Most people are under the impression that the only purchases they will have to make to take their family to Disney world are on the tickets and a place to stay.
And as you can see from the graph below, even admission fees are skyrocketing, so it’s important to keep your budget in mind when planning your trip.
However, once you enter the park, many things can cost you much more money.
It’s easy for these extras to quickly add up and completely blow your budget.
There are many ways that you can save money the next time you decide to take your family to Disney.
Some of these are things you may initially overlook.
Souvenirs
Many people go to Disney parks every year.
Just about any ride that you go on while at Disney is going to have a gift shop at the end.
Each of these gift shops has merchandise within them centered around the ride.
But, everything inside of a Disney park is expensive.
For this reason, you may consider placing Disney items in your backpack before you go into the park.
This will allow you to have some things that you can pull out when your kids go to the shop and are looking for an object to symbolize their adventure.
You can check out the Disney store if you are looking for objects that your kids will love.
You can even search for Disney Parks Authentic Products if you want to ensure the items you bring match what is offered within the park.
Drinks
You should consider packing your own drinks.
You can pack water or juice to ensure everyone can stay hydrated during the day.
If you do not want to carry a pack into the park with you, you can pack an empty bottle instead.
Many of the counter services restaurants will refill your bottle at no charge.
You can also fill them at one of the many water fountains found around the park.
Glow Sticks
Vendors walk around Disney parks at night selling numerous toys that light up.
These toys are super cool because they catch your eye, but extremely expensive.
The good news is that your local dollar store sells the same things.
Before you embark on your Disney adventure, you can stop by the dollar store and purchase these glow in the dark items.
Most Dollar Trees and Wal-Marts carry Disney Character light up toys.
This is one of the easiest ways to save yourself a lot of money.
Not only can you save money, but you won’t have to disappoint your kids in the process.
Dress Up
It is not unusual for children to walk around a Disney park in a costume.
This is particularly the case during one of the special meet and greets for the various Disney characters.
An excellent way to save money is to purchase your child’s favorite Disney costume before the trip.
Searching for Disney Parks Authentic Products is an excellent way to ensure that your child’s costume as identical to what can be found in the parks.
Numerous costumes can be accessed on clearance or sale racks at retail stores in your area.
Amazon and the Disney Store are also excellent places to search for Disney costumes for your child.
Snacks
You can purchase numerous Disney themed snacks at the store.
Disney candy, fruit snacks, cheese crackers, and more can be found and enjoyed by your children on the trip.
Your children will be excited to have snacks that fit the theme of the trip.
You will be ecstatic after you see how much these meals cost inside the park.
Lunch
Another thing you should do is pack your lunch beforehand and bring it with you.
This can save you a lot of money.
You can then spend this money on an excellent dinner experience, or for your children to have an unforgettable experience with their favorite Disney character.
The truth of the matter is that most people visit Disney during the heat of the summer.
Eating a heavy lunch can cause you to get sick during your trip.
Most Wal-Marts carry Mickey Mouse fruit trays.
These plates resemble the kid’s meals that are offered by numerous counter service restaurants.
Your child will enjoy cheese, apples, and either pretzels or grapes.
You can also make sandwiches or pack something else that is light and small.
Books
Amazon, Walmart, and even the Dollar Tree offer Disney character notebooks.
If you purchase one of these, you can bring it with you and use it as an autograph book.
This is just as good as any autograph book that you can purchase while inside the park.
Your children do not care what their favorite character’s sign.
All they care about is that their favorite characters are signing something for them.
Free Day
Consider spending one day of your trip away from the park.
This is an excellent way to save yourself some cash.
If you decide to stay onsite at the resort, there are a lot of things that you can do without going into the park.
You can watch a movie near the pool, your kids can play games, and numerous activities are offered for free.
This provides you the chance to spend a full day relaxing.
You can also take advantage of the activities that came as part of your accommodations for staying on site, which provides you with the chance to explore all the resort has to offer.
Budget
Consider placing your children on a budget while in the park.
There are some things to look at when considering putting your kids on a budget at the park:
Letting your kids know their budget before the trip can cut down on the number of meltdowns that occur and ensure your kids have realistic expectations.
You can consider giving your child a Disney gift card, so they have a visual reminder of their spending limit.
This experience can help teach your children money management skills.
Share Meals
Portion sizes for meals inside the park are generous.
It’s very easy for you and your baby to share a meal and still have plenty to eat.
Sometimes, it is cheaper to purchase an adult meal for two kids then it is to purchase two kid’s meals.
You can still split a meal when you have a large appetite because of how big the proportions are at Disney.