Unlock the Secrets: How to Save Money at Disney Resorts and Maximize Your Magical Experience!

It’s sad to say, but traveling to the most magical place on earth has lost some of that magic lately, due in part to the ever-increasing cost associated with a Walt Disney World vacation. Thankfully, there are some ways to save money, even when frequenting Disney resorts.

How to Save Money at Disney Resorts

While there’s no such thing as a truly cheap trip to Disney, we have some tips on how to save money at Disney resorts and keep that cash in your pocket. The main thing to do is to minimize unnecessary spending, know about the free stuff, and actually take advantage of it! Half of the battle is simply knowing how and where saving is possible, and that’s where we come in…

1. Buy a Refillable Resort Mug

Let’s start by quenching our thirst while saving some cash!

Disney sells refillable mugs that give you access to unlimited drinks for your entire vacation. You’ll make a one-time payment of $21.99 for the souvenir mug instead of paying $4.00 to $5.00 per drink. That sounds super expensive, but that’s actually the price of four to five drinks; depending on the length of your stay, you can really get your money’s worth out of a refillable mug!

Even if you’re spending a lot of time at the parks rather than the resort, you can still grab a free coffee in the morning and have a drink at the end of the night while winding down. And if you’re planning on a full resort day, you’ll end up using that mug a lot!

These mugs have a small RFID chip that activates the drink fountains at each resort. Oftentimes, the drink fountains are what you’d see at a typical restaurant, with various Coke products. There will also be tea and hot coffee available. Some resorts, however, have Coke Freestyle machines, which allow you to select or combine all sorts of different sodas, sparking water, lemonade, and sports drink flavors.

Refillable mugs work at ALL Disney resorts, not just the one you’re staying at, so you can bring them along if you’re visiting any other resorts! Keep in mind that Disney does not offer any refillable drink containers that work inside the parks, though you can get free water at any quick-service location.

2. Bring in Your Own Alcohol

If you’re the type of person who likes a relaxing drink when you’re by the pool, you can save a boatload of money by bringing in your own alcohol to the resort. Drinks at Disney World are wildly overpriced, so the same price you’re paying for a simple Jack Daniels and Coke by the pool is almost the same price as a whole bottle of the alcohol at your local liquor store. Bringing in your own bottles and mixers can be much kinder to your wallet.

As an added bonus, BYOB, combined with a refillable resort mug, will give you the opportunity to try a bunch of mixed drinks without having to pack an entire minibar! (Note: you are not allowed to bring your own alcohol into the theme parks.)

3. Bring Your Own Food

While we’re on the topic of bringing things into Disney resorts, you should absolutely bring in your own food and snacks! No matter what food you like to eat, bringing in snacks or even full meals can be a great way to avoid paying the high prices at the food courts and will also save you time waiting in line.

Just one night or two of making your own meals and having your own snack foods, like popcorn or Cheetos, can save a family of four over two hundred dollars when compared to park prices. So don’t forget to pack a hotplate and skillet for your next trip!

Finally, bringing your own food is a must if you’re a health-conscious visitor or require a specialty diet. Though Disney offers more healthy and allergy-friendly options, your own food is still likelier to be truly healthy and also cuts out any extra wait time associated with specialty dishes.

4. Get a Free Luggage Tag

If you forgot to bring a luggage tag or just want a special Disney one, all Disney resorts will give you a free one if you ask at the front desk. This little perk is a cool detail that most guests don’t know about! And it makes for a very inexpensive souvenir (it’s free!).

5. Utilize the Amenities 

While you are staying at Disney resorts, be sure to utilize the amenities available to you! Make the most of your stay by spending time at the pool, participating in Disney’s activities (like movie nights), or even visiting other Disney resorts. You can visit Fort Wilderness for the Chip and Dale Sing Along, experience a trip to the past at Pop Century Resort, gaze upon African animals at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, or enjoy the Happily Ever After Fireworks at Magic Kingdom from the Polynesian Resort beaches!

You also get extra time in the parks when staying at Disney resorts! Each day, one or more parks will open a bit early or stay open a little later for resort guests, allowing you more time to ride and with lower wait times.

6. Order Items to Your Resort

If you’re staying at the resort long enough, or if you plan ahead, you can have packages delivered to the resort containing any items you need. This is particularly useful for parents who may need extra supplies like diapers. Ordering things to the resort will save you the trouble of having to venture out of Disney World to shop for necessities or paying for overpriced goods in the resort shops!

7. Utilize the Free Transportation

When you’re staying at Disney resorts, you can save a lot of money by using the free transportation services. Buses, monorails, boats, and the Skyliner don’t just connect you to the theme parks – they connect you to everything on Disney property! That means you can easily catch a ride to another resort area to check it out and explore!

If you flew into Orlando and are staying at a Disney resort that is further away from the airport, you can even use the transportation to Disney Springs to get you closer to the airport, so your return rideshare service isn’t quite as costly.

8. Grab a Few Extra Toppings from the Food Court

During your visit to any quick-service food location at a Disney resort, you’ll run into buckets of free toppings. While they are technically for those who just bought food, no one is going to stop you from grabbing a few packets of peanut butter and jelly, flavored coffee creamers, or a better flavor of tea than what’s back in the room. If you’re bringing in your own food, those condiments could come in handy! It’s especially easy to grab a loaf of bread and some of those peanut butter packs so you can have a PB&J in your room (or in the parks) any time you want!

9. Get Some Free Souvenirs

Many resorts will offer small trinkets when you arrive, such as a lei at the Polynesian Resort or some beads at Port Orleans. Though these are small items, they can serve as a nice reminder of the time you had at the resort. Similarly, the parks have some freebies, too, like the “1st visit” pins or birthday pins available at the front gate.

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If you’re planning on staying at a Disney resort, you should know the cost isn’t completed just because you finished the booking! While you’re at the resort, it’s a great idea to follow these tips to save extra money during your stay.

Let us know how you like to save money at Disney resorts in the comments below!

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Featured photo: Ridofranz from Getty Images via Canva