How to Save Money for your Disney (or any other) Trip

How many times have we all started planning for a big family vacation and then started second-guessing our decisions because of the price tag? Planning for a Disney vacation can cause massive sticker shock, so I’m going to offer some suggestions in order to set aside money to help pay for your trip. There are referral codes linked in this post, and if you sign up for any of them I receive a small incentive.

Sell your stuff

Nothing clears my head (and house) like a good purge! Whenever the seasons change, you’ll find me filling garbage bags full of things that are taking up space but not being used anymore. It ranges from clothing, shoes, sports equipment, home furnishings, and more. My kids are currently growing like weeds as well, so they outgrow clothing and shoes faster than they can wear them out. If there’s still lots of life left in something but we can’t use it anymore, I sell it. Once a year, I’ll also host a garage sale at my house and invite my friends to join in. It gives us a chance to clear out the clutter, and make a little money. An added bonus is that when you have help, the set-up and takedown is so much easier! All the money I make from selling things goes into a savings account for later use.

Get a credit card with a good rewards program

When we decided to take our first Disney trip as a family of 5, the cost of the trip went up exponentially! I immediately applied for a card. The rewards program gives you up to a $300 statement credit with a minimum spend amount in the first three months, along with up to 2% in Disney rewards dollars. It also gives you discounts on shopping and dining purchases, as well as special cardmember photo opportunities at Disney parks. There are also periodic Disney Visa cardholder discounts offered on resort hotel stays, which end up saving you a lot of money! Disney vacation packages sometimes qualify for interest-free financing, which will allow you to spread your payments out a bit more if you wish. (Be sure to check the Chase Disney Visa website for current offers to see exact details.) Other credit cards that could be beneficial to saving for your trip are through Southwest or Delta Airlines, among others, that give you points to use toward your airfare.

Use couponing apps

I like to consider myself frugal, and had been using a couple couponing apps. But once our reservation for our Disney trip was booked, I dove headfirst into using apps to save as much money as possible! I started doing surveys on Swagbucks, scanning my grocery receipts at Ibotta, Fetch, and Receipt Hog, then doing my online purchases through sites like Rakuten and RetailMeNot. All of these apps offer cash back, bonuses, or rewards for shopping at various retailers through those apps. When I was hardcore into using all of these apps, I saved over $1000 to put toward our trip!

Purchase discounted gift cards

If you’re doing a Disney trip, be sure to buy Disney gift cards! You can purchase them at a discount from Sam’s Club, BJ’s Warehouse, or Target using their RED card. Buying through these retailers saves you about 4-5% off the value of the card. Best Buy has recently been having periodic promotions on discounted Disney gift cards as well, at a savings of 10%, so be sure to check often! A website called Raise also sells discounted gift cards of all kinds, so you may get lucky and be able to purchase some discounted airline cards to put toward your trip as well. I have used this site to buy discounted Cabela’s cards too, so if you’re looking to make a big purchase, be sure to check here!

Take on a side job

I’m a stay at home mom and when my kids were younger and not yet in school, there wasn’t much I could do to earn extra income to put toward our trip. But I could babysit for others! I didn’t do it full time, but I would offer to take care of my friends’ kids when they didn’t have childcare available, or if there was a day off of school. Now that all my kids are in school, I will substitute for our school cook for a little extra cash (and I get to see my kids during the day!). The options for side gigs these days are endless…become a Door Dasher, walk dogs, offer lawn care services, run errands…the list is endless!

Get discounted Disney apparel for your trip

Nothing says “Disney Vacation” like matching family shirts for each day of your trip! Options abound for themed shirts and accessories for the entire family. Brand reps are available to promote a business’s product, and lots of times will offer a discount or free shipping on your order. One such business is Sweet Magnolia Tees and More. Take a look at the fantastic options available! Use the code MOUSE EARS to get free shipping on your purchase of $75 or more. Remember also, that shirts for most small business owners are made to order, so their turnaround times can be on the longer side. Be sure to plan accordingly!

So many options are available to help save money for your trip, no matter where you go. It can seem overwhelming to begin saving for your trip, but with some dedicated time, work, and creativity, you can come up with countless ways to set aside money for your next vacation! Please share in the comments what you do to save for your trips!