For three years, Kierstyn dreamed of going to Disney. She kept talking about when she was going to go, what she was going to do, and how excited she was when she got to Disney. I wanted to make it happen for him since he started talking about it and on his six year old birthday, we finally got to make that dream come true! (And we did it on a budget!)
Many people have asked me more details on how we were able to go to Disney without spending thousands of dollars and what suggestions I have on how to get the most out of a Disney trip. This post is a compilation of details from our one day trip to the Magic Kingdom. Plus, I’m sharing some tips I’ve learned on ways to save money and make the most of your time at Disney (I’ve gone three times in the last two years – with Kierstyn and twice to get away from clients and my business coach, Alli Worthington.)
What Tickets We Bought
We bought one-day tickets to the Magic Kingdom and didn’t buy anything extra (no sales, meal plans, experiences – nothing). I know a lot of people will say you have to go more than one day, but for Kierstyn’s first experience at six years old, it was perfect.
We were able to make the most of that one day but another day was too much for a 6 year old. In fact, I think trying to go more than one day would have been too difficult.
It costs less per day to buy tickets for more than one day, so I would recommend that if you are traveling as an adult or with older children and want to travel more than one day. You can buy tickets through a Disney travel agent or you can check sites like Undercover Tourist or Get Away Today.
Why We Don’t Buy Any Upslls
Disney tickets usually cost $129 or more for a single park ticket (can be more expensive during peak season), where you’ll usually pay more for upsells. Things like Character Meet & Greet, Dining Programs, VIP information, or Lightning Trails.) It can add up to hundreds of extra dollars per person very quickly.
Instead of paying for any merchandise, we just bought one park ticket for each of us and picked a time of year and day of the week when the park would be the quietest. We went on a Tuesday (one of the best days to go, I’m told) and chose a week when school was in session for everyone across the country.
Compared to the time I went before, the lines were much shorter and there were fewer people. I looked at the app and the wait times to go there are short wait times. I think the longest we waited for anything was 25 minutes but we waited 10-20 minutes for everything we wanted to do!! Having a plan to go where the shortest lines were and having to pay close attention to the app instead of just going to whatever was nearby was really helpful. We’re doing more walking, of course, but we’ve probably saved hours of waiting!
I’ve found that first thing in the morning and late in the day are often the best times to go to the most interesting places. If you’re okay with missing the fireworks in the evening, you’ll likely find much shorter lines at most attractions at that time. (Note: I think the fireworks are a MUST see, but if you’re going for two or more days, you can skip them on one of the nights to allow the ride to take place during that time.)
We got to meet 5 princesses which was a milestone for Kierstyn. (I highly recommend the Princess Fairytale Hall experience — I couldn’t believe it was free! You got to spend a few minutes face-to-face with each Princess and they were so kind and made Kierstyn feel so special!)
We also went to Enchanted Tales with Belle and Kierstyn got to be part of the show and acted out the story with Belle, who she just thought was amazing! There was almost no line at all this afternoon.
We also rode a bunch of different things, went to two shows, saw both competitions, and stayed to watch the fireworks. It was a very full day, but we walked around and stopped for a few breaks and found a quiet, cool place to park for a while and just hang out and eat a snack and “recharge our internal batteries” before jumping back on the ride and off to the attractions!
How to Save on Food and Drinks
You can bring your own food and drink to the park! I carried a backpack with plenty of food and a water bottle and electrolyte packs. There are water bottle filling stations at several points in the park, but the Magic Kingdom water tastes pretty good, so I highly recommend bringing electrolyte packets or something to mix in to drink a little.
I was also told that you can ask for cups of ice water for free at any food service location. I found this after we left, so I didn’t try it myself.
If you’re going to buy food, the best price I found was on baby food. All are under $10, have healthy options, and usually come with a large bowl, two sides, and a drink (you can get a bottle of water as a drink). You can also separate food for adults, as another option.
Choose Your Priority
I highly recommend that you decide ahead of time what your priorities are for your time at Disney. For Kierstyn, I knew she wanted to meet the princesses, watch the parade, and get her face painted. So we planned our day making sure those things happened and anything else we could fit in with a shorter line, we did!
Face painting was the cost – $28! – but they offer free contact throughout the day. So I recommend doing it early in the morning and you can go back and redo it later in the day if needed!
Kierstyn was tired by the end of the day and fell asleep while we were waiting for the bus so I carried her for the last 30 minutes (kind of wished we had a stroller then!)
Big thanks to @adventureadvising for helping plan the trip and to @alliworthington for promoting this trip and all the tips and help on how to do it on a budget! I always thought Disney had to cost thousands and dollars and of course, I’m so glad to learn otherwise!
Quick & Easy Ways to Save Money at Disney
- Bring a water bottle or ask for water cups instead of buying drinks.
- Bring your own snacks.
- Buy baby food instead of adult food when you eat there.
- Remove the season so the lines are much shorter and you don’t have to pay for the lightning lines.
- Pay attention to the application’s waiting times. It can be very different throughout the day!
- Buy Disney ears online in advance – Amazon sells them for about 1/4th of what you’ll pay in the park! Similar to Disney related merchandise.
Kirstyn fell asleep in line as we waited for the bus back to our hotel. This was the one time I really wished we had brought a walker! But other than that, it worked too well for us not to have one!
My Disney Packing List
Here’s what I’ve brought to Disney over the past three trips – and felt it covered all the bases perfectly.
• Charging cable/power bank
• A reusable water bottle
• Sun protection
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Poncho or compact rain jacket (in case it rains and you wear it on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure so you don’t get wet!)
• Hand sanitizer
• Lip balm with SPF
• A tissue or small pocket for wiping
• Snacks/meals (granola bars, protein bars, PB&J, oranges, trail mix, etc.)
• Small first aid kit (band-aids, blisters)
• Comfortable walking shoes (broken in before)
• Extra socks (good for rain or sweat)
• A light sweater or hoodie for the evening
• A portable handheld fan or neck fan
• Electrolyte packs
• Small umbrella – grab this when going through security or your bag will be pulled for further screening. (Use this for sun and/or rain protection.)
• Disney ears
• Extra shoes + extra changes of clothes (especially good if you’re bringing small children – you never know what can happen!)
What tips and suggestions would you add to make the most of a trip to the Magic Kingdom/save money at Disney? I would love to hear!
