A Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort vacation has long been an expensive endeavor, but a string of recent price increases across domestic Disney parks is pushing vacationers to pinch pennies.
This fall, Walt Disney World raised Annual Pass prices by up to $100 depending on pass level. A few weeks before the increase, the price of a Disneyland Resort Magic Key — its version of an Annual Pass — rose across all tiers. Its priciest, the Inspire Key, now costs 20% more. Single-day tickets at Disneyland also saw a bump in cost, according to Deadline.
Additionally, Disney launched a new Lightning Lane Premier Pass, offering skip-the-line privileges without the need to book return times. After tax, the park’s premium tier Lightning Lane Pass costs between $137.39 and $478.19 daily, depending on the date and theme park visited.
Despite the perpetual rise in cost, travel experts offer evergreen tips on saving money when visiting the House of Mouse. Cost-saving measures, both small and large in scale, add up throughout one trip, providing families with some financial relief.
Hotels Offer Significant Savings
Hotel accommodations are among the biggest line items in a vacation budget. However, travelers knowledgeable about hotel discounts stand to save considerable cash on a Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort vacation.
For Monica Fish, frequent traveler and founder of Planner at Heart, maximizing savings means looking into timeshare programs, including ones offered by Disney and other major hotel chains. “Many people don’t know that Orlando has more than 100 timeshare resorts,” says Fish. “Renting a room from an owner who isn’t using theirs can mean big savings, as much as 50 to 75 percent off hotel direct rates.”
Theme park journalist Megan duBois doubles down on timeshare programs to save money on a Disney vacation. For duBois, renting Disney Vacation Club (DVC) points provides the ability to stay at Disney’s top-tier resorts that often price families out when paying with cash.
Sharing a recent experience renting DVC points, duBois says, “I recently made a reservation at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge in a one-bedroom villa with a full kitchen and a washer and dryer for $300 a night, compared to the $900 that Walt Disney World was charging.” duBois points out the need for flexibility when renting DVC points, as the most significant savings often come at the last minute.
New for 2025, guests staying at a Disney World resort hotel receive complimentary admission to their water parks on check-in day. Eligible guests’ names must appear on the hotel reservation to redeem this perk. This new offering is another means of saving money, especially for families looking to include water parks in their itinerary.
Skip Pricey Add-Ons
While families must contend with the rising cost of entering Walt Disney World or Disneyland Resort, ticket resellers offer some respite. Gavin Doyle, founder of Mickey Visit and bestselling author of Disneyland Secrets, notes, “Through Mickey Visit, you can get exclusive lower prices on Disneyland and Disney World tickets when you buy through our links to our travel partner, Get Away Today.”
Aside from ticket discounts, reliable money-saving methods in Disney’s theme parks involve eliminating pricey add-ons. “A Disney trip is often pricey because of all the things that come with it. However, it doesn’t have to be,” shares New York Times bestselling author and Delish Knowledge founder Alex Caspero. Capitalizing on savings outside the ticket price “can be a way to make a trip more budget-friendly,” says Caspero.
For many families, saving cash includes strategies like cutting down on pricey snacks and beverages, which add up quickly throughout the day. “Packing your own snacks and water bottles can help to cut down on expenses inside the park,” Caspero adds.
Kimberly Fidler, Vice President of Marketing for Get Away Today, doubles down on the cost of dining as one area families stand to save. Fidler adds, “I like to Instacart breakfast items and snacks to save money and time. Some meals [at the Disney parks] are big enough to share, so we also like to do that.” Disney also allows outside food and nonalcoholic beverages inside the parks, opening the door to more potential savings.
Disney excels at advertising add-ons, like Park Hopping between the four Disney World theme parks and Lightning Lane passes, as necessities. However, Fidler emphasizes that avoiding these costly additions means lessening the overall cost. Fidler shares, “If you really need to save cash, buying One Park Per Day tickets will save a good chunk. You can also take advantage of rope dropping instead of Lightning Lanes and plan more shows during the busier times of the day.”
“Rope dropping,” Disney-speak for arriving at the park gates before the posted opening time, lets families tackle several rides before crowds arrive. This strategy alleviates the need to buy into Disney’s skip-the-line services, known as Lightning Lane Pass, a once-complimentary feature included in the cost of theme park admission.
