Pssst… Hey you.
Yeah you!
Want to know 5 secrets to do more with less at Disney? Of course you do! I mean who doesn’t.
Disney is all about finding ways to make the most of your time and money. Here are some great tips on where to get started!
Ready to maximize your Disney experience?
1. Fastpass and Dining Reservations
Everybody knows you can make Fastpass+ reservations 60 days in advance, right? And that you make dining reservations 180 days in advance? But, maybe you didn’t quite get that restaurant reservation you wanted.
What do you do?
It never hurts to ask for a table. Maybe someone dropped a reservation recently. You might get lucky and have a spot within 15 minutes!
When I took a trip to Disney Springs in June, we went to T-Rex and asked for a table. No reservation. We were seated within 10 minutes! It doesn’t happen often, but it never hurts to ask. Trust me.
2. Take Advantage Of Freebies
Wait, Disney has freebies? Of course they do!
Check out my earlier article on 10 Things That Won’t Break The Bank. It has info on freebies at Resorts and around the parks that you can take advantage of!
One of these freebies is the Animals at Animal Kingdom Lodge.
If you walk out of the back of the Resort, you can spot giraffes, Zebras and more!
The best part?
You don’t even have to be staying at Animal Kingdom Lodge to see them. Next time you visit Animal Kingdom, stop by Animal Kingdom Lodge and get a new perspective on the Resort.
3. Using the Disney Dining Plan. The Right Way!
It’s and age old question.
Can you save money with the Disney dining plan?
Well, yes and no.
If you love ordering the most expensive items on the menu, the Disney dining plan could save you some money. If you’re like my family and share portions sometimes, then it’s not a good investment.
If you want to eat steak and seafood for every meal, the Disney dining plan is your way to eat more with less.
If you’re really unsure if the Disney dining plan is right for you, it probably isn’t. You can still save money off the Disney dining plan.
Remember, if you are a DVC member or an Annual Pass Holder, you can get up to 20% off your dining meals.
4. Getting Benefits From Grocery Stores
Okay, this is a great one!
You can do this at any grocery store that has rewards points. For example – Giant Eagle
My mom would pay for our entire Disney trip with Disney gift cards. You heard that right!
She would spend thousands of dollars on gift cards and get MAJOR points to use on gas. Each 100 points equaled $0.10 off each gallon of gas. Spending all that money on gift cards ads up, and she would get gallons of gas, for FREE!
We could fill up our van entirely for only a few cents!
I know this seems like a lot, but your going to use that money to pay for your Disney trip anyway. So why not use it and learn to maximize those benefits!
5. Character Breakfasts
I know what you’re thinking.
“Character breakfasts are way too expensive”
Am I Right?
Typical Character dining prices at breakfast are around $25 for adults. For children it’s usually around $15. Lunch can be around $30 for adults and $43 for dinner!
Breakfast is usually always the cheaper option.
Character breakfasts can save you a ton of time in the parks. It’s a chance for you to sit down and eat and visit those characters that can have long wait times.
It’s a win-win situation.
You get to eat breakfast and enjoy some great food, AND meet characters at the same time. There are no lines. The characters come to you and it’s always a great experience.
Bonus Tip?
Get the ice water!
A bottle of water at Disney world is $3.50
My family goes through about 4 bottles of water a day. That’s about $14 per day just on water.
For the week?
That’s $70! It doesn’t seem like a lot, but you could use that extra money to buy a LoungeFly backpack. Or, two sets of Minnie ears! And we all know how important those are.
Hey, thanks for liking my tips on how to do more with less while at Disney. Now, if you enjoy my content and want to learn more, I have tons of more articles about Disney for you to read. Check them out and don’t forget to subscribe.
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