The Best (and Worst) Ways to Spend $10 in Disney World

Disney World is expensive, so it’s important to save a penny everywhere you can!

That’s why we’re constantly sharing the latest Disney World ticket deals, hotel discounts, and tricks and tips — we want you to maximize your money as much as possible. While those bigger aspects of the vacation matter when it comes to budget, the smaller things can add up. That’s why we’re discussing the best and worst ways to spend $10 at Disney World!

If you’re looking to plan a Disney vacation, check out our friends over at Mouse Fan Travel. They are the best in the business and can help you plan the perfect trip to Disney!

The Best

Food

Disney food can be expensive (and it just got even pricier with the annual increases), but some of the best and most iconic snacks are $10 or less!

For example, Dole Whip and Dole Whip floats are under $10 and they are a classic when it comes to Disney snacks. Reminder: you don’t have to go inside a Disney park to get Dole Whip — head to Pineapple Lanai at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort!

There are some more underrated snacks under $10 including Zebra Domes which are available at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge! These are hiding at a Disney World hotel, but they are delicious and totally worth the $4.59 — you could get two orders and still be under $10!

There are a couple of snacks that could also be a meal for about $10. At Disney’s Hollywood Studios you can grab Totchos from Woody’s Lunch Box for $10.49…

…as well as the Bavarian Pretzel from Baseline Tap House for $10. Those are both delicious and reliable options for snacking around Hollywood Studios!

Transportation

We’ve all been there. It’s the end of a very long day in Disney World and the bus lines are ridiculously long. In this case, it might be good to spend the $10 on a rideshare!

While Uber and Lyft prices vary depending on the time of day or the length of the trip, the ride should be somewhere around $10 if you’re staying at a Disney World hotel or nearby.

Yes, you have a free option here, but the extra expense might be worth it to you after a tiring day.

Lightning Lanes

Just like transportation, purchasing an Individual Lightning Lane is all about convenience to make your day a little less stressful. You can wait for hours in the regular standby queue, but buying a Lightning Lane makes sense for many parkgoers.

Some Lightning Lanes see higher prices overall, but Seven Dwarfs Mine Train in Magic Kingdom and Flight of Passage in Disney’s Animal Kingdom tend to stay closer to $10 than the others. Here’s a full list of the rides that have Individual Lightning Lanes (the price varies by day):

• Seven Dwarfs Mine Train — Magic Kingdom
• TRON Lightcycle / Run — Magic Kingdom
• Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind — EPCOT
• Flight of Passage — Disney’s Animal Kingdom 
• Rise of the Resistance — Disney’s Hollywood Studios

As a reminder, these are separate purchases from Genie+, which includes its own list of rides. There are ways to get around buying a Lightning Lane like arriving at the parks early or hopping in line at the end of the night, but sometimes spending the money is worth the ease.

The Worst

Not canceling dining reservations in time

Did you know that there is a penalty if you cancel your reservation within a certain time frame? This is a hidden cost that sneaks up on many Disney World fans.

Although it used to be 24 hours, now you will be charged $10 per person on the reservation if you cancel within two hours of the reservation time.

This charge is avoidable most of the time. If you think your plans are going to change, try to move or cancel the reservation before that two-hour window. Also, don’t take the risk of hopping in a super long line for Slinky Dog Dash right before your reservation time.

Paying full price when you could’ve used a discount

If you belong to a group that receives discounts at the parks, don’t forget to use them! This includes Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club Members, and Disney Visa Cardmembers among others.

Disney World Annual Passholders have several discounts they can on merchandise, dining, hotel stays, and more. DVC Members also have access to exclusive discounts!

Disney Visa Cardmembers get 10% off at certain restaurants around Disney World. Also, by using the credit card on everyday purchases, you can earn points that turn into money you can use at Disney World!

All of those discounts really add up — don’t spend the extra $10 (or more, oftentimes) if you don’t have to!

Buying things you could’ve brought with you

There’s a reason we talk about packing over and over again! If you pack all of the right things, you can save yourself at least $10.

For example, ponchos are $10 for children and $12 for adults in the Disney parks. However, you can get them on Amazon or at a local Walmart/Target for much cheaper!

Planning ahead can be a hassle, but it’ll save you time and money in the long run!

Keep following AllEars for more Disney World tips and tricks.

A Realistic Budget For Your 2024 Disney World Trip

What is the best $10 you’ve ever spent at Disney World? Let us know in the comments!

Post a Comment