5. Lodging, whether on property or off
The place where you hang your hat (or Mickey ears) and rest your weary head during your trip of a lifetime will undoubtedly account for a large part of your vacation budget. Peak seasons (summer and most major holidays) will only serve to increase that amount, so if you’re looking to trim your vacation expenses even a little, try visiting the parks toward the end of January, during the month of February, during early May, between Labor Day and the first week of November or during the first two weeks of December. Even then, lodging will still make up a large part of your expenses, even if you stay off Disney property. Hotels and rental home companies follow the same calendar as Walt Disney World when it comes to determining what they consider peak season, and they adjust their pricing accordingly. Lodging of any type can account for one-fourth to one-third of your vacation expenses.
