Disney World on a Budget: How We Saved Over $1,000 Without Cutting the Fun

Planning a trip to Disney World is exciting—but let’s be honest, it can also get really expensive. Between park tickets, meals, souvenirs, and lodging, a magical vacation can quickly turn into a financial stress fest.

But here’s the good news: you don’t have to spend a fortune to experience the magic.
In fact, on our last Disney trip, we saved over $1,000—without skipping any of the fun.

Here’s exactly how we did it—and how you can too.

1. 🎯 Stay Off-Site—But Stay Close

We chose to stay just 2 miles from Disney in a gated resort called Windsor Hills.
Instead of a cramped hotel room, we stayed in a spacious 3-bedroom townhouse with a private pool, full kitchen, and Disney-themed kids’ room—for less than half the cost of a Disney hotel.

💡 Savings: We saved $500+ just on accommodations.

Plus:
✔️ Free parking at the resort
✔️ No resort fees
✔️ Access to a huge lagoon-style pool and waterslides

👉 Check out Belle’s Villa at Windsor Hills to see where we stayed!

2. 🍕 Eat Smart (Without Cooking Every Night)

Food adds up fast at Disney. We saved by doing simple breakfasts in the townhouse (hello, Mickey waffles!) and packing lunch/snacks for the parks.

We still treated ourselves to a few meals out—but having access to a kitchen and grocery delivery saved us hundreds.

💡 Savings: ~$250+ on food

3. 🎟️ Skip the Park Hopper—Stick to One Park Per Day

Unless you're doing a super short trip, the Park Hopper add-on isn’t necessary. We stuck to one park per day, which saved us over $300.

Bonus: We didn’t feel rushed trying to bounce between parks—we had more time to relax and enjoy each one.

💡 Savings: $315 for a family of 4

4. 🎁 Bring Your Own Souvenirs (Yes, Really!)

We hit up the Wal-Mart and Target near Windsor Hills and picked up cute Disney shirts, autograph books, bubble wands, pins and glow sticks before heading to the parks.

Our kids didn’t care where the souvenirs came from—they were just excited to have Mickey everything.

💡 Savings: ~$100+ on merchandise

5. 🛒 Use Grocery Delivery (And Save Your Sanity)

We used Instacart to stock the fridge on day one. We ordered:

• Breakfast items

• Snacks + drinks for the parks

• A couple of easy dinners (think pasta, frozen pizza, tacos)

We saved money and avoided the “hangry kid in a long food line” meltdown. Win-win.

💡 Savings: ~$100+

💰 The Bottom Line: Over $1,000 Saved

✨ Final Tip: Budget-Friendly Doesn’t Mean Boring

Staying off-site gave us the best of both worlds: we saved money and had space, comfort, and some really special family moments.

So yes—you can do Disney on a budget. You just have to know where to look (and stay 😉).

👉 Ready to plan your own affordable Disney trip?
Check out Belle’s Villa—our magical home away from home near Disney World.