Having lived in both Orlando, Florida, and Orange County, California, I’ve tested tons of Disney hacks that work for the theme parks at both Walt Disney World and Disneyland. And as someone who hates overpaying for anything, believe me when I tell you that my Disney advice will save you money at the parks (and time, too).
Some of these Disney tips are best executed before you leave for your Disney vacation (like my trick for how to score discount Disney tickets), and I’ve organized them in quasi-chronological order — from trip planning to savings inside the parks — so feel free to jump around!
Note: This article includes some affiliate links. If you click one and make a purchase, we’ll get a small commission. 100% of our affiliate profits go to charity, and we never let these affiliate relationships affect our recommendations (learn more).
How to Get Discount Disney Tickets
First, let’s talk about Disney ticket prices. Bizarrely, booking the exact same trip through the official Disney website in different ways can result in dramatically different ticket prices.
For example, on our last trip for two people, we wanted to visit two parks for two days (one park per day). The obvious way to book this visit would be to select 2 days, 2 people, and 1 park per day on the Disney website…
Doing it that way resulted in a total price of $670 (gasp!), and I didn’t want to pay that much. So, I tried choosing one-day tickets (again, one park per day — not Park Hopper tickets) on the same two days, and the total price dropped down to $208 per day for two people! I had to go through the checkout process twice (once for each day, so $416 in total), but I ended up with the exact same Disney visit for 38% less money overall!
Please don’t misunderstand though: Constructing your entire Disney vacation using one-day tickets isn’t cheaper every time. The point here is that you should always try booking your desired park entry a couple of different ways before checking out, and then buy using the least expensive method you find. You’ll be surprised how common these “pricing glitches” are.
Another big way to get discount Disney tickets is to pick your dates strategically, because not all Disney tickets are the same price every day. If you’ve designed a life with freedom and flexibility in your schedule like we have, you can score the cheapest possible tickets by just choosing the least busy dates on the Disney ticket calendar. The difference between busy and slow days can be over 50% off!
Occasionally, you can even get cheap Disney World tickets and discount Disneyland tickets on eBay, too, so that’s another place to look for savings. Just make sure you choose a reputable seller with good feedback.
Free Disney Parking Hacks
As you arrive, one of the easiest money-saving Disney secrets is that you don’t need to pay for on-site parking. Depending on how close your hotel is to the theme parks, you have the option to walk right into Disney, take a cheap city bus or a free Disney bus, ride a rental bike or scooter, or (in the worst-case scenario) take a Lyft or Uber ride right to the entrance.
On our last Disney vacation, a two-way Lyft from our hotel actually cost less than a single day of parking, and it saved us some money on gas, too!
In California, Disneyland is actually so well-integrated into the city of Anaheim that you’ll spot locals and visitors alike just walking in from nearby hotels and neighborhoods instead of paying the parking fee. There’s also a city bus system that has a stop right outside the park.
Disney World in Florida is a little different, as Orlando is quite a sprawling metropolis, and the theme parks are set pretty far into their own universe. If your Disney vacation includes a stay in one of the many Disney Resorts, you’ll be able to take the free Disney bus shuttles directly to the parks. Some of the resorts are also on the monorail system, which is another great (and free!) way to get around Disney World.
But the coolest parking hack in Orlando is to just park for free at Disney Springs, which is connected to all of the theme parks via the free Disney shuttle bus system and its nearby Disney Resort stops. There’s no direct shuttle bus from Disney Springs to any of the Disney theme parks though, so you’ll need to take one of the free Disney bus shuttles to a resort to then catch a ride on another shuttle into the park of your choice if you do this. It’s actually less complicated than it sounds.
And of course, you can always use a third-party parking service like Way to find cheaper parking anywhere you go!
How to Score Disney Hotel Deals
Another big-picture tip for saving money on your Disney vacation is to skip the stay at an expensive Disney Resort. Just think about it: You’re going to be spending most of your waking hours in the parks anyway, so why pay for a premium resort experience that you really won’t have time to enjoy?
A lot of people want to stay at a Disney hotel for the fun themes and dining experiences, but remember: You can pop into any of them for a tour and a meal, without the overpriced nightly stay. Most of the common areas and restaurants of Disney Resorts are open to the public, not just registered guests!
On a recent visit, we used our favorite hotel booking site to find a cheap stay near Disney. The Holiday Inn Express we snagged was just 5 miles from Disneyland, and it cost about the same as any other basic hotel (~$110/night after taxes and fees) while being close enough for cheap rideshares or biking into the park.
Most of the time when we travel, though, we actually sleep for free in our camper van!
