Being mindful of my travel budget is a priority for me, and I love helping others to find ways to save on travel. Money saved on one trip is money that you can put toward your next trip (or whatever you may be saving for)!
It’s no secret that Disney and Universal vacations aren’t cheap. But there are many savings strategies, and every little bit counts! Here are two of my favorites:
1️⃣ Intentional date selection: timing matters!
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Hotel and ticket pricing fluctuates based on the time of year. Holidays are always more expensive.
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Avoid these holidays whenever possible: Thanksgiving week, Christmas week through New Year’s Day, Easter and the week before and after, President’s Day weekend.
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In general, the cheapest months for theme park travel are August, September, January, and May.
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Weekdays are cheaper than weekends.
2️⃣ Savvy food & drink strategy: what you consume is one of the biggest drains on your budget!
(Tons of ways to save here. Use what works for you and skip what doesn’t.)
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Place a grocery order to your resort room for breakfast foods and snacks. Instacart, Walmart, whatever your favorite service may be. Eat a simple breakfast in your room, and pack some snacks for your park day. You can bring outside food and drinks into Disney & Universal, just no alcohol.
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Bring refillable water bottles to the parks. Refill at bottle refilling stations, Coke Freestyle machines (water only, and at Universal only), or at any quick service restaurant for free. If you don’t like the flavor of Orlando water, bring some flavored electrolyte packets.
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Order from the Kids’ Menu occasionally. Portions are smaller (which sometimes feels great on a hot day) and they usually come with 2 sides and a drink. A great value!
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Consider sharing some meals and snacks, especially if you’re wanting to try a wide variety of things.
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One of my favorite hacks: ask the cast member to split your Dole Whip into 2 cups. You’re only charged for one, but you’ll get two hearty servings, perfect for sharing!
Photo of my kids’ meal at the Beach Club restaurant at Universal’s Hard Rock Hotel.
Photo of free ice water from Stage Door Café in Disneyland.
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(412) 215-4354 | samantha@mainstreetmagicllc.com |