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Check rates and availability at Disney's Pop Century Resort

Disney's Pop Century Resort

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Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort

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Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge

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Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

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Disney's Port Orleans Resort - Riverside

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Disney's All-Star Music Resort

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Disney's All-Star Movies Resort

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Disney's Coronado Springs Resort

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Disney's Port Orleans Resort - French Quarter

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Disney's All-Star Sports Resort

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Disney's Art of Animation Resort

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Disney's Polynesian Village Resort

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Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

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Disney's Wilderness Lodge

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Disney's Beach Club Resort

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Disney's Contemporary Resort

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Disney's Yacht Club Resort

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Disney's BoardWalk Inn

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Disney's Old Key West Resort

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Disney's Polynesian Villas & Bungalows

Check rates and availability at Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort

Bay Lake Tower at Disney's Contemporary Resort

Check rates and availability at The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

The Villas at Disney's Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

Check rates and availability at Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village

Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Kidani Village

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The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort

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Disney's BoardWalk Villas

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Disney's Beach Club Villas

Check rates and availability at Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge

Boulder Ridge Villas at Disney's Wilderness Lodge

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Disney's Animal Kingdom Villas - Jambo House

Check rates and availability at The Campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort

The Campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort

Check rates and availability at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge

Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge

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Disney's Riviera Resort

Check rates and availability at Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel

Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel

Vacation packages may be available. Select this hotel to view package prices. For room-only prices, call (407) 939-1936.†

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Walt Disney World Swan Hotel

Check rates and availability at The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort - A Disney Vacation Club Resort

The Cabins at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort - A Disney Vacation Club Resort

Check rates and availability at Walt Disney World Swan Reserve

Walt Disney World Swan Reserve

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Four seasons resort orlando at walt disney world resort.

Walt Disney World Area

Select this hotel to view package prices, including potential vacation packages. For room-only prices, call (407) 939-5277.†

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Select this hotel to view package prices, including potential vacation packages. For room-only prices, call (407) 934-7639.†

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At MagicGuides we’ve dedicated ourselves to bringing you the most comprehensive Disney World and Disneyland Travel Planning Information.  Check out our  Crowd Calendars , Packing Lists , Tips & Tricks , Park Secrets, and much more. 

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Trip planning essentials.

TRANSPORTATION MAP

Our Disney World Transportation map shows all the transportation options throughout Disney World.  Click on your Resort and see the travel times to each Disney Park.

DISNEY AGENTS

Looking for a little advice and assistance with planning your next Disney World vacation? Talking to a reputable Disney Travel Agent is your best bet.  Take a look at our list of top Disney Travel Planners!

CROWD CALENDAR

Our Disney World Crowd Calendar will help you know which is the best time of year to visit Disney World to maximize your time on the rides and minimize your time in line.

Free Disney World Stock Photos!

STROLLERS at DISNEY

Wondering what to do about Strollers at Disney World? Should you bring your own?  Rent a stroller? How much does it cost?   Look no further.  Here’s our complete guide to Strollers at Disney.

PACKING LIST

A great Disney Packing List will help you make sure you don’t forget to pack anything important.  Our packing list includes all the items you’ll need for a great trip!

CRUISING with DISNEY

Love the theme parks and considering a cruise? Whether it will be your first time ever on a ship, or just your first Disney Cruise, we have everything you need to know about cruising with Disney.

BEST DISNEY RESORTS

BEST VALUE RESORTS

Disney’s Value Resorts are the entry level price point into a magical Disney themed vacation.  Stay on Disney’s property and experience all that Disney has to offer, all the time.  Here are our top Disney Value Resorts ranked.

BEST MODERATE RESORTS

Disney’s Moderate Resorts are the next step up in luxury and amenities in your magical Disney vacation.  Stay on Disney’s property with improved transportation and resort amenity options.  Here are our top Disney Moderate Resorts ranked.

BEST DELUXE RESORTS

Disney’s Deluxe Resorts are the pinnacle in Luxury on offer at Walt Disney World.  Stay on Disney’s property and experience only the best and most luxurious amenities & transportation options.  Here are our top Disney Resorts Resorts ranked.

Our Complete Disney World Resort Comparison Guide

Theme park data center.

Have you ever wondered how many people actually visit Disney World and other Theme Parks?  Well, here’s the Total Annual Park Attendance data from the major U.S. Theme parks for 2018.  It’s pretty enlightening information and can help you understand where the majority of vacationers are choosing to spend their vacations. ( source )

THE LATEST AND GREATEST DISNEY KNOW-HOW

BEST TIME OF YEAR TO GO TO DISNEY WORLD

Planning a Disney World vacation but not sure when to go? Between seasonal events, weather, school and work schedules, it can be a tough decision.  Here’s our guide to help you choose the best time of year to go to Walt Disney World.

DISNEY ATTRACTION TO ESCAPE THE RAIN

Florida is nicknamed “The Sunshine State,” but the weather at Disney World isn’t always predictably sunny. But don’t fret – In the event of bad weather, there are still plenty of Disney attractions to escape the rain until the sun returns. We’ll help you plan ahead so you won’t get drenched.

HOW TO BECOME A DISNEY TRAVEL AGENT

Are you interested in becoming a Disney travel agent? It seems like the ultimate job for a Disney fanatic because you get paid to talk about Disney all day long. But is it really as fun and rewarding as it seems? We’ll give you all the information you’ll need to decide if this career is right for you.

DISNEY WORLD TRIVIA

Throwing a Party with Disney Friends? Running a Trivia Night? Just love Disney? Well, we have some great Disney Trivia that we think you’ll find amazing!

FREE THINGS TO DO AT DISNEY WORLD

A Disney Vacation can be very expensive. Here are some things at Disney World that you may not have known are absolutely FREE!

LOTS MORE DISNEY INFO COMING SOON!!!

You’ve loved our many Disney related articles. Well, we have many more coming soon!

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Walt disney world® resort vacations & packages.

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Visit Walt Disney World® Resort

Walt disney world® resort vacations and packages.

Disney World packages are your ticket to a magical kingdom of entertainment, where you'll be enchanted at every turn. With 4 theme parks and 2 water parks to explore, there's a lot to pack in. Make memories on Disney World trips with your favorite characters, stay at themed hotels or resorts, and watch the fireworks sparkle above Cinderella Castle. Walt Disney World® Resort is just 15 miles from Orlando International Airport and makes the perfect base for exploring the wider area. Visit the beach or check out the Kennedy Space Center for a change of pace. Discover the magic of Walt Disney vacations with Expedia.    

Why visit Walt Disney World® Resort

Walt Disney World® Resort is the perfect place to stay in Orlando as a large number of the area’s star attractions are within easy driving distance. Two sights that should be at the top of every visitor’s itinerary is the wonderful Disney's Boardwalk and the ever-popular Disney's Osprey Ridge Golf Course. Two other great attractions you’ll find within a short distance of Walt Disney World® Resort are the Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park and the Disney's Lake Buena Vista Golf Course.

Walt Disney World® Resort has a number of cultural attractions nearby that allow visitors to really get a feel for the area. To experience Orlando’s vibrant arts scene, book a show at one of the popular live performance venues such as the La Nouba Theater in Lake Buena Vista.

After exploring the delights of Walt Disney World® Resort, stay the night at one of the area’s bed-and-breakfasts, hotels or short-stay apartments. Take your pick from the Walt Disney World Dolphin Resort, Lake Buena Vista, the Walt Disney World Swan Resort, Lake Buena Vista, or the Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek.

Buy tickets to Walt Disney World® with Expedia.

Plan a trip to see Walt Disney World® Resort

Palazzo Lakeside Hotel

Reviewed on Jun 11, 2024

Westgate Palace Hotel / Universal / I-Drive

Reviewed on Jun 10, 2024

Ramada Plaza Resort & Suites by Wyndham Orlando Intl Drive

Browse tours and tickets to explore walt disney world® resort, attractions.

Walt Disney World® Resort Water Park Tickets

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Walt Disney World® Resort Disney After Hours

Universal Orlando Resort Theme Park Tickets

Kennedy Space Center Admission

Universal Orlando Resort Express Passes

Aquatica Orlando

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Go City: Orlando Explorer Pass - Choose 2 to 5 Attractions

Crayola Experience Admission Tickets

Wildlife & nature.

Orlando: Island H2O Water Park Admission

Manatees Swim, Snorkel and Boat Day Tour from Orlando

Deep-Sea Fishing Tour in the Gulf of Mexico with Lunch

Clearwater Deep Sea Fishing

4 Hours Morning Bass Fishing in Orlando

2 Hour Eco Tour

Florida: 90 Minute Everglades Cruise

Shows & concerts.

Go City: Orlando All-Inclusive Pass with Kennedy Space Center

Drawn to Life presented by Cirque du Soleil and Disney

Pirate's Dinner Adventure Orlando

The Outta Control Magic Comedy Dinner Show

Sleuths Mystery Dinner Shows

Orlando: Polynesian Fire Luau with Dinner and Live Show

Sleuth's Mystery Dinner Show, Orlando

Orlando: Andretti Indoor Karting Attraction Ticket

Kissimmee: Old Town Ferris Wheel, Attractions, and Dinner

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Clearwater Beach Day Trip

Orlando: Museum of Illusions Admission Ticket

Kennedy Space Center Tour with Transportation from Orlando Region

St. Augustine Day Trip with Transportation

16 miles Private Helicopter Day Tour over Fun Spot

Private Helicopter After-hours Tour: Orlando Parks (31or48 miles)

Day Trip to Clearwater Beach with Sea Screamer Ride

Park Whispers: Love and Legacy in Orlando

Shopping & fashion.

Kids Eat Free iCard PLUS City Hopper (Orlando, Virginia and more)

Dollar Off Drinks Card: Orlando

The ICONic City Tour of Orlando

The Mall at Millenia's Personal Styling Experience

Key information on walt disney world® resort packages, top things to do on disney world vacations.

With 4 theme parks and 2 water parks, Walt Disney World® Resort has everything you need for a magical Orlando vacation . Here's what not to miss during your stay:

• Magic Kingdom® Park : Be transported to fantasy lands at the resort's most famous theme park, catch the iconic Cinderella Castle fireworks show, and meet your favorite Disney characters.
• Epcot® : Go on an aquatic journey with Moana and blast off into distant galaxies as you explore the fantastical worlds of Epcot®. The annual International Flower and Garden Festival is held here, too.
• Disney's Animal Kingdom® Theme Park : Spot elephants and lions on a safari through Africa, take a thrilling roller-coaster ride to Mount Everest, and marvel at the 3D film that brings tiny bugs to life.
• Disney's Hollywood Studios® : Dive into the glitzy world of Hollywood with this movie-themed Disney park. Catch the Sunset Boulevard show with Mickey Mouse and join the stars at the popular Frozen sing-along.
• Disney's Typhoon Lagoon and Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park : Ride the flumes, jump around in the wave pools, or relax on sandy beaches at these epic water parks. There are attractions here for all ages, so you can take the whole family.

For further Hollywood-inspired thrills on Disney World vacations in the Orlando area, check out Universal Studios Florida® or visit Disney Springs® for shopping, dining, and live music.

Where to stay

A huge range of hotels, resorts, and private vacation rentals can all be booked as part of Disney World travel packages on Expedia. You'll just need to decide whether you prefer the convenience of an on-site hotel or fancy staying outside the resort instead. Here's what to consider:

On-site: By staying on-site, you'll have easy access to the parks, either on foot or with complimentary shuttles and monorails. Transport to the parks from the hotel is usually included in Disney World vacation packages, keeping things simple and efficient. Being so close to the attractions means you can fit more into your day.

On-site hotels are often Disney-themed too, so you'll enjoy a fully immersive stay. Use the filter on Expedia to find properties that are close to the parks, like Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge® , Walt Disney World Dolphin Hotel® , and Walt Disney World Swan Reserve® .

Off-site: It can be cheaper to stay off-site on Disney World trips as there's more competition between hotels to keep prices low. Popular areas include Lake Buena Vista, Kissimmee, and Bay Lake.

Properties like Orlando World Center Marriott and Buena Vista Suites offer shuttle services to the Disney parks and have their own facilities too if you fancy a change of scene. You also have a choice of luxury hotels here, including the Waldorf Astoria , Hyatt Regency , and Ritz-Carlton . If you'd prefer not to sleep in a Disney-themed hotel to avoid sensory overload, then staying off-site is the answer.

Cost of vacation packages to Disney World

A 2024 Disney World flight and hotel package could cost from $319. For your convenience, many bundles include everything from accommodation and transfers to meals and Disney World tickets. Packages on Expedia can be tailored to your budget, so you know you're getting a good deal.

Play around with dates to see how they affect the cost of your trip. Traveling mid-week or outside the school summer vacation period can significantly reduce the price. You can also try changing your hotel location for a cheaper rate. Staying outside the resort can cost a lot less than an on-site hotel.

Family-friendly trips to Disney World

Walt Disney World® Resort is every kid's dream, but it's great fun for adults too. There's something for everyone here in Orlando, with special Disney World packages that are sure to keep the whole family entertained.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly hotels and resorts on Expedia that will appeal to younger travelers and teenagers alike. Use the search filter to choose the number of bedrooms you need. You can also narrow down your results to include specific amenities like swimming pools, cribs, and hotels with waterpark access.

How to find Disney World package deals

It's easy to book a Disney World vacation on Expedia, with the search engine working hard to find you a bundle to suit your budget. You can choose from a range of Disney World packages or create your own bespoke trip.

Start by selecting your hotel, resort, or vacation rental before searching for your preferred dates. Then, you can add everything from flights and car rentals to airport transfers and park tickets for a fully customized package deal.

FAQs for Disney World vacations

Is booking disney as a package more cost-effective.

Walt Disney packages can work out cheaper than buying all the elements of your vacation separately. You can bundle together everything you need on Expedia, including flights, accommodation, park tickets, and even other attractions in the area. The search engine will pull together prices for a huge number of different hotels and flights to quickly display some of the best prices for your chosen itinerary. Booking a package is also more convenient and hassle-free, so you can just sit back and enjoy your vacation.

What is the cheapest month to visit Walt Disney World® Resort?

The most expensive time to visit Walt Disney World® Resort is during the school vacation periods when prices are at their highest. You will enjoy extended park opening hours and special events during the summer, so there are benefits to visiting at this time of year. If you can be flexible with your dates and don't mind the cooler weather, you'll find that Disney World packages are cheaper in the off-season months. Some of the best rates can be found on stays between January and March, as well as November.

What's included in a Walt Disney World® Resort vacation package?

The benefit of booking Disney World hotel and flight packages is that everything you need for your vacation is included. That way, you don't need to worry about having to pay for extra elements and can just enjoy your stay stress-free. Your package can include as much or as little as you like, so you can fully customize your trip. On Expedia, you can add everything from flights and hotels to car rentals and tours to your package. Activities can always be added on later if required, too.

