Hi James!
Thanks for stopping by the Disney Parks Moms Panel! I also try to keep costs as low as possible with my family of 7. Traditionally discounts are not as great during the summer season, but that doesn't mean there are not any to be found!
I would continue to watch the
Special Offers Page. Just because the cut off date for the Spring offers happens to fall around the time you would like to visit doesn't mean there won't be any Summer offers available later. If you book a package or room now, and a discount does come along later, you can apply it by calling Disney Reservations as long as discounted rooms for your particular resort and room category are still available.
Also if someone in your party has an Annual Pass, then there also tend to be Annual Passholder room discounts. AAA also has been known to offer discounted packages. I like to visit the Mousesavers.com website to look at historical dates when Walt Disney World discounts have been released.
As far as other costs, I recommend shipping food to your resort or using a grocery delivery service such as Garden Grocer to cut down on costs for drinks, snacks and breakfasts. My family usually likes to have a quick breakfast in the room and some snacks for late night munchies when we get back to the room for the night. Remember, too, that all quick-service dining locations will provide you with a cup of ice water at no charge if you ask.
I hope some of this helps! A Walt Disney World vacation can definitely be done on a budget! That's one of the reasons my family and I continue to visit at least once a year. Shhh, but I tend to visit more often than that. If you have any more questions, please don't hesitate to ask!
I hope you have a magical, fantastical vacation!
Tania