Mickey on a Budget: Tips for Saving Money at Disney World

You’re going to Disney World! Yippee! You paid off the balance a few weeks ago and the pain is real. Boo!

No worries. There are still plenty of ways to stay on budget in the House of Mouse. This post offers tips for saving money on food, souvenirs and activities throughout Disney World.

Saving money on food

The easiest way to save on your meal costs at Disney World is to pack your own food. Disney is incredibly (shockingly?) generous in their policies regarding bringing food and drinks into the theme parks. Basically you can bring whatever you want, as long as it’s not alcoholic and not in a glass container. You can even bring a cooler, as long as it is 24″ x 15″ x 18″ or smaller. (Check out the full list of policies here.)

So, maybe you don’t want to whip out a PB&J on Main Street while you’re waiting for the parade. I’ve seen it done, several times, but I understand. It’s kind of a hassle to carry your own meals. Most things you can pack won’t compare to that chicken and waffle sandwich or that giant turkey leg the guests sitting next to you are eating anyway.

There are other ways to save on food. Try packing breakfast options for your hotel room. It will save you money, and it will also save you valuable morning time when the lines are shortest. Pack snacks like energy bars, nuts or jerky for a protein boost and a water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the day. If you don’t want to carry a bottle, Disney provides free ice water at any quick-service location.

Speaking of quick-service locations, there are many ways to save there too. First, try sharing entrees. Many of the restaurants serve huge portions, such as Flame Tree Barbecue in Animal Kingdom or D-Luxe Burger at Disney Springs. If you’re not super hungry, you could also consider ordering a kids’ meal. Disney doesn’t care if the person eating the kids’ meal is under ten years old unless that person is on a meal plan. Finally, seek out snacks that can act as a meal. The ham and cheese croissant at the French pavilion in Epcot, for example, is a great deal at $4.75. Snacking your way “around the world” is not a bad way to sample what Disney has to offer and save some money too. The small plates at Disney’s lounges (also known as bars) could do the trick too.

What about table-service restaurants? You can easily save here too by doing a little research first. Find the table-service restaurants with more reasonable pricing, such as the Sci-Fi Dine-In Restaurant at Hollywood Studios or Beaches ‘n Cream at the Beach Club. The food is not exactly cheap,  but it is much more reasonable than a $49 buffet elsewhere. You could split entrees there too, if you want. Some of the table service restaurants in the resorts charge slightly less for lunch than dinner. Another option is to skip the entree and go straight to dessert!  Be Our Guest in the Magic Kingdom (cupcakes!) or Coral Reef in Epcot (chocolate lava!) are a few examples.

Another way to save on table-service restaurants is to use your credit card, gift card or membership perks. Landry’s Restaurants operates the T-Rex Café, Yak & Yeti and both Rainforest Cafe’s at Disney World. You can save at these locations by using a discounted gift card or a loyalty rewards card. The Disney Visa card offers 10% discounts at a ton of restaurants including Sanaa, The Wave and Cape May. You can find the complete list of discounted restaurants here.

Saving money on souvenirs

When it comes to saving on souvenirs, the simplest way is to purchase your Mickey gear before you get to Orlando! Pretty much every big box store has Disney merchandise these days. (I wonder how many licensing lawyers they employ?!) For clothing you can find rotating options at Walmart, Target, Old Navy or Kohl’s.  JCPenney has a designated Disney area that offers lots of Disney merchandise, mostly geared to younger kids. For older kids, teenagers or kids at heart, try Forever 21, Gap, H&M, Hot Topic or Macy’s. Obviously you could check the Disney Store too, since there’s usually something on sale.

Feel weird about taking souvenirs with you? Try hiding the items in your suitcase and surprising your travel buddies once you’re in Orlando. This works well with stuffed animals, t-shirts, crazy Disney hats or those packs of glow necklaces you can buy for a $1 a home.

Once you’re in Orlando, there are still options. Uniqlo  in Disney Springs offers T-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets and more at much lower prices than the World of Disney next door. The Lego store, also at Disney Springs, isn’t exactly cheap, but at least it’s consistent with the Lego prices you’ll find at home. There are also two Disney outlet stores elsewhere in Orlando, if you have a car and are willing to fight the crowds.

If you want to purchase something in a Disney-owned gift shop, take your time and be strategic. As much as I love Disney, I’m not always a fan of the merchandise. Many times I can’t find something I want, even when I’m actively searching. If you find yourself in a similar predicament, consider skipping the souvenirs altogether and focus on the memories you’re creating. The money you save on stuff you could use toward your next trip!

If you think I’m completely crazy for those last few comments, at least try to pick souvenirs you’ll see or use on a semi-regular basis. Magnets, Christmas ornaments, coffee mugs, beach towels and key chains are examples that won’t break the bank. If it’s something that will make you smile when you see it a home, rather than groan for how much you spent on it, you’re on the right track.

Saving money on activities

Disney World offers endless entertainment. It’s the primary reason I love going there. There are so many things to do, you could easily visit several times and not experience everything. Fortunately, I’m just talking about the entertainment options that are covered by the price of park admission or the price of your Disney resort room. If you want to minimize your out-of-pocket costs once you’re in Disney World, focus on all the fabulous stuff that’s already included.

As you know, the parks offer enough rides, shows, parades, fireworks and character meet ‘n greets to keep you busy all day. There are tons of other options too. You can entertain the kids with scavenger-hunt-like activities at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot or Animal Kingdom. Explore the well-themed animal trails at Animal Kingdom or browse the interesting exhibits tucked away in Epcot’s World Showplace. Hunt for the “Hidden Mickeys” Disney Imagineers use to “autograph” their work throughout all of the parks and resorts.

Speaking of resorts, you’ll find plenty of “free” activities there too. Every resort has a pool (or five!) with organized guest activities most afternoons (trivia games, water games, bingo, etc.). Some of the resorts also offer free live entertainment (such as YeHaa Bob at Port Orleans Riverside), kids’ activities (such as photographic scavenger hunts) and walking trails (if you have any energy left from all the other walking!). Most offer outdoor movies at least a few nights a week. Some have campfires too.

Whew! Not done yet. Anther “free” entertainment option is to explore other resorts. Jump on the monorail and ride straight through the Contemporary, where you’ll see a gigantic Grand Canyon mural in the lobby and maybe catch a glimpse of Mickey at the buffet. Continue on to the lush grounds of the Polynesian or the grandeur of the Grand Floridian lobby. While you’re in the area, consider watching the Electrical Water Pageant, a nighttime water parade taking place in front of the Magic Kingdom. You can also catch the Magic Kingdom fireworks from the dock at the Polynesian or the landing in the Ticket and Transportation Center.

If the monorail makes you dizzy, hop a bus and visit the Animal Kingdom Lodge. From there you can watch safari animals roam the grounds from a large outdoor deck off the lobby. Or, grab a bus or boat to Disney Springs for endless window shopping and seasonal live entertainment.

See what I mean?  If you haven’t been to Disney World very often or very recently, you really don’t need to pay for anything “extra” to keep you and your travel party entertained.

Hopefully this post gave you a few ideas for how to save money on food, souvenirs and activities once you’ve arrived in Disney World. If you need tips on how to save before you get there, try reading my earlier post here.

Have a question? Want to share more money-saving ideas? Leave me a comment below!

Save some dough and add some magic to your world!