How much does a Walt Disney World® Resort vacation package cost?

The price of Orlando Disney packages varies according to the standard of hotel you choose. Rates for 2024 Disney World vacations could cost from $319. You can use the filters on Expedia to set a minimum and maximum price to find properties and rentals that best suit your budget and travel style. Your length of stay also determines the overall price, so consider going for a shorter period if you're keeping an eye on your costs. If you stay at one of the on-site resorts or hotels, you'll be closer to the parks, so you can make the most of your day rather than spending time traveling.

Can you visit both Walt Disney World® Resort and Universal Studios® on one trip?

Absolutely—Walt Disney World® Resort and Universal Studios® are just 9 miles apart, so it's easy to combine the 2 in a single trip. You can even stay at the same hotel to keep things easy and hassle-free. To make the most of both attractions, a 6-day stay is recommended. That way, you can visit all 4 of the Walt Disney World® Resort theme parks and also spend a couple of days at Universal Studios®. Don't have that much time? Split your days equally between the 2, as each has so much to offer.

How far in advance should you book a Walt Disney World® Resort vacation package?

For some of the best deals, it's a good idea to book Disney World vacations well ahead of your visit. Prices can rise in the weeks leading up to a stay, so it's usually cheaper to make reservations months in advance. You can sometimes find discounted prices at the last minute, but this isn't guaranteed, so it's best to play it safe. If you're including an international flight in your Disney World package, you can normally book these 12 months in advance on Expedia. By making an early reservation, you'll also have a choice of seats.

Are flights included in Disney World packages?

Yes, you can easily add either domestic or international flights to Disney World vacations by using Expedia. It's often cheaper to bundle your accommodation and airfare together, so this is a great way to keep costs down. The nearest airport is Orlando International Airport, just 17 miles away. Most hotels will offer airport transfers, but if this is something you need, use the filter on Expedia to ensure that a shuttle is provided.

If you can't travel, can you cancel Disney World vacation packages?

When you book trips to Disney World on Expedia, many hotels give the option of free cancellation. The rate is sometimes higher than a non-refundable price, but if you think your plans might change, this can give you peace of mind. You might also be able to make changes for free if you've booked your Disney World Orlando packages within the last 24 hours. Check the booking conditions so you know what to expect.

Reviews of Walt Disney World® Resort

5/5 - excellent.

Definitely stop at Walmart and pick up all your Disney apparel

Too much walking, most of waiting areas have no shade

Kennedy Space Center Seaworld Magic Kingdom

We had dinner at Boma and it was an excellent buffet. We really enjoyed it.

Pricing was the same on line as it was getting them at the resort we stayed at

Check all the extra $$ needed for resort fees, parking and bell hops before booking a room!

Popular places to visit

• Magic Kingdom® Park

One of the most famous theme parks in the world offers a land of fun and fantasy at the foot of a fairytale castle.

Beachcomber Beach

Why not spend a lazy afternoon at Beachcomber Beach during your trip to Lake Buena Vista? Discover the top-notch restaurants and entertainment choices in this family-friendly area.

Tibet Butler Preserve

Explore the lovely green spaces of Tibet Butler Preserve and enjoy the golf courses in Windermere. Check out the shops and top-notch restaurants in this family-friendly area.

Grand Cypress Golf Club

Play a few rounds of golf at these Nicklaus-designed, award-winning courses which are located in the very heart of sunny Orlando.

Design your own race car and take an international food safari at the theme park that celebrates human achievement.

Norway Pavilion

Bring your family to Norway Pavilion and have a fun-filled day at this theme park in Lake Buena Vista. Discover the top-notch restaurants and entertainment choices in this family-friendly area.

Best Lodging Options Near Walt Disney World® Resort

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When to Visit Disney World

The Best Age for Your Child's First Trip

Your Complete Disney World Glossary

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Planning Your Trip to Disney World: A Guide

Walt Disney World Guide: Planning Your Trip

 Walt Disney World

Florida’s Walt Disney World is one of the planet’s most popular vacation destinations. Its four theme parks–Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom–generate upwards of 60 million visitors each year.   For a good reason. They boast classic, timeless attractions that feature universally adored characters and properties, along with some of the most cutting-edge, immersive storytelling technology ever developed. But with two world-class water parks, a couple of dozen hotels, myriad shopping, dining, and entertainment options at two large complexes, championship golf courses, and other diversions, there’s much more to the massive, 47-square-mile resort than blasting off on Space Mountain and meeting Mickey Mouse. There are many things to consider when planning a journey to the theme park mecca, including when to visit, must-see attractions, how to make ride reservations in advance, where to dine, and where to stay. Let’s dive in.

Planning Your Trip

Best Time to Visit : With the introduction of annual special events such as the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival (held in the fall) and Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend (held in January) that span the calendar, there is no longer a “slow season” at the resort. But some times are busier than others, including peak visitation periods in June, July, the first half of August, Easter week, Thanksgiving week, and, especially, the week between Christmas and New Year’s (when the parks often reach capacity). In addition to larger crowds, it costs more to visit Disney World during these higher-attendance periods. On-property hotels charge higher rates, and, using a surge pricing model, the parks charge more for tickets.

Florida’s heat and humidity can be overbearing from late spring through early fall. The Atlantic hurricane season begins June 1 and runs through Nov. 30  , with the highest storm probability from August through October. If you are concerned about your trip being interrupted by a hurricane, consider buying travel insurance. Or avoid the issue completely by not going to Orlando at that time of year.

Getting Around : You wouldn’t necessarily need a car to navigate around the resort, although it could offer you more freedom and help you avoid the hassle of the resort’s often crowded and sometimes balky transportation systems. To travel between the hotels, parks, and Disney Springs, options include buses, water taxis, ferries, the snazzy Disney Skyliner aerial gondolas, and the world-famous monorail included in ticket prices and hotel rates. You could request a cab or use a ride-hailing company, including the resort’s official Minnie Van Service , which is offered in partnership with Lyft.

Travel Tip : Familiarize yourself with Disney Genie , the new digital service that Disney World introduced in fall 2021. The complimentary, interactive program helps visitors plan their days at the parks by suggesting itineraries and steering them to attractions they want to experience at times when the lines are likely to be the lowest. The service also includes Disney Genie+ , an optional, paid line skipping program that replaces Fastpass+, as well as Lightning Lane Select, which gives visitors the option to purchase access to two high-demand attractions per day. With the elimination of Fastpass+ and the loss of the ability to make advance ride reservations, the calculus of planning and experiencing the parks at Disney World has changed considerably.

Things to Do

Of course, the theme parks will be the focus of any visit to Disney World. Whether you have a limited amount of time and want to make sure you get the most out of it, or you just want to make sure you target the top things to do at the resort regardless of your length of stay, it’s a good idea to scope out the best rides and shows . Maybe you and your park posse want to make sure you scream to your hearts’ content. In that case, you’ll want to identify the parks’ best thrill rides . Or maybe you’ll have young ones in tow and want to find out where to experience the best rides for kids . One of the great things about Disney World is that there are some truly wonderful things for just about everybody to enjoy, no matter your age, interests, or thrill tolerance.

There are many, many highlights throughout the parks, but you’ll want to check out three of the newer lands, all of which are self-contained odes to a movie (or movie series) with multiple attractions, characters, food, merchandise, and more to discover:

• Get the lowdown on the (mind-boggling) rides, visiting tips, and more for the wildly popular and impeccably themed Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge .
• There are some amazing things to do and see in Pandora the World of Avatar , including taking a flight of passage aboard a banshee and encountering a full-sized Pandoran shaman as you float down the Na’vi River.
• Over at Toy Story Land , you’ll be able to ride the whimsical, launched coaster, Slinky Dog Dash, and rack up points playing virtual carnival games in Toy Story Mania.

We have plenty more articles for you to check out, including how to experience Walt Disney World if you are a ride wimp , everything you’ll want to know to plan a visit to Blizzard Beach water park , and more of the best things to do at Disney World . 

Harrison Cooney, Disney

What's New at Disney World?

• In October 2021, Disney World officially  did away with FastPass+ and introduced new digital services to help guests plan and enjoy their days at the parks including Disney Genie, Disney Genie+, and Individual Lightning Lane .
• In October 2021, Disney World launched its 18-month 50th anniversary celebration. Highlights include “Harmonious,” a new nighttime spectacular at Epcot that features choreographed, moving fountains, large LED panels, pyrotechnics, and other effects all set to Disney music as interpreted by artists from around the world. The Magic Kingdom also offers a new nighttime show, “Disney Enchantment.” it includes fireworks and projections of scenes from Disney films that light up Cinderella Castle and extend down the buildings along Main Street, U.S.A. Disney’s Animal Kingdom offers "Disney KiteTails," a new daytime show that features themed kites and windcatchers. All of the parks are featuring Beacons of Magic that are illuminating their signature structures–Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom, the Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, The Hollywood Tower Hotel at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Spaceship Earth at Epcot–with fanciful lighting and effects.
• The France Pavilion at Epcot welcomed Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, a new dark ride themed to the popular Pixar movie, as well as La Crêperie de Paris, a new restaurant, in October, 2021.
• Space 220, a new restaurant that virtually takes guests 220 miles above the Earth’s surface to dine on a space station, opened in September 2021.

What to Eat and Drink

How vast is Walt Disney World? It’s so big that between the theme parks, water parks, many hotels, Disney Springs, and the Boardwalk area, there are more than 400 places to dine  . You can grab a quick bite, plan a memorable, special occasion meal at a posh restaurant, or find a spot that caters to every dining whim in between. Like the lands and attractions in the parks, many of the restaurants feature special themes and offer unique, only-at-Disney experiences. One of the more intriguing ways to meet Goofy, Donald, or one of the many princesses at the resort is by booking a character meal . And speaking of booking a meal, you’ll want to learn how to nab a reservation at the resort’s more high-demand restaurants as far in advance as possible.

When Walt Disney first opened Disneyland in California, he imposed a strict no-alcohol policy. Today, there are loads of places, both within and outside the parks, to belly up to the bar. You might want to consider trying out the libations offered at Epcot’s World Showcase pavilions, which is popularly known as “drinking around the world.” Some other intriguing watering holes include Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto, a hideaway spot in Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, the magic-themed AbracadaBar at Disney’s Boardwalk, and the hugely popular Oga’s Cantina in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.

Explore our articles on Disney World’s best table-service restaurants (including Sanaa and Jiko - The Cooking Place, both at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge–yum!), our rundown of the resort’s best quick-service eateries , and, because it is so huge and a culinary haven in its own right, our picks for the ten best restaurants in Disney Springs .

Where to Stay

Disney operates 31 resort hotels on the property at the resort. They come in five flavors. Deluxe Resort Hotels include the most exclusive places to stay, such as Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and the highly unique Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge. Moving down the amenities scale, Moderate Resort Hotels include Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort and Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. Among the more barebones Value Resort Hotels are Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Disney’s Pop Century Resort. If you are into roughing it, consider affordable campsites at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort.

Disney World’s fifth category of hotels are its Deluxe Villas. These “home away from home” accommodations include studios and one, two, and three-bedroom villas that are part of the Disney Vacation Club , Disney’s timeshare program. They can be especially suitable for large families or groups that want to stay together.

You could also consider staying off-property at one of the gazillion hotels located near Disney World. While it’s certainly possible to find lower-priced accommodations, you should consider the time that you’d save and the value that you’d get (including benefits such as early admission to the parks and complimentary transportation to and from the airport) by staying at a Disney hotel–not to mention the round-the-clock “magic” that Disney offers to its hotel guests.

There are many compelling reasons why you should stay at Disney World hotels . Check out our picks for Disney’s best hotels .

Getting There

The primary airport serving Disney World is Orlando International Airport. If you are staying on property at one of Disney World’s hotels, the resort offers complimentary motorcoach transportation to Orlando International Airport.

Money Saving Tips

• Disney World’s Ticket Program  Get the info you'll need to navigate through different ticket options, learn how to save some of your vacation dollars, and score the best deals for your getaway.
• Disney World on a Dime We run down strategies, such as how to get discounted Disney gift cards, to help make your next trip to the Mouse House more affordable.
• The Complete Guide to Military Discounts at Disney World If you or your spouse are members of the military, you are eligible for some significant discounts on park tickets and stays at Shades of Green, the Disney World hotel owned and operated by the military.

AECOM and TEA. “Theme Index.” 2019

National Weather Service. "Hurricane Safety Tips and Resources."

Disney. “ Walt Disney World Restaurants and Reservations .”

Best Walt Disney World Resort Hotels in Orlando

Your Guide to Visiting Walt Disney World During the Pandemic

Maps of Walt Disney World

How to Get Around Walt Disney World: The Complete Guide

Disneyland vs. Disney World: Which Is Better?

Best Budget Disney World Hotels

How to Decide Where to Stay at Walt Disney World

Disney World Vs. Universal Orlando

Disney World on a Dime

Your Trip to Universal Orlando: The Complete Guide

How Do I Make Disney World Dining Reservations?

Getting There: Disney World's Magic Kingdom Transportation Tips

Disney Travel Planning: Disney World vs. Disney Cruise

Disney California Adventure: The Complete Guide

Tips for a Perfect Day at Disney World's Epcot

The Best Time to Visit Disney World

Home » Walt Disney World » Planning and Tips » Saving Money

Disney World on a Budget | Cheapest Way to Go in 2024

By Author Ziggy Oskwarek

Posted on Last updated: November 25, 2023

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It’s no secret that Walt Disney World has gotten more and more expensive over the years, and unfortunately, some families have to save for years to be able to afford it, and in some cases, it’s become a once-in-a-lifetime trip. So what is the cheapest way to go to Disney World?

In this post, we’ll share with you the cheapest ways to go to Disney World in 2024 , and how to do Disney World on a budget . Figuring out how to save money is always a priority for us and something we emphasize when helping others plan their trips.

In fact, Disney has a strong reputation for being one of the most expensive vacations a family can take. If you’ve been to the parks before, I’m sure you’ve seen the Disney-mocking T-Shirts: “Most Expensive Day Ever…” We have to admit, that isn’t exactly a wrong statement, but it doesn’t have to be like that. There are still ways to save money and do Disney on a budget.

Since we have spent thousands of hours visiting the Disney parks over the last 40+ years, I can tell you firsthand, that it is possible to do “Disney on a Dime”, and we have included some of our best money-saving secrets here.

First, we’ll show you how to properly budget ahead of time and save money in preparation for your vacation. Then we’ll share the best ways to save on every aspect of your trip including transportation, tickets, accommodations, dining, and more.

