How to be frugal at Disney – Save big bucks with these easy tips!

I was honored to be asked to be a guest blogger on the Churro Blog.  I have followed it for some time and really enjoy it although at times it does make me a bit hungry seeing all of the food and the Chick Fil A especially.  Like many of you, I am pretty much obsessed with All things Disney.  Nothing really wrong with that.  Not sure why I like it so much.  Probably has to do with the fact that it seems like a dream world.  And what is wrong with that anyway as long as you eventually come back to reality?  As a Mom of three teenage boys, affordably doing anything can be a challenge.  Disney specifically has it own challenges as the price of food at the Magic Kingdom for 5 people is just a little expensive.  Gulp.    So here are the suggestions I have to save some money the next time you take a trip to Walt Disney World, the Orlando area or for any touristy vacation trip.

First off watch for sales on Juicy Juice or Capri Suns and stock up before your trip.  Also look for deals on snacks that won’t melt.  My favorites are Nutrigrain bars & rice crispy treats.  Buy the rice crispy treats they sell at Walmart in a large pack for cheap–always near the bakery.  That will save you.  Another great idea is a large package of baked chips with 20-25 bags of chips.  They have been on sale lately for $5.99 at Target and some local grocery stores.  Bottom line is stock up.  Plan for the hungry kids who want a snack an hour after they eat.

When it gets closer to your trip you want to freeze a few of the packs of Capri Suns or Juicy Juice & water.   This way you have nice cold drinks on your drive to your destination.  No stopping for drinks at the rest area or a drive thru.  Trust me, for 5 people that adds up so fast.  Plus if you can, buy a case of water too.  Depending on what kind of arrangement you have, hotel, condo, camper etc. will depend on exactly how much you are able to do, but no matter what there are easy ways to save.  If you are in a hotel without a fridge, fill the ice bucket with ice and keep some drinks cold that way.  If you know you are going to be staying in a hotel without a fridge, bring a small cooler which you can then fill with ice to keep drinks cold.  Every day at the park you are going to fill a backpack with drinks & snacks that you need for the day.  If you are using a stroller or a wheelchair, just attach the backpack to the back.  Or carry a couple backpacks and have the kids take turns.  If it is really a problem to carry all the stuff, keep just what you need for an hour or two with you and put the rest in a locker.  It costs a little for the locker but is well worth it.  At $3 a pop for water at the parks, the savings will multiply quickly.

If you are traveling to Disney this time of year, you need to get some rain gear.  Either bring a rain coat for everyone or stop at a dollar store before your trip and get a rain coverup for a buck or two.  If you get stuck in the rain at Disney it will cost you a small fortune to buy rain gear for everyone.  Another thing, get the sun tan lotion before you leave.  Once you get to the Disney area, every store jacks up the price of this necessity in the Florida sun.

If you are planning a big day at the park, be sure to eat a big breakfast.  I mean big.  Like a buffet.  Have the kids really fill up.  Tell them it will be a while before they eat lunch.  This will save you at the park.  When you are at the park you have a couple options, you can just stop and eat and not worry about the cost because you have done everything else or you can be super frugal and bring sandwiches.  Yep, you heard it right, sandwiches.  Sounds like a pain but if your family is big it is something to consider.  No sense going broke just to spend some quality time with the family.  Here is one way you can do this.  Go get a really big bag of buns.  The one that has 12 sandwiches at least.  (Of course if your family is smaller or the kids are younger, you will need less. )  Make sandwiches, keep the bag, put all of the sandwiches already made back in the bag.  That way when you are ready for them, the sandwiches are all right there.  If you are bringing sandwiches in the Florida sun you are going to need a small cooler with an ice pack.  This would be a great thing to put in your cool locker in the shade.  You should have no problem keeping sandwiches cold for lunch.  Add some of those bags of baked chips you bought and maybe even some carrot sticks or grapes and you have quite a lunch.

Now for the older kids that don’t want Juicy Juice or Capri Suns, start buying Crystal Light or Gatorade individual packs that you put in water.  Buy water and bring it to the park and let everyone add their own flavor.  Easy and cheap way to have drinks.  Most stores offer buy one get one free deals on Crystal Light.  The point is don’t wait til you are in Orlando to get this stuff.  You have to plan ahead and get the deals to make this the most cost effective.

After lunch we pretty much snack whenever the kids are hungry with the snacks we have and order pizza and pick it up on the way back to the hotel after we leave the park.  Most pizza places will give you paper plates and napkins if you ask in the Orlando area.  Pizzeria Uno has a carryout special where you can get a deal on 1 or 2 pizzas carryout and they have 4 or 5 locations in the Orlando Kissimmee area.  Saves you a good $15-$20 not including drinks.  Plus kids at the restaurant after a day at the park is less than fun.  So these are just a few of my suggestions.  I hope they help you save more than a few bucks on your next trip and maybe help you keep your sanity.  Feel free to follow my deals at my3sonsmom.com and thanks Evan for letting me share.