19 Expensive Mistakes to Avoid at Disney World or Disneyland

Buying Things Instead of Bringing Them From Home

At Disney resorts, it’s almost impossible not to splurge on a few awesome things you want — and that’s fine if it’s within your budget. Don’t, however, waste your money by paying theme-park prices for things you need and should have brought from home. Make you sure you pack — and don’t forget at the hotel — sunscreen, sunglasses, device chargers, medicine, umbrellas, and extra clothing like sweatshirts.

Buying Way Overpriced Glow Toys

When night falls in Disney theme parks, bright — and expensive — glowing toys emerge from kiosks everywhere. Kids love them, but the problem is they often find their way into the nearest trash can by the end of the night when the glow wears off. When it comes to pricey battery-powered light-up toys, they’re likely to collect dust after the novelty of the trip is over. Expect to spend at least $25 for illuminated mouse ears. Want your kids to glow? You can score 100 glowsticks on Amazon for $10.

Falling for Jedi-Mind Tricks

The “Star Wars” franchise is one of the greatest marketing juggernauts in history — and Disney owns it. That means everything “Star Wars” is oozing from every corner of Disney’s parks. If you’re in the market for a lightsaber or helmet that’s exclusive to park shops, by all means — as long as you have the means. Otherwise, run a quick Google Shopping search before you swipe. Chances are you can get it cheaper at home or online. For example, you could buy a BB-8 Last Jedi LEGO figure from Disney for $110, or you could buy the same toy for Target for $100.

Using the Disney Dining Plan

The Disney Dining Plan is wildly popular at least in part because it is brilliantly marketed as an exclusive perk available only to guests at Disney resorts. In reality, it can be a money pit. Although the addition of beer, wine and cocktails was a major upgrade in 2018, you still only get a single drink and you don’t get an appetizer. Gratuity is still not included, but 18 percent is added to checks on parties of six or more. Bringing your own food and snacks can be a big money saver here — especially considering that you lose whatever you don’t use.

Visiting During Peak Times

The cost of visiting virtually all Disney parks — at least those in the United States — increases significantly during peak season. You can tell it’s peak season if your kids are out of school. At Walt Disney World, the cheapest rooms in the parks’ budget resorts can jump from less than $100 a night in off-peak times to more than $200 during the peak dates not to mention the increase to the already sky-high park passes.

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Not Considering All Your Accommodation Options

Disney resorts are conveniently located with immediate park access and they come packed with perks that many travelers consider to be well worth the money. You can likely spend much less per night, however, by booking a place through Airbnb or even a timeshare.

Even better, you can cook your own food in your home or timeshare rental.  While Disney loyalists note that you can definitely land an off-site rental for less, but they’re quick to point out that unless you drove to your Disney vacation, you’ll have to rent a car or take an Uber or Lyft to and from the park, which can quickly erase any financial gains. Also, Disney resorts offer free shuttles and free breakfast. In the end, you have to strategize according to your situation.

Buying Expensive Bottled Water Over and Over

It gets hot in Orlando. Likewise in Anaheim. Between the sun and all that walking, you’re going to need plenty of water. There are two options at Disney resorts: get it for free or pay through the nose. Bottled water costs $3. Or, you could bring a refillable water bottle and fill up at any water fountain for nothing. Also, any quick-serve restaurant will give you a cup of ice water upon request.

Not Checking Special Offers

Disney aggressively markets and distributes discounts of all sorts through a dedicated deals page on its website. Always check there before you buy anything. Right now, you can score deep discounts on rooms and vacation packages, authentic theme park merchandise and even Disney credit cards.

Not Taking Advantage of the Freebies

Despite the fact that it seems like everything you see at a Disney resort has a price tag attached to it, there’s plenty of free stuff that newbies often overlook. Disney’s Boardwalk at Walt Disney World, for example, is free with free parking. Parking and entertainment are also free at Disney Springs. The LEGO Imagination Center has a 3,000-square-foot outdoor play area that is, you guessed it, free.

