Going on a Disney vacation is expensive. Trust me, I know. After visiting Walt Disney World for more than 30 years and going to Disneyland at least twice a year for the last six years, I understand that families save up to plan and execute a Disney theme park vacation. Since I’ve been going to the Orlando and Anaheim theme parks for so long, I’ve also learned some valuable tips and tricks to save money at Disney World and Disneyland.
Whether you’re planning a trip to Walt Disney World for a big multi-generational family trip of a lifetime or heading to Disneyland before its 70th anniversary celebrations wrap up later this year, there are still ways to stretch your budget and ensure everyone in your group gets to do everything on their priority list. Keep reading to learn more about the best ways to save money at Disney World and Disneyland.
Five ways to save money at Walt Disney World
There are plenty of ways to save money at Walt Disney World in 2026. No matter your budget, take advantage of these tips.
1. Skip the parks on your arrival day and head to the water parks instead
If you’re staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel like Disney’s All-Star Movies, The Cabins at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, or Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, you’re privy to a host of amenities to make your park days easier. A fun way to save money that will please everyone in the family is going to the Walt Disney World water parks. The tickets are significantly cheaper than a single-day park ticket, and it’s a great way to ease into your vacation.
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Even better, from May 26 through September 8, 2026, guests staying at a Walt Disney World hotel have free access to the water parks on check-in day. Regardless of whether you’ve physically checked into your hotel yet, you’ll have access to either Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon or Disney’s Blizzard Beach water parks.
The water park benefit also includes complimentary towel rentals. Of course, you’ll want to bring sunscreen, water shoes, swimsuits, and whatever else you need for a fun water park day. Both Disney water parks have large changing facilities, so it is easy to change from your travel clothes to your swimsuits. Then, after you’re done at the water park, you can use the changing rooms again to put on dry clothes and head to your hotel.
2. Consider staying at a Deluxe Resort for Moderate Resort prices
One of my biggest tips for families looking to have a great time at Walt Disney World is to stay at a Deluxe Resort or Deluxe Villa. These resorts are often closer to the parks and have larger rooms, better restaurants, and more amenities than Disney’s Value Resorts. That said, the Disney Deluxe Resorts and Deluxe Villas are expensive. Prices can be easily over $500 a night. Enter Disney Vacation Club rentals.
With Disney Vacation Club rentals, you can stay at some of Disney’s best resorts for a fraction of the cost. I like using David’s Vacation Club Rentals and looking at the confirmed reservations to plan my trip around. With confirmed reservations, you’re booking a room at a set hotel for a set price on set dates that cannot be altered.
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In the past, I’ve seen studio villas at Disney’s Old Key West Resort or Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa for around $200 a night. This is often cheaper than a night at one of Disney’s Moderate Resorts. To further prove that confirmed reservations are actually a deal, David’s currently has a two-night deluxe studio room reservation at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge for $690 from August 31 through September 2, 2026. The same room over the same dates is over $1,100 if you book directly with Disney.
Pro-tip: You can use David’s Vacation Club Rentals, no matter which coast (Walt Disney World or Disneyland) you’re vacationing on.
3. Take advantage of promotions to save money at Disney World
Walt Disney World usually runs hotel or ticket deals for visitors. These can be found on the special offers page of the Walt Disney World website. It’s always worth looking at the offers to see if any can be applied to your vacation at Walt Disney World. Some offers for 2026 include specially priced theme park tickets for United States Military Members, savings of up to 40 percent off rooms for Walt Disney World annual passholders through May and July, and free dining plans for kids when you purchase a vacation package.
4. Spend a day doing some of the free resort activities
If you’re staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel, free activities are abundant. You could likely spend an entire day enjoying them or just exploring the resort. A few of my favorite free things to do at a hotel are nightly marshmallow roasts and movie nights. The movie calendar and timing are at the front desk.
