Best savings tips for Disney/DVC expenses?

[Flash_Sloth]

The hardest expense to get around is tickets.

It’s probably cheaper to become a Florida resident than continue paying for non-resident tickets and passes haha

Yes, that might be the trickiest one to work around for those of us living out of state. When first buying into DVC, part of my calculation was going direct or resale, and a long term gamble that direct blue card benefits would let us save with Sorcerers APs vs Incredipass or regular theme park tickets.

But when we bought in, that was around the covid time when they had suspended new AP sales, so I was a little extra paranoid that this perk might never return. Fortunately, AP sales resumed just before our first trip on points.

I wouldn't necessarily recommend buying direct just for that perk because it isn't guaranteed, but it is a part of the equation.

 

[Zubon]

I wouldn't necessarily recommend buying direct just for that perk because it isn't guaranteed, but it is a part of the equation.

$500/person/AP year is a big number in the direct purchase math, particularly for non-Floridians who were buying the IncrediPass frequently. I saw a family of 4 who had been buying the IncrediPass annually (not Florida residents), so buying 150 points direct made sense just for the annual savings on APs. Getting to stay at DVC was a nice bonus with their Sorcerer's Passes.

(Again: not guaranteed, nor that your kids will want to go to Disney for a decade+.)

 

[airjay75]

You can manage it pretty easily.

First, you can just prepay dues as you buy gift cards (we don't pay monthly). By the time I get the annual dues bill, I've prepaid most of them at last year's rate so I don't have a lot due, which is actually nice.

Second, you can transfer funds between gift cards on the Disney gift card website, and manage up to 6 cards there. So that way, you can put aside up to $5000 (up to $1000 per card, keeping 1 "slot" temporarily open for new cards you purchase), and it's easy to keep track of as long as you keep those 5 physical cards so you can use them when needed.

So (i) buy a new card, (ii) add it to the website, (iii) transfer the funds to one of those 5 cards you actually keep, and (iv) delete the new card from the website to keep a "slot" open. You can use the cards from the website when you need - pay dues, pay for a trip, pay for a cruise (even if purchased via Costco), onboard credit for a cruise, etc.

Once you transfer the funds via the website to one of your "permanent" cards, you can dispose of it. Or just keep all of them and see how high they pile up over time


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This is the way.

Disney Gift Cards are far and away the easiest way to save money on Disney spending IMO. I think most other things involve much smaller discounts or trade-offs (i.e., doing less things to save money).

If you're spending $10k+ per year on Disney, it's not hard to save 10-15% with DGCs. That's $1,000-$1,500.

I find it fun hunting for DGC deals. But, I can understand how some might not. In that case, I'd probably just get the Disney Inspire, put all my Disney spend on that card, and call it a day.