Disney Tips for Skipping Long Lines
The first things you’ll notice when you finally get into Disney are the crowds and lines. But if you’re visiting on a less-busy day (which is likely if you bought your tickets on cheaper dates like I mentioned earlier), they might not be so bad!
Wait times at the rides are typically 15-45 minutes on slower days, which makes expensive “Lightning Lane” passes not worth it. When you plan your Disney vacation for off-peak days, you can forgo buying “Lightning Lane” passes altogether. There’s no reason to pay extra for shorter lines when they’re already manageable as-is.
But no matter when you go, you should always expect the longest lines for the top attractions at each park (like Space Mountain, Expedition Everest, Radiator Springs Racers, and Rise of the Resistance, to name a few).
Another way to zip through lines that doesn’t cost anything is to opt in as a “single rider” for the really busy attractions. As single riders, each person in your party will be slotted into an empty seat as they become available, so you might get separated on the ride, but your wait time will be reduced by 40-60% without paying a dime!
Some single-rider lines are clearly labeled, but others are temporary or secret, so you should always ask a Disney cast member at the line if one is available before hopping in the standby queue!
Using the Disney Food and Drink Policy to Save Money
While exploring the parks, you’re gonna realize there are a few things you want, but they’re all way cheaper if you plan ahead. Food and drinks are probably the biggest ones.
Amazingly, the official Disney food and drink policy allows you to bring your own meals, snacks, and beverages into the park! Even just packing a few easy items like protein bars, fruit, or a sandwich you made yourself, can save you from buying at least one expensive theme park meal.
Disney also has plenty of water refill stations throughout its parks, so definitely bring a refillable water bottle to stay hydrated for free. We took a tiny, lightweight bottle that fit perfectly into my little bag and wasn’t a burden to lug around all day.
How To Avoid Buying Overpriced Stuff in the Parks
While you don’t need any special outfits or accessories, they’re definitely fun to have — but they’re much cheaper outside the park! Before your Disney trip, get your Disney gear online or via Target or Walmart’s Disney collection for better pricing. I actually got my Mickey ears on eBay for just five dollars over a decade ago. And feel free to just skip the expensive custom shirts that you’ll never wear again.
Also, make a checklist of things to bring into the park with you, so you don’t have to buy them for three times the price in a gift shop. My personal list always includes comfortable sunscreen, cheap sunglasses, a portable fan, a poncho (it rains A LOT in Florida, and there are some water rides at Disneyland), a sweater (depending on the time of year), and a portable phone charging power bank. Don’t rely on a wall phone charger because power outlets are almost impossible to find inside the Disney parks, and your phone might not last through all the navigation, photos, and line checking in the bright sun.
When it comes to souvenirs, remember: You’re here to make amazing memories, not to accumulate a bunch of overpriced “stuff.” If you feel like you want a little item to commemorate your Disney vacation, just ask for a personalized button and stickers from a Disney employee in any of the stores. They’re completely free, and the buttons let you indicate first visits, birthdays, and other celebratory events!
Get 10% Off with the Visa Chase Disney Debit Card Discount
If you do plan to buy merch or meals in the park, there are a few ways you can save a little more money. One small money-saver for us was to use the Visa Chase Disney Debit card for a 10% discount at stores and dining during our visit. It’s a free option for all Chase checking account holders and doesn’t require an application or credit check — but to be honest, I’ve been a little disappointed by mine. There are a lot of places in the parks that don’t honor the discount.
In those cases, you might want to consider purchasing Disney gift cards at a discount outside of the parks ahead of your trip. For example, you can score discounted Disney gift cards on eBay, at Target using a RedCard for 5% off (or more during their annual gift card sale), or at warehouse stores like Sam’s Club or Costco.
Using the Free Disney App to Save Time and Make Memories
I’d also recommend that you download the free app for the Disney park you’re visiting (Disneyland or Disney World). It shows updated wait times for rides throughout the park, helps you navigate between attractions, includes menus for every restaurant (with options for mobile ordering at some of them), and allows you to find photos the Disney cast members and ride cams take of you throughout the park.
Most Disney photos cost extra to download, but make sure you check the app and download the photos that are free to save. Another great photo hack is to ask the Disney photographers to just use your camera instead of theirs for a free snap instead. They’re happy to do it!
The Single Most Important Piece of Disney Advice
My final piece of Disney advice is something you might not want to hear, but I’ve gotta be real: Theme parks are really expensive, and from experience, I can tell you that they’re nowhere near the coolest places to visit in Florida or California.
If you haven’t checked out the National Parks or amazing beaches these two states have to offer, my biggest money-saving tip is to just skip Disney altogether and try those instead. You won’t regret it!
— Lauren
