Hi, Cheri!
Welcome to Disney Parks Moms Panel!
What a fun trip you are planning for your family of 9!
When trying to get the most bang for your buck out of a
Walt Disney World Resort vacation, make a few sandwiches, pack some peanut butter crackers, bags of fruit snacks and other temperature-resistant, crush-resistant foods for each person; put them in a bag to enjoy a quick bite when needed. Fill water bottles with ice and water each morning, then refill them at water fountains as needed; ask for a cup of ice for each of you at any dining location, then pour that ice into your bottle.
With park tickets, consider skipping the park hopping option, which will shave a few dollars from your stay. If you need a 7 day ticket, 1 adult ticket with the Park Hopper Option could cost an additional $69 during the time of your visit. I love the luxury of having the Park Hopper Option, but we often find ourselves touring just one park each day, sometimes even heading back to the same park after an afternoon rest at our resort. The freedom to hop is great, but if you plan your days carefully, you won't miss a thing when not hopping between two parks in one day.
In addition, check out the menus of dining locations throughout Walt Disney World. There are some fabulous Quick-Serve locations whose options feel much more like Table-Service dining, yet their prices are far lower! Delicious, affordable favorites include: Epcot's Sunshine Seasons and La Cantina de San Angel; Magic Kingdom's Casey's Corner, Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe and Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe; Disney's Hollywood Studios' Fairfax Fare and Rosie's All-American Cafe; Animal Kingdom's Flame Tree Barbecue. Portions are large, so the little ones can likely share a kid's meal for just under $6, with a little added from the adults' plates.
Send more questions as you plan, Cheri; we love to help!
Andrea H