One of the very first questions people ask when they begin planning a Disney vacation is, "How can we save money?"
I hate to have to tell you this, but a Disney World vacation is way more expensive in 2022 that it was back in 2009, when our family had our first visit at a Disney resort.
Fortunately, there are many different ways you can do Disney, and you can still make some choices that will make your trip ... well, not cheap, but less expensive.
After reading this post, you'll know the best money-saving tactic that works for your family.
Because there's nothing magical about getting a huge credit card bill.
Save money by packing your own lunch.
You can save a ton of money by packing your own picnic lunch, especially if you have a large family and you do it multiple days.
You'll probably eat a lot healthier, too. Just sayin'.
Some of the best lunch ideas to pack include:
- Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches
- Tuna sandwiches
- Hard-boiled eggs
- Meat and cheese sandwiches
- Bagels and cream cheese
- String cheese
- Bananas
- Beef jerky
- hummus with crackers
- Apples
- Granola bars
- Grapes (some people prefer freezing them)
- Baby carrots
- Juice boxes
Best Places in Disney World to Eat a Picnic Lunch
According to Disney Dining, some of the best places to enjoy your picnic lunch at the parks include:
- Tom Sawyer's Island in Frontierland
If you want a peaceful, shady, non-theme park environment to eat in, this might be your best bet.
You do need to allow for some time, as you have to take a little boat to get there, but that's part of the experience.
Some families swear by Tom Sawyer's Island as a place to spend an hour or two and allow the parents to relax while the kids run around.
- The hub at Main Street
This choice is great if you enjoy people-watching. There are two sections for this, one near Casey's Corner and the other near The Plaza restaurants.What's nice about this area is that it has artificial turf, so you can "sit in the grass" without getting dirty or being surrounded by ants.
However, it isn't the best choice during a parade, due to the crowds.
- UK Pavilion in Epcot's World Showcase
The UK Pavilion has a beautiful garden tucked away in the back, with benches scattered throughout, making it perfect for a meal.
- Flame Tree Barbecue
Photo courtesy of Laurie at Pics from the World of Disney
Flame Tree Barbecue in Animal Kingdom is probably my favorite counter service in all of Disney World, so I don't think I could ever bring myself to sit and eat a homemade sandwich while everyone else is devouring ribs.
But if you have more discipline that I do, this is a lovely outdoor seating area. Not only are you sitting in the shade by the water, but you get a great view of Expedition Everest.
Packing Your Lunch in a Backpack Cooler
If you do decide to bring lunch into the parks, the TOURIT insulated backpack cooler works great.
It's a convenient way to carry your family's lunch, keeps your food and drinks cold for hours, and is a bag that's easy for Disney park security to check.
Highly Rated
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People loved the side pockets made for carrying water bottles
Reviewers loved how this backpack was lightweight, yet durable. They also liked the pockets that could be used for non-perishable snacks like granola bars.
They were also impressed at how much space there was inside.
This photo shows the inside of the backpack packed with food and drinks with plenty of room to spare.
Amazon reviewer David Thompson points out that it will continue to save money long after your Disney trip:
These are great for theme park visits, all day little league ballgames, picnics and/or work lunchbox.
We used the Cooler Shock Ice Packs and they kept items cold for minimum 8 hours, and that's in sunny Florida at Disney. I bought two and so glad I did. They saved us a ton of money and will for years to come.
✅ Save money with these Disney souvenir tricks
Buy Souvenirs Before the Trip
Personally, I never cared for this idea, because to me part of the fun about going to Disney World is looking around in the shops and deciding what souvenirs to buy.
However, some parents swear by it.
Months before the trip, they check for clearance deals on Amazon's Disney page, good deals at stores like Wal-Mart, or even consignment shops and garage sales.
Then over the course of the vacation, they whip these secret goodies out. Sometimes they even have it all planned out so that each one is wrapped and labeled with which day to open it.
Do some Disney pin trading
Disney pin trading can be a fun activity that also makes for a pretty cheap souvenir.
