Welcome to planDisney, Eric!
I am SO happy that you found us. There are many options that can make your stay at
Walt Disney World absolutely magical. Let's help you find that place to call home while visiting!
First, check out
Walt Disney World Special Offers. While you may qualify for deals offered to Disney+ subscribers or US Military Members, there are often specials on particular dates of stay. Visits that avoid Friday and Saturday nights are a great way to save a little, too. Dates flexible? If your stay does not fall into one of the special offers, consider moving around a bit so that it does.
Also, if booking a resort stay that's longer than the number of days you'd like to visit a park, it may be more cost effective to book your room, then purchase a
Walt Disney World Theme Park Ticket for each of you. Book your two night hotel stay first at a
Disney Resort Hotel; then, once you have those dates secured, book that one day park ticket. I like to price out several options, then choose the combination that works best for us.
While comparing options, be sure to look at those special offers. Some springtime guests might
Spring into Magic and save a bundle with a stay in a
Family Suite at Disney's Art of Animation Resort. These great suites include a separate bedroom, two full bathrooms--a must for my family--a double-size sleeper sofa and a double-size table bed. The kitchenette includes a microwave, coffee machine, and beverage cooler, so quick breakfasts and post-park snacks are a great way to keep dining costs lower.
Speaking of food, you may want to enjoy some delicious meals in the park and resorts, and, at times, packages enable kids to eat free! To take advantage of this
Kids Free Dining Plan, choose a package, rather than just a room. When you add park tickets to that room reservation (making it a two night package, so two days of park tickets), you also have the option of adding a
Disney Dining Plan. While the initial cost is higher, this is a great way to pay for your dining ahead of time--especially if only two of you need to pay for a Dining Plan!
The
Disney Quick-Service Dining Plan is my recommendation as it offers everyone 2 Quick-Service Meals and 1 Snack per night. Plus everyone gets a great Resort-Refillable Drink Mug that makes the perfect souvenir. There are lots of
Quick-Service Dining Options at Magic Kingdom Park, so check the menus to see what you'd spend if all five of you paid for a meal at one of them; compare that to the cost of adding the ticket package and dining plan to your resort stay, and you'll know which option is best for you.
Eric, as you explore your choices for a quick, affordable visit to The Most Magical Place on Earth, be sure to send additional questions our way. We love to help!
Andrea H