8 Smart Tips (From Y’all!) to Save at Disney

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We’re republishing this post to help any of y’all in the midst planning your upcoming Disney travel!

Million Mile Secrets readers love Disney.  So we asked you to share a tip for planning a great Disney vacation.  And we received lots of fantastic responses.

Disney World Tips 2018
We Love It When Readers Share Their Ideas. Especially When They Can Help Other Folks Save on Amazing Experiences Like a Disney Vacation!

If you’re looking for tips on saving money at Disney, here are ideas from Million Mile Secrets readers!

And don’t forget to sign-up for our newsletter, so you don’t miss out on any other travel secrets and tricks!

Disney World Tips 2018

1.   Pick the Right Time to Go

To beat the lines, consider taking your Disney trip in the off-season.  You’ll see the biggest crowds in the summer, when school is out and kids are on vacation.

Visiting during the weekdays as opposed to weekends can also help!

Reader Aleca suggests using the Disney Crowd Forecast calendar to help you plan your trip!   

Disney World Tips 2018
The Disneyland Crowd Forecast Calendar Can Help You Avoid the Crowds

And lots of other folks like getting to the park early in the morning.  Because that’s when the park is least full, and you’ll have a better chance of avoiding long lines at popular rides.

2.   Buy Discounted Tickets

As reader Ron suggests, never pay full price for your Disney tickets!

There’s a great resource for discounted tickets to Disney called Undercover Tourist.  And lots of Million Mile Secrets readers, like Trung, Thinh, and Tiffany, have used the site to score cheap tickets.  

3.   Don’t Buy Souvenirs at the Park

Here’s another unique tip!  Readers Hasmig and Derrick, and Kathleen buy Disney merchandise before their trip at stores like Target, Wal-Mart, eBay, and Kohls, or online at the Disney Store.

Because you can often find Disney merchandise like t-shirts, pins, and stuffed animals for less than you would inside the park.

Disney World Tips 2018
You Can Usually Find Discounts on Disney Goodies Online at the Disney Store

 Then you don’t have to worry about spending breaking the bank on vacation!

4.   Bring Your Own Food & Water

Another great savings tip is to pack your own meals and bring a water bottle with you.  That way you don’t have to spend a lot of time waiting in line to eat, and you can spend more time enjoying the park.

Plus you’ll save a lot of money!

5.   Use Miles & Points

Of course, lots of readers suggested using miles & points to save on your next Disney vacation. 😉

Readers Rob H, Mike H, and Tara R have all used Starwood (or Marriott!) points for free nights at the Disney Swan and Dolphin resorts.

Disney World Tips 2018
The Swan & Dolphin Resorts Are in the Middle of the Disney Magic. And You Can Use Your Starwood and Marriott Points for Free Nights There!

Not only can you use points for stays at nearby hotels, but you can use airline miles to get there!  

Million Mile Secrets reader Tracy used Southwest points for 6 round-trip flights to Orlando.  And Hilton points to save on the cost of a hotel.

6.   Use Discounted Gift Cards

Buying discounted Disney gift cards or using the right credit card to earn miles, points, or cash back for Disney gift card purchases is another great idea.

Reader Brent likes buying Disney gift cards at wholesale stores, like Costco and Sam’s Club.

Million Mile Secrets reader Josh buys Disney gift cards for less online through the discount gift card site Raise.com.

7.   Stay Inside the Park

This tip is especially helpful for folks with young kids.

Readers Lorinda and John L suggest getting a room inside the park or staying in a hotel on the monorail loop, like Disney’s Contemporary Resort or Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.  Because it will make naptime much easier!

Disney World Tips 2018
Folks With Young Kids Might Enjoy Staying Inside the Park, at a Spot Like Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa

8.   Use Disney Vacation Club Points

The Disney Vacation Club is a timeshare program run by Disney.  And readers Brett, Leah, and Ben like saving at deluxe Disney resorts by renting Disney Vacation Club rooms.

Disney World Tips 2018
You Can Rent a Timeshare to Save Money on Stays at a Number of Different Disney Resorts!

Disney Vacation Club resorts include hotels like Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows, Disney’s Old Key West Resort, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Villas, and more!

Bottom Line

We love hearing from our readers, and are thankful for all your feedback!

You shared great Disney tips for fellow Million Mile Secrets followers, like when to go, where to stay, and how to save on food and souvenirs.

Did we miss any good strategies?  Please share in the comments!

Million Mile Secrets features a team of points and miles experts who have traveled to over 80 countries and have used 60+ credit cards responsibly to accumulate loyalty points and travel the world on the cheap! The Million Mile Secrets team has been featured on The Points Guy, TIME, Yahoo Finance and many other leading points & miles media outlets.

Editorial Note: We're the Million Mile Secrets team. And we're proud of our content, opinions and analysis, and of our reader's comments. These haven’t been reviewed, approved or endorsed by any of the airlines, hotels, or credit card issuers which we often write about. And that’s just how we like it! :)

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