It’s also important to note that the word “Budget” is relative, and what may be cheap to one family can be very expensive to another. I’ll show you how to save no matter your economic status and still have a great time all the same.

We go back and forth often about whether it’s better to “splurge” on a trip or cut costs and be more practical. This also depends on how often you visit. We understand wanting to go “all-out” if this is a once-in-a-lifetime trip, and in that case, we say: “Go for it!”

On the other hand, if you are on a strict budget, you may not have this luxury, or if you are like us and visit multiple times per year, being a bit more frugal is a much better decision. You can always do the extra experiences at another time so it’s better to cut costs and save where you can.

Before we get started here are some other articles that you will find useful for saving money at Disney World:

• Cheapest Times of the Year to Visit Disney World
• Tips for Saving Money at Disney World
• Cheapest Disney World Resort Hotels
• How to Buy the Cheapest Disney World Tickets

As always, if you are on a budget, the best way to make your Disney World vacation more affordable is to ask for help from an Authorized Disney Travel Agent such as our personal recommendation Show You the World Travel . They will always get you the best discounts and maximize your savings throughout the planning process, and the best part is they are FREE to use.

Also, don’t forget to sign up for our FREE Weekly E-Mail Newsletter. There we bring you the latest Disney vacation planning tips including how to save money, where to stay, and the best things to do. You can sign up here: Join our E-Mail Newsletter!

Table of Contents

How to Set a Budget for Disney World

Figuring out how much to spend and how to save money on a Disney World Vacation isn’t necessarily an easy proposition, especially if you haven’t been for years! Like all things, a trip to Walt Disney World hasn’t gotten any cheaper. 

That’s why having a budget can be imperative to completely maximize both your vacation and the aftermath of your vacation. After all, we all want to have a vacation that is memorable for all of the right reasons, not one remembered for the wrong reasons. 

In this section, we are going to touch on the three most important aspects of setting a budget: how much to set aside, how to save your money, and how many days you plan on visiting for.

How Much to Budget

To give you some help, in my article “How Much Does a Disney World Vacation Cost?” , I showcase how much to expect for a family of 4 to visit Disney World for a 6-day/5-night stay during the Summer season in 2024.

The totals I came up with were $ 5,895.26 for those staying at a Value Resort. For those staying at a Moderate Resort, the figure came out to $ 7,378.61 . And for those staying at a Deluxe Resort, the price came out to $ 10,757.96 .

This is a general rule of thumb, and obviously, there are significant variables including food expenses for your family, time of year you visit, etc. It’s always better to go into it thinking it will cost you MORE money as opposed to thinking you’ll need less.

The worst case would be to go into debt while visiting the happiest place, talk about a sour way to end your Disney Vacation. It’s always best to be prepared FIRST and then you can enjoy the fruits of your labor and hard work in the planning stages. 

If you save and budget more for your trip, you’ll be happier and less stressed throughout your vacation. And you’ll also see how expensive Disney World can be! 

Here’s a simple idea of how much to budget for a family of four for a weeklong trip to Disney World. 

• Staying at a Value Resort : $4,000 – $6,000
• Staying at a Moderate Resort : $6,000 – $8,000
• Staying at a Deluxe Resort : $8,000 – $10,000+ 

If you’re staying at a cheaper hotel off-site, you can likely get this number under $4,000 if traveling during a slower time of year.

This isn’t an exact science and doesn’t factor into shopping expenses, eating at signature dining restaurants, and other additional add-on experiences. The bottom line is you can spend as much money as you’d like to at Disney World, and you can easily spend more than $10,000 even if you’re staying at a Value Resort. 

However, by implementing some of our tips in this article, we will help you keep your numbers on the lower side of our suggestion to make budgeting simpler and quicker so you can visit Walt Disney World sooner and more often.

Saving Your Money

Now that you have an idea of ‘how much’ you’ll likely need to budget for your Disney World Vacation, now is the time when you actually have to save that money. Obviously, the more time prior to your trip you start, the better, but we understand that it’s not always possible. 

The first thing you’ll need to do is f ormulate a plan for how much money you’d like to set aside either weekly or monthly. If you need to save up to $5,000 for your budget, figure out how many weeks you have prior to your trip. 

Let’s say you have 5 months prior to your trip that would mean you’d need to set aside $1,000 monthly or about $250 weekly. 

If you get serious about doing this and setting aside the money, you can literally follow an autopilot type of system where all the thinking is essentially removed. Just keep doing the same thing over and over again.

How Many Days?

In my example above, I gave my budget suggestions based on a full week in Disney World, which is the most common amount of time families spend there, and our recommendation as well. 

However, if you’d like to budget less and be able to afford a Disney World trip sooner, you can get by and have a great time with 5 nights , instead of 7 as well. This will allow you to do 4 full park days, one park day for each of the four Disney Parks. ( EPCOT , Magic Kingdom , Hollywood Studios , and Animal Kingdom .) 

And while you won’t be able to do and see as many things throughout Walt Disney World with only 4 days for the parks, you’ll be able to keep your expenses lower, and it’ll give you enough time to figure out how and what you want to do on your next Disney World Vacation.

Ready to Start Planning Your Disney Vacation?

If you feel overwhelmed planning a Disney vacation, use an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner such as Show You the World Travel . They are experts on every Disney location and can tell you where to stay, what to do, how to save money, and give you personalized service for your most magical vacation ever!

Visit at the Right Time

Arguably the greatest way to allow your Disney World Vacation to meet your budget is to visit at the right time. As I explain in my guide, the prices of Disney trips can range substantially depending on the time of year you visit. It can easily double in cost from one time of year to another.

Not only are individual months more expensive than others but sometimes individual days of the week are more expensive. For instance, Fridays and Saturdays are more expensive than Sundays through Thursdays. This means that park tickets, Genie+, buffet prices, and hotel costs are more expensive on these particular days. 

The cheapest time of the year to visit Disney World is after New Year’s until President’s Day weekend in February. The second cheapest time is the middle of August until the end of September. These two times of year are almost always the cheapest for guests. 

And while you might be able to find good deals other times of the year such as May or early November and early December, they won’t be AS good. 

If you can at all possible, avoid these times of the year if you’re looking to save money:

• New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day
• President’s Day Weekend 
• Marathon Weekends
• Spring Break and Easter Time
• Memorial Day Weekend 
• Columbus Day Weekend
• Thanksgiving Week
• Christmas Week 

These are almost ALWAYS the most expensive time of year and crowds will be INSANE! Spending 2 to 3 times as much money while dealing with the highest amount of crowds doesn’t sound like a formula for success.

Getting to Disney World on a Budget

The next aspect of planning and budgeting for a Disney World Vacation is figuring out the most suitable and cost-effective way of traveling to Disney World. 

While cost should be valued when it comes to transportation, there’s a fine line between saving a few dollars to spending more but getting significantly more time in Disney World.

While driving might seem immediately the best budget-friendly option for families especially if you can make it to Orlando in less than a day, it’s not always the case. When driving your own vehicle you’ll have to keep in mind and factor in a number of additional expenses. 

If you’re staying off-site you’ll likely have to pay additional costs for parking at the Disney World parks and possibly the hotel you’re staying at. Whether you’re on-site or off-site you’ll have to pay for gas expenses and tolls.

Driving also means you’ll likely get less value for your time, which is the most valuable thing to many. For instance, if you are paying for a Disney World Hotel for Tuesday night and you don’t reach the hotel until late in the evening, you’ve lost a whole day at your resort.

You’ll also likely want to get on the road sooner on the day you leave, making you feel more rushed at the end of your vacation.

Make sure when you’re figuring out the driving costs, add all the associated costs. Did you need to get another hotel to split up your trip? Add that to the total. How many times will you need to fill up on gas? Will you need to pay for parking once you arrive? How many tolls will you be going through?

Our Guide to Parking at Walt Disney World will help you work through some of these questions and figure out what’s best for you.

Booking Cheap Flights

Our family’s preference is almost always to fly to Orlando for both conveniences and to maximize our time! With discounted airlines flying into Orlando in abundance these days, you’ll likely be able to find a cheaper deal from many airports. 

Even if the largest airport near your house doesn’t have any great deals, are there any regional airports near you that have some of the discounted airlines such as Sun Country, Jet Blue, Southwest, Breeze, Frontier, Spirit Airlines, etc…? 

Many of our friends often fly out of smaller airports to get to Orlando since they can get cheap flights. It’s worth looking into! 

The main airport near Disney is Orlando International Airport (MCO) , but a little further up north is Orlando Sanford Airport (SFB) , which has a few of the discounted airlines that fly there. 

If you get a cheaper deal to Sanford, just keep in mind you’ll have to pay more for transportation to/from the airport to your Disney World Resort due to its further away location. 

Also, keep in mind with these discounted airlines, you’ll often have to pay additional costs for luggage and seat assignments. Factor in these costs as well. 

And with flights, you will have the added cost of needing to get to your hotel or Disney World Resort from the airport, unlike having your own vehicle. Disney World no longer provides the complementary Magical Express Transportation to and from the airport.

Getting from the Airport to Your Resort

Ok so you’ve chosen to book airfare from your home location to Orlando, but now you have to figure out how to get from the airport to your resort. You’ll have a number of options, all of them ranging in terms of price and convenience. 

In my How to Get From Orlando Airport to Disney World , I explain all of the currently available options. They range from:

• Shuttle and bus services
• Town cars and Limo services
• Ride Sharing services such as Lyft and Uber 
• Renting a car
• Hiring a taxi driver

And while each of them has its pros and minuses, we tend to either hire a private town car or get an Uber. If we are with our whole family, we hire a private driver. This lets us go to the grocery store and the liquor store prior to the start of our trip to get some items for our room. 

If we are just traveling by ourselves or with one other person, we tend to get an Uber. It’s cheaper than hiring a taxi, and we’ve had great experiences every time in Orlando that we’ve used Uber. 

Taking a shuttle bus will be the cheapest option at around $15-$20 per person in each direction but it will also be a little slower with likely multiple stops along the way.

Budget Accommodations

Ok, so you’ve figured out how to get to Disney World, whether it’s driving yourself down to Orlando or flying down there. Now you need to figure out the best budget decision for your accommodations once you arrive in Orlando. Here are your available options.

Cheapest Disney Resorts

Disney Resorts fall into three different categories: Value Resorts , Moderate Resorts , and Deluxe Resorts . For budget-conscious travelers, you’ll want to stick to the Value Resorts category to make your Disney World Vacation as reasonably priced as possible. 

There are five value resorts: 

• Disney’s All-Star Movies Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Music Resort
• Disney’s All-Star Sports Resort
• Disney’s Art of Animation Resort
• Disney’s Pop Century Resort

Our two favorites in the group are Disney’s Art of Animation Resort and Disney’s Pop Century Resort as we talk about in our Ranking of the Best Disney Value Resorts.

These two sister resorts are connected via a walkway, and both have incredibly convenient access to both EPCOT and Hollywood Studios, being that they are on the Disney Skyliner Loop. 

During slower times of the year, you’ll find Pop Century standard rooms for under $200 per night and standard Art of Animation Rooms for just over $200 a night. The Art of Animation Resort also has the famous ‘Family Suites’ which will fit larger families of up to 6 people. These rooms are slightly more expensive per night. 

The nice thing about all of these Disney Resorts, including the three All-Star Resorts, is that they receive the many complementary Disney Perks of staying on-site such as free parking both at the resort and in the parks, early theme park entry, and free Disney transportation throughout the Disney World grounds. 

These are just a few of the many wonderful perks that Disney grants to its resort guests, and a stay at these Value Resorts entitles you to these perks. We cover this and the least expensive Moderate and Deluxe Resorts in our post on the Cheapest Resorts at Disney World .

Best Way to Save Big $$$ on Disney Resorts

If you want to potentially save thousands of dollars on your next trip to Disney World, I personally recommend David’s DVC Rentals . They consistently have the best prices and biggest selection of Disney Villas that will make you ask yourself: “How do they do it?”

Off-Site Hotels on a Budget

While there are significant amounts of perks to staying at a Disney World Resort as we’ve mentioned above, sometimes the cost comparison to off-site hotels is astronomical. You’ll often find higher quality hotels with more bells and whistles for a fraction of the nightly rate of Disney World Resorts. 

For instance, you can sometimes find hotels equivalent to Disney’s Deluxe Resorts that are located off-site for the same prices as Disney Value Resorts. This can make the debate very challenging! And while we normally prefer staying on-site, it’s a debate that’s worth consideration these days. 

Take a look at some of our favorite off-site hotels , some of which, strangely enough, are actually on Disney World’s Property!

Another nice benefit of some of the off-site hotels is that they have larger room offerings. You’ll find more options for suites, accommodating large families and groups to stay in the same room. 

Just keep in mind when staying off-site even if your nightly rate is a fraction of the cost of the Disney World Resort, there are other expenses to consider, in addition to likely being further away and requiring additional time to get to Disney’s locations. 

You’ll likely have to pay for things such as nightly resort fees, parking fees at your hotel, parking fees for Disney Parks (only free for Disney Resort guests), and you’ll also likely have to rent a car. This will require you to have to pay for tolls and gas. 

Factor in all of these expenses when doing a true apples-to-apples comparison to see which option is the most budget-friendly. The answer can be different for different groups of people and different families.

Top 3 Places to Stay in Orlando

Ultimate Luxury : Four Seasons Resort Orlando – Five Star Dining and Best Luxury Hotel in Orlando. On-site with many of the same perks as Disney Resort guests.

My Favorite: Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress – Best Pool and Amenities, Close location

Budget Hotel Near Disney : Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista – Great Value and upscale feel at a low price

Renting a House Near Disney for Cheap

Something we’ve been doing quite a bit over the last few years is renting a vacation home near Disney. These vacation homes can be found on sites such as Orlando Vacation , Airbnb , HomeAway , Vrbo , just to name a few. This is an awesome option if you’re looking to visit the Orlando area for a longer period of time, or if you’re looking to do other things outside of just simply visiting the Disney Bubble. 

Many of the vacation homes in Kissimmee, Four Corners, and Davenport are beautiful and can accommodate large groups of people! We’ve often stayed in ones with 6 or 7 bedrooms with plenty of space for the kids and room for other families! 

By packing out these houses and utilizing the space while sharing the cost with 10-15 people, you can make these stays incredibly cheap! 

These hotels are vacation-themed and have great fun and activities for kids! The rooms are often themed, and the houses sometimes are found in communities with additional amenities and activities including playgrounds, fitness centers, and pools. We’ve always had great experiences at all the ones we’ve stayed at! 

Another way to save is if you’re visiting for more than a week, these vacation rental sites often will give you an extended stay discount or you can speak to the owners and it’s likely that they’ll work with you. 

While renting a vacation home will require you to rent a car , you’ll still make out ahead if you get another family or two to share the costs, so it’s something to strongly consider.

