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So many options for transportation, food, accommodations, and more are offered at Disney World, which makes it hard to decide what is the best for your group. This post will cover every base on saving money and time: food, transportation, tickets, and more. So buckle up and prepare to learn how to get the most out of your Disney vacation!

Food Planning

Staying hydrated and well fed is an important aspect of vacationing, especially at Disney World, where each day is spent walking under the hot, central Florida sun. Disney, however, likes to take advantage of the unprepared and famished with their endless quick service locations and sky-high prices. One of the easiest ways to save money while on vacation in Walt Disney World is to plan meals: what meals your group will eat in the parks, at the hotel, and what meals you will pack for yourselves.

Eating at the Parks:

When eating at the parks, you can either choose to eat at a full service restaurant (family style or buffet), or order from a quick-service location. In order to save the most time, it is imperative to order from a quick-service location; this way groups can avoid the hours it takes to sit through a family-style dinner service to make the most out of the money spent on park tickets that day. To make things even quicker, don’t forget to mobile order through the My Disney Experience App.

My best advice for those who want to enjoy a few sit-down meals while still getting the most out of their days is to plan a few sit-down meals spread out throughout your group’s vacation. For example, when I went on a full week trip, I planned for two lunches (to take breaks from the heat, and because my family likes to take a mid-day break before staying out late in the parks) and one dinner. Disney restaurants do have a policy that allows guests to cancel their reservations 24 hours beforehand without charge, meaning that if you and your group change your mind, you don’t have to worry about cancelling your reservation days or weeks in advance.

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Ordering Groceries:

One thing that has helped my family get through every Disney World vacation is ordering groceries. This way we don’t have to worry about packing snacks; in addition, we use this opportunity to pack lunches for a couple days to save money, and so we don’t have to worry about finding food for lunch in the parks. This doesn’t mean that we don’t try the Disney World treats, it is vacation after all, but limiting the amount of money spent on food in the parks will definitely pay off in the future.

My best recommendation for groceries is to either:

• If you have a rental car, drive to whichever nearby supermarket that is best suited for your group, or
• Online order groceries through either Garden Grocer or Amazon Prime/Whole Foods

My family has always ordered online through Amazon Prime/Whole Foods and Garden Grocer, and has had great experiences with both services. There is a fee to deliver the items, but no fee to store them in bell services while you wait. Although Amazon Prime/Whole Foods groceries have always been convenient as Amazon Prime members, if you want something that is easy and guaranteed to be delivered to your hotel chose Garden Grocer; they have been delivering to the Walt Disney World resorts for many years (and solely deliver to the resorts of central Florida), and have lots of experience in handling and delivering groceries, as well as great communication to customers about the status of their order. Amazon Prime/Whole Foods is the more flexible option, as you are even able to order groceries the day you want them delivered; however, with Garden Grocer, be sure to place your order at least a couple days in advance (over a week in advance during the busy seasons) to guarantee that there is a delivery time slot for you. Also be on the eye out for early bird deals; Garden Grocer is famous for giving customers discounts for ordering multiple weeks in advance!

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Transportation

Bus:

Buses are the primary mode of transportation throughout Walt Disney World. They run on a schedule which is regularly updated in the “My Resort” section of the My Disney Experience App (very helpful to download for your future vacation!), and are able to transport guests from their resort to each park, as well as Disney Springs. Although they are not able to transport guests to and from different resorts directly, it is easy to travel to different resorts: just take your resort’s bus to Disney Springs or a park, then transfer to the bus of the resort you wish to visit. The bus schedules are not always the most accurate, but the largest delay I have ever experienced was 10 minutes after the scheduled arrival time. Like all other methods of Disney transportation, busses are free for all guests!

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Skyliner:

The Disney Skyliner is the newest form of Disney World transportation, having opened in September 2019, and it is a gondola system that is able to transport guests between certain resorts and theme parks in Walt Disney World. It has stations at Disney’s Riviera Resort (which is also the station to travel to Epcot), Disney’s Pop Century Resort, Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, and a hub at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort. All of the lines connect to the hub at the Caribbean Beach Resort, where guests can either choose to travel to Disney’s Riviera Resort/Epcot (both stops are on the same line), Disney’s Pop Century/Art of Animation Resort (both stops are on the same line), or Disney’s H0llywood Studios. Skyliner transportation allows guests to travel between resorts and parks within minutes; however, the only downside is that it suffers from frequent closures due to weather. Like all other methods of Disney transportation, the Skyliner is free of charge!

