Hi Amanda!
I like to view my travel budget as a dollar saved
on Walt Disney World theme park tickets or a
Disney Resort Hotel room reservation is one more than I can spend
in Disney's Parks on souvenirs and Mickey-shaped treats. Definitely start your search by checking out Disney World's own
Special Offers, Deals & Discounts page. These are more of bundled offers, but the math might work out in your favor to group everything together rather than separately.
I also live out of state, and these are the tips I've picked up:
~ Check out the cards in your wallet for any travel benefits that your credit cards or dues-based membership clubs might offer. You might walk into a popular wholesale or warehouse club store thinking you're only buying a bulk case of toilet paper, but you can very well find Disney deals there, too.
~ Also look at the gift card area of warehouse/wholesale/club stores as some will sell
Disney Gift Cards that have a slightly higher value than their purchase price.
~ Watch the weekly sales offers at your local grocery, drug and big box stores as you do your normal grocery shopping. A lot of stores will run sales like 'buy four deodorants, get a $5 store gift card'. I like to save these store gift cards and use them to buy Disney Gift Cards, which I then use to pay for our Disney tickets, dining purchases, or hotel room.
~ And lastly, call Disney's reservation line to ask if any other affiliations you may have offer a price break, like a Military discount. Cast Members can be reached at (407) 939-5277 between 7:00 A.M. and 11:00 P.M. EST.
I hope this helped, Amanda!
~Kristen