Stay in an RV or Go Camping

If you’re an outdoorsy person or if you love to go camping, consider a stay at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort ! The campsites here will fit up to 10 guests, allowing you to either bring your RV or pack a tent. This beautiful resort is situated on 750 acres of timeless American frontier beauty, something you know Walt Disney would be proud of. 

This is the cheapest way to stay on Walt Disney World’s property with campsites starting at $73 per night. This means that you can literally split the costs of the campsite with up to 10 guests altogether! 

Here at Fort Wilderness, you’ll get to enjoy scenic surroundings and an abundance of nature throughout the property including deer, rabbits, ducks, armadillos, and more! While it isn’t an upscale Disney World Vacation, it is cheap, and it is fun!

There’s no other resort in Disney World that has all of the recreation options that Fort Wilderness contains, including water sports, fishing, golf car rentals, archery, pony rides, canoeing and laying, basketball, volleyball, and the famous Tri Circle-D Ranch!

We don’t consider ourselves campers by any means, but even we would admit that we find this resort to be a worthwhile adventure.

Book Well in Advance

There are few places on earth where guests book a vacation as far in advance as a trip to Disney World. Guests frequently book their trips a year prior to their vacation and for good reason! With Disney Vacation Club members booking their resorts normally at the 11-month mark, it’s imperative that all guests take advantage of also booking early. 

We highly recommend you to lock in your resort as soon as possible, especially with the most popular resorts selling out quickly. We cover this more in our post “How Far in Advance Can You Book a Disney World Vacation?”

The good news is even if you don’t get the best price on the dates you book, if a better deal or promotion comes out closer to the start of your vacation, you can easily rebook or adjust your booking to ensure you get the best rate. 

You can do this yourself by continuing to monitor Disney’s promotional offers here , but you’d do better to use an Authorized Disney Travel Planner such as Show You the World Travel who will do this for you! And the best part of all is that they don’t charge you a penny!

Cheapest Disney Tickets

The next important aspect of your Disney World Vacation is your park tickets! Besides the hotel, this is one of the biggest expenses of your trip and it’s important to get the best possible price on your tickets. 

If you get this right, it’s an easy way for your family to save hundreds on your vacation. Here are our best budget-conscious ways to save money on Disney World Park Tickets.

Ticket Prices

When purchasing Disney World Park Tickets , it’s good to have a general idea of how much you can expect to pay for tickets. With Disney moving to a date-based ticketing structure, ticket prices fluctuate depending on the day you visit and the time of year you visit.

For 1-day park tickets , you will pay anywhere from $109 per adult to all the way up to $189. These prices do NOT include sales tax nor do they include any additional extra options such as park hopping privileges. 

For guests between the ages of 3 to 9, the ticket prices start slightly lower at $104. Keep in mind, children under the age of 3 do NOT need a park ticket.

For more popular times of the year such as holidays and summertime, you’ll pay at the higher end of the spectrum (another reason to pick a cheap month to visit).

As you can tell, park tickets can be VERY costly. However, the good news is the prices drop substantially per day, meaning that if you purchase multi-day tickets, you’ll pay significantly less per day. For instance, if you purchase a 7-day park ticket the cost per day goes from $109 down to $75 per day!

Choosing the Right Days

As mentioned above with Disney’s date-based pricing structure, choosing the right days can save you substantially when visiting the parks. Visiting during off-peak times of the year such as January, August, and September, you can visit for the low end of the spectrum and find tickets for as low as $109. 

However, if visiting during peak times of the year such as Christmas or New Year, you will spend the highest amount possible, and spend the full $189 per day. 

That’s an $80 difference for the exact same ticket! For a family of four, that’s a $320 swing for JUST park tickets.

Skip Park Hopper

For those unfamiliar, a park hopper is an add-on for park tickets that allows guests to visit as many Disney World Theme Parks per day as they want. This means you can jump from park to park if you so choose, even visiting all four if you want. 

While we love having the ability to park hop, it certainly isn’t necessary and with park hopping costing anywhere between $67.10 and $101.18 more PER ticket for an adult, this is an added expense that certainly isn’t needed. 

For a family of four, this can be another additional $400+ on top of your park tickets. Instead, with good planning and maximizing your days in each park, you can still get everything done that you want without paying extra. 

Simply visit one park per day, and if you’re tired go back to your hotel, and come back to the same park later in the day for free instead of paying more to visit a different one.

Buying Cheap Disney Tickets

As I talk about in our Guide to Buying Cheap Disney World Tickets , this can be a great way to potentially save hundreds of dollars on your family vacation. 

Most Disney World vacationers automatically assume they have to purchase their park tickets directly through Disney. And while that’s an option, it isn’t usually the best option if you’re purchasing multi-day park tickets. 

If you’re only buying 1 or 2-day tickets, purchasing directly through Disney is perfectly fine and generally the same price as the discounted ticket outlets. 

However, with multi-day tickets, you’ll be better off using a site such as Undercover Tourist or our personal favorite, Orlando Vacation .

Depending on the time of year you visit and the type of ticket you purchase, they can sometimes save you up to $60 per ticket as opposed to buying through Disney directly. That money can buy your family a nice dinner at your favorite restaurant instead.

Purchasing through reputable ticket resellers like Orlando Vacation or Undercover Tourist is an easy process, in which they walk you through the entire process. Upon purchase, they will send you a confirmation number to which you simply connect to your My Disney Experience account. And then you are all set! There’s no difference!

Cheapest Discount Disney World Tickets

If you are looking to save money on Disney World theme park tickets, our personal recommendation is Orlando Vacation . They almost always have the best prices on multi-day tickets and can save you $20-$60 per ticket over buying direct from Disney.

Use Those Discounts

Disney offers yearly military bonuses for anyone actively serving in the military or anyone that is retired from the military and often, they will offer heavily discounted 4, 5, and 6-Day park tickets. You can find the latest promotions here.

If you qualify for the tickets, you can also stay at the Shades of Green resort which is strictly for military members and their families, and you can often find these rooms for as low as $70 per night, which often includes free breakfast. 

Auto Club South offices in Florida offer discounts currently on 1 and 3-Day Florida Resident tickets for AAA Members. There is an office about 20 miles north of Disney World in Winter Park.

Cheap Tickets for Florida Residents

Disney also offers regular discounts for Florida Residents. Currently, they have discounted deals on 1 to 4-Day tickets. You can find these here. The 4-day ticket can save you about 40% off the normal ticket price for non-Florida residents. 

Keep in mind Disney will require proof of residency when purchasing these Florida residents’ deals. You can verify both online and in-person with the purchase of Florida Resident tickets.

Read our Guide to Florida Resident Disney World Tickets for more details.

Budget Dining & Restaurants

Another huge expense for your Disney World Vacation is likely your dining and restaurant budget. 

This is totally subjective and depends on your eating habits. Some families choose to cut corners here and limit unnecessary food expenses while other families want to maximize their savings as much as possible. 

In this section, we will touch on ways you can save some money, but more importantly, plan properly for a reasonable dining budget.

Have a Food Budget

Like all segments of a Disney World Vacation, it’s imperative that you have a food budget! You can easily overspend here and the cost of Disney food is incredibly pricey in comparison with restaurant options in most locales, so it’s important to prepare properly. 

The simplest way to not overspend here is to completely avoid all Disney food options, which is likely impossible or disinteresting for most guests. You can easily stop at a grocery store , get groceries delivered in Disney World through a service such as DoorDash, or eat at one of the many amazing off-site restaurants . 

And while we don’t enjoy this type of experience, if you want to minimize your food expenses as much as possible, you can easily do this. Heck, you can even pack and bring your own food to the Disney Parks each day! 

But for most families that want to do it the ‘normal way’ and just to have the traditional experience of eating, snacking, and dining throughout Disney World, what can they expect to spend?

We’d suggest the average family of 4 budgets between $200-$300 per day of your vacation . Air on the side of $200 if food is less important for you, and air on the side of the $300 if food is a big part of your trip. 

This is assuming you’ll likely want some snacks, a quicker food meal (quick-service), and one sit-down table-service meal. 

Here are some other things you can do to cut costs and limit your food budget:

• Eat your bigger meals for breakfast or lunch, they’ll be a bit cheaper
• Order food from the kid’s menus, even if you’re an adult
• Split larger meals among family members instead of wasting food 
• If you don’t want everything listed on the meal, ask for it without (It’ll save money) 
• Eat meals outside of the parks. Disney Springs and the Resorts have better food and it’s cheaper!

Buy Groceries

A great way to minimize your expenses when it comes to food and dining in Disney World is by purchasing your own groceries. You don’t need to buy groceries for every meal, but just by supplementing your meals in the parks, you can save considerably!

For instance, if you get a few breakfast items at the grocery store that you can have before you head out each morning, you don’t need to purchase breakfast while you’re at the parks. 

With some of the larger Disney rooms having kitchenettes or full kitchens and outside Disney hotels often having kitchen areas, cooking in your rooms is simple and easy!. 

You can get snacks for the room, or even alcohol, which will minimize the need to purchase drinks while in the parks. Alcoholic beverages in Disney World are outrageously priced, with even higher markups than food.

Though we like to complain, we’re the first people you will see drinking around the World Showcase in EPCOT or grabbing a beer at the Magic Kingdom with our meal, even as expensive as they are! 

Our family typically purchases some snacks and some easier-to-make items for our room. This allows us to snack or occasionally replace an odd Disney meal here and there. We’ve done this by driving ourselves to the store or by utilizing a grocery service DoorDash.

There are a million different scenarios in which you can purchase groceries to supplement your meals. We suggest researching how to get groceries at Disney World and see if it makes sense based on your hotel room and eating habits.

Bring Your Own Food to the Parks

A common way to save money is to bring small coolers of your own packed food to the parks. As long as the coolers aren’t oversized and they’re soft-sided and don’t include any ice. 

This can be very straightforward if you’re staying off-site and have easy access to local grocery stores to get your own food in advance. 

This isn’t only limited to the parks, you can enjoy your packed food items anywhere on Disney’s property, even at the hotels or Disney Springs. While we are big fans of enjoying the many diverse food offerings of Disney World, periodically packing a meal or two each day is a great way to save money! 

It’s quite easy to make a salad or pack a sandwich for your family for lunch! This can also be useful if you have fussier eaters in your group as everyone can bring what THEY want.

Eat Outside Disney World

While we don’t recommend eating all of your meals outside of Disney World, there are some fantastic restaurants outside of Disney for a small percentage of the costs of a Disney meal. These range in offering from tons of different ethnic foods to great quick service options. 

When we stay off-site, we frequently research and find new places to eat outside of Disney and we’ve found some spectacular options for guests. Using sites such as Groupon you can also find great deals on restaurants in the area. 

This can even work if you’re visiting a Disney Park for the day and just want a change of scenery or a break in the middle of the day. If you rent a car , it’s incredibly easy to leave the parks and within 10-15 minutes have a plethora of options available! 

Then if you want you can return to the parks when you’re refreshed and fueled up on food and enjoy additional rides or entertainment and cap off your great day.

No Dining Plan

While we are enthusiastic about the return of the Disney Dining Plan in 2024, it’s not much of a “budget-conscious” option for households. The dining plan is nice since you don’t have to worry about additional costs when you arrive at Disney. 

The reason it does so well is that it has more of an “all-inclusive” feel to it, and people like knowing their expenses prior to their trip. And that’s what the dining plan does so well, but it won’t save money for 95% of guests.

There certainly was a time several years ago when the dining plan was a great deal for practically everyone, these days it is less about saving money and more about convenience. Sure, there are ways to make the dining plan useful in some instances, but for most budgeting families, it makes little sense. 

And it essentially forces you to eat your meals on-site, limiting your ability to take advantage of some of our other suggestions. You’d be better off getting a few of your meals outside of Disney, by either packing some of your own food or heading to the grocery store at the start of your trip.

We would NEVER advise you to save money or cut costs when it comes to tipping. In fact, Disney Cast Members are fantastic and typically deserve the very best when it comes to tipping. Standard tipping rates would be applicable for your Disney World Vacation. 

For exceptional service, stick closer to 20% or just over 20%. For mediocre to bad service, tip around 15%. These are common American standard tipping rates that some of our European readers and visitors from abroad aren’t used to having in their home countries.

Limit Number of Meals Per Day

While we may believe we will need as many or MORE meals in Disney World than we would at home, for most, this isn’t the case! Believe me, when you are under that hot Florida sun all day, you won’t need as many meals per day as you might think.

Combine that hot and sweaty Florida sun with continual snacking and we very rarely eat 3 real meals per day. There’s nothing worse than overstuffing ourselves while we are in the heat and the sun. It drains our energy and makes us want to go back to our hotel room to take a nap! 

And if we have a large sit-down meal, at a buffet, or another table-service restaurant it’s likely that it’ll fill us up for one or two meal times, especially if you go to a buffet and time it so that it’s in between meal times. 

Save up your hunger and get better value for your money!

Split Meals

Sharing meals with someone else in your group can also be a great way to save money! My wife and I often tend to favor the same kinds of meals on a Disney menu, and many times we will just get one entree and then split an appetizer as well! 

This works fantastic for us. Many of our favorite Disney World restaurants are signature dining experiences, meaning that entrees can sometimes be over $60 per entree or more, and it can get excessive if everyone in the family gets an entree.

By splitting entrees you’ll likely get more than enough food while also saving yourselves significant amounts of money.

While we typically do this at table-service restaurants, this can work even on quick service locations or snack stands. Sharing things amongst multiple people brings the overall cost down significantly when multiplied throughout the course of the week. 

We personally love to share meals but we’d understand why some won’t, but you’re missing out on some nice savings if you don’t.

Skip Character Meals

While we love character meals , more for the experience than the actual food, they can get expensive! With some character meals reaching upwards of $60 per person for mediocre food, the meals are a fun experience but certainly not necessary.  

If you do choose to do one, avoid the ones that are in the parks. Opt for character meals at the Disney World Resorts such as Ohana Breakfast, Cape May Cafe, Chef Mickey’s, and 1900 Park Fare. 

They’ll be cheaper and more times than not have better quality food!

Never Pay for Water

Yes, free water is still a thing! It still pains me when I see guests paying $4 for a bottle of water when they could have easily just asked for a free cup of iced water.

And while it is true sometimes Florida tap water isn’t always the most delectable when it comes from the tap, most times it’s perfectly fine! And if it keeps you from getting parched or getting heat stroke, it’ll more than suffice. 

Simply ask any food location that serves drinks in the parks. Nearly every place has cups now and they’ll give them to you for free to get water. If the particular location you visit doesn’t have cups, ask if there is a nearby location that does. They’ll point you in the right direction. 

Do this each day and make sure you get fueled and hydrated for your long and hot days in the Florida sun!

