Kirsten has been dreaming of going to Disney for three years. She talks about when she’s going to go to Disney, what she’s going to do, and how excited she is to finally go to Disney. From the moment she started talking about it, I wanted to make it happen for her. And on her 6th birthday, that dream finally came true. (And we were able to do it within our budget!)
So many people have asked me how they were able to go to Disney without spending thousands of dollars and what my suggestions are for getting the most out of a Disney trip. This post summarizes the details of our one-day adventure to the Magic Kingdom. Plus, I’ll share some tips I’ve learned about how to save money and make the most of your time at Disney (I’ve been to Disney three times in the past two years, once on client trips with Kirsten and then two with business coach Ali Worthington).
tickets we bought
We bought a day ticket to Magic Kingdom, but we didn’t buy anything extra (no upsells, no meal plans, no experiences, etc.). Many people would say you should go for more than one day, but it was perfect for 6 year old Kierstyn’s first experience.
We were able to make the most of the day, but one day was enough for our 6 year old. In fact, I think I would be too tired if I tried to go for more than a day.
Purchasing multi-day tickets is cheaper per day, so we recommend this if you’re traveling with adults or older children and want to go for multiple days. Tickets can be purchased through Disney travel agents or at sites such as: undercover traveler or Let’s run away today.
Why I didn’t buy the upsell
Disney tickets often cost around $129 for a single park ticket (can be more expensive during peak season), and the highest price is usually when you purchase an upsell. Character meet and greets, meal plans, VIP experiences, Lightning Lane, and more. ) can quickly add up to hundreds of dollars in extra charges per person.
Instead of paying for an upsell, we bought one park ticket per person and chose a time and day of the week when the park was much quieter. We went on a Tuesday (which I hear is one of the best days to travel) and chose the week when school starts for most people across the country.
Compared to the last time I went, the line was much shorter and there were fewer people. I checked the wait times on the app and went to the place with the shortest wait time. I think the max was about 25 minutes, but for everything I wanted to do I only had to wait 10-20 minutes. Having a strategy of going to the shortest line instead of the closest one and keeping an eye on the app really paid off. Of course we walked more, but it probably would have saved us hours of waiting.
We’ve found that the best times to visit popular attractions are first thing in the morning and near the end of the day. If you don’t mind missing the fireworks in the evening, the lines at most attractions can be quite short during those hours. (Note: I think the fireworks are worth seeing, but if you’re going for more than two days, you might want to skip one of the nights and ride the rides in between.)
Getting to meet the five princesses was a highlight for Kirsten. (I highly recommend the Princess Fairytale Hall experience. I couldn’t believe it was free! We got to spend a few minutes one-on-one with each princess and they were so kind and made Kirsten feel so special!)
We also went to a magical story with Belle and Kirsten was able to take part in the play and act out the story with Belle. She thought it was great! There was almost no line for this in the late afternoon.
We also rode various rides, went to see two shows, watched both parades, and stayed to watch the fireworks. It was a very full day, but we went at our own pace, taking a few breaks, finding a quiet, cool spot to park for a bit, and just hanging out and eating snacks to “recharge our internal batteries” before going back on rides or visiting attractions.
How to save money on food and drinks
You can bring food and drinks into the park! I brought lots of snacks in my backpack, along with a water bottle and electrolyte packets. There are water bottle refill stations at several locations throughout the park, but Magic Kingdom water tastes pretty funky, so I highly recommend bringing your own. electrolyte packet Or mix it with something else to make it a little more drinkable.
I was also told that I could order ice water for free at any restaurant. I only found out about this after I went there, so I haven’t tried it myself.
If I was going to buy a meal, I thought the best deal would be to buy meals for my kids. All are under $10, have several healthy options, and usually come with an entree, two sides, and a drink (you’ll even get a water bottle for your drink). Another option is to split the adult meal.
Please select your priorities
We highly recommend deciding in advance what your priorities will be during your stay at Disney. In Kirsten’s case, she knew she wanted to meet a princess, see a parade, and have her face painted. So we planned our day to ensure these things happened and did everything we could fit into a short line.
The face painting cost was $28. — however, free touch-ups will be provided throughout the day. Therefore, it is best to complete the work early in the morning and return during the day to start over if necessary.
Kirsten was exhausted by the end of the day and fell asleep while we were waiting for the bus, so I held her for the last 30 minutes (I wish I had a stroller at that point!) But it was a great day!!
I am very grateful @adventurevising Help me plan my trip, @alliworthington They gave me the inspiration for this trip and gave me all the tips and help to travel on a budget. I always thought Disney would cost thousands of dollars, but I was so excited to find out that’s not the case!
Easy ways to save money at Disney
- Bring a water bottle or ask for a glass of water instead of buying a drink.
- Please bring your own snacks.
- If you decide to eat there, buy children’s meals rather than adult meals.
- If you go in the off-season, the lines will be much shorter and you won’t have to pay for Lightning Lane.
- Be aware of app latency. It can vary quite significantly throughout the day.
- Purchase Disney ears online in advance — Amazon sells it for about a quarter of the price you’d pay inside the park.! same Disney related goods.
While waiting for the bus back to the hotel, Kirsten fell asleep in the line. At this point, I was really glad I brought a stroller. But other than that, not having it worked out very well for us.
my disney packing list
Here’s what I brought to Disney on my last three trips. I felt like this completely covered all the bases.
• Charging cable/mobile battery
• Reusable water bottle
• Sunscreen
• Sunglasses
• hat
• A poncho or compact rain jacket (you can also wear one to stay dry on Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in case it rains).
• Hand sanitizer
• Lip balm with SPF
• A small pack of tissues or wipes.
• Snacks/foods (granola bars, protein bars, PB&J, oranges, trail mix, etc.)
• Mini first aid kit (band aids, blister patches)
• Comfortable walking shoes (broken in in advance)
• Extra socks (great for rain and sweat)
• A light sweater or hoodie for evening use.
• portable handy fan or neck fan
• electrolyte packet
• Small umbrella – If you do not present this when going through security, your bag will be pulled over for additional screening. (Please use for sunscreen and rain protection.)
• disney ears
• Extra shoes + extra clothes (especially great if you have small children with you – you never know what could happen!)
Do you have any additional tips or suggestions for making the most of your trip to Magic Kingdom or saving money at Disney? We’d love to hear them!
Source: Money Saving Mom® – moneysavingmom.com
