The big dream of most little kids is to go to Disney World. These vacations, however, are financially difficult for parents, as it can cost several thousand dollars to bring the whole family there. However, here are several things you can do to control your costs and still enjoy a wonderful Disney World vacation with your kids.
First, plan and know your budget. Knowing how much you can and can’t spend is very important so you don’t run up huge debt from a Disney resort trip, which is simply not wise.
Once you know how much you can spend, you’ll want to start allocating the amounts that go toward the various expenses for your Disney World vacation. Start with how you may want to get there. This is one of the most expensive parts of the vacation. Flying is the most convenient and likely mode of transportation for people. Unless you fly at odd times of the day or week, taking flights for your Disney World vacation can be expensive. A great way to cut costs is to drive to your destination even if it takes eight hours or more. Your family can enjoy the car trip together and spend more quality time together.
Accommodation is the next important part of the expenses. There are numerous options; you can choose to stay at the Disney resort or off-site just a few miles away. Staying off-site can help cut costs, but it’s time consuming because you’ll have to travel between the park and your hotel. When deciding on accommodations, keep in mind that an effective way to book your Disney World vacation is to book it during off seasons or at a time when Disney has what it calls “Value Rates.”
Resort admission tickets are another big expense. For large families, this can be especially tiring if a large group is going for more than one day. There are a variety of ticket types available, so make a list of them and compare what they offer. Some Disney travel packages already include them in the cost. So compare how much you could save by buying everything separately.
The price, variety, and quality of food at Disney can vary widely. The next thing is to reduce meals in the park. You may want to consider cutting down on breakfast and bringing your own cereal and milk, or packing lunch from restaurants outside of the Disney resort. You can do the same with sandwiches. Here are some ways you can try to reduce your expenses.
It’s worth going the extra mile to plan and budget for your Disney World vacation. Trimming a few dollars here and there allows you to have extra money for other attractions or to buy a special memento from the trip.