5 Tips for Disney Trip Value (from a non-resort style family)
If the idea of spending a European vacation budget in 4 days at a resort makes you anxious, well welcome to our post!
We had been on a Disney cruise and visited Disney five years before this trip, so we knew what we were getting into. The trip was all centered around our daughter’s 11th birthday. She was really excited about the trip - and as parents typically do - we made it a magical birthday to remember. No matter what you do - it’s going to be expensive. Try to find the best value for your dollar along the way.
My daughter is an incredible adventurer and she can enjoy camping in the woods, skiing down a mountain, chilling at the beach. . .or doing it up at a resort with all the expensive add-ons tempting you in every direction you turn. She was over the princess phase - but still really enjoys Disney productions. Her 5th grade play coming up was “Beauty and the Beast” so I think that got her energized about going to Disney again (she went for the first time when she was 5 years old). She really wanted to stay in the Disney resort lodging on the park property and pack in as much time at the parks as possible.
The agenda was pretty simple, so you can get a good reference of what we did:
Day 1: drive from Atlanta and check-in at the hotel
Day 2: Magic Kingdom
Day 3: Hollywood Studios
Day 4: Animal Kingdom plus Magic Kingdom late-night!
Day 5: hang out at hotel, check-out and drive back to Atlanta
We chose not to visit Epcot or get the park hopper passes (which let you visit more than one park per day) as it would have added a lot of ticket costs and likely another night stay at the resort lodging. We used a service called Mouse Counselors which is an independent travel agent who specializes in planning Disney vacations. These travel agents are experts in Disney parks, resorts, cruises, and other experiences. They provide personalized advice, help with booking, and assist in creating the perfect Disney trip tailored to each family’s needs. It’s a free service for the client and I believe the independent agent gets a kickback from Disney for the trip. I didn’t feel like we got up charged along the way for this service and they were VERY knowledgeable about the ever-changing Disney landscape.
Here are the top value items we experienced and would recommend from our Disney trip (in no particular order).
Lightening Lane Passes.
A Disney Lightning Lane (previously known as FastPass) is a paid service at Disney theme parks that allows guests to bypass the regular standby lines for select attractions and experiences, reducing wait times. Some rides are single use pass (the top attractions) are others are included in a group of 3 passes, with different tiers in each one.
Time is money and getting the most out of your time at each park is worth it. Standing in line for 60 minutes for one ride is really frustrating, for parents and adults (especially if you don’t even know if they will like the ride). If you have one kid who doesn’t like the thrill rides, you can also just purchase for two people - and split up for a short time. We did this often, as my daughter was at the age of all the thrill rides . . .and my son was just getting use to roller coasters.
The value of this again comes from not wasting your time waiting in line, but another side benefit is it gives you a nice agenda for the day. . .and with all the options, knowing you have a Lightening Pass for 9am at a certain ride helps push the family towards one direction over another.
Get to know the system! You might have to check your phone too much, but while you are inline - you can start looking at different times at other popular attractions (or ride your favorite again). The availability updates CONSTANTLY, and if you are first to grab that timing - it’s a great way to fill in the afternoon to evening agenda without being frustrated with a huge crowds and long lines.
Multi passes (per park) are about $20-30 per person - get one for each family member. You don’t need to waste these on shows though.
Singe ride passes (for the most popular attractions) and be $10-20 per person. Only get for the thrill seekers or age appropriate family members. You can add this on to your multi-pass.
Pin Collectables
Even though we had been to Disney before, I forgot how widespread these pins are. They are EVERYWHERE. We bought our kids a starter set for about $40 each (which comes with 4 or 5 pins and a sash to attach them to). Our kids instantly loved the idea of being able to walk up to a pinboard and trade out ANY of the pins they had with something more interesting.
Since every 3 feet there is a new gift shop and every ride has a gift shop at the end, this would occupy the kids so they wouldn’t be negotiating for a new toy every gift shop. Order a set before you visit Disney (just make sure it’s official Disney pins and not random knock-off’s) or buy early at a gift shop at your resort or at the park (they are everywhere). Both kids got really into this - and being a huge collector growing up - it was cool seeing them get into it.
After Hours Magic Kingdom
Ok, this is a bit expensive to be honest, but in comparing to a park hopper add-on, I think a good value. The park hopper is added to each day of your park visit (you can’t select just one day unfortunately). So if you are trying to get multiple parks in one-day, this after hours option is great. We probably enjoyed this MOST out of our whole trip.
The Magic Kingdom After Hours event is a separately ticketed experience allowing guests to enjoy the park with significantly reduced crowds and shorter wait times for popular attractions. It typically runs from 9:00 PM to midnight, with limited access to rides, along with free snacks like ice cream, popcorn, and drinks. Ticket prices range from $120 - $160 per person, depending on the date, and the event is held on select nights throughout the year.
There are almost no lines and the park crowd is EMPTY compared to the afternoon. Kids got to literally ride attractions back to back (if there were no lines) and got to run around the park like kids. Parents didn’t have to freak out wondering where their kids were hiding in the crowds, it was a lot less stressful. You also get premium view of late night fireworks, with no obscene crowds (although my kids probably would have rather just kept going on rides than watch the fireworks).
We were able to ride all the favorites and more with 5-10 minute wait times. The staff are a little bit more laidback, and so are the guests. We did Animal Kingdom in the morning (which is a super easy and relaxing park) and did the after-hours at Magic Kingdom - arriving around 9pm (after a quick rest at the hotel).
Meals and Snacks
Ok, everyone probably knows you can bring in snacks to the parks - but make sure you load up. You can take your backpack on almost every ride (Tron roller coaster only one I remember having to use a locker).
Breakfast options for kids - were pretty reasonably priced and my kids loved the waffles. Super crispy and decent portion to split.
Rainforest Cafe (outside Animal Kingdom) was a great dinner spot on the way out. The ambience inside is VERY cool and lots of food and drink options. Good way to still feel like you are at the park and have a decent meal. I didn’t see this one recommend much - so wanted to include (although not sure if this fits the value tips or just general tips).
Star Wars at Hollywood Studios
Ok - I am a HUGE Star Wars nerd and my kids have been made to watch the entire series during sick or stay-at-home days. If you like Star Wars (and aren’t in the nerd category) I still think this tip is appropriate.
The Star Wars section of Hollywood Studios is amazing. You get transformed into another galaxy and all the details are spot-on. You can walk around and just enjoy all the different landscapes and buildings put together by the amazing Disney creators. A lot more characters are just walking around for random pictures and shock factor.
There is also a ‘smuggler’s bar’ where you can take a break from the heat and grab a nice drink (fun non-alcoholic options for the kiddos too). The Star Wars: Oga's Cantina is a themed bar located in Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios. It offers a unique, immersive experience with Star Wars-inspired drinks (both alcoholic and non-alcoholic) and a lively atmosphere featuring alien DJs and interactive elements. Reservations are highly recommended, as it can get busy, but walk-ups are sometimes available if you’re lucky.
Disney is constantly changing and I already know they have A LOT of changes coming up for the 2025 season and beyond. Hope these tips get you some more value on your trip and remember - it’s for the kiddos.
Cheers!