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The pools at the Disney hotels are always a big hit with kids. If you’re staying at a Moderate or Deluxe hotel, the pools also have fun water slides. And if you or your kids love Disney characters, they often stop by the hotels to say hi and take pictures with guests. This summer, there’s even going to be scheduled character meet-and-greets at the following hotels:
- Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
- Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort
- Disney’s Pop Century Resort
- Disney’s Port Orleans Resort – Riverside
Depending on which hotel you’re staying at, you may have access to some other free perks, like viewing the Magic Kingdom fireworks from a beach near Seven Seas Lagoon or Bay Lake, watching the Electrical Water Pageant, riding the Disney Skyliner, riding the Friendship Boats, and more. The front desk at your hotel can share more about the free activities that take place every day.
5. Bring your own souvenirs to save money at Disney World
Let’s face it, Disney souvenirs are expensive. If you’re traveling with younger children who have to have the bubble wand or light-up toy from the souvenir carts that magically appear on the streets of Magic Kingdom right as the sun is going down, consider bringing your own. Bubble wands and light-up toys can be found online at Amazon or in most stores for a fraction of the price. Just don’t forget to bring batteries and bubbles. No kid wants to get a bubble wand that doesn’t actually make bubbles. And let’s be honest, no adult wants to fork over more money for a new bubble wand when you already brought one with you.
Five ways to save money at Disneyland
When it comes to saving money at Disneyland, there are options, but you have to get a little more creative.
1. Look for cheaper tickets for adults and kids, and discounted rooms
Just like Walt Disney World, Disneyland offers a host of ticket and hotel deals. Currently, Disneyland is offering a kids ticket offer where children’s tickets are as low as $50. You can also book a room at the Disneyland Resort at a discounted rate when you stay for four nights or longer.
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2. Consider staying at a Good Neighbor hotel
The hotels at Disneyland are pricey, and because there are only three hotels, they book up quickly. If you’re looking for hotel options that won’t break the bank, consider staying at a Good Neighbor hotel. These are Disney-approved off-site hotels.
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My favorite Good Neighbor hotel is Hotel Lulu, which is about a 10-minute walk to the entrance of Disneyland Park. The hotel has a cool, laid-back California beach vibe. While the rooms are not fancy, they are clean and comfortable. Even better for adults, the hotel hosts a happy hour every day, and you can enjoy a welcome drink upon arrival. I loved this touch after a long flight from Florida to California.
3. Be mindful of dining reservations
When it comes to dining at Disneyland, spending can add up quickly. While table-service meals can be expensive, they are often so large that the plates are shareable. A few of my favorite places to share a plate at a table-service restaurant include Cafe Orleans and Carnation Cafe at Disneyland Park and Lamplight Lounge at Disney California Adventure. It’s also a good idea to think about where you would need a table-service meal over mobile ordering a snack. I always like to have one character dining experience during a visit to Disneyland (my favorite is Goofy’s Kitchen), but doing these types of expensive dining experiences every day can add up quickly.
4. Get groceries delivered
Drinks, snacks, and quick breakfast items are expensive. One way to mitigate costs is to get essentials like Uncrustables, sports drinks, bottles of water, and granola bars delivered to your hotel. You can do this with most grocery delivery services and set a date and time for your groceries to be dropped off. Not only will you save some money by doing a quick online shop, but you’re also guaranteed to have the snacks that your children enjoy. This can save major headaches at the parks when they inevitably don’t have the exact snack cracker or juice brand that your kid likes. Save money at Disney World and Disneyland by doing this.
5. Ditch the Park Hopper add-on and get this instead
It’s tempting to get a Park Hopper add-on at Disneyland, especially because the two theme parks are so close together. I would advise most families to ditch the add-on. Park Hoppers add anywhere from $65 to $75 per person, per day, to your ticket, which adds up very quickly.
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Instead, I suggest spending two days at Disneyland Park and one day at Disney California Adventure. In those three days, you can easily hit all the highlights of both parks and often get everything on your must-do list done.
Instead of a Park Hopper, I suggest getting a Lightning Lane Multi Pass for everyone in your group. This will allow you to skip the long lines at some of the best attractions at Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure. Lightning Lane Multi-Pass pricing is flexible and starts at $34 per person, per day. If you do decide to get Park Hopper tickets, Lightning Lane Multi Pass is good for both parks on the selected day without an additional charge.
