I love a great deal as much as the next person, but when it comes to my vacations it’s all about value. I want to make the most out of my trips and be sure to enable myself to simply enjoy the experiences. So here are some of my favorite tips to help you get the most value out of your Disney vacation package!
Disney Resort Hotels
One of the main components of your Disney vacation package will be the Disney Resort you choose. Here are a few ways to make the most of your resort stay:
- Stay at a resort that is close to the parks you’ll spend the most time in to cut down on transportation time.
- Look for resorts with great pools so you can enjoy refreshing breaks and save money on water park tickets.
- Consider booking two connecting rooms instead of a family suite for larger parties.
- Choose a room with enough space for the whole family to relax (cramming 5 people into a small room won’t make it feel like a vacation anymore!).
- Go with a basic (standard) view if you won’t spend much time in the room.
Theme Park Tickets
The other main component of your package will be your Disney tickets. Several options are available, so keep these points in mind as you decide how many days you want to include:
- Purchase Base Tickets if you have young children or no interest in park hopping.
- Use Park Hopper benefits to take advantage of morning Extra Magic Hours and then hop to a less crowded park.
- It’s often cheaper to add the Park Hopper Plus option than to purchase water park tickets a la carte (and you get extra visits).
- Remember that Park Hopper Plus tickets can be used for more than water parks; they also include the golf courses, miniature golf, and the Wide World of Sports.
- If you’re purchasing tickets separately, make sure you have them in time to reserve FastPasses at the start of your booking window.
Disney Dining Plan
Walt Disney World Resort guests have the opportunity to add a dining plan to their package. There are several options available, so here’s how to make the best of them:
- Personalize your dining plan to your needs. While most people go with the Disney Dining Plan, the Deluxe version is better if you want a lot of signature meals and the Quick-Service version is better if you don’t want to reserve any table-service meals.
- Plan out your meals ahead of time so you know how you’ll want to use your credits.
- To maximize the value of your dining plan, look for character dining experiences and table-service dinners.
- Use snack credits for breakfast items, such as yogurt, pastries, or fruit cups.
- Have leftover snack credits? Pick up some packaged Disney treats to bring home with you.
Memory Maker
If you’d like to take home all of your family photos around the parks, consider adding Memory Maker to your package. It includes downloads of every PhotoPass photo you take during your visit. Here’s how to get the best value:
- You can share Memory Maker benefits with friends and family linked in your My Disney Experience account.
- Add Memory Maker in advance to save $30 (unless you are a military family – then you’ll want to purchase it in the parks for a big discount).
- Look for PhotoPass opportunities around the parks, with characters, and on rides (use the My Disney Experience app to search for them).
- Ask PhotoPass photographers about special Magic Shots that feature animated effects and characters.
- Visit the Disney PhotoPass Studio in Disney Springs to take family portraits with fun backgrounds.
Ground Transportation
Disney Resort guests get great benefits for parking and ground transportation. Here’s how to take advantage of it:
- Use Disney’s complimentary Magical Express shuttle service from Orlando International Airport to skip the rental car.
- Pack a carry on bag with everything you’ll need for the first few hours so you can have Disney pick up your bags from the airport.
- Take Disney’s complimentary transportation around Walt Disney World Resort to avoid parking or car seat hassle.
- Look up transportation options in advance, especially if you’re trying to go from resort to resort.
- Use Resort Airline Check-In to skip the country at the airport for your returning flight.
Magical Extras & Disney Resort Benefits
Booking a Disney vacation package and staying at a Disney Resort offers you several awesome perks. Here’s how to use them:
- Get extra time in the parks with fewer crowds during Extra Magic Hours.
- Have souvenirs you pick up in the park delivered to your room so you don’t have to carry them around all day.
- Use your MagicBands to charge to your room so you don’t need to keep pulling out other payment methods (keep them safe and secure instead).
- Head to the mini-golf courses for some downtime with your bonus passes.
- Use your coupon booklet to save on shopping and snacks around Walt Disney World.
Finally, I have one more major tip to share with you. Want to know the best way to get the most value out of your Disney vacation package? Book your trip with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner! I help my clients make the most of their trips and offer the following services for free:
- Personalized Park Plans & Itineraries
- Expert Tips & Tricks Guides for Each Park
- Dining Recommendations & Reservations
- FastPass+ Recommendations & Reservations
- Price Watch Service
- MagicBand and My Disney Experience Assistance
- 24/7 Text Access During Travel
- General Concierge Services
If you’d like to learn more, request a free quote and consultation via my web form or send me an email at jtullino@themouseexperts.com. It costs you nothing extra to work with me, so you’ve got nothing to lose!
