5. Plan a no parks day

Image: Jett Farrell-Vega (@MyKingdomForAMouse Instagram)

The advantages of a no-parks day stand out the most for families visiting with a large group or those visiting for a short time. Disney tickets get incrementally cheaper each day you add on, so there’s definitely a temptation on longer trips to just eat the cost to add on another day (since it may only be $20 for two people).

However, for families, a no-parks day can prove an excellent way to save a little bit. Disney Springs and Disney’s Boardwalk are both free for guests to visit. Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland mini golf require a small cost of admission, but can make a very fun way to spend an afternoon. Resort hopping is a particularly fun way to burn some non-parks time.

If you’re visiting near a birthday, you can also use a no parks day to cash in on a wide breadth of birthday freebies and discounts available to visitors. Most of these are found in Disney Springs!

6. Rent Disney Vacation Club points

Image: Disney

In our previous article, we mentioned Disney’s DVC resorts as a great option for those looking to save money thanks to the kitchens provided in room (which make doing breakfast quick and easy rather than splurging in the parks). However, the prices Disney asks for its Villa resorts can give any potential guest a serious case of sticker shock. Joining the Disney Vacation Club is a great way to save for frequent guests (and those with enough cash to buy in), but for the rest of us mere mortals there’s another alternative.

Rather than buying directly from Disney, guests can actually rent points from Disney Vacation Club members. While some guests perform these transactions directly with DVC owners, the most secure way to do this is through mediatory sites with a good reputation and sound guarantees like David’s Vacation Club Rentals and the DVC Rental Store. Instead of paying $2000 to book a stay at Wilderness Lodge or Beach Club Villas through Disney, guests renting DVC points may pay half of that!

Image: Disney

The DVC resorts across the board are charming, convenient, and comfortable. The advantages for families with kids cannot be overstated, particularly if you get a 2-3 bedroom villa with a kitchen. The primary disadvantage of DVC point rental is that DVC resorts only offer very limited housekeeping. However, with the ability to do your own laundry for free, the tradeoff is pretty good.

The other disadvantage is that your reservation is controlled by the DVC points owner. That is why renting through a respected company like David’s or DVC Rental Store is a good idea. If you have a friend who is a DVC owner who is willing to rent you some points, you can save even more! A family that may have only been able to afford a stay at Port Orleans Riverside may very well be able to upgrade to the Boardwalk or Beach Club Villas for the same price.

What is your favorite hack for saving money at Walt Disney World?