We’re allllll about saving money at Disney World. After all, it’s an EXPENSIVE trip.

We know a LOT about saving money in Disney World — from sneaky ways to save money to NEW ways for 2022! This time, though, we thought we’d turn to YOU for the tips and tricks. We asked our Instagram followers about their BEST money-saving tips for Disney World and here are SIX great tricks!

1. Hunt Down Discounts!

First up, our followers recommend you hunt down discounts! One mentioned, “Get Visa discounts and Target gift card discounts,” and another said, “Get a gift card from Sam’s Club or Costco!”

These readers are talking about a GREAT tip. Many stores like Target, Sam’s Club, and Costco sometimes offer discounted tickets or discounted Disney Gift Cards. It’s definitely worth checking to see if you have access to these deals to really help stretch your money further.

But you should look for regular Disney discounts as well! Disney tends to drop discounts for slower times of the year on both tickets and hotels. Make sure you check for discounts when you book and keep an eye out for new ones to pop up! If a new discount applies to your already-booked trip, you can call and get it applied! Disney World even has a discount PAGE on the website and we cover every Disney World discount here in detail. So subscribe to our DFB newsletter to stay up to date.

While you’re at Target shop for these essentials you need in your Disney bag!

2. Don’t Buy Water or Generic Snacks!

Another tip that a lot of our followers wanted to share was to skip buying water and generic snacks. Instead, you can bring a reusable water bottle (or get FREE ice water from most quick-service spots in the park) and your own (much cheaper) snacks.

One reader noted, “No one should EVER pay over $1 for a bottle that gets hot too quickly!” When it comes to packing, another person said, “Pack your own water and snacks!”

Click here to see where you can find FREE water in Disney World!

3. Shop Smart.

Next up, our readers shared a number of ways that you can shop smart. A few spoke to bringing your rain gear so you don’t have to buy it and buying souvenirs before you arrive. One said, “Bring rain ponchos!” and another noted, “Head to the Disney outlets off-property for your souvenirs.”

There were also a bunch of tips to help with your spending mindset so you stick to your budget a bit better. Here are a few of our favorites:

• “Ask yourself how much you’ll use the item you want to buy!”
• “Limit yourself to one souvenir.”
• “Put your spending money on a gift card so you don’t blow your budget.”

Want to see spending traps you need to AVOID in Disney World? Click here!

4. Opt For Less-Expensive Experiences.

One reader pointed out that Disney World park tickets and restaurants are VERY expensive, but there are ways to opt for less-expensive fun. Their recommendation? “Get a pizza on the BoardWalk and have a picnic in the grass. Our kids had the best time playing!”

We love this tip! After all, you don’t need to be in the theme parks or a nice restaurant to have a good time at Disney World. Disney Springs, for instance, can make for a great day — even without spending much money!

To see things that are still FREE in Disney World, click here!

5. Don’t Over-Order At Restaurants.

If you DO head to a restaurant, our readers think it’s important you know how NOT to over order. There are a few tips for doing this. If you’ve got lighter eaters you can make like one of our readers, “I order kids’ meals for myself at quick-service locations. It’s less money and more room in my belly for snacks.” Another puts it simply, “Share meals.”

Speaking of snacks, another reader notes that snacks tend to be surprisingly filling and CHEAPER than restaurant meals, “Skip table-service and quick-service and get snacks instead.”

For those of us who are more food-inclined, one follower suggests, “Make a list of food items you want so you don’t accidentally get more than you planned.” DFB can help with that 😉. And, you can skip the spend on breakfast with another reader’s recommended method, “Don’t get breakfast at the parks. Have breakfast groceries delivered to your hotel!“

Click here to see 9 snacks for under $10 at Disney Springs! 

6. Don’t Stay At A Disney Hotel.

And, there are ways to save on hotels as well. One reader simply said, “Stay off-site,” and another elaborated, “Either go when the hotels are cheaper or stay off property.”

It’s true, Disney hotels come at a bit of a premium and you can often stay off-site for cheaper. Don’t want to miss out on Disney perks? Consider a Disney World Good Neighbor hotel. You’ll still get some of the perks and proximity, without as big a spend.

Want to learn more about Good Neighbor hotels? Click here!

Wow! These sure are some great tips from our followers. If you want to keep up with the Disney news AND share your own Disney knowledge, make sure to follow us on Instagram! And, keep an eye on DFB so you don’t miss a Disney beat!

To see MORE money-saving Disney tips, watch our video!

What tips do YOU have? Share them in the comments!