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Boat:

The boats at Disney are a fun, but also very limited, method of transportation. In the Magic Kingdom Resort Area, the Polynesian Resort, Wilderness Lodge, and Grand Floridian Resort use a ferry as one of their transportation methods to and from the Magic Kingdom. Ferryboats also are able to bring guests to  and from Magic Kingdom and the Transportation and Ticket Center (TTA), where guests park their cars to visit Magic Kingdom for the day.

There is also a ferryboat in the Epcot and Hollywood Studios area that offers transportation in between Disney’s Beach Club and Boardwalk resorts, and the Walt Disney World Dolphin and Swan Hotels. Lastly, ferryboats offer transportation between Disney Springs and the resorts in that area, including: Disney’s Old Key West Resort, Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Spa, and Disney’s Port Orleans French Quarter and Riverside Resorts.

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Uber/Lyft:

Ride-share services such as Uber and Lyft are not affiliated with Disney, but are a great method of transportation as well. If your group is staying on Disney property and wants to visit somewhere that Disney transportation is unable to bring you (such as Universal Studios Florida), then these services are great options. The price is dependent on the length of the trip and the size of your group, but can be well worth it on days when Disney transportation is slow or just not working out for you, or when you want to explore somewhere new!

My Disney Experience and Genie+

As mentioned before, My Disney Experience is a must when traveling to Disney World. This app allows guests to buy, store, and scan their mobile tickets (for park entry), make park pass reservations (due to Covid-19, guests must reserve which park they want to visit first), see the wait times in all of the parks, mobile order food from the majority of Disney World quick service restaurants, view guests’ Photopass pictures, and so much more. This is the app that allows guests to join virtual queues when they open up for new and popular rides every morning (right now it is required to ride Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind).

Disney Genie is a free tool that allows guests to be able to plan out their day, located inside the My Disney Experience App. Based on which park guests are visiting each day (and whatever preferences for rides and shows that guests enter into the app beforehand), Disney Genie puts together an itinerary which shows what activity/ride/show is best to do for your group and when, all depending on the wait times of the moment, and the trends of when each event is the busiest. It is a reliable and helpful tool if you want to be able to experience the most with the shortest waits.

The add-on feature for Disney Genie is called Genie+, and for those who are familiar with the recently retired Disney Fastpasses, it is the upgraded version of that service. This service costs $15 per day (per ticket), and allows guests to make an unlimited number of “Lightening Lane” reservations: meaning that you get to bypass the regular line for these attractions. The rules of the Lightening Lane are: you can only make one reservation at a time, and you can only make a new reservation either 1- after you have scanned your current Lightening Lane pass and entered the queue for that attraction or 2- after two hours have passed since you made your first Lightening Lane reservation. The two-hour rule is not heavily advertised, but it is what allowed my sister and I to reserve upwards of 7 Lightening Lane reservations each day (Disney has announced that the Genie+ system should give guests about 3 reservations each day). The availability for the more popular attractions runs out quicker, so be strategic about what attractions you pick first, and don’t forget to set two hour alarms to reserve your next pass! In my experience, the $15 is completely worth it if you are smart about the way you use Genie+; during my last vacation with my sister we were able to reserve so many Lightening Lane passes that we only had to wait in five or less standby lines the entire trip!

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Watch out! There are several “high ticket” attractions that require you to reserve and pay for the Lightening Lane pass separately then just buying Genie+. The most popular attractions in each park require you to pay between $9-$15 depending on how busy the season is. Disney, however, changed the rules for the summer months (and has extended this rule to the fall as well) to allow Genie+ users to reserve the majority of these “pay-per-ride” attractions, meaning that if you want to skip the line on all the high-ticket rides, there are only a bare few that you will have to pay separately for.

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Resorts

I know that I already wrote two posts dedicated to describing all of the Disney Resorts, but many people prefer to stay off of Disney Property in order to save the extra dime. Based on my experience, there are so many perks to staying at a Disney resort of any level that it does not seem worth it to stay off property.

Firstly, Disney Resort guests are all permitted to enter any park on any given day 30 minutes before the park officially opens, giving resort guests the opportunity to wake up early and skip the lines before the rest of the crowd can enjoy. Secondly, Disney resort guests are allowed to join any and all virtual queues at 7 am, while non-resort guests have to wait until they have scanned their ticket into the park each morning; this gives resort guests the advantage in riding the newest and most exciting rides in each park before everyone else (virtual queues are also free!). Lastly, if resort guests buy too many souvenirs (or one big one), Disney World offers a free service that ships merchandise back to your resort by the end of the day!

