Disney Deals

As promised last month, here is my post on how we saved money at Disney on our trip in May. And a lot of them are how to save on food.

Disney Tips:

• Bring a backpack that you can store your snacks, fast passes, camera, and sunscreen in. We got one that had outside pockets for our water bottles as well.


• Fill up a water bottle for each of you and take it with you for the morning.
  Once you've emptied your water bottle...the water in Disney is on a separate system than Orlando and doesn't taste all icky like the Orlando water....so get an ice water at the restaturants. It's free and so refreshing!
  
  
• At the counter service restaurants, all the choices are listed as combos, but you can order the sandwich or wrap only without the side item for less $$. We did this and just brought our own chips in our backpack. Then we got our free cups of ice water and it saved us a ton of money.



• Several of the resaturants have big portions, so it's great for sharing. If you are still hungry you can always eat one of the snacks you brought in your backpack or get one of those refreshing fruit bars or ice cream bars for like $3.
  
  
• Non-food related, work the fast passes! When the park opens, go to the most popular ride (for example Toy Story Mania in Hollywood Studios) & go ahead and get a fast pass and then ride it (without using fast pass) so that you can ride at least twice that day. Note that fast passes have an expiration time but they are good all day. (The picture below is us right after riding Rockin' Roller Coaster when we used the idea I listed just above with the fast passes...we got to ride it 3 times that day!)




• At the bottom of your fast pass it tells you when you are eligible to get another fast pass. As soon as the time comes, go to the next fast pass ride on your list and get passes for that. It really saves a lot of wait time.



• To meet the characters, I highly suggest splurging for one nice meal to a Character Buffet, like Chef Mickey's. The characters come right to your table for pictures...again no waiting in long, hot lines. (plus the food is totally worth it)!




• One of my favorite ways to plan any trip where you want to see and do a lot of things is to make a list of your must-do/see items, then your maybes, and know what you don't want to do. That way you can do the must see items first and if you have time for the maybes, great...if not no big deal. It can save a lot of time and help you get everything in.




• For some great free fun, head over to Downtown Disney. You can create different Mr. & Mrs. Potato Heads and My Little Ponies at Once Upon A Toy and take pictures. There is also a great play area at the Lego store to make different Lego creations. There are so many neat Lego sculptures and as you can see we had a blast taking fun pictures with them.

• Visit the Animal Kingdom Lodge and get up close to many exotic animals. Totally free!

These aren't tips, but in my opinion here are the do not miss rides:

Soarin' in Epcot

Rockin' Roller Coaster (my personal absolute favorite) in Hollywood Studios

Toy Story Mania in Hollywood Studios

Philharmagic in Magic Kingdom

Lights, Motor, Action in Hollywood Studios