Since the U.S. recession hit, Disney has been offering many incentives to lure tourists to the Magic Kingdom, including complimentary dining plans and discounts up to 40 per cent off its onsite accommodations. Promotions come and go, however, and Disney is expected to phase out discounts by next year as the economy recovers.
Choosing an off-peak travel time offers the biggest savings. The “value season” for Disney World is September to October and January to mid-February. If you can avoid travelling around U.S. holidays, you’ll not only save on dining and accommodations, but the parks will be much less busy.
When you’re booking your stay, it’s important to know what’s a deal and what isn’t. If you’re staying at a Disney resort, the dining plan is a good buy. “Even when you have to pay for it, it still saves you 20 per cent or more on the cost of food.”
Andrea Hagman has visited Disney World five times and always buys the dining plan, which includes one counter-service meal, one sit-down meal, and one snack each day. The adult meals are so large, she says she and her husband can share their lunch with their two daughters and save the extra meal credits for the next day’s breakfast. “If you don’t use up the snacks, trade them in for snacks for the trip home,” she says. “Make it go as far as you can.”
One Disney deal that’s not so good is the “park-hopper” option that lets you visit multiple parks in a day. It’s just an added expense, and in a park that’s 122 square kilometers, “you’re not going to do it all.”
Renting a Disney stroller for $15 (U.S.) a day is also a waste of money, considering you can buy a cheap collapsible stroller for $30 or less.
If you buy a Disney photo package ahead of your trip, you get a discount, Ms. Hagman says, but she’s discovered that the Disney photographers are more than willing to snap a few pictures on her own camera, which she can print herself for much less.
Another place to save money is on your flight. Booking the flight separately from the Disney package is usually cheaper, as is flying from a U.S. airport.