Miscellaneous

Club Cool

This newly reopened Epcot attraction features different brands and flavors of soda from around the world! It is a free taste-testing experience sponsored by Coca-Cola that allows guests to sample as many flavors as they would like. One word of advice – be careful of the Beverly!

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Water

Many people waste $3 or even more buying water bottles at various Disney locations. A secret that not many are aware of is that you can actually get water for free at Disney World! The majority of quick-service locations will gladly hand out free glasses of water, as long as you aren’t afraid to ask.

Celebration Buttons

Celebration buttons are a fun, free way to celebrate different events in your life and occasions for visiting Disney World! They include buttons to celebrate marriage, your first visit, birthdays, and an “I’m Celebrating…” pin that can be customized to whatever it is that you’re happy for (when I last visited, I wrote that I was celebrating my graduation). Be sure to ask the front desk at your Disney World Resort, any merchandise store in Walt Disney World, or Guest Services in the park for buttons for yourself and your group!

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As explained in the first post, there are so many options when it comes to booking a Disney Hotel! So before deciding on which resort is the best fit for your group, it is important to ask yourself some questions regarding your group’s personal interests and preferences!

Does your group prefer to pay for a premium room with a nicer view or more convenient location? Do you like being closer to the parks, with the option of using the Skyliner or even water transport (boats)?  Do you mind spending a bit more than the Value Resorts for extra amenities and theming (subtle, but it’s there!)? Want to vacation in a Deluxe Resort, but want to save some money? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then the Moderate Resorts are the perfect fit for your group!

Moderate Resorts provide the perfect balance of on-site benefits, theming, and locations: all for a moderate price (hence the name!). There are four Moderate Resorts, with many being all-around fan favorites!

• Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort– this resort is perfect for those who prefer to stay in a large resort, as this resort is divided into five different sections, each themed to a different island in the Caribbean. The pool is themed to a colonial Spanish fortress, emanating the scenes and spirit of adventure from Pirates of the Caribbean; there is also an island that can be walked to and explored from the resort, allowing guests to relax in the middle of the lake next to the resort. Caribbean Beach also is the only moderate hotel with a Skyliner station, providing easy access to Hollywood Studios and Epcot.

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• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort (French Quarter)– this resort is the place to stay for those who want to throw themselves into the spirit of Mardi Gras! The theming at this resort spans from Southern manor-style, to bayou theming, to hidden references to the Disney Classic “Princess and the Frog” scattered throughout the resort. It is the smallest resort on property (which is nice for coming back after a long day in the parks), and is easy to navigate.

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• Disney’s Port Orleans Resort (Riverside)– the sister resort to Port Orleans French Quarter, Port Orleans Riverside is themed to be a more outdoorsy adventure; guests can walk the Sassagoula River (or boat down it!) to Port Orleans French Quarter, and hosts a variety of fishing holes, campfires, horse-drawn carriages, bike rentals, and so much more! The theming inside the resort is nothing less than royal, featuring none other than the Disney Princesses themselves.

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• Coronado Springs Resort– the theming of Coronado Springs is inspired by the vibrant history of Central America and the art of Salvador Dali; the rooms are divided into three sections of theming (Casitas, Ranchos, and Cabanas), and the pool sports a 50-foot Aztec-themed pyramid, and a 123-foot waterslide for guests to enjoy. It is also the hotel with the consistently cheapest rates (out of the other moderate hotels)

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If you are still lost and confused on where to stay after checking out both the Value and Moderate Resorts, then the Deluxe Resorts might be the right fit for your group! The Deluxe Resorts offers just as much quality, cleanliness, and on site benefits as the Value and Moderate Resorts, but go above and beyond with more amenities and conveniences than the rest (including a valet service, health clubs/spas/workout areas, and spacious rooms). These resorts are a perfect fit for those who are willing and able to pay the extra dime for the extra amenities, appreciate the subtly ingrained Disney theming, and want to spend lots of their vacation relaxing at and exploring their resort.

There are eight Deluxe Resorts:

• Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge– although this resort is segregated from the rest (located near Disney’s Animal Kingdom), it is absolutely beautiful. It is themed to the African Savanna, with rooms sporting Lion King touches and decor; to top it off, this resort hosts a variety of Disney’s wildlife animals: zebras, giraffes, and so much more can be viewed out the windows of the resort! The dining options are African and Indian themed (and absolutely delicious), and even offers Savanna tours in the early mornings and late evenings.

