Let’s face it Disney can be expensive. Over the years we have gone we have learned there are a few things you can do to save. These aren’t HUGE but every penny counts!!
One of the ways you can save some $$ is purchasing bulk gift cards. You can purchase these from Sam’s club, Costco or Bj’s. The discount can vary with these cards. Sometimes they have specials that offer even more of a discount. The purchase of these do require a membership or knowing someone with a membership that can purchase these for you.
Target has a red card this isn’t a credit card-cause lets face it, your not saving a penny if you have target credit card. (Go in for a gift card come out with a cart full of the WHOLE store.) Back to the savings the Red card is a debit card that gives you 5% off your purchases. I try to purchase a gift card or 2 every month leading up to a planned trip. I purchase them online and get them emailed to me.
Once you purchase your gift cards to help with not having to keep up with multiple cards you can create a disneygiftcard.com account where you can transfer balances up to $1000 on to 1 gift card. Once I have transferred everything to 1 card that is the card we carry on our trip.
Parenting tip: Purchasing gift cards for your kiddos is a great way to incorporate math into your vacation and keep their brains going. We usually load a gift card for them or they ask for Birthday’s and Christmas for Disney gift cards from friends and family. They have their own money that they can spend as long as they have the money for it they can get it. (within reason of course) It may just be my kids but I have found they are a lot more frugal when it comes to spending their own money than spending mom and dad’s.
Disney Chase card is a great way to save. When you get the card, if you spend $500 in the first 30 days you get a $250 statement credit. The great way to take advantage of this is putting that $500 down on your Disney trip. You then get a $250 statement credit that comes off your trip deposit. There is a promotion right now if you spend $1000 in the first 3 months you can get a $300 statement credit. Another great advantage with this card is you get rewards for all purchases that you can put on a redemption card to use at Disney. There are more perks with having this card as well; special financing on select Disney packages, saving aboard Disney cruise line, Disney parks shopping & dining discounts at some locations at both Disney World and Disneyland, Disney shopping on shopdisney.com on select merchandise, Disney parks photo opportunities at private cardmember locations at Disneyland and Disney World. There are 2 different cards 1 that has an annual fee and 1 that doesn’t.
One suggestion I like to tell clients if you use your magic band all week to charge things the day before you are checking out head down to guest services and pay off your balance with your DISCOUNTED gift cards. Another great option to use those gift cards for is payments towards your trip.
Remember there are a few things that you can also do to help with some savings in the parks. One of the great things that I love about Disney they allow you to take food in with you. You can pack a lunch, snacks or what ever you may want to eat if you dont want to eat every meal out. You can get FREE water, just ask for a cup of water. We bring in reusable water bottles and fill them up all day long. These again aren’t huge savings but they do add up and help with some of the daily cost.
These are things that our family of 4 has used every time we go. Saving a few pennies here and there really does add up.
