If you’re asking yourself “How much should I budget for Disney World?” Don't worry, we have the perfect place to start. We’ve been helping guests like you get to Walt Disney World on their budget for years!
Today we have put together a list of all the things you’ll want to consider when planning your Walt Disney World vacation, including some things you may not have thought of.
Your “Start Here” Budget for Disney World
We bet you’ve been on cloud nine as you’ve made the big decision that you are going to Disney! Cue the confetti! We know how it is; all you’ve been able to think about is how good those treats will taste, the tears of joy that will surely be in your eyes during the fireworks and all the new memories your family will make.
Then you think of the one question that brings you down from your dreamy celebration: “How much should I budget for Disney World?”
This may seem like the scariest question of all, since there’s no definite answer and it can change drastically based on each person asking. But it doesn’t have to be a scary question! In fact, we’ve gone ahead and compiled a list of everything you need to consider when budgeting for your Disney World trip.
We look at each category and help you customize it to fit your family and trip needs. Soon enough you’ll have a better idea of how much to budget for Disney without the stress lingering over you.
It’s time to get back on cloud nine – and if you’re having trouble getting back to that day dream, just think about Mickey waffles for breakfast – and let’s start planning how much you should budget for Disney.
How much should I budget for getting to Disney World?
How much to budget for getting to Walt Disney World depends on two things: where you live and how you want to get there.
If you’re near Florida and prefer to drive to Disney, it’s going to cost much less than a family from several states away who will be flying in. There are a few tools you can use to help you get the best idea on how much to set aside for this portion of your trip.
How to Budget for Driving to Walt Disney World
First, let’s look at driving to Disney. This isn’t a bad idea, especially if you’re only a day drive away from the theme parks. We like to use the Trip Calculator from the EPA to get the best idea of how much to spend on gas.
With this tool, you’re able to enter the make and model of the vehicle you’ll be driving, on top of where you’ll be starting and ending your trip. Since you’re entering the type of car, you’re going to get a more accurate idea of how much fuel will cost.
Just remember to double the amount shown, since you’ll need to drive back from Walt Disney World. Unless you decide to never leave, of course.
Another thing you’ll want to consider when driving is if you’ll be stopping overnight or not. Is the drive long enough that you’ll need to get a hotel? It’s also a great idea to consider how many times you’ll be stopping for restroom breaks or to stretch your legs.
Will you be purchasing meals or snacks during these times? These are all numbers to think about that can either be added to transportation, or to the food and lodging budget portions. Either way, just make sure you add them so you don’t end up budgeting too little!
How to Budget for Flying to Disney World
What if you’re flying to Disney? The best tip for budgeting for flights is to start looking as soon as you know you’re going. Even if you have a few months – maybe even a year – it’s good to watch the flight prices and get an idea of what’s a good price for where you live. At Get Away Today we suggest Google Flights.
Not only can you see all the different flight times and prices based on the information you put in, but you can also “track” flights. You just choose which flights you want to keep an eye on and Google will email you every time the price goes up or down. It saves you a lot of time and stress when it comes to booking flights to Disney.
Generally, we suggest booking flights about three months out from your travel date, as you're most-likely to find the best prices in that window.
Don’t forget to add baggage costs when budgeting for flights to Disney World. Southwest Airlines is the only airline that currently offers free checked bags with their ticket prices, unless you have an airline credit card.
If you're flying and checking a bag, you'll want to add that to your budget. Checked bags can cost anywhere from $25-$40 per bag so you'll want to check directly with the airline you choose.
Finally, consider the transportation to and from Disney once you're there. If you flew, will you need a rental car? Or will you be using a transportation service? The same goes for if you drive.
If you stay off property will you be driving to the theme parks each day in your own car, a ride share or using a shuttle?
You can do whichever works best for your family, just make sure to plan for those costs when you budget for your trip.
How much should I budget for hotels near Disney World?
Now that you know how much to plan on for transportation, let's look at budgeting for hotels near Disney World. This is another portion that can wildly change depending on your family and preferences.
To get an idea of how much to budget here, you'll need to know how many nights you're staying, an idea of the dates and how close to Walt Disney World you want to be. Length of stay doesn't usually change the rates for each hotel night, but it can change if you pick a hotel with a free night special.
Many hotels near Disneyland that Get Away Today offers in the Resort area have specials you can’t find anywhere else! The other thing to keep in mind for deciding your hotel budget is when you're going. Peak times like school breaks and holidays, will have higher rates than non-peak times.
To avoid astronomically high prices, we recommend booking your hotel as much in advance as possible. With Get Away Today's Layaway Plan, you can do just that.
Even if you don't have all your budget saved, the layaway plan lets you lock in everything for one low price. It's a great deal when you think about having your availability and lower rates locked in, plus time to save. Additionally, you're never penalized for booking early with Get Away Today, so if a better rate on your hotel becomes available, we'll credit the difference to your account.
