Theme park admission and money management

Image: DisneySaving money on theme park admission is difficult. These prices are static, and Disney’s introduced several changes in recent years that have raised the cost of admission overall. Something that you can do is buy tickets through a reliable third-party company. Some vendors have special deals in place that will save you a few bucks on the price of admission.

You’ll also find that Disney tends to price you in on longer stays. An extra day or two at the parks could feasibly cost less than you’d expect. You should always investigate this just in case there’s a bargain to be had. As discussed previously, price out any packages Disney’s currently offering for the same reason.

Image: DisneyMoney management at Walt Disney World comes in several forms. The one you may not realize ahead of time is tipping. It’s a sore subject for a lot of Disney fans, but cast members are generally underpaid. That’s just the reality of the situation. A few extra dollars as a reward for a job well done is certainly appreciated.

You should carry some cash, preferably in $5 increments for these situations. You’ll need to tip your Magical Express driver as well as the person in Bell Services who brings your luggage up to your room. You’ll tip your servers during any Table Service meals, too. Anything that you’d tip for at home works the same at Disney. Having cash in hand prevents any awkwardness when you realize that you should tip but aren’t carrying any money.

Meals

Image: DisneyFood costs money. Period. You’ll pay more at Walt Disney World, too. I’m a devout believer in the Disney Dining Plan, but I accept that it’s not for everyone. Having said that, the most popular package that Disney makes available each year is the Free Disney Dining Plan.  With this package, Disney gives you two “free” meals each day. When that offer is available, take it.

Yes, cynics will note that you’re not saving much money, but ignore them. With this dining plan, you’ll have less stress in planning your vacation. You’ve already addressed your meals ahead of time. You should also know that when you eat at Table Service restaurants, you are still responsible for tips.

You can save money on your meals through several different strategies. One is to sign up for a Disney credit card. You’ll earn cash back on your spending, and you’ll receive discounts at many Walt Disney World restaurants. Similarly, annual passholders and DVC members get these discounts, too. Generally, they’re either 10- or 20-percent discounts. Tables in Wonderland is another program to research, but it doesn’t help you unless you’re either a Florida resident or DVC member.

Image: DisneyOne tip you should keep in the back of your head is that you’re not married to Disney locations. You could easily ride-share to a restaurant in the vicinity, one which might have better reviews than some of the standard Disney fare. And it will assuredly be cheaper. Plus, it’s nice to escape the Disney campus occasionally.

Finally, snacks are an easy way to save money. Just bring your own with you to Orlando. Alternately, order some snacks on Amazon and have them delivered to your room. A lot of people do this. Oddly, the way to save the largest amount of money on snacks is to order bottled water that you can take with you to the parks. A 24-pack at Amazon costs about the same as two (!) bottles of water at Walt Disney World.