If you're not familiar with pin trading, it's an experience where guests can trade Disney pins with cast members on pin bulletin boards sometimes found in gift shops and Disney resorts.
Rebecca got really into pin trading on one trip in particular, which got me started on it a little. It adds a nice dimension to the trip because:
- It's a bit of an adventure to always be on the lookout for new pins
- It leads to interesting conversations with cast members
- You're "shopping" all the time without spending more money
The best way to get started with pin trading is to buy a cheap starter set before your trip.
The Pins We Use
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A great way to start Disney Pin Trading without spending a ton of money -- IF you don't mind scrappers
There are a few [sometimes controversial] things to be aware of when it comes to pin trading etiquette and buying pins online, so if you've never done this before, I recommend you read my post on Disney Pin Trading Secrets & Scrappers before diving in.
I would also highly recommend buying some butterfly clutch pin backs to replace the backs on the Disney pins. Otherwise it's very possible the pin will fall off and get lost.
Amazon's Choice
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These back do a better job securing your Disney pins
Get Pressed Pennies as souvenirs
Another interactive and cheap souvenir idea that also keeps you busy during the trip is pressed pennies.
There are several pressed penny machines around the parks that crush a Disney-themed design into a penny.
You can use an empty M&M’s mini tube to stack layers of two quarters and one penny so you’re not fumbling around for change all day.
If you like, you can buy a book to organize your pressed pennies after the trip.
Disney Parks Tinkerbell Pressed Penny Collection Book
Walt Disney World Pressed Penny Book Collection Album
Give your kids their own Disney gift cards
Another trick for keeping souvenir costs down (which we have never done) is to put the budgeting responsibility on your kids.
Buy each child a $25 or $50 Disney gift card to spend how they wish. (You can buy discounted Disney gift cards at eBay, Gift Card Granny, Sam’s Club.)
Now only does that give you one less thing to worry about and have to keep track of, but it's a really good exercise in them managing their money and making decisions. That spinning glow in the dark toy might not seem quite so cool if it's being paid for with their own money.
Save Money by skipping Memory Maker, but using the photographers.
Okay, first let me say that I love Memory Maker, the package you purchase before your Disney trip that allows you to get copies all the photos taken of you (including ride photos).
Let me also say that I've heard many people say that if there's one thing that's really, truly a good value that's worth the money at Disney World, it's Memory Maker.
However, if money is tight, you have to cut back somewhere, and $169 is a lot of money.
So here's a little trick if you can't -- or don't want to -- pay for Memory Maker.
Just give your phone or camera to the PhotoPass photographer, and they'll take your photo on it.
Sure, they probably won't take as many shots as they would if they were using their own camera, but it's still a great way to get lots of vacation photos without having to pay extra for them.
Take advantage of the free stuff at Disney World.
Yes, there are actually a few things at Disney World if you know where to look.
Some of them are more impressive than others, but hey, I say take what you can get.
Here are a few Disney freebies:
You can ask for a cup of ice water (or hot water) at any quick service restaurant.
If you're staying at a Disney resort (other than Animal Kingdom Lodge), you can stop at the front desk and get free balloons.
I actually had to double-check this because I found it so hard to believe. But yes, at the First Aid Centers (each park has one, including the water parks), you can get samples of things like cold medicine, cough drops, tissue packets, and Band-Aids.
If you stop by The Polynesian Resort on the monorail line (which you should), just ask and they will give you a free lei.
Is someone in your family celebrating a birthday or anniversary? Be sure to let a cast member know as soon as you enter the park, and they'll give you a button you can wear. Not only does it make a nice souvenir, but it will get you some extra smile and greetings throughout the day. And if you're really lucky, it might possibly lead you to getting another freebie at some point. (No guarantees.)
This may not get you too excited at first, but if you like to scrapbook and such, these can come in handy.
Even if you don't do anything fancy with them, they make a pretty unique souvenir. It would be really cool if I still had the park map from our Disney World trip when I was a kid and rode 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Mr. Toad's Wild Ride!
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