Budget Eats in the Parks

If you decide to grab some food in the parks and are looking for something reasonably priced, filling, shareable and tasty, there are a number of things we’d suggest! While it’s possible they might not all resonate with your particular palate, we enjoy these things and would recommend them. 

Magic Kingdom

• Go to Casey’s Corner and get a massive all-beef hot dog with fries and all the fixings for about $10. 
• Go to Columbia Harbour House and grab the trio platter which consists of fried shrimp, chicken strips, hush puppies, and battered fish. This is less than $15 and perfectly sharable! 
• Go to Pecos Bill Tall Tale Inn and Cafe and split the taco trio for about $11. You can go to the Fixins’ Bar here and load up on additional toppings such as cheese, salsa, roasted corn, onions, and sour cream as well. 
• Visit Sommerfest in Germany and grab a bratwurst meal served with sauerkraut and chips for about $11. 
• Go to Via Napoli in Italy and get a Mezzo Metro pizza! While they are over $50 for a pizza, they are massive and can easily serve 3 to 5 people. It is also arguably the best pizza in all of Walt Disney World. 
• Visit Sunshine Seasons in The Land Pavilion . You’ll find a number of tasty options for less than $10. The menu is massive and it’s also a nice place to unwind and relax in an air-conditioned environment. 

Hollywood Studios

• We love to go to Woody’s Lunch Box in Toy Story Land and split a number of reasonably priced menu items including the Totchos, the grilled cheese, and the grilled cheese. Both of these are around $10 or under. 
• A recently updated and better menu has made ABC Commissary a popular spot when we are in Hollywood Studios. We love the Buffalo Chicken Grilled Cheese Sandwich, and it can be found for about $11 and it’s a great size to share! 

Animal Kingdom

• Visit snack stand Eight Spoon Cafe and get large portions of different mac and cheese bowls. The cheapest one starts at under $5 and it’s a fairly good portion! 
• Head over to Flame Tree BBQ and almost everything on the menu is shareable! We love the pulled pork mac and cheese and we often split this. It’s under $13.

These are just a few of our favorites, but there are a number of great options at all of the parks, outside of just mine.

Disney has really upped their game when it comes to food, and it isn’t all just chicken tenders and french fries these days.  If visiting the quick-service or stack stand locations, it’s very hard to find something that isn’t great!

Our Favorite Cheap Restaurants

There are plenty of options to choose from for families looking for great restaurants that balance making a budget-friendly meal with good quality food. Here are our picks for our favorite “cheap restaurants.” 

Some of these options are table service requiring you to sit down with a waiter and will likely cost a few dollars more, while some of these are quick-service options making them a little cheaper and less formal. 

• Satu’li Canteen (Animal Kingdom) 

This quick-service option inside Animal Kingdom offers tasty “create your own bowls” allowing you to customize your own personal bowl. This is a healthy option, allowing you to pick your base, protein, and sauce. 

We also LOVE the Cheeseburger Steamed Pods here. They are essentially cheeseburger bao buns. Prices here range from $12 – $17. 

• Polite Pig (Disney Springs) 

This is perhaps up there with the best food in all of Disney World! And it’s a quick service location with terrific and reasonably priced options. This barbecue joint offers a variety of different sandwich options as well as ribs, brisket, and other tasty barbecue fare you can expect. Prices here can range between $11 – $25 or so.

• Sanaa (Animal Kingdom Lodge) 

This table-service sit-down meal is found inside the Animal Kingdom Lodge resort over at Kidani Village. One of the true hidden gems in Disney World, due to its further proximity to most locations in Disney. 

While it’s kind of a crossover between African and Indian cuisine, and while that can get some guests to shy away from it, we feel it shouldn’t! I’ve rarely heard anyone say they’ve had a bad experience here and the famous naan bread service with all the dips is truly outstanding! 

• 50’s Prime Time Cafe (Hollywood Studios) 

While we enjoy their food here, it’s more about the experience and the great overall time you’ll have here! This 50s-style table-service diner offers tasty home cookin’, including some of our favorite fried chicken in all of Disney World. 

Kids and parents alike will love the experience here, as it’s truly a one-of-a-kind setting. The cast members go out of their way to make this a total experience and it’s incredibly reasonably priced! We often split entrees here that range anywhere from about $20-$25.

• Les Halles Boulangerie-Patisserie (EPCOT) 

This once lesser-known quick-service location in France in EPCOT has gotten more and more popular over the last several years. Jam-packed with sandwiches, baguettes, pastries, quiches, soups, and practically everything you can think of that is French. 

And let me tell you, all of it is good! And it’s cheap! You’ll find things on the menu here ranging from $5 to about $12.

Honorable Mentions

A few other quick service locations that are both cheap and good are Docking Bay 7 in Hollywood Studios, D-Luxe Burger , and The Chicken Guy in Disney Springs, as well as Regal Eagle Smokehouse and Connections Eatery in EPCOT. 

A few other table-service restaurants that are worth mentioning that are incredibly tasty and offer good value are Grand Floridian Cafe at the Grand Floridian Resort, Yak & Yeti at Animal Kingdom, Steakhouse 71 at the Contemporary Resort, Beaches & Cream at the Beach Club Resort, and Homecomin’ in Disney Springs.

Cheapest Transportation

The next important aspect of budgeting for a Disney World Vacation is figuring out and planning for your transportation expenses. In this section, we will touch on the two main takeaways if you want to save the most amount of money when it comes to transportation.

Don’t Rent a Car

While it’s almost impossible NOT to rent a car if you’re staying off-site in Disney World, for the sake of budgeting and saving money, we recommend avoiding renting a car if you’re staying within Disney’s Bubble. You should even consider not renting a car even if you’re staying off-site. 

We understand Disney transportation can sometimes be slow, but in my opinion, it’s not worth paying the additional costs of renting a car if you are doing it just for that. A car means you’ll have to consider a number of additional costs associated with a trip to Disney. 

If you’re NOT staying at a Disney Resort you’ll have to pay for parking at the Disney Parks, which costs $30 per day for standard parking. You might also have to pay for parking at your hotel each day. 

Whether you’re staying off or on-side when renting a car you’ll have the costs of the actual car rental, the cost of gas, and the cost of tolls. 

And if you’re like me, renting a car just feels like less of a vacation. More things for you to consider, more planning, and more using a GPS to get around. As frustrating as Disney’s transportation can sometimes be, there’s something nice about not having any concerns or worries once you step foot on Disney Property.

There are some scenarios when renting a car at Disney World makes sense. But the bottom line is if you are on a budget, we recommend avoiding it, it’ll only cost you money in the end!

Best Rental Car Company in Orlando

When you book a Rental Car in Orlando Florida Online, I personally recommend and use Discover Cars . They search for the best offers so you save the most money!

Use Disney’s Free Transportation

While sometimes painfully slow, Disney’s free transportation can get you practically anywhere you need to go within the Disney bubble including the different Disney Resorts, the water parks, and the theme parks. 

Not only is it free but oftentimes it’s a lot of fun too! With some of the most scenic boat rides to the always enjoyable Disney World Monorail , a ride on Disney’s transportation can be a fun experience for the entire family! 

Utilize the different forms of transportation to break up your trip and experience new experiences for each member of the family. Your kids will remember the Monorail , the Disney Skyliner , and the boat rides . Don’t rely solely on Disney’s Buses , if at all possible. 

By doing this, you’ll not only NOT have to worry about paying additional costs for renting a family, you’ll also have a more stress-free and relaxing vacation.

Cheap & Free Things to Do at Disney World

A trip to Walt Disney World doesn’t mean EVERYTHING has to come at a cost. Surprisingly, there are a load of options for people looking for things to do that aren’t costly experiences. 

Here are some of our very favorite free and cheap things to do at Disney World.

Visit Disney Springs

This beautiful shopping and entertainment district that replaced the former Downtown Disney area is a wonderful way to spend an evening or a quiet day. Some of the very best offerings in terms of entertainment, shopping, and dining are found in Disney Springs. 

Visiting Disney Springs is completely free and you don’t need to pay for anything if you so choose. Weekends in Disney Springs can be VERY crowded with live musicians and entertainment scattered throughout. 

There’s nothing like spending a beautiful night strolling through Disney Springs having a few snacks, getting dessert at one of the ice cream shops, and listening to some cool live music! 

Make sure to read my ranking of the Best Disney Springs Restaurants so you know where to go and where to avoid.

Go Resort Hopping

Our family often schedules meals at the different Disney World Resorts and by doing this, we can explore and check out the other Walt Disney World Resorts . With more than 30 resorts throughout Walt Disney World, it can be fun to see and explore them, and you can make a day out of it.

From the theming to the shopping to the pin trading, resort hopping can be a great way for families to check out a different resort while potentially getting an idea for a place you’d like to stay at in the future.

Have a Pool Day or Two

Park days can be not only exhausting and tiring for the entire family, but they can also be costly as well! So why not schedule a pool day or two? 

Pool days are a great way for the whole family to rejuvenate and relax at their resort’s pool area. This is a great way to catch up on some sleep, sip on a cocktail, and enjoy some of the other resorts’ recreational offerings. 

Perhaps the kids want to utilize the playground, play some basketball or volleyball, or take part in another fun recreational activity that your hotel features. In fact, we love pool days and they are often some of the most memorable days of our trips, not to mention they are normally MUCH cheaper.

Explore Disney’s Boardwalk

A fun-themed activity that guests normally love is a visit to the Disney Boardwalk . This NJ-themed boardwalk area is a great way for guests to do some shopping while enjoying a number of different dining and recreation offerings. 

While the best time to visit is in the evenings on the weekends, you can visit at any time of day! With fun boardwalk-style games, nighttime performers, and two adult areas (Jellyrolls and Atlantic Dance Hall) for singing and dancing, the Disney Boardwalk is an under-the-radar spot for guests looking for a great and unique time!

Play Mini Golf

A frequent thing for our family to do on a nice evening when we have no plans is to play mini golf (miniature golf or putt-putt) for some folks. Disney World has two different locations for guests to do this, Fantasia Gardens and Winter Summerland . 

Fantasia Gardens is located around the Disney Boardwalk over by EPCOT and Winter Summerland is located right next to Blizzard Beach. Both are fun for the entire family while being drastically different in terms of theming. 

For adults, both courses are $14, and for kids, the courses are $12. They both offer discounts for Annual Passholders.

Watch the Animals

If you didn’t know, you don’t need to go to Disney’s Animal Kingdom Park to see wildlife and animals, you can simply head over to the Animal Kingdom Lodge Resort to see many of the same ones! 

While you won’t see any tigers or lions at the resort, you can still see many of the savannah animals, including zebras, giraffes, and gazelles. 

For an additional animal experience, visit the Tri Circle-D Ranch over at the Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground! This unique and famous ranch is home to more than 90 of the Happiest Horses on Earth. 

It features stables that house Cinderella’s Ponies and the majestic horses of Main Street, USA. You and the kids can take part in pony rides and carriage rides here as well!

Pin Trading

A popular pastime of both Disney Cast Members and Disney guests is pin trading! This inexpensive hobby is a great way for all members of the family to have some fun! 

You can buy the pins at Disney, but they are expensive! To save some money, our suggestion is to buy a starter kit on eBay prior to the start of the trip. They’ll be a small fraction of the costs of purchasing them directly in Disney World. 

Bring your pins to the parks and resorts, look for pin boards, and start trading. You’ll likely also find cast members with pins that you can trade for, as well as other Disney World guests. 

Ask them if they’d like to trade. It’s an addicting hobby that will certainly add a fun flavor to your Disney World Vacation.

Do the Free Resort Activities

Each resort in Walt Disney World is loaded with scheduled fun activities for family members of all ages including movies under the stars, fun pool games, and campfire activities! You’ll be able to check out the daily schedule at the resort that you are staying at, and then choose whatever ones you like.

See which activities appeal to the members of your family and if you can’t find it, simply ask a hotel cast member. These activities are almost all free and can be a lot of fun!

Watch the Fireworks

While you can enjoy the fireworks inside the Disney Parks at EPCOT , Magic Kingdom , and Hollywood Studios , you can also enjoy them outside the parks! 

Many guests are surprised to know there are several other “secret viewing spots” that are situated at some of the nearby resorts allowing you to still get good views of the fireworks. 

A few of our favorites are on the 4th deck of the Contemporary Resort, on the back walkways of the Grand Floridian, and the Disney Boardwalk, or on a beach at the Grand Floridian or Polynesian Resorts.

Just check the fireworks schedule to make sure you are there at the right time.

Search for Hidden Mickeys

It’s likely you’ve seen Hidden Mickeys dozens of times without thinking of it! These are the outlines of Mickey that are worked into the rides, parks, and hotel ambiance.

There are literally thousands and thousands of Hidden Mickeys all throughout Walt Disney World and a popular thing for guests to do is to search for all of the Hidden Mickeys during their trip. Some of them are harder to find and some are easier.

You can find scavenger hunts and guidebooks that will literally help you find and spot many of the different Hidden Mickeys throughout the parks and resorts. We absolutely LOVE doing this and it often turns into a fun game for the family.

When it comes to budgeting, like dining, souvenirs can be another variable expense that can be fully controllable with some planning. 

You can minimize this expense as much as possible to be able to afford the fixed expenses such as your resort and park tickets. Here are our favorite suggestions to minimize this portion of your budget.

Don’t Buy Souvenirs at the Parks

A HUGE percentage of the things you’ll likely find at the parks to purchase can be found online for a fraction of the cost! 

If you absolutely love something that you find in the parks, write it down. Check online from places like Amazon and other retail shops. 

If you can’t find it anywhere, just go to shopDisney and you’ll likely find the exact item you are looking for. Plus the shopDisney site frequently has promotions and coupon codes so you’ll likely be able to save some additional money. 

If you’re not fixated on certain items but instead just want to do some Disney shopping, you can use sites like eBay to do some hunting and you’ll likely be able to find some unique Disney offerings that won’t be your run-of-the-mill souvenirs that are found at the parks. 

We will often do shopping BEFORE our trip for Disney outfits and things we’d like to bring. You’ll save considerably and you won’t need to cut out of your Disney budget once you arrive at the parks. 

We understand not buying ANYTHING is nearly impossible for some families, so we just recommend putting aside some money for souvenirs but don’t make it a lot if you’re on a tight budget.

Visit the Outlets

There are a number of stores in the Orlando area that sell Disney merchandise at significant discounts, but there are only two official Disney Park merchandise retail outlets (Disney’s Character Warehouse). One is located nearby Disney Springs and the other is located near Universal Orlando. 

It’s easy to get fooled by the many stores and locations that look a bit seedy that say “Disney Gifts.” These are NOT official Disney Stores and I wouldn’t go there. 

