Disney World can be very tough on your wallet, and it just got even more expensive with the new price increases on a lot of food items around the parks and hotels.

Even though it’s a pricey vacation, there are still some ways to save money on your Disney World trip. From official discounts to dining hacks, we found several great deals that you can still take advantage of for your 2022 vacation. 

We’ll start out by looking at a few official Disney World discounts.

Take Advantage of Disney Discounts

Disney often has at least a couple of discounts available that can help you save money on tickets or hotel stays. You can take a look at the full list of available discounts on our page.

Click Here to See ALL the Current Disney World Discounts

But here’s a quick look at some of the main discounts that are available now.

Discounts for Everyone

Guest staying at select Walt Disney World hotels from March 6th to July 7th, 2022 can save up to $100 a night.

The amount you save depends on which hotel you choose, with more savings at more expensive hotels. But some Value resorts are included in the savings, such as Disney’s Art of Animation Resort, where you can save up to $40 per night during this time.

Click Here to Learn More About this Discount

 

In addition to occasional hotel savings, Annual Passholders can get discounts at EPCOT festival booths (such as the ones at the current Festival of the Arts) on certain days. With the discounts, you can save money on some delicious snacks around the parks.

For last year’s Festival of the Holidays, APs got 10% off select food and drinks from the Holiday Kitchens on Tuesdays only. Check Disney’s Annual Passholder website to find out about discounts during the festivals when you’re visiting.

And remember that Annual Passholders can save 10% on dining at most locations around Disney World, and they can save 20% at Joffrey’s Coffee and Tea locations.

So if you’re an AP looking for your morning brew, head to a Joffrey’s spot instead of the Starbucks locations in the parks!

Disney VISA Holders

If you have a Disney VISA credit card, you can save on dining, tours, activities, and more.

In addition, you’ll save 10% on merchandise whenever you spend $50 or more (which, let’s face it, is not difficult to do in most Disney World gift shops).

Learn More About the Disney Visa Discounts Here

Look for Good Deals on Bigger Snacks

Besides all the official discounts, you can find plenty of ways to save money during your vacation by making smart choices when it comes to snacks. Many fan-favorite snacks got price increases recently, but there are still some great deals out there.

If you’re looking for something to munch on in the Disney parks, try to find a bigger snack that you can share or even use as a small meal. Instead of buying a Mickey Ice Cream Bar for everyone in your group (at $6 each), grab a Fresh Fruit Waffle Sandwich (with Nutella on it) from Sleepy Hollow for $8.49 total and then split it between everyone. It’s plenty big to share, and it tastes ~divine~.

Other Disney World dishes that can serve as a shareable snack or a small meal include the following:

Corn Dog Nuggets

These nuggets from Casey’s Corner are one of our favorite meals in Magic Kingdom.

And at $10.29, they make a great lunch or a great snack to share. They also come with a side of French fries that remind us a lot of McDonald’s fries (they’re the really thin kind that we LOVE).

Pro tip: get a side of plastic cheese with your corn dog nuggs. It’s $1 extra, but we can’t resist.

Full Baguette

EPCOT‘s Les Halles Boulangerie Patisserie is a bakery in the France pavilion, and it serves all kinds of amazing snacks and treats.

One of the best deals in all of Disney World is the full baguette you can get here for $3.50. Seriously, why isn’t everyone in EPCOT munching on a baguette while they walk around World Showcase?

Totchos

If you’re over in Toy Story Land in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, head to Woody’s Lunch Box and grab a bowl full of Totchos. You can thank us later.

Totchos are basically tater tot nachos, and they are delicious. A bowl costs $9.99, and it’s enough for a decent lunch.

Glimmer and Shimmer Blondie

After you’ve finished with your Totchos, head over to Fairfax Fare (also in Disney’s Hollywood Studios) and grab the Glimmer and Shimmer Blondie for dessert. This treat arrived for Disney World’s 50th Anniversary, and we’ve been in love ever since.

It’s a big blondie filled with “gooey toffee and toasted coconuts,” and it’s only $4.49! As far as delicious shareable desserts in Disney World go, that’s a bargain.

Chicken Fried Rice

We love a lot of the food over in Disney’s Animal Kingdom, but there’s one steal that’s too good to pass up. Over at the Yak & Yeti Local Foods Café, you can get a side of Chicken Fried Rice for $5.99.

It’s called a side, but the portion is large, and it could easily be a small meal. This dish is tasty and filling, and we’re pretty sure it’s one of the best-kept secrets in the park.

Bonus Snack: Refillable Popcorn Buckets

Popcorn bucket refills did get a price increase recently, but they’re still only $2.25 for a refill. If you love Disney popcorn, investing in a popcorn bucket might be a great way to get cheap snacks throughout your vacation.

Right now, you can find several different popcorn buckets in Disney World, ranging in price from $12 to $25.

Click Here to See 15 Cheap but Filling Snacks in Disney World

Eat at Lounges, Not Restaurants

If you want a more filling meal in Disney World, we’ve got another hack for you. A lot of the best deals on some delicious food can be found at lounges around the parks and resorts.

Many sit-down (table-service) restaurants have lounges as well, which often don’t require reservations. These lounges serve some of the same food that you can find in the restaurants, but you won’t have to pay for a full table-service meal to get them.

For example, the Steakhouse 71 Lounge at Disney’s Contemporary Resort has several signature dishes from the restaurant, including the delicious Steakhouse 71 Stack Burger for $20. Yes, one of our favorite things from this steak restaurant is a burger. No, we are not ashamed.

You can only get the burger for lunch in the restaurant, but you can get it at the lounge at any time.

Nomad Lounge in Disney’s Animal Kingdom serves some dishes from the nearby Tiffins restaurant, and they also have the best churros on Disney World property.

Space 220 in EPCOT also has a lounge, but you’ll need reservations for this one. Once you’re inside, you can order from the “Flight Bites” menu, and the dishes here are definitely big enough to be a small meal.

One of our favorite things is the Blue Moon Cauliflower, which costs $17.

Have you heard of the amazing, fantastic, and glorious Stir Fry Noodles at ‘Ohana? This restaurant at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort has a lot of good food, but those noodles take the cake. Turns out, you don’t have to get a full $55 meal to try them.

Instead, head to Tambu Lounge (located in the same area) and order the noodles there instead.

All of the noodle happiness, none of the $55 price tag. (And you can also get the ‘Ohana Bread Pudding at this spot!)

Click Here to See Our Ranking of Every Item on the Space 220 Lounge Menu

Elevate a Snack With a Cheap Addition

Our last tip is that you can elevate any snack or meal with a cheap addition. For desserts, head to the Main Street Plaza Ice Cream Parlor, where you can add hot fudge or peanut butter sauce to your dessert for just $0.69.

And for the savory snacks, we actually already gave away our favorite trick in this post. But we’ll say it again because it’s just that important.

Find some delicious plastic cheese, which is usually available as a side for $1.

Click Here to See How Disney World Is Finally Catching On to the Plastic Cheese Craze

We hope that helps as you plan and budget for your Disney World vacation! Keep following DFB for more news and tips as you get ready for your upcoming trip.

Click Here to See the Simple Drink Hack to Save Money at Disney World