Intro
Are you dreaming of a Disney vacation, but don’t want to spend an arm and a leg? While it’s true that overall, Disney World is a pricey trip, there are really great ways to save money and enjoy yourself! Follow along as we plan a trip to Disney on a budget!
You’ll be staying at All Star Music, one of the three All Star Resorts. The All Star Resorts are the most affordable, value resorts on property. They each have unique, larger than life theming! All Star Music also provides family suites that can comfortably fit your whole family. Traveling with a family of five can often be a struggle, so it is great that some resorts have options for larger families!
Breakdown
- Theme: Value
- Length: Long Weekend
- Age: Family of Five (Two adults, three kids)
- Cost: $
Check-In Day: Magic Kingdom
To keep within your budget, you decide to drive to Disney World! Overall, driving can save a good amount of money, especially with a larger family. Driving does come with its own costs, however, it will typically still be more affordable than flying. If you are interested in some of my transportation tips, check out my blog post about where to stay at Disney!
You are able to get an early start and arrive at Disney’s All Star Music Resort in the morning. The room isn’t ready, but you check your luggage at the front desk. Something I always like to do when I am traveling on a budget, is to make sure that I am taking advantage of all of my vacation time! That includes check-in day. So, I really love that Disney makes it easy to check your luggage, even if your room isn’t ready. They will even deliver the luggage to your room! Being able to drop off your luggage makes it so much easier to go to a park on your first day.
After checking your luggage, you hop right on a Disney bus to head to Magic Kingdom for your first park day! You won’t be getting Disney Genie+ during this trip, to save some cash, but you can still use the free portion of Disney Genie on the My Disney Experience App! This service helps you plan out your day, by providing suggestions for what rides you should check out at different times to avoid long waits.
Rides
You start the day with Pirates of the Caribbean. This is a classic Magic Kingdom ride that your family will all love! Spend some time exploring Adventureland, maybe even have a fun, character interaction with Jack Sparrow!
Next, head over to Frontierland for rides on Splash Mountain and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. Splash Mountain is definitely one of my favorite ways to cool off on a hot day at the parks! While in the area, check out the Frontierland Shootin’ Arcade. This shooting game is now something that guests can enjoy for free!
After lunch, you’ll spend some time just enjoying the hub and castle views. Walk up and down Main Street, taking in all the sights and sounds! You can watch the cast members make some yummy treats at the Confectionary or watch glass blowing inside Crystal Arts.
Instead of spending money on souvenirs at the parks, think about buying a few things before the trip for you and your kids to enjoy. Often, you can find great deals on ShopDisney or you can go to a Character Outlet to get real Disney merchandise at a fraction of the cost.
As it gets dark, head over to Tomorrowland to enjoy this land at night! Get in line for Astro Orbiter and Space Mountain. Download the Play Disney app to play some free games while waiting in line for certain rides, like Space Mountain!
Food
Lunch and dinner at Magic Kingdom today will be at two affordable favorites. Lunch is on Main Street at one of my number one lunch spots, Casey’s Corner. They have some great options that will please the whole family and it has a great view of the castle! For dinner, you will grab a quick bite at Cosmic Ray’s Starlight Cafe, in Tomorrowland.
Pack a few snacks so you don’t get tempted (like we all do!) to buy pricey treats all day! You can bring your own food and drink (non-alcoholic of course), as long as they are not in glass containers. I love throwing in some energy bars and other easy to pack snacks with me on a busy park day! Also, remember to bring your own water, since the bottles at the parks are a little expensive.
Another great tip for saving money is to load up some Disney gift cards according to your budget. Making sure that everyone in your party uses these gift cards, can keep them all on budget and accountable for their spending.
Close out the night with Enchantment, the nighttime fireworks show, then take a Disney bus back to your resort! Even though you will have a car with you, it will save you money to still utilize Disney transportation during your trip. You’ll have to pay to park at the resort each night, but you won’t have to worry about paying an additional fee at each park!
Day 2: Disney Springs/Resorts
To save on park tickets, your second Disney day will be spent at Disney Springs and exploring some favorite resorts! Luckily, the Disney buses at your resort will take you directly to Disney Springs, so you won’t need to drive or pay for parking again today.
Food
Grab some donuts and coffee at Everglazed at Disney Springs, before doing some window shopping. Take the morning to explore Disney Springs and just enjoy the area! Next, hop on another Disney bus to the Riviera Resort.
One of the best things about Disney is that you can visit other resorts as a totally free activity! Also known as Resort Hopping, checking out Disney Resorts is one of my favorite things to do on my non-park days. Especially when traveling on a budget, visiting Deluxe resorts is a great way to add some extravagance to your vacation, without spending too much!
The Riviera is one of the best resorts to spend the day at, even without a reservation. Grab lunch at Primo Piatto, then find a spot by the water to enjoy your meal and the view! There are tons of free games and activities to take part in at the Riviera, while you are there. They even have bocce ball courts!
After you’ve spent some talking walking around the Riviera, you walk over to Caribbean Beach Resort, which is right next door! This is another really fun resort to explore and take in the beach atmosphere. Take a seat at the pool bar, Banana Cabana, for some drinks and a light dinner.
To get back to your resort, hop back on the Skyliner to Hollywood Studios. From there, grab a bus back to All Star Music!
Day 3: EPCOT
It’s your last park day and you will be spending the whole day at EPCOT! EPCOT is a great park for your whole family to enjoy. There will be plenty of options for budget friendly meals and activities!
Rides
A great, free option to get on one of the newest rides at EPCOT, is the Virtual Queue! Guardians of the Galaxy has multiple options for getting in the Virtual Queue. This is great news, because you will not want to miss this ride! Since you’re staying on property, you can try for a spot in the line at 7am.
Since you’re up early, it’s the perfect opportunity to rope drop some of the more popular rides! First, head to Frozen Ever After at the Norway pavilion in World Showcase. This queue can get pretty long, so heading there first thing can be a great way to beat the crowds.
After exploring World Showcase, head over to the Seas with Nemo and Friends. This attraction is great, because you can also check out the aquarium after the ride!
Food
World Showcase provides so many options to grab a quick and affordable lunch. Head to the America pavilion for an amazing lunch at Regal Eagle Smokehouse.
Want to try something totally free and unique at EPCOT? Make your way over to Club Cool, where you can sample different flavors of Coca Cola from all over the world! Be sure to try the infamous Beverly.
Dinner is going to be over at Connections Eatery. This new dining location has delicious options for a quick bite that won’t break the bank.
Watching Harmonious is the best way to close out your EPCOT day and your vacation. Find a good spot near the entrance to World Showcase and enjoy one of the best nighttime shows you will ever see!
Check Out Day
It’s sadly time to end your quick, long weekend at Disney World! I really hope this can show you that it is possible to do Disney on a budget. What are your favorite money saving tips for when you are visiting Disney? Let us know in the comments!