At the two official stores, you’ll often find merchandise for 30% off and sometimes as high as 70 % or 80% off! Both locations can have some great things and it depends on ‘when’ you visit but this can be a great way to save some money on official Disney World merchandise. 

• The one near Disney Springs is found at 8200 Vineland Ave, Orlando, FL 32821-6811
• The one near Universal is found inside the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets right off of I-4 at 4969 International Dr, Orlando, FL 32819.

Plan for the Unpredictable

Budgeting for anything requires a “rainy day” fund of sorts, and certainly, a trip to Walt Disney World can fit within that same category. After all, trips to Disney can be unpredictable. 

Whether it’s terrible weather including hurricanes and tropical storms, or someone suffering an accident and getting hurt. It’s always best to plan for these things in advance and pack the necessary items for your family.

First aid kits, sunscreen, ponchos, portable chargers, umbrellas, medicine, sunglasses, travel docs, etc.

Only you know everything your family needs. Make your list prior to packing and make sure you are prepared in the event of the unpredictable. Do this within reason, and don’t go too crazy!

You also may want to consider getting good and inexpensive travel insurance, especially if someone in your group has serious medical issues that could come up during the trip and make for a costly side trip. You will likely save a ton of money if someone in your group has an emergency and be happy you took precautions ahead of time.

Skip the Extras

Besides the normal stuff, there are a number of add-on extras that could cost your family additional money. And while we highly recommend most of them, if you’re on a budget, SKIP them.

Genie+ is the new Fast Pass for guests, allowing them to pay a daily cost to skip the lines. It is a premium service and can get VERY expensive for a family. While we enjoy using Genie+ on occasion, like at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, it isn’t necessary for a successful trip.

On the cheaper end of the spectrum, you’ll find Genie+ cost a minimum of $15 per person per day, but we’ve seen daily prices go all the way up to $35 per person on some of the busier days. 

For a family of 4, that could be an extra $140 per day!!! 

While it would be nice under certain circumstances, we recommend avoiding it. To see my overall thoughts, read my post Is Genie+ Really Worth It?

Parties & Events

While we enjoy some of the hard-ticket events throughout Disney World such as the VIP Tours and the Disney After Hours events , these things can add significant cost to your Disney World trip. 

Yes, they do add a certain level of originality to your trip, they aren’t required. You can have a wonderful vacation without purchasing tickets to any hard ticket event like Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party or Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party ! 

These events can cost families hundreds if not thousands of extra dollars, while being completely unneeded, albeit fun. 

Instead, take advantage of the many things you CAN do on your Disney World Vacation to maximize your time, such as utilizing Early Theme Park Entry and getting suitable spots for the nighttime shows!

Memory Maker

Disney offers a photo service that you can add to your park tickets if you choose called the Memory Maker. 

It authorizes you to download all of your ride photos and any additional pictures that were taken over the course of your vacation by the many Disney PhotoPass photographers who are stationed throughout the parks to get guests’ photos. 

While it sounds good in theory, the problem is, it’s very expensive! The Memory Maker comes in at $185 for advanced purchase and $210 when buying at the time of your trip. We’d recommend you avoid this if looking to save money. 

Instead, can take your own photos while using some of the same effects on your smartphone. You can also still use these Disney photographers to snap photos of your family by giving them your smartphone! That way you’ll still have professional photos done for you without needing to pay a dime!

Extra Money-Saving Secrets

There are a few additional ways we suggest you consider saving just that little bit of extra money for your Disney World Vacation. By using some of these, you can save even MORE money.

Purchasing Disney Gift Cards can also save you money! How? Well, Disney Gift Cards can be purchased at discounts from a variety of different locations. 

While the concept of needing tons of Disney gift cards to pay for your trip while keeping track of each of them can be overwhelming and aggravating frankly, Disney makes this relatively easy now with their gift card website . 

You can link all your Disney gift cards in one place, allowing you to simply carry one gift card on you at all times. 

But the best part of all with Disney gift cards is that they can be bought at a discount! With guests repeatedly saving anywhere between 5-10% by purchasing Disney gift cards with a couple of our strategies buying gift cards has never been smarter! 

It’s not a method that’s going to save you thousands of dollars, but it’s possible it can save you a few hundred. And that should be worth something right?

Read how to do it in our guide to Discounted Disney Gift Cards .

Rewards Credit Cards & Loyalty Points

There’s an endless number of ways you can utilize credit cards or rewards points for your Disney World Vacation. For example, if you have a Chase Disney Credit Card , you can utilize your ‘Dream Dollars’ to cash in to cover some of the expenses of your vacation. 

If you have a travel credit card that offers statement credits for travel-related expenses, such as the Chase Sapphire Reserve or the Capital One Venture, you can apply these credits to offset some of the expenses from your trip. 

Or if you have a popular hotel-based credit card such as Hyatt, Marriott, Wyndham, or Hilton, you can stay at one of the many off-site hotels by cashing in some points or ‘free night’ vouchers. 

We recently did a ranking of our favorite off-site hotels near Disney World and most all of them can be paid with credit card or loyalty points. The cool thing is, many of these aren’t technically off-site!

Babies & Toddlers

While we understand the apprehension that some parents have of waiting until their kids are older to visit Disney World, that’s not always the best choice! Why? A HUGE benefit of taking kids under the age of 3 is that they are FREE! Yes, I said free, no park tickets are required!

Not to mention they don’t need seats on an airplane until they are 3 and Disney buffets don’t charge children under the age of 3 for food either. There are many benefits of traveling before their 3rd birthday. 

So if you’re weighing waiting another year for them to be a little older to appreciate the trip more and be able to take part in more rides and attractions, I’d suggest thinking otherwise. Take them while they’re still free! You can always save and go again in the future.

Go With a Cast Member

If you are lucky enough to have this as an option, traveling with a Disney Cast Member has a number of perks! 

The first is, they can likely get you into the parks for free with their guest passes. Cast Members normally have guest passes which they can give to a few friends or family members to enter the parks with them for free, assuming there are no cast member blockout dates when you want to visit. 

Cast Members also can frequently get discounts on dining, anywhere between 20-30%, although they sometimes get additional discounts with yearly vouchers. Sometimes these vouchers are worth up to 60% off! 

One of the other benefits of traveling with Cast Members is that they can receive wonderful discounts on merchandise! In fact, they can usually get 35% off! Sometimes there are even additional deals or promotions that will push the 35% up to 50% off! 

Cast Members also receive great deals on rooms, normally 30-40% off Disney’s official prices. While the Cast Member doesn’t need to be present to book these rooms, they will need to call and book the room.

Keep Looking for Discounts

Normally Disney offers their best promotional offers around 6 months prior to dates. So if you choose to book your trip FAR before the 6-month mark, make sure you keep looking for discounts far after you book. Even if you book it on the sooner side, it doesn’t hurt to continue monitoring deals. 

Then if you find a better deal, you can easily switch or adjust your booking to make sure you are taking advantage of the very best price. This is of course assuming you book through Disney directly or through an Authorized Disney Travel Agent.

Get Help from a Travel Expert for Free

With as much experience as we have on traveling to Disney World, we still prefer always booking a Disney Vacation with someone who knows EXACTLY what to do, and how to do it like our friends at Show You the World Travel .

A knowledgeable and helpful vacation planner can literally take all of the guesswork out of it for you and they will monitor the promotions and deals prior to the trip to get you the best prices. If something comes out better, they’ll inform you and ask if you’d like to adjust your trip so that you can further save money. 

Plus, not only do they not cost you any out-of-pocket expenses they’ll continually ensure you get the best possible savings and deals for your trip. 

A good Disney Travel Agent will work around the clock for your family and immediately inform you of any additional savings. Not to mention they’ll help you with booking things such as vacation packages, special events, restaurants, and park tickets. 

If the choice was ours to make, we’d recommend using René Cittadino and her fantastic team at Show You the World Travel for your Disney World Vacation needs. 

They are the BEST, and I’ve used them numerous times to book my own hotel reservations and packages. Trust me, her exceptional team will do everything possible to make sure you have the most magical Disney World Vacation while saving you money along the way!

That wraps up our look at the cheapest ways to go to Walt Disney World. We hope that we helped you learn some tips that will help you save money while visiting on a budget.

If you are thinking about going to Walt Disney World in the coming future, here are some other popular articles where you will find all the info and tips you need to plan your trip.

• Disney World Vacation Planning Guide
• Disney World Crowd Calendar
• When are the Best Times to Visit Disney World?

Your Thoughts

I want to know what you think about our guide to doing Disney World on a budget…

• What is your favorite way to visit Disney World for cheap?
• What budgeting tips have you learned over the years that can help others save money?

Let us know in the comments section below!

If you enjoyed this article, as always I appreciate it if you’d share it with others via social media.  I work hard at making this website into a useful resource for you and your family to plan your visit to the Disney Parks and I hope it can help you! Thanks 🙂

My name is Ziggy and I love Disney, everything Disney! I grew up on Disney and it has and continues to be a huge part of my life. I started young when my parents took me to Disney World when I was 18 months old. Little did they know that would be the first of an uncountable number of trips we would take. I have so many amazing memories going to Disney with my family and friends and it has been interwoven into my DNA.

Wednesday 14th of February 2024

I have taken breakfast and lunch from home, refrained from Genie passes and used standby lanes. Also I have eaten a big breakfast, snacked for lunch then had a decent restaurant meal for dinner.

Yes, you can visit Disney World on a budget: Here’s how I did it

"Most expensive day ever … until next time" was a slogan I saw on several parents' T-shirts at Walt Disney World. As evidenced by it being printed on a variety of T-shirts, it's a pretty accepted belief that a trip to Disney is expensive. And yes, between park tickets, lodging, souvenirs and dining, a Disney World trip can quickly become very expensive. But, it's also possible to visit Disney World on a budget.

There are lots of ways a budget trip can be interpreted. After all, "budget" to one may still be pricey to another. But for the purposes of this 'experiment,' TPG director of travel content Summer Hull asked me to visit Disney World on a budget while still buying a one-day park ticket, staying for two nights at a value Disney resort and eating three meals a day at relatively inexpensive Disney World restaurants .

As such, this story isn't about the absolute cheapest way to visit Disney World. Instead, it's one where we purposefully decided to slice expenses without leaving the 'Disney bubble.' So, in this story, I'll describe how I recently visited Disney World for about 48 hours on a budget. In doing so, I'll discuss how much I spent and some points where I could have made different choices to lower my expenses further.

Get the latest points, miles and travel news by signing up for TPG's free daily newsletter .

Transport between the airport and resort

For this trip, I flew into Orlando International Airport (MCO). And since I was staying at a Disney resort, I was able to take Disney's Magical Express Service between Orlando International Airport and my resort for no additional charge.

I reserved my Magical Express ride ahead of time via a web form after booking my flights. But unfortunately, Disney will only offer this service for free to guests arriving before Jan. 1, 2022. After this point, guests will need to use other paid methods such as ride-hailing services , Mears Connect or a rental car to reach their resort. In the future, the Mears Connect option will cost $16 each way for adults and $13.50 each way for children.

Related: How much does a Walt Disney World vacation cost?

Despite hearing stories of long lines and significant wait times for a Magical Express bus, I was on a bus within six minutes of getting my checked bag. And the bus left the airport just 24 minutes after I boarded (I was one of the first passengers to board my bus). After stopping at two other Disney resorts, the bus reached the entrance to my resort just 47 minutes after leaving the airport.

When it was time to leave Disney two days later, I asked at the front desk for a Magical Express departure letter noting my bus time. I'd seen these letters hanging from other guests' doors the previous day, but no letter was on my door. So, I assumed there might be an issue with my return bus. But, the agent quickly printed a letter showing I'd depart the resort at 6:15 p.m. for my 9:25 p.m. Spirit Airlines flight .

My Magical Express bus arrived at my resort at 6:15 p.m. with just four other guests onboard. I assumed the bus would stop at many other resorts on the way to the airport, but it only stopped at the Disney Yacht Club Resort before continuing to the airport.

Cost for transport between the airport and resort : None

Staying at a Disney World value resort

TPG wanted me to stay on-site at a Walt Disney World resort for this trip to help with an apples-to-apples comparison for other stories. So I picked the least expensive resort for my dates: Disney's All-Star Movies Resort . This resort is one of Disney World's value resorts and we've seen rates dip as low as $100 per night in the past. But on my summer travel dates, it cost $206.57 per night (including taxes and fees). My two-night stay cost $413.14, which is more than 61% of my total expenses in Orlando for this trip.

Related: 6 ways using an authorized Disney vacation planner will improve your trip

Lodging is undoubtedly an area where I could have cut costs if my goal was to keep costs as minimal as possible. For example, I could've stayed at one of the best points hotels near Disney World . Or I could have booked an inexpensive hotel nearby. But, by staying onsite at a Disney resort, I saved on airport transportation with Disney's Magical Express . And I saved time and money on park transportation with Disney's bus system.

I also enjoyed Disney-theming at my hotel and I didn't have to leave the Disney bubble for 48 hours. So, it's worth considering whether to splurge a bit on one of Disney's value resorts even when visiting Disney World on a budget.

Cost for two nights at Disney's All-Star Movies Resort : $413.14

Getting around Disney World on a budget

Disney World has an extensive transportation network consisting of buses, ferries, monorails and gondolas. So, you can usually go directly between your Disney resort and the Disney World theme parks, water parks and Disney Springs. And, if you want to go between two resorts, you can usually do so with just one connection.

Related: 19 mistakes to avoid at Walt Disney World

I solely used Disney's transportation network to get around during my stay. On my Magic Kingdom day, I was concerned that I wouldn't arrive at the park early enough to beat the crowds. But, I caught the second Magic Kingdom bus of the morning from my resort (about 72 minutes before the park opened) and was among the first guests to enter the park.

As one of the first guests, I hurried to the popular Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and rode after just a 12-minute wait (the wait topped 60 minutes every time I checked the rest of the day). Best of all, Disney guests can use the Disney transportation network for no extra cost.

Cost for getting around Disney : None

Maximizing park time

For this trip, TPG asked me to buy a one-day, one-park ticket. Prices vary a bit day to day based on demand, but this ticket cost $140.58 after taxes and fees for my July 19 visit. This is a lot for one person to visit one theme park for one day, so you may find that a multi-day ticket provides better overall value if your budget can handle the extra cost.

And if you are a Florida resident, you may be able to snag a surprisingly inexpensive three- or four-day one-park ticket.

Related: Disney World without kids: 9 ways to enjoy an adult trip to Disney

But for this trip, I could only visit one park for one day. So I decided to visit Disney's Magic Kingdom. I arrived at the park around 8 a.m. (an hour before it officially opened) and finally left at 10:45 p.m. that night (about 45 minutes after park closing). I logged 21,066 steps (8.92 miles) in the Magic Kingdom during my long day.

