We’ve been to Disney World a few times…ok, more than a few times but we live in Florida and we have small children! Over the last couple of years, I have tried several things to make the trips more affordable and thought I would share them. Please keep in mind that these tips are more for shorter trips (either day trips if you live in Florida) or two-four day trips.
If you have children under the age of six, bring an umbrella stroller! Walking around all day can be hard on grown up legs, let alone the legs of little ones. Plus, a stroller can hold things that can come in handy when at Disney.
Disney allows coolers and bags/backpacks smaller than 24”long x 15”wide x 18” high into the park.
The character meals and many of the sit down restaurants located in the parks are fairly pricey. I definitely recommend fitting a character meal in your budget for the experience. Keep in mind that breakfast and lunch are much more cost effective than dinner.
Disney offers many “quick meal” kiosks throughout all of the parks that are actually affordably priced. The prices are very comparable to out of park prices and average around $8-9 per person.
That being said, the costs of DRINKS in the parks are OUTRAGEOUS!!!! A bottle of water runs about $3.00 and when you are walking miles and miles in the Florida heat, it can add up to stay hydrated. I like to freeze powerade and water bottles the night before the trip and carry them into the park in my lunch cooler (which is about the largest size they allow carried into the park.)
I also add snack items and maybe a light lunch to the cooler which is kept cool by the frozen drinks. Below are some of the items I have packed:
Cut or whole fruit
Boiled eggs
Ritz crackers and pepperoni slices (delicious when you are sweaty and exhausted)
Sandwiches
Celery and peanut butter
raisin
a bottle or two of unfrozen water to drink while we wait for the frozen ones to melt
I usually bring a backpack as well. The items in my bag have evolved as my kids have gotten older. They are now four and five.
Medications in single dose packets (see previous post on benedryl to go) of ibuprofen and benedryl
sunblock face stick
spray sunblock
bandaids
1 change of clothing in a gallon size ziplock bag for each child
Kids bathing suits
Flip flops for me in case my shoes get wet or to wear while chasing kids in the splash area (I wear sneakers into the park)
Camera
Phone charger
Ponytail holders
1 emergency rain poncho for each person (these come in small little squares and don’t take up much room at all) It rains almost every day for a few minutes in Florida. The Disney rain ponchos that are conveniently sold EVERYWHERE in the park when it rains are almost $8 dollars each!
Tissues
My daughter’s “blankies” (baby receiving blankets). I normally pack extra blankies in the backpack. We have used these little blankies as towels to wipe up messes, to put on the hot curb so we don’t burn our bottoms while watching a parade, as a pillow…the possibilities are endless ;p
Glowsticks, glow necklaces etc – These can be purchased at any Orlando area drugstore or gift shop for much cheaper than they would be in the park. Once the sun goes down, you can pull them out so that the kids don’t get tempted to ask for something when the glow things cart is pushed passed by a cast member.
The cost of tickets and lodging are pretty expensive so we like to spend as little as possible on things in the park. The cost for all of these little things can add up. The season pass is a very good deal for Florida Residents that go to Disney several times in a year. It also comes with large discounts on resort lodging during the off season.
For out of state visitors who are staying at a Disney resort, I highly recommend the Disney Dining Plan. It is a great money saving program offered by the parks.
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