How to save money at Disney World so you don't go bibbidi-bobbidi-broke
Editor's Note
Just like the ride vehicles on Dumbo the Flying Elephant, prices at Disney parks keep going up, up, up. Disney World recently raised ticket prices, with the cheapest ticket price increasing from $109 to $119 and the most expensive nearly surpassing the $200 mark.
Related: We saved every receipt — here’s how much it actually costs to go to Disney World
No, I don’t have a magic wand (sadly). But I do have the next best thing: a list of tips and tricks to help minimize the effects of Disney’s rising prices so you can do Disney without busting your vacation budget.
How to save money on Disney tickets
Disney ticket prices increase nearly every year, usually with little warning. If you plan a trip and don’t buy your tickets before the prices increase, you’ll be stuck paying the higher price. That may not sound like much on its own — but it can add up quickly once you factor in the number of people in your party, as well as the date and length of your visit.
Related: How I saved hundreds on a car rental when combining it with theme park tickets
There is a workaround that allows you to purchase tickets at the old prices, but you only have a short window of time to take advantage of it. Reputable Disney ticket resellers like Undercover Tourist and Get Away Today usually have an allotment of tickets they sell at the old price until they run out. Savings can run as high as $90 per ticket if you act fast after a price increase. That’s potentially hundreds of dollars in your pocket that you can use on other things like hotels, dining, souvenirs and other Disney expenses.
Even when you aren’t facing a price increase, ticket resellers like Undercover Tourist price their tickets less than what you would pay directly with Disney — sometimes, there’s as much as an $88 savings per ticket.
Choose the right credit card for Disney purchases
There are several ways that using the right credit card to pay for your Disney vacation can help you save money — as long as you pay off your monthly balance in full.
Earn a welcome offer
If you open a new credit card with an elevated welcome offer, you could earn a points bonus worth more than $1,000 by putting your vacation purchases like theme park tickets, flights and a hotel stay on your new card. While working toward a welcome bonus doesn’t directly help you save on your current trip, it can help you save on future ones. You can also use TPG’s CardMatch tool to determine if you are prequalified for an even higher offer than what's publicly available.
Earn bonus points
You don’t have to apply for a new card to save money. Some credit cards earn bonus rewards points or cash back on purchases in select categories like travel and entertainment. For example, you can earn 8 points per dollar spent on purchases through Chase Travel℠, 4 points per dollar spent on flights and hotels booked direct and 3 points per dollar on dining worldwide with the Chase Sapphire Reserve® (see rates and fees) (nonbonus category purchases only earn 1 point per dollar).
Related: The best credit cards for your Disney vacation
Similarly, you could use a card that earns bonus rewards on rotating categories (including entertainment and amusement parks), like the Chase Freedom Flex® (see rates and fees), to cover eligible purchases. Several Disney purchases, including tickets and Disney’s Lightning Lane “skip-the-line” service, should code as entertainment.
Use a travel credit
The Chase Sapphire Reserve also comes with an annual $300 travel credit that you can use to offset the cost of your trip — but you only use it toward purchases that code as travel. The Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card also offers an annual $300 travel credit, but you need to book any vacation expenses through the Capital One Travel portal to use this perk (luckily, several Disney World hotels are bookable via Capital One). Renting Disney Vacation Club points to book your Disney World hotel should also code as a travel purchase, making you eligible for bonus points if you use the right credit card.
Related: The best credit cards to maximize your entertainment spending
Consider a Disney Visa
Finally, it should come as no surprise that the Disney® Visa® Card (see rates and fees) and the Disney® Premier Visa® Card (see rates and fees) can also help you save. The Disney Visa offers a $150 statement credit after spending $500 on purchases in the first three months from account opening, and the Disney Premier Visa offers a $300 statement credit after spending $1,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
Additionally, you can earn a percentage back in the form of Disney Rewards Dollars on all card purchases that you can then use as payment at Disney to buy food, merchandise and more.
Related: Are the Disney Visa credit cards worth it?
The Disney Visa cards also offer discounts on select Disney merchandise and dining purchases that can help you save money on meals and souvenirs while on vacation.
Use points and miles to cover a portion of the cost
There aren’t many ways to directly use points and miles to cover Disney costs, but we do have a few tricks to share.
With Bilt Rewards and the Bilt Mastercard®, you can earn points that can be redeemed for Disney tickets directly in the activities section of the Bilt travel portal. You can also redeem Chase Ultimate Rewards points for Disney tickets, hotel stays and vacation packages booked through the Chase Travel℠ portal, though availability is sporadic and limited based on our searches.
The information for the Bilt Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Related: How to use points to buy Disney tickets
Other cards, including the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card and the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, allow you to redeem Capital One miles at a fixed rate of 1 cent each toward travel purchases made using the card. Remember, this only applies to purchases that code as travel, so be mindful of how you make your purchase if you want to use this method.
Of course, if you have a stash of airline miles or hotel points, you can use those to offset your flight or accommodations. There are several points hotels near Disney World, and there are even a few on the property. While not technically “Disney hotels," the Walt Disney World Swan, Dolphin and Swan Reserve hotels are located on Disney property between Epcot and Disney's Hollywood Studios and participate in the Marriott Bonvoy program. Several Disney Springs hotels also participate in major hotel loyalty programs.
Save with discounted Disney gift cards
You’ve probably seen Disney gift cards near the checkout counter at Target, but you might have yet to realize their potential beyond Christmas or birthday gifts.
Related: How to save money by buying discounted Disney gift cards
Target Circle™ Mastercard holders receive a 5% discount when using that card to pay for most items, including gift cards, in-store and on target.com. That means a $100 Disney gift card will only cost you $95. That $5 in savings may sound insignificant, but it adds up if you purchase gift cards periodically throughout the year to cover the cost of your vacation.
