Hi, Teresa! It can be seriously scary when you sit down and start adding things up for a Walt Disney World vacation, but take it from someone who has spent more than her share of summer weekends at the Jersey shore, you get a good bang for your vacation buck at Walt Disney World.
If you watch the official
Walt Disney World website, you'll see updates when there are special offers available. Right now, for example, there is a room discount of up to 30% available for select dates this summer. That is the most common type of discount, however, there is sometimes an offer of free dining (usually late summer into the fall) or package promotions.
I also wanted to throw out this suggestion. My husband and I are pretty big people, and he can really eat. The Deluxe Dining plan is A LOT of food. There is also a time commitment involved in sitting down to enjoy a meal. Take a look at some of the menus and the prices, and see if there's a way to save yourself some money by switching to a different dining plan or paying out of pocket. I have seen a lot of people on a dining plan trying to use up their credits on check out day by buying snacks to pack for the trip home.
The good news is you have lots of time to plan! We'll be right here for you to help you find the deal that works best for your family.