Top 10 Budget-Friendly Tips for Visiting Disney Parks Without Breaking the Bank
Top 10 Budget-Friendly Tips for Visiting Disney Parks Without Breaking the Bank
A Disney Park is the magic place to visit with its bright parades, exciting attractions, castles of the fairytales and all the characters that are still childhood memories. However, truth to be told, it is equally costly, when you consider travelling there, more or less, especially when you are an Indian or any other citizen of a country with a weaker currency.
Fear not even though you might still have funds left in your wallet after the experience. And my recent plan of a Disney on a dime trip was actually related quite well since it was not a very expensive trip, quite contrary to the given belief that Disney is out of budget. Whether you are dreaming about Disneyland California or Walt Disney World, Florida, these inexpensive tips will save you large amounts of money and still have the time of your life.
1. Book Your Tickets in Advance
This is simple, though one would agree that a lot of individuals leave it to the last minute. The prices of the Disney tickets are increased depending on the demand and it is mostly cheaper to purchase one early. Watch out on their official site or approved ticket distributors on offerings.
Pro Tip: As a general rule, the costs are typically lower when you travel during the off-season (January or September).
2. Stay Offsite to Save on Hotels
And yes, it is an amazing experience living in the Disney Resort hotel and it does not treat your bank account too well all the time. Think about local cheap hotels or Airbnb inns - there are lots of them no more than 10-15 min drive off and they got free shuttle buses to the park.
I had a wonderful low cost inn right across the street when I was in Disneyland Anaheim. It was half the cost of a Disney hotel and it had breakfast as well!
3. Bring Your Own Food and Snacks
Disney permits outside food (no glass ware or alcohol though). Bring along sandwiches or dry snacks or back at home Indian tiffin, this is going to help you to save a lot. The food within the park is good and expensive.
And truth to be told, when you have walked so much, nothing can be more comforting than your favourite homemade poha or aloo paratha!
4. Use the Free Water Stations
Rather than purchasing bottled water on a regular basis (up to $3-$4 each), invest in a reusable bottle of water and water fountains located throughout the park, which will save you a lot of money in the process. They are hygienic, secure, and present in the majority of places.
Bonus: You are also doing the environment good!
5. Download the Disney App and Use It Wisely
It has a lifesaving app Disney Parks. It is free of charge, and it assists in:
- Verifying wait times of ride waits
- Locating toilets and eating places
- Making a reservation in Lightning Lane (to pay to skip the line, should you desire)
To better plan your day, taking into account even the time you save spending money on extras, the app helps you just in case you do not spend money on them.
6. Buy Disney Merchandise Outside the Park
The merchandise found in the park is fantastic yet costly Mickey t-shirt can cost uptown even 30 dollars! Rather, purchase Disney merchandise online or near you in Walmart or Target. I found out that you could purchase cute Minnie ears inside the park only at a cost of 5$.
And what a guess? Not a soul could notice it.
7. Visit During Off-Peak Seasons
Do not travel around during school holidays, Christmas or summer vacation in the US. Rather, give a visit to:
- Mid January to March
- At the end of April and the beginning of May
- End of September to the beginning of November
The size of the crowds is reduced, hotels are cheap and weather favorable.
8. Use Free Disney Entertainment
You do not need to spend over the top on everything. Your ticket includes parades, fireworks and character meet-and-greets. These are some of the most enchanted factions of the experience particularly children.
I can also recall the time when I was standing close to Cinderella Castle and clearly saw how the fireworks popped up against the night sky all for free without shelling out an extra rupee!
9. Group Travel = More Savings
Want to plan vacation with your friends or family? Share boarding in the bookings, transportation and food expenses. In some cases there are also group discounts in the travel agents.
Moreover, it is memorable because one can share the experience with people. We shared costs of staying at hotels and using Ubers and saved much on that.
10. Set a Daily Budget (and Stick to It!)
.jpg)
Do not make the decision on how much you want to spend until you are inside the park and this includes food, merchandise as well as extras. When you live in a world of magic it is hard not to be carried away but with a boundary it keeps you in touch with the world.
You might want to take a prepaid travel card so that you could not easily spend more on your debit card or credit card.
Bonus Tip: Don’t Try to Do Everything in One Trip
Disney Parks are enormous - and the temptation and attempt to visit everything in a single visit is mind-blowing (not to mention the wallet). Be selective about prioritizing the things that you have to do, and the other activities that you cannot get to are left until the next visit.
It is not the number that is important but quality. 😊
Final Thoughts
Disney Parks are not expensive to visit. It takes a few creative ideas and a dose of patience to enjoy the magic and not the headaches of excessive spending. Believe me, it is definitely worth it.
Comments
Post a Comment