DisneyDining Disney Dining Plan and Reviews

Only a few short months ago, my daughter had a thrill ride experience that began a new love for her at the Walt Disney World Resort. At age 11, she was very much like her mother—not the thrill junkie her sister had always been—but all of that would change after a 3-minute ride aboard a mine cart on the Seven ...

1. Visit the parks with another family. As with many things on which you’re trying to save money, cost-sharing can be a good idea. If you’re heading to the parks and planning to rent a vacation home for your stay, why not invite another family to go with you? Vacation homes near the Walt Disney World resort are large—many with ...

2. Make the most of your annual pass. If you are an annual passholder, you can enjoy savings directly from Disney. For example, on most merchandise you purchase in the parks, you’ll receive a discount of 20%. During certain promotions in the parks, you can also receive discounts on dining at select restaurants. If you are an out-of-state passholder and ...

3. Purchase trading pins on eBay. If you’re a fan of Disney official pin trading, this one will save you a lot of money. Pins purchased inside the parks will cost you anywhere from $7 to $20 each, depending on the type of pin. That’s pricey enough to make you not want to trade at all! Instead of spending so ...

4. Bring snacks for evening instead of eating dinner. We’ve covered money-saving ideas related to breakfast and lunch. Now let’s talk dinner. You can make dinner the one meal each day for which you do pay, or you can opt to bring snacks in your backpacks for later in the day. Bring trail mix, fruit strips, crackers, etc., to enjoy ...

5. Share plates at counter service restaurants. Another money-saving option when it comes to feeding your family in the parks is to order one plate and split it between two family members. The food portions served at Disney are substantial, and two people can easily eat from one adult meal. If everyone wants his or her own meal, consider purchasing ...

6. Take lunch into the parks with you. A really nice thing about the rules and regulations at the Disney parks is that they do not prohibit Guests from bringing in food. You can even bring in coolers, as long as they aren’t enormous and get in the way of other Guests. Because it’s allowed, it’s also a money-saving idea ...

7. Drive to Orlando instead of flying.  It can be very costly to fly to Orlando, especially if you live far away or have a big family. Gone are the days of double-digit one-way fares—even with a 21-day advance purchase. And even if you are blessed enough to find reasonable fares, the airline will likely make up the money with ...

8. Order t-shirts and other souvenirs online. The Disney parks have some wonderful souvenirs for you to take home and memorialize your trip. Or to take up space in a box in your garage, if you’re one of those people. But those souvenirs can come with a hefty price tag if you buy them in the parks. It makes sense ...

9. Consider staying off Disney property. Staying at a Walt Disney World Resort is a lot of fun. And everyone should do it at least once, just for the experience. But the resort hotels can be very expensive—several hundred dollars per night. Even if you stay only a week at a value resort, you could easily spend $2,000 to $3,000 ...