DISNEY, WITHOUT KILLING YOUR BUDGET
Have fun without emptying your wallet!
By Amanda Torres
Have you ever wondered how people can come back from their trip to Disney with smiles on their faces? I don’t just mean the children either! Planning a trip to Disney World doesn’t have to cost a lot; you just need to know a few tricks and tips!
Save On Souvenirs
Would you like your children to have a few souvenirs? This is what to do. Leave the children with someone for a little while and head out to International Drive. There are several stores that carry anything and everything Disney, at a fraction of the cost!
Go with a list in mind of characters that your children are in awe of and keep your eyes open! You will be amazed with what you will find! If you have time to plan ahead, check into some online auctions and grab a shirt or two for everyone going on the trip. If you wait until you are at the park to get shirts, they run anywhere from $20-$50. Grabbing a shirt online for $8? Priceless.
Save On Food
Food can be rather expensive at Disney so if you can rough it a little, you will save a ton of money! There is a McDonald’s on Disney property in between Magic Kingdom and Animal Kingdom. Disney is smart, as there are absolutely no street signs directing people to this low cost place to feed your family! Grab Breakfast here and catch a Disney movie playing in the lobby. This is a great way to start the day and get pumped for what is ahead! \\
For lunch, this is where you begin to rough things a bit. Sandwiches are the way to go. Pack a cooler with enough sandwiches and a few to spare for anyone still hungry. I also toss in some fruit and veggies that are easy to eat in a car. Turn on the A/C and relax as much as you can.
Eating in a parking lot might not be what you envisioned, but hey, you just saved $40! We bring the portable DVD player and start a movie while we are all eating. Everyone is starting to get a little tired from walking and let’s face it Florida is HOT!
I also recommend packing snacks & drinks for the day as well. Use a book bag and make sure you study up each park’s rules. Animal Kingdom; due to its conservation efforts have tighter rules than say MGM Studios. This may just mean no straws, but it is best to check ahead as the rules are always changing.
If you want to purchase drinks in the parks, look for the souvenir refill cups. They may cost more in the beginning, but they will pay for themselves in just one day.
For dinner, unless you want to eat in the parks, head back to McDonald’s or to International Drive. There are several restaurants that have the budget conscious in mind.
Relax Without Emptying Your Wallet At The Same Time
Need some cool air, but don’t want to stand around in a store with your children grabbing everything? Locate the Baby Station on your map. Inside you will find coloring books, crayons, toys and even a Disney movie playing for the kids. This place is awesome! It is free and quite comfortable.
You can pull the snacks out here and take a well-deserved rest. If you have a packed day, try to plan at least 2 trips to the Baby Station to catch your breath and rest your feet. You can also use this time to freshen up everyone before heading out into the park again. You will enjoy your day much more if you take the time to just slow down. If you can only set aside an hour over the whole day, your feet and family will thank you!
Bring It! Don’t Buy It!
Things to remember to bring or risk shelling out big bucks to purchase: camera & enough means to take a lot of pictures, sunscreen, a water bottle with fan attachment ($17 at WDW), water bottles to drink from, hats, sunglasses, and towels.
Having these items and not having to buy them because you forgot, will save you a lot. This is where Disney makes a lot of its money. As you enter any park, they have all of these items lined up for sale. You will see a group of Dads kicking themselves as they fork over $50 just for a couple of hats and a small bottle of sunscreen. Make a list. Check it much more than twice!
Hurt Or Tired? First Aid First!
There is one other topic I want to go over before I close. First-Aid. There are first-aid stations set up in all of the Disney Parks. Everything here is free so don’t worry about the cost of a Band-Aid!
Here you will find anything you could possibly think of, at your disposal. Need infant Tylenol for your baby’s fever? Free. Need an ace bandage because you sprained your ankle? Free. Need sugar because a diabetic person in the group is hypoglycemic? So tired you can’t keep your eyes open? Let the workers at the first aid station know you need to lie down and you get a quiet room to take a rest.
This has come in handy for us more than once. Free. Once you have your map in hand, make a note of where this station is. While I hope you don’t need to actually use it, it is always good to know where first aid is located.
Above All, Enjoy Yourself
Now, I hope I have been some assistance to you with your planning. Whatever you do, just try to enjoy yourself. The word “Disney” doesn’t mean spend all of your money!
By planning ahead and making a few adjustments you can save a lot of money and come home with a smile on your face. Your smile may end up being just a little wider than your kids after you figure up how much you have saved on your trip to Disney!\\