How much should I budget for on property Disney Hotels?
The good news about staying on property at Walt Disney World is there are so many perks to doing so—like booking Lightning Lanes in advance of other guests, Early Entry and more!
To keep budgets in mind, there are 3 categories of Disney property hotels offered. We dive into each one in these articles:
- How to Choose Your Walt Disney World Value Resort
- How to Choose Your Walt Disney World Moderate Resort
- How to Choose Your Walt Disney World Deluxe Resort
If at any time there’s a special rate released, we can always check to see if the special applies to your booking as well. We’ve saved so many guests, even after they’ve booked!
How much should I budget for Disney World tickets?
Next up is how much you're going to spend on park tickets. Again, this will change depending on how long you're going and what your family likes.
There are a few things to consider when budgeting for Disney tickets. Mainly how many days you want in the parks, whether you'll be park hopping or not and if you're going anywhere besides Disney World theme parks.
We absolutely suggest at least a 4 day ticket so you can spend one day in each of the 4 main theme parks. But don't be afraid to change that based on your family. You can even add on water park tickets and head over to Universal Orlando with tickets from Get Away Today.
How much should I budget for Disney food?
This may be one of the most asked questions when it comes to how much you should budget for Disney. Disney has some of the best food found in theme parks across the world—just imagine all the Mickey-shaped treats you can eat!
Being theme park food, it does cost a bit more though. You may be feeling lost on this one, especially if this is your first time at a Disney theme park. How are you supposed to plan if you don't have any idea of the cost of things there?
Well, there are two things that can help you create your food budget. The first is the fact that Walt Disney World posts nearly all of their menus online. You can find all the Walt Disney World dining options here and click on whichever one appeals to you.
Once on the restaurant's page, you'll notice a "View Menu" option to the right. Once you click that, you'll be taken to the menu's page that shows all the food options with pricing.
For even more savings, you can actually purchase Disney gift cards at a discount from some box stores, such as Target. Using the free, Target debit card offers a 5% discount on the purchase of gift cards, but you still get the full-value to use in the Parks on food (or souvenirs, etc...).
A lot of families also bring groceries or buy groceries from one of the nearby stores. This is perfect if you have a hotel with a kitchen as you can save a lot by cooking your meals and either bringing them into the park. Many entrees at Walt Disney World Resort are large enough for an adult and child to split, which is a great way to try more food and still stick to a budget.
The biggest thing in creating your budget for Disney food is knowing your family and their eating habits. Don't forget to include things like snacks or drinks in your budget either. Pro tip: even if you don't bring a refillable water bottle into the park, you can still get water for free. That's right, any of the restaurants in Disneyland will give you free water cups, so don't worry about including drink costs if your family sticks to water.
Another great tip to remember is Disney does offer Dining Plans and sometimes even free Dining Plans with special packages. We can get those same deals for you here at Get Away Today! Read all about Walt Disney World’s Dining Plans here.
How much should I budget for Disney souvenirs?
Now, let's look at souvenirs. You have to have something to commemorate such a magical time with your family, right? There are several ways to budget this into your Disney vacation. The first is to buy your souvenirs ahead of time.
This may seem a little silly, but you can often get Disney-themed merchandise for way less at big-box stores or on Amazon (try HERE) than inside the parks. It's perfect for kids since they often want the toys and character shirts, instead of the park-exclusive memorabilia.
If you'd rather something from the parks, we suggest heading to the Shop Disney website and looking through the "Parks" merchandise. This will give you an idea of how much things in the parks cost and you can decide how much you want to spend from there.
Worried about going over budget on all the cute things? Judging by all the Disney art on our walls here at Get Away Today, you could say we know a thing or two about this. To combat the chance of overspending, purchase Disney gift cards in the amount you want to spend. Once those gift cards are spent, souvenir shopping is over.
Is there anything else I should budget for Disney?
Transportation, lodging, tickets, food and souvenirs are the biggest things to think about when budgeting for Disney. But is there anything else you should consider?
If you've traveled a lot, you know that things can come up no matter how much you plan. Because of this, we always suggest budgeting an extra $100 or so for just-in-case moments. That may mean purchasing an extra souvenir that you just can't leave behind or it could mean purchasing a portable charger because you forgot your own.
No matter what happens, having an extra bit set aside will make sure you are prepared for anything.
Another thing to think about when budgeting for Disney are all the extras they have available. Things like Lightning Lane, Character Dining and princess makeovers. These are things you don't need to have a great trip, but they can definitely add to the magic.
There you have it, a thorough list of everything you need to know when asking yourself "How much should I budget for Disney World?” I hope that you are still just as excited and thinking about all the memories you’re about to make! You are going to have such a great time with your family!
To make planning your Walt Disney World trip even easier, book with Get Away Today. We have something for every budget, with the tips and tricks to help you save even more money than you thought. You can easily price out all of the options on our website or by calling our agents at 855-GET-AWAY.
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