10 Ways to Save Time and Money on a Walt Disney World Vacation

The "Most Magical Place on Earth" can sometimes be referred to as the "Most Expensive Place on Earth". But with these tips, you can save a lot with minimal effort at Walt Disney World.

Walt Disney World has multiple resort hotels for guests to choose from encompassing all price ranges. Did you know that they even have a campsite called Fort Wilderness? Many of the Value Resorts are comparable to chain hotels in the area, but you get the Disney experience 24/7. Some resorts have their own entertainment, special events, and specialty food items that you can't find in the parks-I'm looking at you Mickey Beignets on available at Disney's Port Orleans Resort-French Quarter.

Although not all Disney hotels are on a monorail line, they do come with free resort transportation to and from the parks. And with a new feature to the Disney app, you can see exactly when your bus will arrive. Or you can upgrade your transportation to the Minnie Van Service.

As a special extra all resort guests get to stay in the parks for longer with Magic Hours and advanced access to book FastPass+ reservations.

Walt Disney World has so much to offer that it can seem overwhelming. Hence why it is so important to plan your itinerary in advance - know what rides you want to go on or restaurants you want to eat at.

With FastPass+ you can even book the time range you want to go on certain rides, so you're not spending all your time waiting in lines. Each park ticket comes with 3 free FastPass+ selections per days, but more can be purchased. For those not staying at a Walt Disney World resort, you will be able to book 30 days before you arrive. But for those staying at a resort, you can start booking 60 days prior to check-in.

It's especially important to plan your FastPass+ select for areas like Disney's Pandora in Animal Kingdom or the new Toy Story Land at Hollywood Studios - which are known to have long lines.

Certain restaurants at Disney require advanced reservations which can be made up to 180 days before your visit. And some - like Cinderella's Royal Table - are known to book up within minutes, so be sure to book these as early as possible.

Park Hopper Passes cost a little extra per day, but they give the option to go to as many parks as you want - meaning you can spend just a long weekend at Disney instead of turning it into a week-long event. Just be sure you know what Park Hopper Passes entail. Limiting the number of days you spend at the parks will also, obviously, limit the number of attractions you're able to do. But if you're not traveling with kids, this is a great option since you probably are not going to be doing all the 'kid' rides.

There are multiple dining plans for you to choose from - once again in multiple price ranges. There are even certain times of the year when Free Disney Dining Plans are included in your booking package. But one of the newest features Disney has to offer is the Mobile Ordering. Lines at Disney can long, even for the food. Even if guests don't have a dining plan, you can use this service to order your food ahead of arriving and pick it up from a side window when ready.

Most people go to Walt Disney World for the rides, but I go for the food. With so many restaurants, quick-service counters, special events and kiosks it's easy to miss out on specialty food options. Utilizing the Mobile Ordering may help to skip the lines, but there's no skipping on must-have treats at each of the parks. Each visit I like to make a short list of items that I really want to try, and with the help of the My Disney Experience App I can look at menus of every food place in the parks - they even include prices, so I can stick to a budget.

Planning ahead is really important for special events at Walt Disney World like Epcot's International Food and Wine Festival where there is an overwhelming number of options - or Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party where special treats were created just for the event.

See here for Fun Facts About 2018 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.

Feeling overwhelmed yet? With so many options and possibilities with your trip to Walt Disney World using a travel agent is the best way to get the most bang for your buck. Many times travel agents - especially those who follow Disney news and calendars - know the best time to visit the parks and when to book, like when the Free Dining plans the return.

There is so much to do at Disney Springs and you don't even have to pay an admission price! This means you can save on park passes for a day while still getting to the Disney experience. Formerly known as Downtown Disney, Disney Springs offers a refreshed look, new shops, and restaurants. This is a great - and inexpensive - way to take time off from the parks. Be sure to check out new restaurants like Chicken Guy! and Wine Bar George. Disney Springs even has restaurants participating in Orlando's Magical Dining Month - going on now through September 30.

For sports fans, the NBA Experience is set to open Summer 2019 where the old DisneyQuest building was located.

Walt Disney World offers a set of souvenirs that cost less than a dollar - yep, I'm talking about the pressed pennies. Just be sure to go ahead and count out your penny to quarter ratio before arriving, so you don't find yourself fumbling for change. Pro tip - you can stay extra organized by using an old pill bottle or M&M tube to keep all your coins together.

Locations for all coin press machines can be found here.

Every Magic Kingdom guest is entitled to a free souvenir the day of their visit. Sorcerers of the Magic Kingdom is a free and interactive card game you can play throughout the park. Just sign up at the Firehouse located on Main Street, U.S.A. Currently the players will try to stop Hades and other Disney Villians through an interactive scavenger hunt.

Souvenirs at Disney can add up quickly. I always like to stop by the Dollar Store to pick up any ponchos and glow-in-the-dark items for the night shows ahead of time. You can also save by buying from the Disney Store ahead of time, especially when they're holding a sale.

See here for even more tips on How to Experience the Ultimate Family Vacation to Disney World.