For many, Disney World in Florida is a once-in-a-lifetime trip — and given it costs over £5,300 to take a family of four, it’s easy to see why.
Ryan Ogilvie, however, has been to the brand’s resorts more than 50 times, with around 35 visits to Walt Disney World (where he’s been going since he was three) and 20 to Disneyland Paris.
The dad takes his role as Disney expert at Theme Park Trader seriously, and knows more than most about ‘The Happiest Place On Earth’.
Consequently, he also knows exactly how to keep costs down while keeping things magical.
‘When it comes to travelling to a Disney Park, many people are mistaken in thinking that once you book your hotel and tickets, you’re done,’ Ryan tells eurochange.
‘This is the biggest misstep I see people take and it results in a poorer experience.’
According to the Disney fanatic, ‘every detail needs to be planned in advance’ to get the most out of your trip, from the restaurants you want to eat at to the rides you don’t want to miss.
Start with an itinerary of your holiday based on the parks you’ll be at each day, then give these top tips a go to ensure you don’t blow your budget. We don’t all have Scrooge McDuck cash to splash, after all.
Before you go
Buy tickets in advance
This may seem obvious, but trying to ‘wing it’ at Disney will result in longer waiting times and a much larger spend.
Ryan recommends getting all your tickets in advance to take advantage of discounts, adding: ‘This is especially true in the UK, where you can purchase a two-week ticket that will save you a small fortune versus trying to source tickets when you land in Orlando.’
Don’t forget about the taxes
Before you announce the dream trip to the family, make sure you can actually afford it. Due to US taxes, you can expect to pay between 6% and 7% on top of displayed ticket prices and purchases, so it’s important to factor this in.
Get your travel money in advance
Laura Evans-Fisk, head of digital and engagement at eurochange, highlights the added expense that comes when you leave getting your foreign currency to the last minute.
She says: ‘Buying them in the airport or inside the Disney parks themselves could result in you paying over hundreds of pounds more, and you’ll get a much worse rate than if you purchased them on the high street or online beforehand.’
Stay off-site
When you’re booking your stay, it’s worth looking into accommodation outside of Disney itself.
Although on-site hotels offer convenience (and perks like the ability to buy Lightning Lane passes before off-site guests), using Uber or Lyft to get to and from the parks and staying at a nice hotel nearby may still work out cheaper.
‘If you’re not staying on site, expect to pay at least $25 per day for parking at a Disney theme park,’ adds Ryan. ‘My advice… don’t drive.’
At the park
Take snacks with you or consider a Disney Dining Plan
Food is one of the biggest expenses you’ll face on a trip to Disney World or Disneyland.
Ryan suggests two options to limit spending, the first being to take your own food in with you.
‘As great as Disney restaurants can be, buying meals inside the parks every day can get incredibly expensive,’ he says. ‘When you arrive, either head to a supermarket or get a delivery sent straight to your hotel/villa with all the snacks you’ll need and use these to munch on during the day.’
Alternatively, a Disney Dining Plan (or DDP to those in the know) can work out cheaper than buying bits and bobs as you go – bear in mind though, they’re only available to those staying on-site, and don’t always include every eatery.
Ryan says: ‘We’ve found that the dining plans (free as part of a package or not) have been the best thing to suit our family, as all our food requirements have already been paid for before we arrive.
‘This means you know that any dollars you have can be spent on extras like souvenirs, and you also know (if going with the standard Disney Dining Plan) that you have a quick service, table service, and snack sorted every day.’
Don’t say yes to everything
This is a tough one for parents taking their little ones on a bucket list Disney break, but stay strong.
‘Despite how tempting it might be to purchase everything for your kids, they’re already in Disney!’ says Ryan.
‘On a recent trip with our children, we gave each $100 and allowed them to make decisions on what they wanted to buy. We made it very clear that once their money was spent, that was it.
‘Of course, there were additional treats throughout the trip, but these weren’t expected and we weren’t constantly being asked to buy something from the parks, as they were making their own minds up on what to get and when.’
Ask for ice water instead of buying bottled water
While you’re going to need water as you traverse the Magic Kingdom, a single bottle there can cost upwards of $4.
Instead, Ryan suggests taking your own bottle and asking for ice water to fill it up, which is totally free of charge.
He adds: ‘It sounds obvious, but if you’re buying multiple bottles of water a day, you’re going to be spending into the hundreds by the end of a trip.’
Factor in tips
To avoid getting caught out, ensure you’re considering gratuities when ordering at restaurants or bars around Disney.
Ryan says: ‘Tips are not included in the price of meals at table-service restaurants – expect to add 18-20% for gratuity, which adds up. However, if you’re a party of six or more, this is automatically added to your bill.’
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