Seven Ways to Save Time and Money at Disney World

Although a trip to Walt Disney World can be one of the most magical experiences of your life, it can also be one of the most expensive. In this hub, I’ll cover seven ways to save time and money at Walt Disney World, so that you and your family can have a magical time, without breaking the bank. Grab a pen and paper, or print this page out, because you’ll definitely want to remember these.

When it comes to eating at Walt Disney World, you’ll want to make lunch your “big meal” of the day. The menu is largely the same as it is for dinner, however it’s much cheaper. Now I know most of you are thinking that it would be better to eat a large breakfast, that way you would be set for a while. However, you’ll need to remember that the average heat index in Orlando, in the summer, is close to (if not over) 100 degrees, and the humidity stays well over 60%. Add to this a bunch of fast motion rides, and you’ll definitely want to rethink going into that with a full stomach.

True story: recently, my kids and I were out in Las Vegas visiting my sister (their Aunt Tara). We were in a sporting goods store on the Vegas Strip, and my son found an Orlando Magic t-shirt that he just had to have. What’s so strange about that? The fact that we live in Orlando, about 10 minutes from the Amway Arena (home of the Orlando Magic). Almost every store you go into in Orlando sells “Magic” gear. Even the 7-11’s in Orlando have Magic t-shirts most of the time.

It’s the same thing with Disney Merchandise. They stuff you can get at the Disney store in your local mall, is the exact same stuff you’ll be able to buy in the parks. The only difference is, the stuff in the parks is about 30 - 40% more expensive. Buy things that are “Park Exclusives”, things like photos of you and your family on the rides, things with locations, and dates on them, the kinds of things that you can’t get anywhere else. Embroidered Mickey Ears are great, but have them add the date and the park you get them in underneath the name. This will make a much better use of your money.

Almost every hotel in Orlando has a place to buy park tickets. You’ll want to make sure you avoid the Time-Share booths, but you’ll want to buy your tickets before you get to the parks. If you are staying at one of the official Disney World Hotels, your concierge will be able to get you anything you need. Other than that, head to one of the many “Orlando Tourism Bureau” locations around town to get your tickets. Not only will you save a few dollars (anywhere from $3 - $5 per ticket), you’ll save a ton of time once you get to the parks, because you won’t have to wait in line to get them there.

This is a trick the locals use, but I’m going to pass it on to you anyway (don’t tell anyone I told you). Even if you don’t want to go to EPCOT, park there. The monorail from EPCOT to the Magic Kingdom goes straight to the main gate, bypassing the TTC (Ticket & Transportation Center). This alone will save you close to an hour. EPCOT is also the Hub for transportation to the other Disney Parks. Because of it’s central location on property, most of the busses and trams start their day at EPCOT, so it’s much easier (and quicker) to get from EPCOT to anywhere else on property)

For those of you who have always wondered by the way, it stands for: Experimental Prototype Community Of Tomorrow (EPCOT)

Like I talked about on my Hub: Disney World Hotels - An Insiders Guide, there are a lot of benefits to staying at one of the official Disney World Hotels, and not just a hotel at Disney World. Discounts on dining and shopping, extra time in the parks, and exclusive “resort guest only” amenities that aren’t available for the general public. Yes, it will cost more, but, especially if this is your first trip to the Walt Disney World Resort, it’s well worth it.

Never, not even once, not even ever. I can’t stress this enough. The Magic Kingdom parking lot is massive. It’s so big, that you could fit all of Disneyland & California Adventure inside with plenty of room to spare. Not to mention the fact that, once you get parked, because of it’s design, the main gate of the Magic Kingdom is still over a mile away. You’ll first need to go to the TTC and hop a monorail or ferry across the Seven Seas Lagoon to the main gate. Save yourself the time and trouble, and do like I said earlier, and park at EPCOT.

The price for a single day, single park ticket for anyone 10 and up, is currently $82. By buying multiple day, multi-park passes, you can get a much better deal. The price for a 10 day “world hopper” pass, with no expiration date is only $53 per day, so it’s definitely something you’ll want to consider. As always, you can check out Disney.go.com for all of the latest prices, or you can call 407-W-DISNEY to speak with a Disney vacation planner.

Remembering these seven simple steps will save you a ton of money, and more importantly, save you time once you get to the parks. This will give you and your family more time to enjoy your trip to the Walt Disney World Resort.