Leaving Your Stroller at Home

Your kids have outgrown the stroller — or so you thought. Hoofing it through a Disney park can be surprisingly exhausting, even for many adults. Many travelers report walking as much as 10 to 12 miles per day. You’re likely to find that your smaller so-called-stroller-outgrown children might be begging for a push before long. You can rent a stroller, but it will cost you $15 a day for a single or $31 a day for a double.

Buying 1 Day Park Hopper Passes

Park Hopper passes, which allow visits to more than one park in a day, can be valuable on multi-day trips to most Disney parks, but they’re almost never worth the money if you’re visiting a Disney park for just one day. It’s common to underestimate how long it takes to move from one park to the next, and there’s essentially no park you can completely knock out in a single visit — especially if you’re carting children around.

Writing Off Authorized Resellers

In your search for cheap passes and tickets, you’d be wise to avoid shady scalpers and aftermarket sellers, but did you know that you can score big discounts by purchasing from authorized Disney resellers that buy in bulk and then sell at a discount? Among the best is UndercoverTourist, where you can get steep discounts on tickets, hotels, car rentals, and attractions at Disney resorts.

Not Using a Disney Travel Agent

Travel agents might feel antiquated in the era of of travel comparison sites that let anyone shop the best rates with just a few clicks — but Disney is different. Through the College of Disney Knowledge program, Disney has created a network of travel agents who specialize Disney-specific vacations. They’re free to use — Disney pays them, and you don’t — and they’re far more likely to find the best and most up-to-date discounts than a layperson. Small World Vacations is among the best in the business.

Not Signing up for the Mousesavers Newsletter

There’s no shortage of blogs, forums, and fan sites dedicated to the wide world of Disney. But few are bigger, more reputable or more reliable than MouseSavers.com. Planning a Disney vacation? Sign up for the MouseSavers newsletter and Hot Deals emails and you’ll receive discounts, deals and insider tips, many of which are exclusive to MouseSavers and can’t be found anywhere else.

Not Using Your Military Discounts

Members of the military, including active duty, retired, National Guard, reservists, NOAA, and their spouses are entitled to deep discounts on all things Disney. Not only do military personnel get discounted tickets and park passes, but they enjoy steep cuts on extras like PhotoPass and Memory Maker.

Taking Pictures With Disney Cameras

When you visit a Disney park, you’ll probably notice guests lining up for their turn with super-friendly photographers wielding impressive-looking cameras in front of the park’s choicest landmarks and backdrops. Those people are Disney’s official photo team, and when they snap a photo of you with one of their cameras, you can download it for $16.95 when you get home as part of the PhotoPass program — unless you pay $199 ($169 in advance) for the Memory Maker program that lets you download every photo from your entire trip. But there’s another option they might not tell you about. You can just hand the photographer your smartphone and smile for the camera — they’ll be glad to take a photo for you with your own device for free.

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Using the Wrong Credit Card

Disney aficionados have their own plastic to swipe that lets them save money when they visit Mickey and company — or even if they’re just shopping for Disney merch. The Disney Premier Chase Visa lets you build up 2 percent in Disney Dream Rewards Dollars when you swipe at restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations and, of course, Disney locations. You can then spend those rewards on virtually everything Disney, including park tickets, merchandise, media, and more.

Buying Shirts at the Park vs At The Mall

Uniqlo is a unique Japanese shirt company that has an equally unique partnership with Disney. Its Magic For All program offers up a nice variety of Disney-themed merchandise at a discount. The real savings, however, are found in the shirt department. Instead of grabbing a tee at the park with a marked-up price tag, head to the Disney section of Uniqlo.com for a massive selection of awesome shirts, most of which you can snag for inside $15.

Waiting Until Your Kid Turns 3

You might think your 2-year-old is too young to enjoy a Disney vacation, but there’s actually no better age to visit. Children under 3 years old don’t need a park ticket, they don’t need a FastPass and they can eat from your plate in Disney restaurants without being part of a dining plan. Children ages 3 through 10 do get a discount, but it’s not significant, so if your toddler is creeping toward birthday No. 3, now’s the time to get packing.

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This article was produced and syndicated by Mediafeed.