It's no secret that a trip to Walt Disney World isn't exactly a budget-friendly vacation, especially if you're traveling with extended family. But that definitely doesn't mean you can't make it work (everyone deserves to experience the magic of Disney, after all). If you want the whole family to stay on Disney property together, your vacation savings will drain faster than you can say, "Dole Whip, please." The trick? Rent a house.
Let's say, for example, you have six adults and five children in your party — one night in a two-bedroom suite at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa can cost you over $1,500 per night (PER NIGHT!). Even if your family splits up into two smaller rooms, you could still be looking at over $400 per night for a one-bedroom suite. And while there are some great benefits of staying on property, you may have trouble convincing grandpa that the complimentary transportation and Extra Magic Hours are worth the extra cash.
That's where VRBO comes in. VRBO, or Vacation Rental By Owner, has literally thousands of houses and townhomes within just minutes of Walt Disney World's main gate. And now that Disney is charging hotel guests for overnight parking, you can save even more money by staying in a home with your very own (free) driveway.
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And the benefits don't end with the fact that we have more than enough bedrooms and bathrooms for our entire party. Our house also came with a fully equipped kitchen, theater room, outdoor dining area, a pool, and a hot tub — all amenities that will help us enjoy our time outside the parks just as much as our time in them. And we can use the money we save on hotel costs to get the really important things at Disney, like the amazing food.
