Mom and Daughter at Disney's Polynesian Village Resort Room
  • On Mar 2, 2015
    Misty from FL Asked Note: This answer was provided prior to the change to planDisney and may still contain references to Disney Parks Moms Panel.

    Experiences, policies, pricing and other offerings are subject to change and may have changed since the date of this answer.

    We have been asked to go to Walt Disney World in 3 short weeks. What is the best way to maximize our money? We are on a strict budget and are only going for the weekend.

    Hello Misty! Budgets are tricky to give advice on, because they are entirely dependent on your needs and interests. For example, when I vacation I choose to skimp on the Resort Hotel so that I will have more money for food, souvenirs and extras. I will stay at a Value Resort and pay less so that I can allocate the money I save there for things I want to spend more money on, like Character Dining Experiences. Here are some money saving tips that might help:

    *Bring your own water bottles or refillable water containers. I always bring my Contigo bottle with me in the parks and fill them up at Quick-Service locations or water fountains so that I don't have to pay for water.

    *You can also bring snacks and food into the parks that do not require heating. This could help you save money if you are not wanting to spend much on on-site food. You can also leave the park for meals and return later to the same park. If you plan to eat on-site, I suggest looking at all of the menus in advance to get an idea of how much you are going to pay. This will help you figure out how much to budget for food.

    *Autograph books and Coin Press books are relatively cheap souvenirs. The best thing about these souvenirs is that you can bring them back to the park over and over and keep collecting signatures and coins without going crazy on spending. The Coin Press Machine is my son's favorite. Its pretty easy to start saving shiny pennies in advance of your trip, just keep all your loose change in a jar and voila!

    I hope this has helped, and if you have any specific questions on saving or budgeting please don't hesitate to ask. I'd love to hear back from you to help address your budgeting needs.

    Happy planning and have a magical Walt Disney World Vacation!
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Meet the Panelist: Sarah, Indiana

I am a recent graduate from Ball State University and mother to my 5-year-old son. We love all things Disney and when we aren’t watching Disney films or planning our next vacation, we love to go to touring Disney shows. I also love to cook, listen to music, read books, and paint. With my experience planning vacations and navigating the parks from a single parent’s perspective, I hope to be able to add a little “pixie dust” to your vacation! Learn More About Sarah

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