Although Disney staff didn't let guests into the individual Magic Kingdom lands until the official 9 a.m. park opening time, my early arrival meant I was one of the first guests into Fantasyland. Being among the first guests allowed me to ride the Seven Dwarfs Mine Train with a minimal wait and visit the Haunted Mansion, Peter Pan's Flight and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad with modest waits before the park filled up with guests for the day.

I filled the busy middle of the day with lunch, free pin trading and experiencing some of the less-popular attractions, including:

• Mad Tea Party
• Swiss Family Treehouse
• Liberty Square Riverboat
• Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room
• Mickey's PhilharMagic
• "it's a small world"
• Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress
• Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover

As guests began gathering for the evening fireworks show, I waited in a 45-minute line for the Jungle Cruise. Then I walked on The Magic Carpets of Aladdin without a wait during the fireworks and rode Pirates of the Caribbean, Under the Sea Journey of The Little Mermaid and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh after the fireworks finished, all with minimal waits at that time of the day.

Perhaps I could have added another top-tier ride — such as Space Mountain or Splash Mountain — to my day with a bit more planning and strategy. For example, TPG's Summer Hull told me after the fact that as long as you are in line at the official park closing time, you get to ride. So, I could have snagged one of these top-tier rides at the end of my day. Even so, I'm happy with the 18 Magic Kingdom rides and attractions I experienced in one park day without much planning or strategy.

Cost for my one-day, one-park Disney ticket : $140.58

Eating at Disney World on a budget

I ate six meals at Disney during my two days in Orlando. Granted, if I'd traveled on a tighter budget, I could have made sandwiches or grabbed some Uncrustables for many of these meals and saved some money. After all, you can get groceries delivered at Disney World . But, for this trip, TPG wanted me to check out a few budget-friendly Disney World restaurants instead of just trying for the absolute cheapest option.

In particular, here's what I ate at Disney:

• Dinner at World Premiere Food Court : House-seasoned grilled chicken sandwich and fries for $12.83
• Breakfast at Gaston's Tavern : Big warm cinnamon roll for $6.92
• Lunch at Jungle Skipper Canteen : Falls family falafel, curried vegetable crew stew and Schweitzer slush for $44.81, including tip
• Dinner at Casey's Corner : All-beef hot dog and fries for $10.11
• Breakfast at World Premiere Food Court : Mickey-shaped waffles kid's meal for $6.94
• Lunch at Boardwalk Bakery : Ham and cheese sandwich kid's meal for $7.44

Related: 10 ways to save money on a trip to Disney World

Of course, you can also save money by buying a refillable popcorn bucket. Then, you can get popcorn refills with your bucket for $2 during the rest of your Disney stay. You can also save on drink costs by ordering a cup of water with your meal instead of a soda or bottle of water.

And you can order kid's meals at many counter service restaurants. I tried out two kid's meals during my trip when I wasn't hungry enough for an adult meal. And I found the meals to be surprisingly filling.

I didn't run into any issues when I ordered kid's meals for myself through mobile ordering at the World Premiere Food Court and Boardwalk Bakery. However, a sign inside the Boardwalk Bakery (which I saw when picking up my meal) notes that kid's meals are only for children 9 or younger.

Almost half of my dining expenses on this trip were from one sit-down meal at Jungle Skipper Canteen. I could have easily cut costs here by skipping the appetizer and drink (or by skipping the restaurant entirely and eating a counter service meal).

But, sitting down in an air-conditioned restaurant for lunch was a welcome reprieve from a hot, busy summer day. This restaurant is a great choice if you want to be able to have a calmer, reserved dining experience without being tied to a big set menu cost the way you are at Be Our Guest or Cinderella's Royal Table (each of which starts at $62 per person regardless of how hungry you are). Here you can just order what you like from the menu with appetizers starting at $9 and entrees starting at $19.

And the Jungle Skipper Canteen was actually a fun experience thanks to jokes from my server and the interesting theming in the restaurant.

Cost for six meals at Disney : $89.05

Replace traditional souvenirs with pin trading

I'd never heard of Disney pin trading before this trip. But, TPG's Summer Hull told me about pin trading and encouraged me to order some inexpensive pins before my trip to trade. So, I ordered a pack of 10 pins, set aside my favorites and then took the rest with me to the Magic Kingdom.

During the middle of the day, I visited several locations to try out pin trading. At each site, I found a particular part of the store where an employee facilitated pin trading. In each case, pins were on a numbered board and I could choose up to two pins to trade from the board. The employee would give me these pins and I'd drop the pins I wanted to exchange into a cup or bin.

I tried out pin trading solely for this story but ended up enjoying the process. It's a fun way to get some souvenirs to take home without any extra cash outlay if you already have pins to trade. Alternatively, you could order some pretty inexpensively on Amazon in advance. So, especially if you are visiting with kids that would enjoy this process, you may be able to replace traditional souvenirs with pin trading.

Cost for 10 pins to trade : $17.30 (ordered before my trip)

Plan for predictable yet avoidable costs

You can save money on a trip to Disney World by avoiding predictable yet avoidable costs. For example, consider bringing the following items with you to save some money:

• Water bottle and electrolyte or flavor tablets or powder
• Source of caffeine
• Ibuprofen or acetaminophen
• Rain jacket or poncho
• Change of socks
• Nonperishable snacks, such as granola bars and sunburst

I brought all of these except a pair of extra socks and an umbrella. But after it rained, I discovered these two additional items would have been helpful. If you find yourself caught in a very predictable afternoon rain shower and have to buy a poncho in the park, it will set you back $12. But if you plan ahead, you can easily buy one for a dollar or two elsewhere.

Extra costs on my trip : None

Enjoying non-park days

Outside of lodging, my most significant expense at Disney World was my actual park ticket. So, one way to save money on a Disney trip is to include non-park days in your itinerary. Non-park days might consist of time at:

• Your resort's pool
• A Disney water park or mini-golf
• Other resorts
• Disney Springs
• Other Orlando attractions

Related: How to enjoy Disney World without park tickets

On my recent two-night trip, I spent non-park time on my check-out day. But, you may want to dedicate full days of your trip to non-park activities. It's not only cost-effective but having a down day helps you have the energy to fully maximize the days you do have in the parks.

You might even be able to maximize your experience by flying into Orlando on the morning of your check-in day and departing from Orlando in the late evening on your check-out date. For example, my 9:25 p.m. departure from Orlando allowed me to spend most of my last day relaxing at my resort and checking out a few other Disney resorts.

On my last day, I explored Disney's All-Star Movies Resort until the 11 a.m. check-out time. I only needed to be out of my room by this time, so I could have continued to use the pool and other facilities until my 6:15 p.m. Magical Express bus trip back to the airport. But, I wanted to use the time to explore a few other Disney resorts, so I left my checked bag at the bellhop desk and took a bus to Epcot.

Once at Epcot, I took a bus to Disney's Animal Kingdom Kidani Village. Disney guests staying at other resorts often head to Kidani Village to eat at Sanaa, but I simply wanted to see the lodge and watch the animals for a bit. There are two animal overlooks that you can visit, each with personnel happy to talk about any animals you might see. Unfortunately, as I went in the middle of a hot summer day, I didn't see many animals out and about at Kidani Village.

A biologist at Kidani Village recommended that I walk over to Disney's Animal Kingdom Jambo House to see the flamingos. So, I walked about 15 minutes along a path to Jambo House. Once at Jambo House, I visited a viewpoint accessible through the lobby and the flamingo viewpoint by the pool. I didn't see many animals besides the flamingos due to the midday heat, though.

Related: How to save money by renting Disney Vacation Club points

After watching the flamingos, I took a bus back to Epcot and then walked along a riverside pathway for 15 to 20 minutes to get to Disney's Boardwalk. There's usually plenty to do on Disney's Boardwalk, including dancing at Atlantic Dance Hall, playing midway games and watching street performers. But, since I visited midday, the boardwalk was relatively quiet. Even so, I enjoyed walking the boardwalk and eating lunch at the Boardwalk Bakery.

I also enjoyed looking across the lake toward the Beach and Yacht Club. I'd stayed at the Beach Club several times with my family as a child and loved the pools. So, I walked over to the Beach Club to take a quick look at one of my favorite vacation spots as a child.

After taking a literal walk down memory lane, I walked over to the Walt Disney World Swan Hotel to play a round of mini-golf at Fantasia Gardens. I'd planned to play the whimsical Fantasia Gardens course. But, the adjacent Fantasia Fairways course was much less crowded, so I opted for its sand traps, water hazards and sloping greens. I had fun but would likely wait for the Fantasia Gardens course if I returned since it would be more uniquely Disney.

After finishing my 18 holes of mini-golf, I walked to the ferry dock near the Swan Hotel and took the next ferry back to Epcot. I enjoyed the short ferry ride and found myself regretting that I didn't have time to try out the monorail during this trip. After all, I needed to catch a bus from Epcot back to Disney's All-Star Movies Resort in time for my Magical Express bus to the airport .

I fit a lot of fun into my non-park day. But given more time, I would have visited Disney's Polynesian Village Resort , Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort and Disney Springs .

Cost of extra activities : $14.91

Bottom line

A visit to Disney World is rarely cheap unless you live nearby and have an annual pass that you really maximize. But, as my experience shows, it's certainly possible to visit Disney on a budget and still have a great time. And although I thought a two-night trip would feel too short, my late-night flight departure when leaving Orlando allowed me to spend most of my departure day resort hopping.

As such, I wouldn't hesitate to recommend a two-night trip if that's all your budget can handle. But, I'd suggest arriving early on your check-in day and departing late on your check-out day. By doing so, you can spend these days resort hopping or relaxing at your resort. You could even redeem World of Hyatt points for a room at the Hyatt Regency Orlando Airport on your arrival or departure date so you can really use up all available daylight at Walt Disney World without adding any cash costs to your stay.

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One day to visit disney world here’s how to do it.

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ORLANDO, FLORIDA, UNITED STATES - 2019/07/17: Crowd of people at the Cinderella Castle in Walt ... [+] Disney World. (Photo by Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images)

It might be a single destination, but Walt Disney World is essentially an entire city—one the size of San Francisco, in fact. You could easily spend an entire week (or more) exploring the resort’s four parks, two water parks, dozens of hotels and Disney Springs shopping and dining district. But if you’ve only got one day, you can definitely get a taste of everything Walt Disney World has to offer. It’s just going to take some strategizing.

If Money Is No Object: Hire a VIP Guide

The simplest solution is, of course, to spend a lot to get the best experience. Walt Disney World offers VIP tours , where the sky is the limit as to how much you can get done. A VIP tour guide will walk you through the parks, escorting you to the front of every line, and even transporting your group to other parks via private car. There are no lines, no waiting, no shuttles, and the shortest possible routes between attractions, sometimes taking your group “backstage” in the employees-only sections of the park. The downside? VIP tours cost $450-$900 per hour for groups of up to 10 people, tours must be booked for a minimum of seven hours, and guests must purchase park admission separately.

Orange County, Florida - MAY 31: The tree of life overlooks a river way at Animal Kingdom Park at ... [+] Walt Disney World in Orange County, Florida on May 30, 2022. Walt Disney World is celebrating its 50th anniversary all of 2022. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

If You Want to See and Do as Much as Possible

Simple. Buy a single day Park Hopper ticket, which allows you to move between all four theme parks: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Skip the more expensive Park Hopper Plus, which also gets you into the resort’s water parks—you won’t have time—but definitely add Genie+, the paid line-skipping service, to your ticket.

Your park day will begin a rope drop (Disney parlance for park opening) and end long after the nightly fireworks at Magic Kingdom—so wear your most comfortable shoes and get ready for a lot of steps. Animal Kingdom opens earliest, so start your day there. Opening times vary, but if the park opens at 8 a.m., in-the-know Disneyers will line up at least half an hour early. Once you’re in the gates, beeline to Kilimanjaro Safaris; many animals on the tour are more active in the morning and evening than in the heat of the day. Unless the wait is short, use the single rider line on Expedition Everest—Legend of the Forbidden Mountain, the park’s big roller coaster.

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Using Genie+, book Lightning Lane entry for a ride at Hollywood Studios, which will be your next park. Grab Slinky Dog Dash if you can, but that goes quickly, so you might want to choose Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway (the only ride starring the mouse at Disney) or Toy Story Mania.

Genie+ is tricky at first, but the rule is that you can book one Lightning Lane every two hours, or as soon as you’ve scanned into the attraction. If you book a Lightning Lane for a ride that you can immediately get on, book another one right after scanning in, and then set a timer for two hours, when you can book another. If you book a Lightning Lane for much later in the day, you can still book another at the two hour mark, even if you haven’t ridden yet. (Seriously, set a timer, it’s a huge help.) A great strategy is to start stacking evening Lightning Lanes early in the day so you can have a whole night of essentially no waits.

Plan to spend your late afternoon and early evening in EPCOT, where you can eat your way around the park while you take in rides. The park has the best array of walk-up kiosks with excellent food, which changes depending on which festival is currently happening at the park, like the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival in the spring or EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival in the fall.

Hit up Soarin’ Around the World, Journey into Imagination with Figment to see EPCOT’s mascot Figment , Frozen Ever After and Test Track (using the single rider lane). If you can pay extra to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, definitely do it, but if you opt for the free virtual queue you might be waiting up to an hour to ride. Choose wisely: your time is precious on a one-day jaunt.

In the evening, head to Magic Kingdom. There’s nothing quite like Main Street at night, especially during the nightly fireworks spectacular, Happily Ever After. Don’t miss classic rides like Pirates of the Caribbean, Space Mountain, Jungle Cruise and Haunted Mansion, plus the newly rethemed Tiana’s Bayou Adventure which replaced Splash Mountain. If you’re still going when the park closes, here’s a pro tip: as long as you’re in a ride queue when the clock strikes, you can still ride your last ride.

ORLANDO, FLORIDA - AUGUST 27: General view of the Millennium Falcon at the Black Spire Outpost at ... [+] the Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge Walt Disney World Resort Opening at Disney’s Hollywood Studios on August 27, 2019 in Orlando, Florida. (Photo by Gerardo Mora/Getty Images)

If Big Ticket Rides are the Highest Priority

The progression will be the same—start with Animal Kingdom, end at Magic Kingdom—but this time, you’re going to rope drop Avatar Flight of Passage. Once inside the park, buy Individual Lightning Lanes for the parks’ biggest rides as soon as you scan in. (If you’re staying at a Disney hotel, you can do this as early as 7 a.m., or 9 a.m. for other guests unless you’re already in a park.) These are an additional cost on top of Genie+, but can be purchased without buying the service, too.

