Disney World for $1,800: Complete Family Trip Breakdown
**Update: Since publishing this $1,800 Disney trip breakdown, we’ve optimized our strategy even further. Our Incredi-Pass approach now brings our average trip cost down to $1,400 per trip across 5 Disney vacations this year. See our complete savings breakdown and updated strategy here.**
We’re packing our bags and heading to Disney World—and we’re doing it for just $1,800 total for our family of four. That’s right: 5 Disney park days, hotel room, transportation, and even water parks—all for less than the average price of park tickets alone. This trip uses our Incredi-Pass strategy – for complete details, check out our Cut Disney World Costs in Half with the Incredi-Pass.
Whether you’re dreaming of Magic Kingdom fireworks or cooling off at a Disney water park, you’ll want to hear how we made this Walt Disney World trip happen—without paying full price.
Taking a Budget-Friendly Walt Disney World Vacation
Trips to Disney aren’t cheap. Between park tickets, room rates, and food, the cost of a typical family vacation can skyrocket—especially around spring break, New Year, or the holiday season, when higher prices are common.
But with some smart planning, flexible timing, and strategic use of credit card points and travel apps, you can bring your travel costs way down—like we did on this recent trip.
💰 Our $1,800 Disney Trip at a Glance
Family Size: 4 people
Trip Length: 7 nights, 5 park days
Total Cost: $1,800 ($450 per person)
How We Did It:
✅ $0 car rental (Pepper app – saved $619)
✅ $0 hotel (Marriott points – saved $1,342)
✅ $1,755 tickets (Incredi-Pass for 4 people)
✅ Pet fees & parking: $220
Compared to Traditional Trip: $5,451
Our Savings: $3,651 (67% off!)
Here’s how we kept our expenses to just $1,800:
1. Free Car Rental Using the Pepper App
We’re driving to Disney World for the first time (since we’re bringing our dogs!), and I wanted to keep transportation costs as low as possible.
Here’s how we got a free rental car:
- I used the Pepper app to purchase gift cards for our everyday spending (Sam’s Club, Home Depot, AMC, etc.). Please use our referal code 622198
- Buying gift cards on Pepper earns you points.
- Over time, I earned enough points to redeem a gift card on Hopper.com and booked a 2-week minivan rental for free!
Savings:
Regular rental cost: $619
What we paid: $0
2. 7 Free Hotel Nights Using Marriott Bonvoy Points
We’re staying at TownePlace Suites Orlando at Flamingo Crossings, an off-site hotel just minutes from the Disney parks. It’s also one of Disney’s Good Neighbor Hotels. For our complete review of this property, check out our TownePlace Suites Orlando at Flamingo Crossings review.
Why we picked it:
- Pet–friendly (a must for us since we are traveling with our 2 dogs!)
- Free breakfast every morning (a budget lifesaver)
- A kitchenette in every standard room—A quick trip to the grocery store good way to save money on snacks, get some healthy food and avoiding fast food fatigue.
- Close to all the different theme parks: Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, and EPCOT
We used a combo of Marriott Bonvoy points and Free Night Awards earned from The Marriott Bonvoy Bevy American Express Card and The Chase Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card. Using points saved our $1,342 on this hotel stay. (Note: we did have an additional cost of $150 pet fee and $10/night for parking.) For detailed strategies on earning Marriott points, see our Guide to Marriott Bonvoy Points for Disney World and learn How To Maximize Marriott Perks for Disney World.
New to earning hotel points? Start with our complete guide to earning credit card points for Disney World vacations to understand welcome bonuses and the partner strategy. Learn the complete strategy in our guide to earning Marriott Bonvoy points for Disney.
3. Using the Incredi-Pass to Save on Tickets
Instead of buying base tickets or a Park Hopper option for this trip, we purchased Disney Incredi-Passes with the Water Park and Sports add-on. While they’re a bigger upfront expense, they’re a good deal if you’re planning multiple trips.
Why this was a smart move:
- We’re doing 4 Disney World trips this year
- The passes include park hopping, water parks, and free parking
- They also give you discounts on table service meals, character meals, and merchandise
Pro tip: If you’re planning to visit more than once in 12 months, the Incredi-Pass can be the most affordable option in the long run. Depending on the time of year ticket prices will vary however, if you have multiple trips planned the Incredi-pass is likely to save money. For a complete guide to the Incredi Pass- check out our Planning Walt Disney World with the Incredi-Pass for detailed planning strategies.
Ticket price comparison:
5-day Park Hopper Plus: $3,490
4 Annual Passes: $7,020.48 → $1,755 per trip
Not planning multiple trips? There are still ways to save on Disney admission. Check out our Guide to Discount Walt Disney World Tickets for alternative money-saving approaches.
Final Budget Breakdown for a Full Disney Trip
Here’s what this trip would have cost if we paid cash:
| Expense | Cash Price | Our Cost |
| Car Rental | $619 | $0 |
| Hotel | $1,342 | $0 |
| Park Hopper tickets | $3,490 | $1,755 |
| Total Cash price | $5,451 | $1,755 |
Now here’s what we’re actually paying:
- Total cost of 4 Disney Incredi-Passes: $7,020.40
- Divide that over 4 trips = $1,755 per trip
If we were paying full price, we’d be looking at over $5,400 just for this one trip. Instead, by using points, apps, and some Disney know-how, we’re taking multiple Walt Disney World vacations for a fraction of the cost. See how we’ve now saved over $10,000 across 5 Disney trips using this exact system.
Final cost for this trip: $1,755
Includes: Hotel, car rental, 5 park days, water park access, and more!
Stack Cashback + Points for Extra Disney Savings
Get cashback on Disney purchases and travel bookings with tested apps — and see how we combine them with points to save $600–$1,400 a year on tickets, dining, and extras.
Yes, You Can Do Disney on a Budget
Between our free hotel stay, free car rental, and annual pass strategy, we’re taking a full Disney World vacation for just $1,800 for our family of 4.
If you’ve been searching for how to do Disney World on a budget for a family, this is your proof that it’s possible—with a little creativity and points strategy.
Want to Save Thousands on Your Disney Trips?
We show you how to use points, miles, and cash-back apps to unlock affordable travel—even to magical places like Disney World.
About Points to Magic
Our team at Points to Magic is led by Danielle, a CPA with 19 years of financial expertise. We specialize in helping families save thousands on Disney vacations using credit card points and cashback strategies. Every recommendation is personally tested through our own family trips.
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