Experts Share Tried-and-True Hacks for Spending Less Cash in Disney World

Listen, we all want to save money on a Disney World trip.

Cinderella Castle

But saving money can be a huge challenge! When there are so many delicious snacks and fun souvenirs, it’s hard to resist going big in Disney World. That’s why we reached out to our team to get their tried-and-true hacks for spending less cash in Disney World!

Use Disney Gift Cards to Budget

It can be hard to stay on budget when another purchase is just a credit card swipe away. That’s why we like budgeting with Disney gift cards! Simply stock up on gift cards in the amount you want to spend each day, and once it’s empty, you’re done.

We particularly love the gift cards with wristbands that you can buy at EPCOT festivals. They’re very handy! You can also employ a similar budgeting strategy by taking cash to Disney World — once you spend it, it’s gone!

Bring Your Own Supplies

One of the biggest times we find ourselves spending unexpected cash in the parks is when we need emergency supplies. Things like handheld fans, sunscreen, ponchos, cooling towels, and hats have all been impulse buys when the weather was difficult.

If you make sure your park bag is stocked with the essentials before your trip, then you won’t have the need to purchase a bunch of $12 ponchos in a rainstorm. You’ve got to plan ahead!

Skip Genie+ and Rope Drop Instead

We typically recommend Genie+ for those who want to get as much done as possible during their vacation, but if the budget is tight, you can go without it. You just need to plan properly!

Instead of using Genie+, plan to arrive at the parks before they open each day and then rope drop the most popular attractions. If you stay until park close, the wait times will often be lower then as well. But if you’re a Genie+ fanatic, you don’t have to skip it entirely — maybe just buy it for your Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios days instead.

Make Breakfast at the Hotel

Buying breakfast and coffee in the parks can add up quickly, so we recommend bringing some breakfast items to your hotel room! Most rooms have at least a coffee maker and a fridge, so anything you could make with those appliances would suffice.

And definitely take advantage of that coffee maker! You could have two free cups in the morning before you even leave the room instead of paying in the park and waiting in long Joffrey’s and Starbucks lines. Don’t forget that you can use Kroger Grocery Delivery or other services like Instacart to have snacks, bottled water, and more delivered directly to your hotel!

Use the Discounts!

Last but not least, we’ve got to talk about discounts! If you’re an Annual Passholder, Disney Visa Cardmember, or Disney Vacation Club member, there are likely to be some discounts for you in the parks.

It never hurts to ask if a discount is available…the worst they can say is no! Even if the discount only saves you a dollar or two on each purchase, it’ll add up after a while.

So there you have it — the best ways to save money in Disney World! We’ll keep you in the loop with more Disney World news and budgeting tips, so stay tuned to AllEars.