How to save money and time at Disney World: tips

The cost of a magical Easter week at Disney World in Florida (including direct flights to Orlando, mid-range accommodation at the Disney Port Orleans Resort, and seven-day park tickets) is a not-so-magical £9000. Food and drinks at the resort will cost about £150 per family per day, dinner with a character will cost £270, children's T-shirts will cost £25, and Mickey ears will cost £25.

However, there are ways to make your vacation with children there less expensive, writes The Times.

Avoid peak seasons and direct flights

High demand makes Easter and Christmas the most expensive times of the year for tourists to visit Orlando. If you postpone your trip until halfway through the semester in May, the cost of your vacation will instantly drop to £7,474. Avoiding direct flights and flying through Houston or Toronto reduces the cost to £4072, but if you need direct flights, don't book rooms at Disney. The same room in Port Orleans with park tickets and direct flights for the May half term costs £5798 when booked through virginholidays.co.uk.

Book a villa

A week in May in a standard four-bedroom villa with a pool in Kissimmee, Haines City, Claremont, or Davenport - all within about 30 minutes' drive of the parks - costs £1049 including direct flights. Add in a car for £161 per week and parking for £16 per day, and the total is £4469 for a family of four.

Avoid the Disney Dining Plan

The so-called DDP offers daily lunches, dinners, and snacks and costs a staggering £1441 for a family of four per week. It's marketed as a convenience that also keeps you at the resort and close to Disney shops for a long time, but don't fall for the hype. You can get an 8-ounce sirloin steak with half a slice of ribs at Manny's Original Chophouse in Haines City for £16, or order pizza, salad, and dessert for four delivered from local restaurants to your villa or hotel for about £70. If you're staying at a resort hotel, leave any delivery at the front desk to avoid the £5 room service fee.

Skip the extra fees

Genie Plus, Lightning Lane, and Special Event tickets can add hundreds of pounds to your bottom line, but the magic of four theme parks and two water parks may make the extra cost seem worthless.