Ask America’s Ultimate Experts

We asked Disney World insiders to share the ways to make your visit a (budget-friendly!) dream come true! “With its patented predictive technology, Touringplans.com creates a calendar one year in advance showing the least and most crowded days ranked from

1 Skip long lines! Visit this magical site! Get Fastpass+ savvy!

“With your park ticket, you can book three Fastpass+ selections, which let you skip the lines at three attractions, for a single park per day 60 days ahead of your trip if you’re staying at a Disney resort, and 30 days if you’re staying off-property,” explains Disney pro Dave Shute. Unlimited extra Fastpass+? Yes! “Just download the must-have My Disney Experience App (Disney World. Disney.go.com), and once you’ve scanned your last Fastpass+ of the day, you’ll instantly be able to book a new one through the app,” says Adams.

2 Stay for less! Check the calendar! Stay outside the park!

Only by staying at a Disneyowned resort will you get access to certain perks, namely Magic Hours and early access to Fastpass+ reservations. At least that was the case until this year. “Guests at Disney Springs Resort Area Hotels just got access to those same perks,” reveals Adams. “You’ll also get free bus transportation between the parks if you stay at a Disney Springs hotel, and their prices are sometimes half as much as at the Disney resorts!”

3 Dine for less! Rethink the meal plan!

If you’re staying at a Disney resort, you can sign up for one of three dining plans, which saves you money, in theory. “But the plan is too much food for most families,” says Adams. “I see so many tourists grabbing handfuls of Rice Krispies Treats because they’re trying to use up their credits.” To learn if a meal plan is really a money-saver, just use the calculator at Distripplanner.com.

Score delicious deals!

“The sweet spot for quality and price is at the sit-down casual spots, such as The Wave at the Contemporary and The Whispering Canyon Café in the Wilderness Resort,” says Adams. “If you can’t get into a restaurant, a lounge is a great alternative. For example, Sanaa, one of my favorite restaurants in the Animal Kingdom, has the same menu in the lounge around the corner!”

Eat counter-service meals!

“They’re often big enough to split,” says expert Denise Preskitt. “And Epcot’s France pavilion is my go-to for delicious, well-priced treats!”