purchasing through a trusted source. You aren’t going to find tickets for 60% off unless it’s a scam, end of story.
Check Disney’s website for deals. They might have a deal for $99 per person per day if you stay for four days. This is “kind of” a deal. I would still recommend staying for only two park days, since you don’t have to buy as much food, pay for as much lodging, or extra park tickets.
The best deals go to Florida residents. They pay almost half for tickets and season passes and it’s a big reason people move down there. If you want a great deal on Disney tickets, move to Florida.
To help save money on tickets, consider only going for two or three park days. You don’t need a 7-day park ticket, you just don’t. Visit a couple parks with rest days in between and call it a day. You can always come back to Disney World. However, if it’s your once in a lifetime trip, hit all four parks with rest days in between.
Going for only two days also opens your budget for lightning lanes. Lightning lanes are Disney’s “skip the line” pass, and it’s available for an up charge. If you’re traveling from the midwest get the lightning or “multi-pass” to skip the lines. There’s a whole science to mastering lightning lanes, but I won’t go into it here. Just buy it.
Putting It All Together
So here is where the magic happens. Depending on your budget, you need to take the pieces and put them together into something that fits your budget. Can we fly to Disney World? Can we stay in a nice resort on property? How many days are we visiting the parks?
The cheapest option is going to be to drive and stay in an offsite hotel hands down and visit the parks for at least two days (to make the drive worth it).
However, my recommendation is still to drive, stay in an Air-BnB and maybe visit 2-3 parks with rest days in between. This allows you to save money on travel and a rental car, save money on groceries, and still enjoy time with the family in the parks. Doing 4 parks in 4 days is crazy since you’re going to walk like 15 miles per day. You’re going to be rope dropping the parks every day and staying till close (ITS A RITE OF PASSAGE), so don’t over do it.
Having a private pool, and your own sleeping quarters is awesome. Cooking meals in the AirBnB is also great to help save money since you are not eating out all the time. Having your own car is great so you don’t have to worry about airports, car rentals, Ubers, late Disney buses, or TSA lines.
However, I do understand that some people want to stay in the the Disney bubble and have a premium experience. I recommend staying on site at least once, flying there, and getting a Mears Connect shuttle for a four park day extravaganza. It’s just not the most “budget-friendly” option. Be prepared to spend upwards of $6,000 on this trip, but it will be great!
I’m sure you have questions and. thoughts, so feel free to drop a comment below and share this post!
Great information as always!! Thank you for sharing, definitely great insights!