Hello Nicole!
Can I just say that a trip to Walt Disney World is the best Christmas present anyone could get? I would love to have that wrapped under my tree this year!
My number one money-saving tip is to set a budget and stick to it! Sit down ahead of time and figure out what you want to spend on food and goodies. Make a plan with your husband and agree to stick to it, no matter what! It's easy to give in to my two little ones when they're eyeing up a new stuffed toy or are asking for (another) ice cream treat, but when my husband and I have both agreed to a limit, we're more likely to stick to it.
Sit down and really crunch some numbers. Can you get a better deal by booking a discounted room and paying out of pocket for meals or will the Disney Dining Plan save you more money? Be sure to check out the
Special Offers page for the latest discount information.
We also like to save as much money on food as possible. We tend to make breakfast our big meal of the day. Breakfasts are typically the least expensive meals of the day and we find that when we eat a big breakfast, we're less likely to need extra snacks during the day.
Speaking of snacks, we always bring our own snacks with us into the parks. I pack a duffle bag filled with my kid's favorite snacks for each of our trips. Every morning, I let them choose which snacks they'll bring into the parks with them. I even pack bottled water or juice boxes (you can also use services like Garden Grocer to have the items delivered to your resort room when you arrive if you can't fit it all in a suitcase or car). This saves us quite a bit on every vacation.
I've run out of room, but please let me know if you have any other questions, Nicole! I'd love to help you make your vacation as magical as possible.