Hello there Christan, from one Illinois resident to another! Thank you for sending me your great question.
There are several ways to help budget for your trip to the "Happiest Place on Earth!" My first recommendation would be to explore the list of the
Disney-approved Good Neighbor Hotels. Many are within walking distance to the theme parks, and several offer a
free breakfast! We have stayed at several of the Good Neighbor Hotels, and we've had great stays at all of them. The free breakfast option is not only a budget-friendly option to help save money, but we love to grab our breakfast to take on our walk to the parks in the morning to also save time.
My second recommendation would be to stick to
quick service restaurants, and not dine at a table service restaurant, which is more expensive. There are so many wonderful quick service dining options with delicious dishes, our favorites include
Bengal Barbecue in Disneyland Park and
Flo's V8 Cafe in Disney California Adventure Park.
My final tip is to bring in your own food and drinks to the parks! There are some
prohibited items such as glass containers and alcoholic beverages, but we have brought in sandwiches, bottled water, and snacks to have throughout the day, and those savings really add up.
I hope these recommendations are helpful for your trip planning, Christan! I'm happy to sprinkle any other pixie dust on your family's vacation, so please do not hesitate to
come back and ask me any other questions.
Have a magical day!
Melissa