Disney Staycation Budget Planning Tips For Staying Home

You can plan a Disney staycation for a budget-friendly alternative to going to Walt Disney World. Here are some tips for bringing the magic home.

This post may contain affiliate links. We may receive a commission if you click and purchase something. Please see our disclosure policy for more details.

You can plan a Disney staycation for a budget-friendly alternative to going to Walt Disney World. Here are some tips for getting the most of your time at home while bringing the magic to you.

Deep Clean Your House

I usually recommend cleaning your house before you go on a Disney trip. It’s a great way to potentially earn money for the trip. When you clear up clutter, you’ll often find things to sell and a garage sale is a great way to increase your vacation budget.

When you return, you have the pleasure of coming back to a clean house, which helps take the sting out of leaving such a magical destination. The benefits are even greater when you opt for a staycation. Nothing makes you feel freer than having a clean and well-styled living space. You don’t have to spend money on a local hotel to have that hotel feeling.

Budget Your Own Dining Plan

One of the staples of a Disney vacation is the Dining Plan. It’s a popular option for vacation planners who are particularly focused on the food at Walt Disney World. Since you want to capture as much of the magic as you can from home, take special care in arranging your dining plans.

Going out may take you out of the illusion, but some places may fit the bill in terms of atmosphere and food quality. Try finding restaurants comparable to your favorites at Disney World. If you really want the flavors of Disney and you are used to cooking at home, try an official Disney Parks cookbook or find a blog post like this recipe for Walt’s Favorite Chili for inspiration.

Watch Live Streams

Youtube is a great resource for soaking in some Walt Disney World magic. There are POV ride throughs (even 360 ones), vlogs, food reviews, etc. One of the best ways to capture the feeling of Disney World from home is watching POV live streams of strolling through the park. You can even send requests live and tip the videographer.

What’s great about these verses, a traditional walkthrough is that they have more interaction which is part of the experience at Disney and it all happens in real-time.

Snack Like You’re There

You may not have the inclination to spend your Disney staycation hours working in the kitchen. That’s totally fine. You can do your meals however you want. But you don’t want to pass on Disney snacks and there are a couple of ways you can enjoy your own version. If you have any local soft-serve spots, there is a good chance they have a pineapple flavor.

A lot of these places are pretty authentic, being that they come from Dole, they just don’t use the term Dole Whip. Another frozen treat to enjoy at home is the Mickey Mouse ice cream bars that are now available at your local grocer. You can make official Disney popcorn at home, too, since the official popcorn at Walt Disney World is Pop Secret.

You can also make your own Disney snacks right in your kitchen. Try these Mickey Rice Krispies treats or one of the 40+ Disney Recipes.

Wear Your Disney Side & Shop Online

It’s not a Disney vacation without the Disney merchandise. You may not have an Emporium or World of Disney Store, but you can buy Disney merchandise on a budget through Target.com.

Target and Disney have a special relationship, even having Disney Stores within some Target locations. Shopping Target for sale items from Disney is a great way to save money on Disney merchandise while you enjoy your Disney Staycation.

You can also find a lot of custom Disney gear on Etsy and Amazon too.