For 3 years, Kierstyn has been dreaming of going to Disney. She’s been speaking about when she will get to go, what she’s going to do, and the way excited she is for when she lastly will get to go to Disney. I’ve needed to make it occur for her ever since she began speaking about it and for her six-year-old birthday, we lastly bought to make that dream come true! (And we did it on a price range!)
So many individuals requested me for extra particulars on how we managed to go to Disney with out spending 1000’s of {dollars} and what options I’ve for easy methods to benefit from a Disney journey. This put up is a compilation of particulars on our one-day journey to Magic Kingdom. Plus, I share some suggestions I’ve discovered for methods to economize and benefit from your time at Disney (I’ve gone 3 times within the final two years — as soon as with Kierstyn after which twice for a shopper getaway with my enterprise coach, Alli Worthington.)
What Tickets We Purchased
We purchased one-day tickets to Magic Kingdom and didn’t purchase something additional (no upsells, meals plans, experiences – nothing). I do know that lots of people will say you need to go greater than at some point, however for Kierstyn’s first expertise at six years outdated, it was excellent.
We have been capable of actually benefit from that at some point however at some point was a lot for a 6-year-old. The truth is, I believe making an attempt to go greater than at some point would have been too exhausting.
It’s inexpensive per day to purchase tickets for greater than at some point, so I might suggest that in case you are going as an grownup or with older kids and need to go for greater than at some point. You should buy tickets by way of a Disney journey agent or you may as well verify websites like Undercover Vacationer or Get Away At present.
Why We Didn’t Purchase Any Upsells
Disney tickets typically value $129 or so for a single park ticket (they’ll value extra throughout peak season), the place you’ll normally pay essentially the most is if you happen to purchase the upsells. Issues like Character Meet & Greets, Meals Plans, VIP experiences, or Lightning Lanes.) It could added as much as tons of of additional {dollars} per particular person actually shortly.
As an alternative of paying for any upsells, we simply purchased a single park ticket for every of us and selected a time of yr and a day of the week when the park could be loads quieter. We went on a Tuesday (top-of-the-line days to go, I’ve been instructed) and selected every week the place faculty was in session for just about everybody across the nation.
In comparison with once I had gone earlier than, the traces have been SO a lot shorter and there have been loads fewer folks. I watched the app for wait occasions in order that we went to the place the shortest wait occasions have been. I believe the longest we waited for something was 25 minutes however we principally solely waited 10-20 minutes for the whole lot we needed to do!! Being strategic about going the place the shortest traces have been and holding a detailed eye on the app as a substitute of simply going to no matter was closest actually paid off. We did extra strolling, in fact, however we possible saved hours of wait time!
I discovered that very first thing within the morning in addition to close to the tip of the day are typically the very best occasions to go to the extra fashionable points of interest. In case you are okay with lacking the fireworks within the night, you’ll possible discover a lot shorter traces at most points of interest throughout that point. (Word: I believe the fireworks are VERY value seeing, however in case you are going for 2 or extra days, you might skip them one of many nights in favor of driving rides throughout that point.)
We bought to fulfill 5 princesses which was the spotlight for Kierstyn. (I extremely suggest the Princess Fairytale Corridor expertise — I couldn’t imagine it was free! You bought to spend a couple of minutes one-on-one with every Princess and so they have been so variety and made Kierstyn really feel so particular!)
We additionally went to Enchanted Tales with Belle and Kierstyn bought to be a part of the play and appearing out the story with Belle, which she simply thought was superb! There was nearly no line for this in any respect within the late afternoon.
We additionally rode on a whole lot of totally different rides, went to 2 reveals, noticed each parades, and stayed for the fireworks. It was a really full day, however we paced ourselves and we stopped for a number of breaks and located a quiet, cool place to park for a bit and simply hang around and eat a snack and “recharge our inside batteries” earlier than we jumped again into driving rides and going to points of interest!
Learn how to Save on Meals & Drink
You may deliver your individual food and drinks in to the park! I introduced a backpack with a lot of snacks plus a water bottle and electrolyte packets. There are water bottle refill stations at a number of locations within the park, however the water at Magic Kingdom tastes fairly funky, so I extremely suggest bringing electrolyte packets or one thing else to combine into it to make it a bit bit extra drinkable.
I additionally was instructed you might ask for cups of ice water without cost at any meals service place. I solely discovered this out after we had already gone, so I haven’t tried it myself.
If you’ll purchase meals, the very best worth I discovered was to purchase the youngsters’ meals. All of them are underneath $10, they’ve some wholesome choices, and so they normally include a essential dish, two sides, and a drink (you will get a water bottle as a drink). You may as well break up grownup meals, as another choice.
Choose Your Priorities
I extremely suggest deciding forward of time what your priorities are in your time at Disney. For Kierstyn, I knew she needed to fulfill princesses, watch the parade, and get her face painted. So we deliberate our day round ensuring these issues occurred after which no matter else we may slot in that had a brief line, we did!
The face portray was expense — $28! — however they provide free touch-ups all day lengthy. So I like to recommend getting it accomplished early within the morning after which you possibly can return and get it redone midway by way of the day if want be!
Kierstyn was exhausted by the tip of the day and fell asleep whereas we have been ready for the bus so I carried her for the final half-hour (was sort of wishing we had a stroller at that time!) but it surely was the BEST day!!
An enormous thanks to @adventureadvising for serving to to plan the journey and to @alliworthington for uplifting this journey all the information and assist for methods to do it on a price range! I at all times thought Disney needed to value 1000’s and {dollars} and was so, so thrilled to study in any other case!
Fast & Simple Methods to Save Cash at Disney
- Carry a water bottle or ask for cups of water as a substitute of shopping for drinks.
- Carry your individual snacks.
- Purchase child’s meals as a substitute of grownup meals in case you are eating there.
- Go off season in order that the traces are a lot shorter and also you don’t must pay for lightning lanes.
- Take note of the app for wait occasions. It could range fairly wildly all through the day!
- Purchase Disney ears on-line forward of time — Amazon sells them for a couple of 1/4th of what you’ll pay within the park! Identical for Disney-related merch.
Kierstyn fell asleep within the line as we waited for the bus again to our lodge. This was the one time I actually wished we had introduced a stroller! However in any other case, it labored nice for us to not have one!
My Disney Packing Checklist
Right here’s what I’ve delivered to Disney the previous three journeys — and have felt it absolutely lined all of the bases.
• Charging cable/energy financial institution
• Reusable water bottle
• Sunscreen
• Sun shades
• Hat
• Poncho or compact rain jacket (in case it rains and in addition to put on on Tiana’s Bayou Journey so that you don’t get moist!)
• Hand sanitizer
• Lip balm with SPF
• Tissues or small pack of wipes
• Snacks/meals (granola bars, protein bars, PB&J, oranges, path combine, and many others.)
• Mini first support package (band-aids, blister patches)
• Comfy strolling sneakers (damaged in beforehand)
• Further socks (nice for rain or sweat)
• Gentle sweater or hoodie for evenings
• Transportable handheld fan or neck fan
• Electrolyte packets
• Small umbrella – maintain this out if you undergo safety or your bag will get pulled for additional screening. (Use this for solar safety and/or rain.)
• Disney ears
• Further sneakers + additional change of garments (particularly good in case you are bringing younger children – you simply by no means know what may occur!)
What suggestions and options would you add for benefiting from a visit to Magic Kingdom/saving cash at Disney? I’d love to listen to!
