I Saved $3,000 for Disney in Six Months: Here’s My Exact Strategy
Written by
Lydia Kibet
Edited by
Chris Cluff
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A trip to Disney doesn’t come cheap. Between airfare, hotel stays, park tickets and food, the costs can add up quickly, easily reaching a few thousand dollars. For this reason, a Disney trip may feel like a dream out of reach for many people. But with the right approach, saving for such a trip is possible.
Doug Crawford, founder of Best Trade Schools, shared the exact strategy he used to save $3,000 for Disney in just six months.
“Going to Disney was always one of those unique childhood dreams I wanted to achieve,” he said. “Thinking back, I remember being so excited to make a budget for the trip, which felt like a personal challenge and something I had not done in years.”
Here are four keys to his Disney saving strategy.
Also see this year’s hottest travel trends.
Set a Specific Target Amount
The first step was knowing exactly how much he needed to visit the Disney park he chose. Rather than saving a random amount each month, Crawford calculated all of the major expenses. His total came to $3,000.
“I decided to add all of my expenses for the trip, from airfare, hotel, tickets, food and others, and I came up with a budget of $3,000. This is to make sure all the necessities I will need have already been budgeted,” he said.
By having a specific number in mind, he could break the goal into manageable monthly savings. That clarity helped keep him motivated and focused, and prevented expenses from creeping upwards into the ultra-deluxe Disney experience options.
Open a Separate Savings Account
Once he had his target amount, Crawford opened a separate savings account dedicated solely to the Disney trip. This made it easier to track his progress and ensured the money wouldn’t get mixed up with his everyday spending.
“This may sound exaggerated for someone, but yes, I did open a different account solely for this trip. This is because I wanted to see how I would be able to get the specific amount I needed without relying on my money in my personal account. It felt so humbling, doing this, and it had me realize how far I have come,” said Crawford.
Cut Back on Minor Expenses
Big savings don’t always come from big sacrifices. Crawford found he could quickly boost his Disney fund by trimming smaller, everyday expenses. Instead of buying lattes or dining out frequently, he redirected that money into his dedicated savings account.
“I spent less on minor, unnecessary purchases like buying lattes and eating out, which has easily saved me about $200 a week, and deposited that money into my Disney fund,” he said.
Use Rewards and Discounts
Crawford made the most of the resources he already had: his credit card rewards. By redeeming points for flights and hotel stays, he was able to stretch his dollars further. That meant more of his saved money could go toward enjoying the Disney experience itself.
“I used points and rewards from my credit card, which lessened the price of flights and hotels, freeing up additional funds to spend on the best part of Disney, which is the experiences,” he said.
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