Buy an early afternoon Individual Lightning Lane for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance in Hollywood Studios, and a late afternoon one for Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind in EPCOT. You can only purchase two Individual Lightning Lanes per day, so you’ll have to make some tough choices between these and an evening ride on TRON Lightcycle / Run in Magic Kingdom, Disney’s newest roller coaster. Once you’ve got your biggest rides lined up, grab Genie+ for either the Slinky Dog Dash in Hollywood Studios or Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Magic Kingdom. Those hugely popular mid-level coasters have consistently long waits. You’ll likely get a return time for much later in the day.

While EPCOT generally opens at 9 a.m., much of the World Showcase doesn’t open until 11 a.m., and the park tends to be quieter in the morning. It’s a good strategy if you’re focused on rides, but since you’ll only have a few hours in the park, you’ll likely miss a lot of delicious food if you opt for EPCOT as your second park. Ride Guardians of the Galaxy and the always-charming Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, one of the park’s newest rides, which is based on Disney’s Ratatouille.

Whether you’ve chosen EPCOT or Hollywood Studios as your second park, take the Skyliner to the other when you’re ready to park hop. The aerial gondola is a new classic when it comes to Disney experiences. At Hollywood Studios, definitely don’t miss the two rides in Star Wars Galaxy’s Edge, and take a trip to another dimension on The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror.

Whichever you choose, opt for Magic Kingdom as your final stop (from EPCOT, take the Monorail, or a shuttle from the others). Not only will you see the quintessential fireworks show at the park, you’ll benefit from lighter crowds and shorter lines. If you’ve nabbed a virtual queue spot for TRON Lightcycle/Run at night, consider yourself lucky, because the lightning-quick coaster is even more thrilling at night.

Orange County, Florida - MAY 30: A monorail zips past flower displays during the Flower and Garden ... [+] Festival at Epcot at Walt Disney World in Orange County, Florida on May 30, 2022. Walt Disney World is celebrating its 50th anniversary all of 2022. (Photo by Joseph Prezioso/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

If You Want the Classic Disney Experience

If we’re being honest, the best way to spend any one single day at Walt Disney World is to spend the whole day at Magic Kingdom. It’s easy to get caught up in trying to see every park and ride every ride, and that can absolutely be a fun adventure, but the essence of Disney is best experienced when you take it slow and really absorb the immersive atmosphere.

For the most classic experience, buy a single day, single park ticket to Magic Kingdom and just give yourself time and space to explore the park at your leisure. (Definitely still buy Genie+, though, because lines can get long.) This way, you can sit down to a character breakfast at Crystal Palace, where Winnie the Pooh and friends come to your table to say hello while you eat, then stroll through Fantasyland, Liberty Square, Frontierland, Adventureland and Tomorrowland at your leisure.

On a relaxing day like this, you’ll have time to visit some of the park’s sometimes-overlooked early attractions, like Walt Disney’s Carousel of Progress, which dates back to the 1964 World’s Fair, and the Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover, a slow-moving ride above Tomorrowland which Walt Disney personally oversaw for Disneyland. On it, you’ll see an early model for the Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow, Disney’s first vision for EPCOT, decades before it was built.

Another bonus to focusing on Magic Kingdom is that you can take a break from the park for dinner, and head back at night. The Monorail resort loop goes to Disney’s Contemporary Resort (the Monorail goes right through the building), Disney’s Polynesian Resort, and Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Restaurants like Citricos, Narcoosee’s and California Grill are always winners for fine dining—but for a huge splurge, go for Victoria & Albert’s, which just earned Walt Disney World its first Michelin star. Whatever you do, make sure you watch those nighttime fireworks. It’s a part of the experience you don’t want to miss.

LAKE BUENA VISTA, FL - OCTOBER 10: Fireworks explode over Cinderella Castle during the Happily Ever ... [+] After fireworks show at the Walt Disney World, Magic Kingdom entertainment park on October 10, 2018 in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. (Photo by Gary Hershorn/Getty Images)

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“Don’t Come,” New Warning Issued to Guests Staying at Disney World

in Walt Disney World

Planning a trip to Walt Disney World Resort can be a magical yet daunting task, especially when trying to accommodate a family on a budget.

One of the best ways to manage costs without sacrificing the Disney experience is by opting for one of Disney World’s Value Resorts . These resorts, including Disney’s All-Star Movies, All-Star Music, All-Star Sports, Disney’s Pop Century Resort, and Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, offer affordable accommodations and the unique charm of Disney hospitality. Here are some of the highlights that make them attractive:

• Affordability : The most significant advantage is the cost. These resorts offer the lowest rates among Disney properties, making them accessible for families who want to experience the magic without breaking the bank.
• Themed Decor : Each Value Resort has its own unique theme that adds a touch of magic to your stay. From giant statues of beloved Disney characters to vibrant, colorful settings, these resorts are a hit with kids and adults alike.
• Amenities : Despite being budget-friendly, Value Resorts come with plenty of amenities. You’ll have access to themed pools, food courts with a variety of dining options, playgrounds, and arcade rooms. Plus, fun activities like “Movies Under the Stars” are available to entertain your family in the evenings.
• Transportation : Guests at the Value Resorts have access to complimentary bus transportation to all Disney World theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs . This makes it easy to get around the vast Disney property without needing a car.

Warning on Visit Disney World Value Resorts

While the Value Resorts provide an excellent budget-friendly option , certain times of the year can be less ideal due to the influx of large groups and special events. These periods can significantly impact your overall experience, from longer wait times to crowded amenities. Here are some key times to consider avoiding:

School Trips and Competitions : Disney’s All-Star Resorts are a popular choice for school trips and competitions due to their affordability and proximity to the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex. During these events, the resorts can become quite crowded, which can detract from your enjoyment.

Specific Event Dates in 2024 :

• July 4-11, 2024 : The AAU Boys World Championship will bring boys aged 7 through 19 to compete during this holiday week. Expect a significant increase in noise and crowd levels.
• July 23-28, 2024 : The US Youth Soccer National Championship will see males and females aged 13-19 participating. This will again result in higher occupancy and busier resort amenities.
• Soccer Showcases : Various soccer showcases are scheduled for October 12-13, November 29-December 1, and December 27-30, 2024. These events will draw large groups to the All-Star Resorts , impacting transportation and dining facilities.

When these large groups are present, several challenges arise that can affect your vacation experience:

• Transportation Delays : One of the most significant issues is the long lines at the resort buses in the early morning. During peak event times, you may find yourself waiting for several buses before you can board, which can delay your arrival at the parks and reduce your time enjoying the attractions.
• Crowded Dining Locations : With so many people staying at the resort, dining locations can become overwhelmed, leading to long wait times and difficulty finding seating. This can be especially challenging when trying to feed hungry kids quickly.
• Busy Amenities : Resort amenities like pools and evening activities such as “Movies Under the Stars” can become crowded. Large groups returning from the parks in the evening can make it harder to find a spot by the pool or enjoy the activities.

Tips for a Disney World Better Experience

If you can’t avoid traveling during these peak times, here are a few tips to make your stay more enjoyable:

• Plan Ahead : Make dining reservations as early as possible and consider quick-service options to avoid long waits.
• Early Mornings and/or Late Nights : Take advantage of the parks early in the morning or later in the evening when they are less crowded.
• Utilize Off-Peak Hours : Enjoy resort amenities during off-peak hours. For instance, visit the pool early in the morning or later at night when the large groups are likely to be at the parks.
• Stay Flexible : Be prepared for longer waits and crowded spaces, and try to remain flexible with your plans to adapt to the busy environment.

What is your best tip for visiting Disney World? Let Inside the Magic know in the comments!

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8 Amazon Items That Make Your Disney World Trip 100x Better

Disney World trips are magical in their own right, but why not make it the absolute BEST it can be?

There are some items we bring to Disney World that make life easier and therefore your trip can be SO much better. We’ve rounded up some of these life-changing items below, and the best part is that you can order them now on Amazon!

Since all of these items are available on Amazon, we highly recommend signing up for Amazon Prime. If you don’t have it yet, get a free trial below!

First up, for any trip to the Disney parks, you’re going to need a solid park bag. There are many brands we like, but  Disney Loungefly Backpacks   are one of our favorites!

Specifically, this sticker design is so fun and represents so many different characters. However, Loungefly has a ton of options to choose from so find the one that screams YOU!

Shop on Amazon

Now that you have your Loungefly bag, let us introduce you to this gamechanger — the  Mini Backpack Organizer! 

We tested this out ourselves and it truly made using our Loungefly so much easier. No more digging for what you need — it all stays put in the spot you placed it in!

View on Amazon

Disney World is hot…basically all the time. That’s why  Cooling Towels   like these have become a necessity for so many parkgoers!

The set we’ve linked here comes with four towels in different colors so each person in your group can pick their favorite. This can help regulate your body temperature in the intense Florida heat — it’s a must, especially in the summer!

Speaking of keeping cool, do you have a  Neck Fan   yet? If not, you’re missing out!

It comes in a variety of colors and can be hands-free, unlike other mini fans. It’s not always ideal if you have long hair that could get caught in the fan, but that’s an easy fix with a hair tie. This thing can run for 16 hours when fully charged!

Spending the entire day in a Disney World park means you’ll probably need to recharge your phone via a portable charger. However, this  Multicharger Extension   makes it even easier to charge multiple devices at once!

No more fighting over the portable charger after using Genie+ or placing Mobile Orders all day. This item has spots to plug in four things at a time including phones, MagicBand+, and more.

With an accessory like that, you’re going to need a solid portable charger. We highly recommend ordering a  FuelRod Charger!

These have come in handy for us many times in Disney World, and the biggest reason we love it is because of the swap stations. That’s right — at various spots around Disney World, you can swap your juice-less FuelRod for a fully charged one! And the best part is that it’s FREE.

Paper straws. They are great for the environment, but they are NOT everyone’s favorite when it comes to drinking your Disney World beverage. That’s mostly what you’ll find in the parks nowadays, but don’t worry — you can bring your own  Reusable Straws!

This set comes with 12 straws, four carrying cases, and two cleaning brushes so this one purchase can cover quite a few people. They are compact so it’s an easy addition to your park bag. No more soggy straws for you!

Riding that same wave, we’ve also brought  Reusable Utensils   to the parks!

Sometimes the plastic ones just aren’t ideal and these are nice because you know you are using your own utensils. This order comes with four sets of utensils, each with a carrying case, a spoon, a knife, and a fork. After your meal in the parks, you can wash them in the bathroom real quick and pop them back in your bag. It’s that easy!

Try these items out on your next Disney World trip and let us know what you think. Keep following AllEars for more, and in the meantime, check out more of our favorite Disney essentials at the link below!

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I've traveled on all 5 Disney cruise ships. I have 2 clear favorites, and there's only one I'm not in a hurry to book again.

• My family and I have been on nine Disney cruises and all five ships.
• We love the fleet's two smallest ships, Disney Wonder and Disney Magic.
• Although we had a great experience on board Disney Wish , it was my least favorite ship to travel on.

I've been on nine Disney cruises with my husband and two teenage sons. We've sailed on other cruise lines including Carnival, Celebrity, MSC, and Royal Caribbean , but Disney Cruise Line is always our top pick.

Stellar service, subtle theming, top-notch kids' and teen programs, and a dreamy private island in the Bahamas are some of the reasons we keep returning.

So far, we've been on all five Disney Cruise Line ships — Disney Magic, Disney Wonder, Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy, and Disney Wish. We'll soon have more ships to explore, with Disney Treasure planning to set sail in December and Disney Destiny set to embark on its maiden voyage in 2025 .

Out of the five ships we've been on, two stand out as favorites, and there's only one I'm not in a hurry to travel on again.

My favorite ships are Disney Wonder and Disney Magic

Disney Wonder and Disney Magic are my favorite ships in the Disney Cruise Line.

They have nearly identical deck layouts and are the fleet's two smallest ships. Some may see this as a negative, but I prefer the smaller, more intimate size and the ease of getting around the ships.

Disney Wonder also has my favorite Disney Cruise Line restaurant, Tiana's Place. It offers a delicious, Cajun-inspired menu and a fun "The Princess and the Frog" theme. There's even a lively floor show with jazz music.

I love Disney Magic , too, but I thought it was more dated and in need of an update than Disney Wonder.

I also didn't love the Magic's Rapunzel-themed restaurant nearly as much as I love Tiana's Place.

The food at Rapunzel's Royal Table was just so-so, but the entertainment and theming more than made up for it. The in-person appearance of Rapunzel and Flynn, capped by a lantern processional to the tune of "I See the Light," was glorious.

Although Disney Wish was great, it was my least favorite ship to travel on

Although I had a great experience on board Disney Wish, it was my least favorite ship to travel on.

The Wish is unarguably beautiful — everything is sparkling new, and the atrium is decked out with a life-size Cinderella sculpture — but I thought the layout was a little clunky.

I may have felt this way because many of Disney's ships are laid out very similarly, and after nine cruises, we're pros at finding our way around.

Disney Wonder and Disney Magic have nearly identical deck layouts, as do Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy. Disney Wish, however, is laid out much differently.

Unlike the other Disney cruise ships we've been on, Disney Wish doesn't have a specific area for adults-only lounges.

Instead, the adults-only bars and lounges, which are off-limits to kids after 7 p.m., are scattered throughout the ship. This means the Wish doesn't have that true kid-free haven that the other ships have.

I also found that many parts of the ship, from the dining rooms to the pools, felt crowded

For all that criticism, my family and I enjoyed sailing on Disney Wish . But now that we've crossed it off our list, we won't be in any hurry to jump on board again unless the route is one we can't pass up.

Correction: June 7, 2024 — An earlier version of this story mislabeled a photo of Disney Wish as Disney Wonder.

If you enjoyed this story, be sure to follow Business Insider on Microsoft Start.

Please review our Terms of Use , which changed on May 24, 2024.

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Lancaster family having fun on make-a-wish trip to disney world.

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A Lancaster family is having a lot of fun during a Make-A-Wish trip to Disney World.

News 8 first introduced you to the Salgado family last Friday, when they left on their journey.

Reesa, who is 15 years old, is disabled and doesn't talk or walk.

Her family is sharing pictures with us.

They rode the carousel and met Miss Tennessee Christell Foote.

And then there are the character meet-and-greets with Snow White, Pluto and, of course, Mickey Mouse.

Reesa is on the trip with her mom, dad and grandmother.

Her dad said everything is great.

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Big City Greens The Movie: Spacecation

June 6, 2024

Action, Adventure, Animation, Comedy, Family

When thrill-seeker Cricket Green tricks his country family into taking a “road trip” in space, chaos in the cosmos ensues! Despite growing frustrations between Cricket and his dad, the two must learn to appreciate each other’s unique perspectives in order to prevent Big City from being destroyed by an asteroid!

Rated: TV-Y7 Release Date: June 6, 2024

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