Doing DISNEY: How to get the most bang for your buck!
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Let me just start by saying I LOVE DISNEY! Although it’s a busy vacation, it is so much fun, and I love to see the kids explore it! Each time we go the kids are a little older and it’s a different experience, new rides, restaurants and so on! It rarely disappoints, except when its either super crowded, or too expensive, and we ALL know Disney is always expensive!
Read on for 6 tips to help you get the most bang for your buck at DISNEY!
· On or Off Property…. I say in between
· Save big on food!
· Quick Park Guide and worth-the-wait attractions
· How to avoid the lines
· Day off? Disney Springs and other things to do in DISNEY
We loved this ride so much, we got right back in line for round 2!
Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railroad - Hollywood Studios
On or Off Property…I say in between
Obviously if money is no object on property is the best! All the perks of staying at a Disney Resort are great! Their theming is top notch, the pools are always fantastic not to mention the free transportation and early park entry! The trouble is you spend so little time in the room that I find it hard to justify the cost. What if I told you there were hotels on property that also offered many of these same benefits but were not Disney hotels and therefore far cheaper! Hotels that still offer Disney transportation and early park entry at a fraction of the cost! Our go to is the Double Tree in Disney Springs, rooms sleep six which is great for our big family, but even if you don’t have as many bodies, its wonderful because a door separates the bedroom and the living area equipped with a kitchenette. It is also within walking distance to Disney Springs! Check out my Blog Post: 4 Strategies to save BIG on lodging including the BEST kept hotel secret, to see how you can stay here for free!
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Save big on Food!
No matter where you stay, do yourself a favor and order groceries! It will save you a bundle! We use Whole Foods delivery through amazon and order a variety of breakfast stuff, snacks and sandwich makings, juice boxes and so on.
We eat breakfast in our room before we leave for the day, pack a lunch for the park and off we go! We always travel with a packable cooler, like this one from amazon! A packed lunch is great at the parks because someone is always hungry, it saves so much money and is far healthier! This strategy also saves time having it on hand rather than going through lines at concessions! We like to sit and picnic during a parade/cavalcade or eat in a long line. I love this packable blanket for impromptu picnics from amazon! We usually go to early dinner at the parks, and by that time, everyone is ready for a break! We tend to splurge a bit for a character meal or just find a nice sit-down restaurant, this strategy works perfectly for our crew!
Quick Park guide and worth-the-wait attractions
Click the links for a park map!
· Magic Kingdom: My personal favorite, there’s just something about that walk down main street to that infamous castle! There are five walkways that extend from the castle, each leading to different lands, this makes it super easy to navigate! This park is best done in 2 days but can be done in one. I will warn you that one full day will be LONG, so be prepared! We did this in one LONG day when my big three were little, it was so much work that as we sat down for the fireworks at the end of the night, my hubby asked, “is this supposed to be fun?!” We were both so exhausted, and just then my oldest leaned over to me and said “mom, BEST DAY EVER!” It made it all worthwhile and melted my heart! Worth-the-wait: Splash Mountain, Space Mountain, Buzz Lightyear, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Teacups (if you’re into spinning), Barnstormer, Pirates of the Caribbean and The Jungle Cruise.
· Animal kingdom: This Park is much smaller and easily doable in a day, maybe less. The theming at this park is so well done! The tree of life that anchors the park is beautiful at night when lit up! Worth-the-wait: Expedition Everest, Kilimanjaro Safari, Avitar.
· Hollywood Studios: This Park has had so many upgrades recently that it tends to be busier, thus longer lines so pack your patience! Between the Star Wars and Toy Story lands, there is so much to do here, easily 1 full day. Worth-the-wait: Slinky Dog Dash, Mickey and Minnie Runaway Railroad, Star Wars rides, Rockin’ Rollercoaster, Tower of Terror.
· EPCOT: If you're hungry, this is the place for all the snacks! You can seriously eat (and Drink) your way around the world! This may be unpopular, but I don’t love Epcot. It was fun to go with adults, but don’t think it is worth the money to bring my kids, unless we had a park hopper. There aren’t many rides and the ones they have are just so-so. However, if your kiddo is into characters, this might be the park for you! That being said, they are making lots of changes here adding Guardians of the Galaxy ride, Moana’s Journey of Water, Dreamers Point and adding more so we shall see what the future holds! Worth-the-wait: Guardians of the Galaxy, Ratatouille
How to avoid the lines
This is maybe the best section of this blog! Because if you do Disney the wrong way at the wrong time it can be painful! We have been before where it was so packed that we actually left the park because you couldn’t do anything without an hour+ wait! We won’t make that mistake again! Our first trip with kids I read the Unofficial Guide to Walt Disney World and it was super helpful!
First, plan your visit on off peak times. This gets tricky when kids start school, but it’s so worth it! Early fall, September and beginning of October are typically good, and Disney usually puts out an incentive for travel during this time period. They have offered up to 30% off rooms, free dining plans and so on, it changes each year. January and early February are also great! Weather can be chilly, but pack accordingly and enjoy the light lines! We tend to go during this time!
Next, weather you’re an early bird or not, GET TO THE PARK BEFORE IT OPENS! You’ll get a good hour or so before the sleepy crowd shows up and you’ll have already done 3-5 rides! If you’re not a fan of lines, this is a MUST! And if you're tired later, go back and take a nap, it is vacation! AND to also help skip lines, get Genie Plus! This is their newest fast pass system, and if your on property, you can begin booking these at 7am the morning of your park day!
If you have littles, be sure to take advantage of the rider switch! Here’s how it works, once you get to the attraction, take your whole group up to the attendant and let them know you’d like to use rider switch. They will then scan the bands of two and sometimes up to four people, depending on your group size, for a return visit to the lightning lane. Once the first set of riders exit the ride, the second group can then go through the fast pass/lightning lane for their turn. We love to take our littles on nearby attractions while were waiting and it makes everyone happy!
Most importantly if you hate lines, buy genie plus, and the Individual Lightning Lanes! This will save you hours! Yes is extra on top of already expensive ticket prices, but if your going to go, don’t skimp on this! Check out exactly how to use these tools, in How to use Genie+ to enhance your Disney Trip!
Day off? Disney Springs and other things to do in DISNEY
What should you do on your day off? There is so much to do at Disney, but we love Disney Springs! Shop, eat, live entertainment, movies, treats and so much more!
Some other ideas: Ride the monorail and resort hop, play mini golf, go see the animals at Animal Kingdom Lodge, reserve a character meal (chef mickeys is our go to) or just relax at the pool!
Last year we splurged and stayed at Animal Kingdom Lodge! It was amazing!
Disney is so much fun but can easily break the bank, even with these tips it is still a pricey endeavor. Some other cost saving tips we’ve used, gift tickets for Christmas and ask for Disney gift cards for Christmas/birthdays to buy souvenirs.
If you plan to stay on property, do yourself a favor, book through a Disney travel agent! They are free and have access to reservations and accommodations you may not! It saves so much time researching because they know it all, and if they don’t, they’ll find out for you!
Save a fortune and pack these Disney MUST HAVES before your next trip!
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