Identical to the experience autos on Dumbo the Flying Elephant, costs at Disney parks preserve going up, up, up. If I had a magic wand, I would use its powers to deliver again all of the issues that was once free at Disney like airport transportation, MagicBands and skip-the-line entry, simply to call a number of.
Alas, my fairy godmother appears to have misplaced my wand (or perhaps it was misplaced in transit) so I’ve no magical powers with which to make Disney extra inexpensive. However I do have the subsequent neatest thing – an inventory of ideas and tips that may assist reduce the results of Disney’s rising costs so you are able to do Disney with out busting your trip finances.
How to save cash on Disney tickets
Disney ticket costs improve almost yearly, normally with out warning. If you’re planning a visit and do not buy your tickets earlier than the costs go up, you will be caught paying the upper value. Only recently, Disneyland quietly raised costs in a single day, with the typical price of a single-day ticket going up by $10.
Join our every day publication
That won’t sound like a lot by itself, however it quickly provides up in case you issue within the variety of folks in your social gathering and what number of days you propose to go to.
Associated: How I saved tons of on a automobile rental when combining it with theme park tickets
There’s a workaround that means that you can buy tickets on the previous costs, however you solely have a brief window of time to take benefit. Respected Disney ticket resellers like Undercover Vacationer and Get Away As we speak normally have an allotment of tickets that they’ll promote on the previous value till they run out. Financial savings can run as excessive as $90 per ticket in case you act quick after a value improve. That is doubtlessly tons of of {dollars} in your pocket in your lodge, eating, souvenirs and different Disney bills.
Tips on how to get into the parks with out paying for MagicBands
I would be mendacity if I stated Disney’s new MagicBand+ is not a ton of enjoyable to play with on the parks. Just like the previous MagicBand, you should utilize MagicBand+ to get into the parks, open your lodge room door, entry skip-the-line Lightning Lanes, hyperlink PhotoPass images and cost gadgets to your lodge room invoice. And, it’s also possible to use it to play interactive video games within the parks.
As you would possibly count on, these perks include a value that runs wherever between $34.99 and $44.99. It can save you as much as $10 with a pre-arrival low cost and Disney Trip Membership members or annual passholders can save 20 p.c. Conventional MagicBands begin at $19.99 earlier than any reductions, which solely stings as a result of till not too long ago MagicBands have been offered freed from cost to Disney lodge company, they usually at all times had been, ever since they have been first launched in 2013.
The excellent news is you could nonetheless use any MagicBands you’ve got mendacity round from previous holidays so long as the battery nonetheless works. I’ve MagicBands which might be two or three years previous that also work simply superb.
In even higher information, you do not really want a MagicBand in any respect. At Disney World, you’ll be able to ask for a “Key to the World” card at visitor companies or from the lodge entrance desk in case you are staying at a Disney lodge. Key to the World playing cards seem like lodge key playing cards (however cuter) and carry out all the identical features as the unique MagicBands.
At Disneyland and Walt Disney World, you should utilize every park’s respective app in your cell phone to do every part a MagicBand does, together with charging choose meals and merchandise purchases to your lodge folio. For some other purchases, you can use the digital pockets in your telephone with out ever needing to drag out your bodily pockets.
Tips on how to (kind of) lower your expenses on parking at Disney
One other freebie that disappeared from Disney World lately is free lodge parking for in a single day company. Visitors of Disney World resorts now pay between $15 and $25 per evening for parking, relying on which class your resort falls into.
In case you park a automobile in a single day at a Disney lodge, there’s actually no method round this charge, however what chances are you’ll not know is that lodge company can park at Disney theme parks freed from cost. On events once I do have a automobile on property, I normally choose to drive my automobile to the park relatively than await Disney transportation. When I’m touring with children (and a double stroller), it may be extra handy to load up the automobile than lug every part onto one in every of Disney’s buses.
It would not change the associated fee, however the comfort of parking totally free at Disney World’s theme parks makes the tablet a bit simpler to swallow.
How to save cash on transportation to Disney
Getting between Orlando Worldwide Airport (MCO) and Walt Disney World was once free to lodge company through Disney’s Magical Specific (might she relaxation in peace). As a substitute, a handful of options have popped up, however they sadly all carry a charge.
Of these, I’ve seen the very best pricing from Sunshine Flyer. Their grownup pricing is similar as its competitor, Mears Join: $16 one-way or $32 round-trip, however Sunshine Flyer’s kids’s pricing is significantly much less. Mears Join prices $13.50 one-way for youths and $27 round-trip, whereas Sunshine Flyer prices solely $10 and $20, respectively. Additionally they run occasional promotions the place children experience totally free with a paying grownup.
Relying on what number of company are in your social gathering, each companies are usually inexpensive than taking an Uber or Lyft from the airport, which may run increased than $70 for a one-way journey throughout busy occasions.
Tips on how to benefit from the parks with out spending cash on Disney Genie+
It nonetheless pains me to consider the times when skipping the road at Disney World was free utilizing FastPass+. Sure, there was some nervousness round waking up at 6 a.m. 90 days earlier than every journey to try to get probably the most coveted FastPasses after which refreshing the Disney app all through my journey to snag a number of extra.
Sadly, FastPass+ has gone the best way of the Dodo and was changed in late 2021 with a paid skip-the-line service referred to as Disney Genie+.
Disney Genie+ is obtainable at Disney World and Disneyland…for a charge. At Disneyland, it’s going to price you $25 per individual per day to make use of Genie+ (FastPass was free at Disneyland, or you can improve to MaxPass for $15 per day, which included picture downloads). When Genie+ was launched at Disney World, company paid $15 per individual per day. Disney World not too long ago moved to a variable pricing construction with every day costs ranging between $15 and $22. Bear in mind, these costs do not embody the extra price of particular person Lightning Lane entry for Disney’s hottest rides.
Whereas it actually can prevent time in line, you do not have to buy Genie+ to take pleasure in your Disney trip. Together with Genie+, Disney additionally rolled out a free service referred to as Disney Genie that helps you propose your day by displaying rides with low wait occasions, creating a personalised itinerary based mostly in your preferences and extra. It’s possible you’ll not get on Disney’s most in-demand rides except you might be prepared to attend, however it does current a chance to take a look at rides with decrease waits that you just normally skip over. It’s possible you’ll discover a new favourite.
And in case you discover the parks are so crowded that you do not need to wait in line, there are many issues you are able to do at Disney exterior the parks (even with no park ticket).
Backside line
As with most issues, there isn’t any getting round the truth that visiting Disneyland and Disney World retains getting dearer. Generally it’s a must to get inventive to make your travels inexpensive and the following tips are an incredible place to start out. It’s possible you’ll also have a couple of dollars left over to deal with your self to a Dole Whip (or two).
