Hello, Kathryn!
Welcome to the Disney Parks Moms Panel! I totally understand your question because I have a family of seven, and we live and breathe by our tight budget. Here are some of my family tips to stick to a strict
Walt Disney World vacation budget:
1. Book two adjoining or connecting rooms at a
Disney Value Resort! My family LOVES to go-go-go on our Disney vacations, so we are only in our rooms to sleep! While you won't have a "living room" space in these rooms, you will save hundreds of dollars with this tip alone.
2. Purchase the basic
Magic Your Way Park tickets! While it might be nice to upgrade your tickets to Park Hopper tickets, this is really a luxury and not a necessity. I have also found it's much more efficient to stay and play in only one Disney Park per day, as it will typically take you at least 45 minutes to an hour to travel from one park to another.
3. Bring your own breakfast food! Every trip, my family packs our breakfast food in our luggage. We can then eat in our resort rooms before we start our all-day Disney adventures! We also bring on-the-go items like granola bars, Pop-Tarts, and apples to eat as we walk out the door. I promise this tip will save you time and money!
4. Use gift cards to help your kids stay within your budget! Purchasing fun snacks and souvenirs are a MUST at Walt Disney World. What I do for my kids is purchase a Disney Gift Card with a designated amount of money. Our kids know this is their money and can spend it any way they choose. However, when the gift card is depleted, they also understand they will not be receiving any other money from their parents!
I hope these tips help in your Disney vacation planning!
Have a MAGICAL day!
Wes