It is fair to say that I love to visit Disney World, Orlando. My now husband proposed outside of Cinderella’s castle, we honeymooned there and have enjoyed many holidays there. However visiting the Happiest Place On Earth can be very expensive, so I want to share 7 ways to save money at Disney World.

Emma Drew is an award winning personal finance blogger who blogs all about ways to make money, save money and live the life you want. Emma is passionate about sharing genuine money making and money saving opportunities. You can also find Emma on Twitter, Instagram or YouTube. Over to Emma...

How To Save Money at Disney World

Set a Budget

There is no denying that a visit to the mouse is expensive, so it is really important that you set a budget before you go. It might be that you set a budget for the entire holiday, or you might choose to separate it out. For example, you might choose an accommodation budget or a daily spending budget for your Orlando spending money. Whatever your budget for be sure to try to stick to it so that you don’t overdo the spending.

Check out this free printable budget planner to help prepare for your Disney Trip

Consider Renting a Villa

If you choose to stay in a Disney hotel then that will eat up the majority of your budget. For example, 5 nights at a hotel on the monorail near Magic Kingdom could set you back over £2,000 for a single room, whereas a villa with 3+ bedrooms and a private pool starts from about £600 a week in a decent location (not more than 30 minutes from the parks).

If you are visiting America from abroad then you might enjoy some of the other perks that a villa has to offer. As well as your private pool you will usually get your own laundry area, a games room, and lots of American tv programs to enjoy. You will also have a fully equipped kitchen, meaning you can save even more money by self-catering some of your meals.

Don’t Forget Tax & Tips

When you budget for your trip to Disney World don’t forget to account for sales tax and tips.

Sales tax isn’t included in the shelf label prices so you can expect to pay between 6-8% more at the till.

As for tips, most waiting staff in America earn under the minimum wage on the assumption that the rest will be made up of tips. Therefore you will be expected to tip 18-20% of the meal (pre-tax) to your server.

Take snacks into the parks with you

Paying out for snacks and meals in the parks will make a significant dent in your budget. Of course, enjoying the specialty Disney snacks and meals is part of the experience, but you can still take in some snacks into the parks with you to avoid paying out every time you need to eat.

Sign up for Coupons before you go

Did you know that there are tons of coupons for free food and other freebies for you to enjoy in Orlando? I have a blog post full of the best Orlando coupons to sign up for before you go.

Visit the supermarkets

Going to ASDA at home might not be the highlight of your week, but visiting the American supermarkets can be a theme park in itself! Okay...not quite but they are still really fun to visit. Not only is it a fun activity, but you can also stock up on drinks, snacks, and souvenirs for a fraction of the cost you will find them at the theme parks. You can also pick up Disney dressing up outfits from the supermarkets.

Don’t have Breakfast out

A trip to Denny’s for two can easily reach $30-$40 once you factor in a tip. Have breakfast in your hotel room or villa to save money. Simply buy some milk and American cereals like Lucky Charms and you will still enjoy your American style breakfast for a fraction of the cost.

Considering Sharing Meals

If you are enjoying a meal out then remember that the portion sizes are huge! I don’t know what it is about being in Orlando - maybe the heat, but I cannot eat three meals a day. The appetisers (starters) can easily be eaten as a main meal, or you can usually share a main meal between two.

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I hope these tips have helped you to save money whilst visiting The Happiest Place On Earth.  As always, if you know of any other ways to save money at DisneyWorld, please let us know in the comments below...