disney tips & tricks
Walt Disney World truly is the happiest place on earth but it is also one of the most expensive! Between lodging, dining, transportation, and admission they really know how to suck your money. After traveling to Disney for many many many years, I have discovered some of the best ways to get the most bang for your buck!
1. fastpasses
A FastPass is essentially a pass that allows you to jump the line or at least shorten the amount of time you have to wait in line. Up to three FastPass accommodations can be made per day regardless of how many parks you are traveling to in one day. For instance, if you have a one day park hopper, only three FastPasses total can be booked for a single park. If you're staying at a Disney hotel, FastPass reservations can be made 60 days in advance whereas those who are not staying at an official resort hotel will be able to make their FastPass selections 30 days in advance. FastPasses are super convenient for those hot summer days when you do not want to be waiting in line all afternoon. They simply hook up to your MagicBand and you're good to go! No paper tickets, cards, nothing! The best rides to book a FastPass for are the ones that typically have long wait times, especially Splash Mountain, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Big Thunder Mountain, Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin (Magic Kingdom), Test Track, Soarin, Frozen Ever After (Epcot), Slinky Dog Dash, Tower of Terror, Rock 'n' Roller Coaster, Star Tours (Hollywood Studios), Avatar Flight of Passage, Expedition Everest, and Kilimanjaro Safari (Animal Kingdom).
2. bring snacks and water
Believe it or not, Disney allows you to bring in snacks. Goldfish, granola bars, fruit snacks, pretzels, and crackers make great snacks when walking around the parks all day. It also reduces the amount of money you have to spend on park food because it is definitely pricey. They also allow sealed water bottles and empty reusable water bottles that can be filled up at water fountains throughout the park. If you're eating at a cafeteria-style restaurant, they will not charge you for a cup of water if you ask for it! Avoid buying water in the park as much as possible because a bottle can cost up to $7.
3. order the kids meal
Even though the Disney food menus place an age limit on kids meals, that is more of a guideline; they will not stop you from ordering a kids meal if requested. The kids meals are only slightly smaller portions than the regular entrees and cost anywhere from $3-$6 less! They are perfect for a quick lunch or dinner and lessen the cost of food by a fraction.
4. disney after hours
On select days throughout the year, guests can purchase a ticket that allows them to stay in the park past normal operating hours. The pass is $125/person but is so worth it! For Magic Kingdom, guests can enter the park a few hours before the standard closing hour and then have three additional hours to go on rides after the park closes. Disney only sells about 3,000 of these tickets so there are not very many people in the park, allowing for more time on the rides! You can walk right on the rides with little to no wait time and if there is a short line, the cast members will allow you to stay on the ride until you choose to get off! The ticket also comes with unlimited soda, water, popcorn, and ice cream throughout the night. All attractions are open except for shows and rides that are under maintenance. This event is perfect for those who don't want to be waiting in line all day and want to escape the mid-day heat.
5. don't buy souvenirs in the park
The parks have so many shops that it can become overwhelming AND expensive! There is a Disney Outlet store at the Orlando Premium Outlets that sells official Disney Park merchandise and souvenirs that are no longer in the park stores. They sell everything from pins to t-shirts to Mickey ears to jewelry and everything is cheap, comparatively speaking. They often times have Mickey ear hats and mugs for $2 as well as clothing for a fraction of the price it previously was in the parks. This is a great opportunity to bring home some Disney magic without spending a fortune on items in the parks.