Use This Smart Money-Saving Hack To Stick To Your Budget When Visiting Disney Parks

A trip to a Disney park is always a magical experience, but it's also very expensive. And if trends from the last few years remain consistent, Disney parks will only get more and more expensive as time goes on. Park tickets never cost less than $100, and prices of food and merchandise increase every year, sometimes multiple times a year.

Perks that used to be free, such as fast passes, Magic Bands, and airport pickups on the Magical Express (the latter two available only for Disney hotel guests), now cost money. Some families have reported being priced out of Disney parks altogether, saying that the magic has faded. But despite all this, Disney parks still hold a special place in people's hearts.

For families who want to enjoy It's a Small World, but are not interested in emptying out their bank accounts for a cartoon mouse, there are plenty of ways to do Disney on a budget. One of the shockingly easy ways for families to save money on Disney trips is buying discounted Disney gift cards at retail stores and using them as a base for their budget. Stores like Sam's Club or Costco occasionally have sales on these gift cards, and will sell them in bulk. You'll still get to utilize the full value of the gift card, but only have to pay a fraction of the cost.

Utilizing gift cards is a great way to stay on budget for your Disney trip. You can preload them and use them on meals or souvenirs during your trip, or you can use them to pay for your park tickets and hotel stay. To get the best value out of your gift cards, plan ahead and purchase them when they're discounted.

For example, Sam's Club offers a discount where you can save up to $15 on Disney gift cards. And if you have a Target Red Card, you can get them for 5% off total value. BJ's Wholesale Club members can also save up to $20 off on gift cards depending on the value. Additionally Costco often offers $250 gift cards for $225 — a 10% discount. It may not seem like a huge difference, but every penny you save is worth it. This is one of the many Disney vacation tips and hacks only insiders know, and now, you know it too!