Should you use AirBnB at Disney World?

An Airbnb and Disney World don’t usually exist in the same train of thought. While they may not seem like they go hand in hand, when you’re on a budget an AirBnB at Disney World might be exactly what you need. 

Having an amazing vacation while staying frugal is possible. Check out how an Airbnb can get you to the Disney vacation of your dreams!

It’s no secret that Disney is expensive.

Your childhood dreams of play and fantasy don’t come cheap. Everything from parking your vehicle to transportation costs money. Add in the park entry tickets and the food inside and you’re already spending hundreds of dollars a day. Then there’s the fast passes, resorts, and souvenirs. 

You can easily spend thousands of dollars in one weekend if you don’t track your spending and keep a tight leash on your wallet.

Frugal people are always looking for simple hacks to help cut costs on their Disney World vacation.

The most obvious being not eating every meal inside the park, or not eating specialty meals. 

Unfortunately, the further you travel from the parks the lesser your choices for what kind of groceries work becomes. 

To go from your home to an airport and then to a hotel, you’re already reducing a ton of options.

Then you have to think of food that can survive the limitations of the hotel you’re staying at.

If you’re lucky there will be a microwave, coffee pot, and mini fridge, but this isn’t always the case. You’ll have to Uber or find another way to get groceries to your hotel room after you’ve arrived.

Any foods you are able to make in the hotel have to either be eaten there or packed with you. If you bring it with you it needs to be able to resist the weather all day. On top of that, it needs to be condensed and lightweight. You don’t want to be extra bulky or get worn out carrying it for such long distances.

Planning your meals and snacks is most likely the most expensive and stressful parts of planning your Disney World vacation.

This hassle but can be made simpler with the use of an Airbnb.

One of the biggest ways that you can save money is by staying off Disney property for your overnight accommodations. As tempting as it may be, those expensive resorts will eat away at all your money very quickly. Plus, if you’re spending all day enjoying the park and attractions, is it worth it to pay so much money for a room you’ll only be sleeping in?

When you stay on Disney property in a hotel room, you get a free bus and shuttle service to take you to the parks and downtown Disney. There’s even an airport transfer to help you get to your hotel without a fuss. You can also receive early access and late access to Disney Parks. While these are great services and very eye-catching, even if they’re labeled as free, they still come at a cost. Your expensive park tickets and hotel fees for example.

Airbnb vs Disney Resort

There are Airbnb locations all over the world. You can find some as close to the Magic Kingdom as a 10-minute drive. That’s not that far! Even with the added Uber expenses, you’ll save money. Using Uber to transport your family from the Airbnb daily to and from the park, you can still easily save $200 or more a night.

As an added bonus when you stay at an Airbnb, you have access to a kitchen! This means that when you first arrive at your Airbnb location, you can take a trip to a local grocery store and purchase real foods.

Meal planning is a great way to save money. By shopping for food you can create some great frugal meals to take with you inside the Disney parks. You can also meal prep some easy dinners so that when you get back at night, you can pop them in the oven for quick and easy meals.

Having access to the kitchen of an Airbnb can easily reduce a lot of the food stress of Disney World. It can also help stretch your budget.

Why the negatives of an Airbnb are still okay

The negative side of staying at an Airbnb is that you may not feel fully enveloped in the magical feel of Disney. Some say to truly feel it that you would need to stay in a resort on the property. But the magical resort rooms in Disney world cost a lot of money.

The cheapest rooms in the Disney hotels are not equipped with kitchenettes, themed rooms or extra amenities. So if you wanted a magical atmosphere, you would be paying more than that.

An Airbnb is still cheaper than the cheapest room options on Disney. So staying at one, even with the minor drawbacks can help you get to Disney in a more frugal fashion.

Why is Airbnb so cheap?

An Airbnb is cheaper than a hotel because it’s someone renting out use of bedroom(s) or their entire home for a short period of time. Unlike hotels where there is employees, insurances, large laundry facilities, and other things driving up the costs, an Airbnb’s price is set by the homeowner. Since a homeowner does not need the fancy accommodations of a hotel, they can have lower rates and still make a profit for themselves.

So in conclusion, one way that an Airbnb can get you to Disney is by saving you a whole lot of money.

Another way that an Airbnb can get you to Disney is by using it as a side hustle

Side hustles are a great way to earn extra money. By renting out your home, room or referring people to Airbnb you can get paid. You can then use the money you earn from your Airbnb to pay for your Disney World vacation!

Every Airbnb member gets a unique referral link to share with others. For everyone who signs up as a traveler, you get paid about $25 when they book a stay worth $75 or more. If they become a host, you get paid $75 when they welcome their first guest! So you can easily make money for your Disney vacation without ever needing to share your home with a stranger!

How to start your own Airbnb

Before starting your Airbnb side hustle, you’ll need to check with your state and local laws to see if you are allowed to do so. After figuring out the legalities, you can continue pretty smoothly. Some states such as New York, are extra picky about the rules surrounding subletting.

After checking out the local laws

Sign up on Airbnb and list your home as a location for guests to stay. You’ll need nice photos (meaning no dirty socks and dishes everywhere) as well as a well-detailed description of your home. Include everything that a guest may want to know, being completely honest with the condition of the place.

A lot of budget travelers won’t care if you have slow draining shower water, a few rough drywall patches or a creaking door. They just want a warm safe place to stay for the night that isn’t going to cost a fortune.

Make sure to include the prices and what all is included in their stay. If you plan on doing anything extra like offering meals or snacks. Or just something else that would be considered an upgrade. These can be an upgrade in costs as well, earning you even more money to go towards your Disney vacation.

How much does it cost to list on Airbnb

Airbnb charges a 3% fee to cover processing fees since all payments and transactions are run through the site. This is an incredibly low flat rate fee, meaning you get more profit in your pocket!

So what this means is that if you charged $100 per night to guests to stay at your home, only $3 goes to Airbnb. You get to keep $97 in your pocket, plus any cash tips if they give you any.

For the little bit of laundry and cleaning that results from house guests, the profit speaks for itself. 

How much do you make from Airbnb?

Is being an Airbnb host worth it?

A lot of people truly believe that being an Airbnb host is worth it. There are a ton of valuable resources online where people give the best tips and tricks to help maximize their revenue. There are even tips on how to get quality guests.

One of the biggest tips is being able to select your guests and not have it set to automatic. This is a great way to weed out anyone that might make you feel uncomfortable. As a host, you have the right to ask anyone to leave. Don’t be afraid to use it if something makes you feel uncomfortable during their stay.

Being able to make money while letting guests stay in a spare room is such an easy way to make money.

Putting more effort into it by offering food, or friendly advice on local attractions can easily get you great reviews and more guests. Which, makes you even more money. So if you put more effort, even with the 3% host fee and the state income taxes you’ll be paying, you’ll still turn a hefty profit.

Yes, you will need to pay state income taxes. Unfortunately, it’s unavoidable if you want to remain legal and in good standing with the government. But it’s a small price to pay when it’s helping you get closer to your meet and greet with Mickey Mouse.

AirBnB can get you closer to your Disney World vacation