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Disney parks may feel like a magical bubble, but they aren’t cheap.
“You get what you pay for,” said Lucas Lozano, a Disney superfan who loves the parks.
However, Disney vacations don’t have to cost a fortune. Business Insider spoke with two Disney-focused travel agents and three so-called “Disney adults” about how to make the most of the Magic Kingdom, even on a budget.
These five Disney aficionados shared everything from when to go, to what luxuries are worth the money — on-site housing and Lightning Lanes — and what expenses can be tourist traps.
When to visit Disney parks
The best time to visit Disney parks is when others aren’t, Disney devotees said. It’s the best way to save money on tickets and lodging while avoiding crowds.
September is one of the best months at Disney World, said travel planner Rob Stuart of Creating Magic Vacations. He said students are just getting back to school, but not yet on fall break.
January and February are also wise months to aim for, Stuart said. Three Disney Parks employees also recommended going early in the year, and one recommended going the week before Thanksgiving.
“You have to try to avoid the school breaks,” said Jenn Novotny of Upon A Star Travel.
Stuart said the most expensive nights in any season are Friday and Saturday, which is why he advises guests on a budget to stay from Sunday to Friday.
There can be some deals in the middle of summer if the heat is bad and crowds are lighter, Novotny said.
Disney superfan Shae Noble said she checks Disney’s parks app to see when wait times are low and looks to stay at resorts during quieter times for big discounts.
Shae Noble
With lodging, convenience can be worth it
Staying at Disney’s resorts can be worthwhile, since guests can save on Uber rides or parking, which starts at $30 per day at Disney World or $35 at Disneyland. That adds up quickly.
It can also save time. Even the 30 minutes it might take to travel from a hotel, find a parking space, and walk to the park entrance could keep families from making the most of their visit.
“You have to look at what your time is worth,” Novotny said.
Noble said she and her husband use vacation rental sites to save at Disney’s high-end resorts. She doesn’t think staying outside Disney is worth it.
For food, skip meal plans
The easiest way for budget-minded Disney guests to save is on food.
Visitors can bring food and non-alcoholic drinks into the park, which is far cheaper than a Disney meal plan or one-off purchases. Staying disciplined on impulse buys can save families a pretty penny.
“It is very easy to just be like, ‘Oh, I want this, and I want that, and I want a churro — I want five churros,” Disney fan Max Traughber-Crismon said. Instead, he brings peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, so his family can spend money elsewhere.
One Disney World hack is ordering groceries from Kroger to a hotel, Stuart said. While there aren’t Kroger stores close to the park, he said their nearby distribution center offers delivery.
Otherwise, Disney guests should prepare to pay up for in-park food.
“In the parks, there are no real deals,” Stuart said.
Lightning Lanes can pay off
Disney enthusiasts were divided over whether the Lightning Lanes, which let guests skip lines instead of waiting hours, are worth it. There are both full-day and single-use Lightning Lane passes, most of which require purchasers to book a specific time slot in advance.
Prices for these fast passes vary by park, ride, day, and time, though a day of skipping all the rides at Magic Kingdom can cost up to $449 extra per person. There’s also a “Premier Pass” that doesn’t tie them to a specific time slot.
“The middle-class problem got worse when they increased the prices for Lightning Lanes,” Noble said.
Still, many Disney fans view them as a necessary evil.
“If you’re going out for a nice steak dinner, you’re already going to spend money,” Lozano said. “What are you really saving by getting a soda instead of a glass of wine?”
Stuart and Novotny, the travel planners, said Lightning Lanes are worth it for anyone who’s not on the tightest budget.
“If you can afford it, do it,” Stuart said. “Our No. 1 motto when it comes to a Disney vacation: time is money.”
The post How to save money at Disney and cut costs while maximizing your vacation appeared first on Business Insider.