The information for the Target Circle Mastercard has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Pack your own snacks and drinks
You can lessen the sticker shock of in-park food-and-beverage purchases by packing along some of your own. Disney doesn’t allow you to bring in a full-size food cooler, but you can bring snacks and drinks in your bag or backpack. I always bring a reusable water bottle to refill throughout the day, but you can also pack soda or Gatorade.
Related: The best restaurants at Disney World
I usually place a grocery order for cereal, yogurt and fruit to eat in the room before I head to the parks and take granola bars, crackers and other small bites for myself and my kids to snack on throughout the day. By doing this, we can usually get away with purchasing only one or two meals each day.
How to get into the parks without paying for MagicBands
I’d be lying if I said Disney’s MagicBand+ isn’t fun to play with at the parks. Like the old MagicBand, you can use MagicBand+ to get into the parks, open your hotel room door, access skip-the-line Lightning Lanes, link PhotoPass photos and charge items to your hotel room bill. You can also use it to play interactive games in the parks.
However, those perks cost between $35 and $55. A prearrival discount can save you up to $10, and Disney Vacation Club members or annual passholders can save 20% — but those prices sting all the more because, until a few years ago, MagicBands were provided free of charge to Disney hotel guests since they were first introduced in 2013.
The good news is that you can still use any old MagicBands you have lying around from past vacations as long as the battery still works. I have MagicBands that are 3 or 4 years old and still work just fine.
In even better news, you don’t need a MagicBand at all. At Disney World, you can ask for a “Key to the World” card at guest services or from the hotel front desk if you are staying at a Disney hotel. Key to the World cards look like hotel keycards (but cuter) and perform the same functions as the original MagicBands.
At Disneyland and Walt Disney World, you can also use each park’s respective mobile phone app to do everything a MagicBand does, including charging select food and merchandise purchases to your hotel folio. For any other purchases, you could use the virtual wallet on your phone without pulling out your physical wallet.
Look for hotel and ticket discounts
Disney regularly releases discounts that can help you save hundreds on your hotel stay, such as on Disney dining plan and theme park tickets. TPG has a list of Disney World discounts to help you stay up to date on current offers.
FOR NO-COST ASSISTANCE WITH PLANNING AND BOOKING YOUR NEXT DISNEY VACATION, CHECK OUT TPG’S DISNEY BOOKING PARTNER, MOUSE COUNSELORS.
Even if you’ve already booked your vacation, you can usually still apply any discounts you are eligible for retroactively. This rule is one of the reasons why we recommend booking your vacation through an authorized Disney vacation planner; they will keep an eye out for any applicable discounts up until the beginning of your trip.
Know the cheapest times to visit Disney
Disney ticket prices can vary wildly based on when you visit. If you go during peak demand times (like over a holiday season), a one-day Magic Kingdom ticket can run as much as $199 per person. Meanwhile, if you visit in August or September, you might pay as little as $119 for the same ticket.
Related: These are the cheapest days to visit Disney World
You may have little control over when you visit, but check Disney’s pricing calendar to help you choose the cheapest, most convenient dates.
How to save money on transportation to Disney
Getting between Orlando International Airport (MCO) and Walt Disney World used to be free to hotel guests via Disney’s Magical Express (may she rest in peace). In its place, a handful of alternatives have popped up, but they sadly all carry a fee.
Of those, I’ve seen the best pricing from Mears Connect. The cost is $16 one-way for adults and $13 one-way for kids (or $32 and $26, respectively, round-trip). You can pay an additional fee for express service that will take you directly to your resort with no stops. It also runs occasional promotions where kids ride for free with a paying adult.
Depending on the number of guests in your party, this service may be less expensive than taking an Uber or Lyft from the airport. Using a ride-hailing service can cost more than $70 for a one-way trip during busy times.
How to enjoy the parks without spending money on Lightning Lane passes
It still pains me to think about the days when skipping the line at Disney World was free using FastPass+. Unfortunately, FastPass+ has gone the way of the dodo and was replaced in late 2021 with a paid skip-the-line service called Disney Genie+. Last year, a new service called Lightning Lane Multi Pass, which more closely resembles FastPass+, was introduced.
At Walt Disney World, the cost of Lightning Lane Multi Pass varies by park and day. The service starts at $15 per person, per day, but it can go as high as $39, especially during holidays and popular times of the year like Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring break.
While it certainly can save you time in line, you don’t have to purchase Lightning Lane Multi Pass or Single Pass to enjoy your Disney vacation.
Disney also offers a free service within the My Disney Experience app called Disney Genie that helps you plan your day by displaying rides with low wait times, creating a personalized itinerary based on your preferences and more. You may not get on Disney’s most in-demand rides unless you are willing to wait, but it does present an opportunity to check out rides with lower waits that you usually skip over. You may find a new favorite.
If you're going the free route, you also must utilize the rope drop strategy. “Rope dropping” means arriving at the park at least 30 minutes before it officially opens (or 30 minutes before the start of Early Theme Park Entry for Disney resort guests) and heading straight for your first attraction the moment the rope drops. By arriving early, you can usually knock out one or two popular attractions before the crowds descend on the parks at the busiest part of the day.
If you find the parks so crowded that you don’t want to wait in line, there are many things you can do at Disney outside the parks (even without a park ticket).
Bottom line
As with most things, there’s no getting around the fact that visits to Disney World are getting more expensive. Sometimes, you have to get creative to make your travels affordable, and these tips are a great place to start so you don’t go into debt for your magical vacation — you may even have a few bucks left over to treat yourself to a Dole Whip (or two).
Related reading:
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
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- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.