Hello, Sarah and warm greetings from all of us hEAR at planDisney!
Sarah, as a Mom who budgets, saves and helps her kids collect change throughout the year for our Walt Disney World Resort vacation, I'm happy to answer this question! Years ago there was a Disney Vacation Account that allowed you to put away money to one day use for your trip. Unfortunately that program was retired, but I'm happy to share how my family saves throughout the year in the hopes it will help.
Sarah, my first recommendation is to check out the use of
Disney Gift Cards. This is the number one way my family saves (and pays) for vacation. When we have a little "extra" we will pick up a Disney Gift Card while we're buying groceries or at our local store. You can create an account for free and manage your cards by consolidating them up to $1,000 per card. You can use these to pay for your
Disney Resorts Collection hotel room,
theme park tickets,
dining around the Walt Disney World Resort and of course, merchandise!
Next, Sarah, once you feel like you've saved up enough to start planning and selecting trip dates, take a look at
the vacation package options. When you book a "package"
(your hotel stay and tickets bundled together) you are able to secure your reservation for a $200 deposit and then pay the balance over time.
planDisney tip: With date-based pricing, flexible travel dates will help save money. When possible, avoid traveling over holidays and check the Special Offers section for the best deals.
Sarah, I hope this helps as you're planning ahead and dreaming of your Magical trip. If you have additional questions or need recommendations, please come on back to planDisney!
Lauren