A trip to Walt Disney World isn’t cheap. Even with all your planning and budgeting, there are a few little mistakes that can really add to your cost. We want to help make sure that you don’t make these mistakes during your Walt Disney World vacation.
Buying Water
One of the little mistakes that can really add up throughout a Walt Disney World vacation is purchasing water each day. It is super important to stay hydrated, but purchasing bottled water in the Disney Parks each day isn’t the only way to do so.
Walt Disney World allows Guests to bring in their own water. Take advantage of this option. You can have bottled water delivered to your Disney Resort from a store such as Walmart, Target, or Amazon.
If you don’t mind Disney water, you can bring your favorite Disney-themed water bottle and refill it throughout the Walt Disney World Resort property. There are now a variety of refill stations that Guests can find as well in the Disney Parks.
Finally, if all else fails, ask for free ice water at the quick service locations throughout the Disney Parks. They will be more than happy to help you stay hydrated.
With bottled water costing around $3.50 a piece, this can really add up throughout your Disney vacation. Go in with a plan on how everyone is going to stay hydrated without having to pay for it each day.
Not Packing the Essentials
Another little mistake that can really add up during your Walt Disney World vacation is forgetting the essentials. When we talk about essentials, there are a variety of items that fall into this category.
Even though Disney makes it easy to find those items that you forget to pack, you are going to be paying Disney prices for them. Think about the items that you use daily at home and make sure that you have those packed for your trip.
Pack your over-the-counter medicine such as Tylenol, Advil, a chaffing stick, bandaids, and even antacids. Having these with you can really save you the high mark-up in the Disney Parks and at the Disney Resorts.
Forgetting essentials also included those weather-related items. Don’t head to Walt Disney World without rain gear. Pack those cheap ponchos from home instead of having to purchase the expensive Disney-themed ones in the Parks. Even with the adorable logos on them, they aren’t worth the additional cost.
Double check that everyone had essentials before heading to Walt Disney World. Doing this can really help you save some money.
Not Looking For Discounts
We highly recommend booking those Walt Disney World packages early to ensure you get your Disney Resort and room category of choice. After you book it though, don’t forget to continue to look for discounts.
Disney will release discounts throughout the year and those can usually be applied to previous bookings. Keep up to date with those discounts or work with a travel agent who will monitor those for you.
Be aware though that discounts often only apply to specific Disney Resorts, during specific travel days, at certain room categories. This can make it difficult to snag a discount but always keep on looking.
Missing a Reservations
Many of us book our dining reservations two months prior to our Walt Disney World vacation. Don’t make the mistake of missing out on these previously made dining reservations because Disney does charge a $10/person fee for no-shows.
For most reservations around Walt Disney World, there is a 24-hour cancelation policy. Keep this in mind once you arrive at Walt Disney World and your plans begin to change (because they will). Make sure that you are prepared to cancel 24 hours ahead of time to avoid the fees that can quickly add up.
If you do run into issues such as a ride breaking down or transportation issues, talk to a Disney Cast Member. They can often work with you to navigate the situation and work it out for everyone.
That $10 per Guests fee can really add up so don’t miss those dining reservations.
Constantly Adding Magic
If you have planning a trip to Walt Disney World, you know that there are so many ways to add magic to your trip. Don’t make the mistake of adding on all these upgrades only to realize that you went way over budget.
When you are first booking your Disney vacation, think about if upgrades such as preferred rooms at your Disney Resort or a Park Hopper ticket are essential to your Disney experience. Think through how you will be spending your day to determine if these upgrades will be worth it for your family.
Disney is also offering additional after-hour events for Guests to enjoy. Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is already back with Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party coming in November. Over at Typhoon Lagoon, Guests can enjoy H20 Glow Night.
With tickets ranging in prices from $69 per adult up to $199 per adult, these hard-ticketed events can really add up. Don’t assume that all these extra events are going to be perfect for your family. Do some digging to determine if they will work for your family or if that money could be spent elsewhere during your Disney vacation.
We are thrilled the Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique is coming back to transform Guests into knights, pop stars, or fairytale princesses. This experience is not cheap with packages that could be $450 and more. You can still transform your little one but do so by bringing your own dress or even doing your own make-up and pixie dust.
Don’t make the mistake of thinking you have to add these extras to have a magical time. There is a reason that they are extras– because you can choose if you want to do them or not.
A trip to Walt Disney World isn’t cheap. Make sure you stick to your budget by avoiding these little mistakes that add up quickly.