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• Disney’s Beach Club Resort– this resort is themed after the beaches and waterparks of New England; as a New-Englander myself, this theme deters me from wanting to stay at the resort, but could be a fun adventure for those looking to get a taste of New England without actually traveling there! It is situated a minute walk away from the Boardwalk Inn, giving guests the benefit of Disney’s Boardwalk access, a short walk to Epcot (and the Skyliner station there), as well as boat transportation to the Epcot park.

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• Disney’s Boardwalk Inn– this resort is reminiscent of boardwalk and beach carnivals, sporting a classy 1940s boardwalk festival vibe. The slide in the pool itself is modeled to look like an old-fashioned wooden roller coaster, with the pool par in the shape of a carousel! Another perk to the resort is that it is right next to the Disney Boardwalk, filled with many shops, dance halls, and restaurants to explore. This resort is located in the Epcot area, meaning that the walk to Epcot (and the Skyliner station there) is only about a couple minutes; if guests do not want to walk to the park, there are boats that sail across the lake to Epcot, allowing visitors to enjoy the water and the view.

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• Disney’s Contemporary Resort– this hotel is modern and chic, being just a couple-minute monorail ride (which actually navigates through the hotel!) and 10-minute walk away from the Magic Kingdom. It is adorned with simple and modern Disney touches, as well as Mary Blair’s art (the creator of It’s a Small World). One of the most popular breakfast places resides here: Chef Mickeys, filled with Mickey and his pals every morning to greet guests.

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• Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa– this hotel is by far the most elegant (and most expensive) resort on Disney property. The decor and theming is breathtaking: hosting beautiful chandeliers and flower arrangements, elegant restaurants and tea shops, and the most subtle yet classy Disney touches throughout the resort. This resort offers a state-of-the-art spa, and is the only resort that receives a life-size ginger bread house (that sells gingerbread!) during the Christmas season. It is also just a walk or monorail ride away from Magic Kingdom!

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• Disney’s Polynesian Resort– this resort is just a monorail ride away from Magic Kingdom, making it perfect for guests who prefer to watch the fireworks from across the lake and travel to Magic Kingdom almost every day! It is the only resort to sell its own Dole Whip (a classic and delicious Disney treat), and hosts three of the most renowned Disney dining spots: Kona Café, ‘Ohana Breakfast, and Trader Sam’s Grog Grotto. There are two pools on property, and newly renovated rooms themed to Disney’s Moana!

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• Disney’s Wilderness Lodge– this resort is perfect for those who don’t mind staying a little off the beaten path, want to enjoy time at their resort, and appreciate the beauty of nature. It tends to be the most underrated of the Disney Deluxe Resorts, as it is in the “Magic Kingdom” resort area, but is the only resort in that area to not be connected to the monorail system. Apart from it’s beautiful villas, stunning pool, and elegant nature theming, Wilderness Lodge offers a camping site for those who yearn to stay in the woods of Walt Disney World (either with a tent or RV). The resort also features a geyser that erupts every so often, making a stay at this resort the most luxurious camping trip of a lifetime!

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• Disney’s Yacht Club Resort– this is the sister resort to Beach Club, located right next store to each other, and sharing similar New England inspired themes. The Yacht Club Resort is known to be the quieter and more “adult” of the two, featuring brass decor and balconies in every room! It shares the pool with the Beach Club, and offers more fine dining options than the Beach Club.

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Finally, there are several resorts that are strictly for Disney Vacation Club (DVC) members; however, it is more than possible (and very common) for non-DVC members to stay there! These resorts are:

• Disney’s Riviera Resort– this is Disney’s newest resort (and my sister and I’s favorite), which blends the themes of the European Riviera with classic Disney to create a stunning resort. Classical music dances around you through the halls, and over 40 original works of art (Disney inspired, of course) decorate the walls. The food options here are stunning, with homemade pasta from Topolino’s Terance, and the cutest French bakery/coffee shop titled Le Petit Café. This is one of the only Deluxe Resorts to host it’s own Skyliner station, making it a prime location to for those who want easy transportation to the parks each day.

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• Disney’s Saratoga Springs and Old Key West Resort– although these are two completely different places in real life, both are perfect for history fanatics who enjoy going back in time to the 19th century. Saratoga Springs recreates the aura of horse racing and the mineral springs, while Old Key West embodies a large and relaxing Key West community from the turn of the century.

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Now that (hopefully) you know where you would like to stay during your fantastic vacation to Disney World, it’s time to take care of the rest of business: how to save money! It’s no lie, going to Disney World is not a cheap vacation, but next week you will be able to learn the best money saving tips and tricks when it comes to buying tickets, waiting in lines/skipping lines, groceries, transportation, and more!