Hi Amanda,
Welcome to planDisney, and thanks for bringing me your great question and letting me share in the joy of your upcoming trip!
Disney’s Port Orleans Resort - Riverside is a gorgeous place to stay, plus there are all sorts of fun
recreational opportunities like pool parties at ‘Ol Man Island, Movies Under the Stars, bike rentals, evening campfires, an arcade, and more!
Yeeha Bob Jackson is also back at the River Roost Lounge on select evenings!
As far as savings go, you’ll definitely want to keep an eye on the
Special Offers, Deals, and Discounts page. The great news is that you can always
add a discount to your reservation if one becomes available at a later date. Sticking to one park per day can also save you some money. Did you know that Guests are allowed to
bring their own food and drinks into the parks? There are a few
restrictions like no glass bottles, large coolers, or loose ice, but packing a meal can be a great way to stretch your Disney dollars. Of course, one affordable snack that my family never skips is the hot and fresh popcorn. When you buy a refillable popcorn bucket, you’ll only pay $2 for each refill (subject to change), and that’s the perfect snack for lots of Mouseketeers to share!
Once you’re in the park, the fantastic thing is that all the attractions and entertainment are included. While you
can purchase
Disney Genie+ and/or
Individual Lightning Lane selections, you don’t have to, and with
Disney Genie available for free, you have a powerful itinerary-planning tool right at your fingertips! Whether you decide to purchase access to the Lightning Lanes or not, I’d encourage you to take advantage of the
early theme park entry that’s available to Disney Resort hotel Guests each day for smaller crowds and shorter wait times. You’ll also find that the last hour or two of the day are great times to experience attractions with shorter waits.
Finally, I’d encourage you to pick up Disney Gift Cards at a retail location that offers in-store perks or cashback. You can pick up a few of those at a time, combine and track them at
DisneyGiftCard.com, and use them to purchase scrumptious Mickey-shaped snacks, delicious meals, and any fun souvenirs. Every little bit saved adds up!
Thanks so much for stopping by planDisney, Amanda. I hope that you and your family have a truly magical vacation next
spring!
Missy