If you’re planning a Disney World vacation, you are probably thinking about ways to save money on your trip, and DFB is here to help!

There are a LOT of tips out there on how to save money at Disney World, but not all are equal. The DFB team is in the parks every day, so with that experience, we know what is actually saving you money at Disney and what isn’t. We’re giving you a list of six things that can help you stay on budget and four that just aren’t worth it.

What Actually Does Save You Money

BYOP (Bring Your Own Poncho)

It rains a lot at Disney World, and trust me, you don’t want to be caught in a long line inside the Emporium trying to overspend on a Disney poncho. Are they great to have in an emergency? Yes. But why not bring your own, so you can reuse it as well!

The Frogg Togg Rain Poncho is a must-have for us. They are lightweight and easy to store in your park bag, so you’re ready for when it rains. When it’s done raining, just fold it back up and store it in the pouch to keep your bag dry.

view ON AMAZON

Using Gift Cards

Purchasing Disney gift cards ahead of time from Target or Sam’s Club could save you a lot of money on your trip.

At Target, RedCard members can save 5% off on Disney Gift Cards. The real bonus is when you have a Target Circle deal where, if you spend X amount, you get cash back.

view ON TARGET

If you’re a Sam’s Club member, you can find discounted Disney Gift Cards as well. While the savings might seem small at first, they can really add up and save you money on your trip.

view ON Sam’s club

BYOS (Bring Your Own Snacks)

This is especially true if you have kids; sometimes, they will stay hungry all day long. Instead of constantly spending money on Disney snacks (even Disney Goldfish), save money by bringing in your own snacks.

We love these Whiskware Stackable Containers for the parks. They don’t take up a lot of room in our park bag, and we can pack 3 different snacks in each one. These are great to keep our snacks organized, and they make it easy to have snacks on hand while we’re waiting in line for rides.

view ON amazon

Refillable Water Bottle

If you want to spend over $4 on a bottle of water, multiple times a day, to stay hydrated at Disney, no one is going to stop you. However, if you want to save money, bring your own refillable water bottle.

One of our favorite refillable bottles to bring to Disney World is the Owala Disney Princess Bottle. We love how slim it is, making it easy to store in park bags. It keeps our water cold for hours, and we love that the mouthpiece is covered, which means less chance of germs getting us sick on vacation.

view ON amazon

Eating Breakfast in Your Room

If you enjoy rope dropping and want to get to the parks first thing in the morning, my biggest tip is to do a grab-and-go breakfast from your hotel room. Whether you bring your own groceries with you or use Amazon Fresh to have them delivered directly to your hotel room, having items like cereal, protein bars, fruit, yogurt, and more in your hotel can save you a lot of time and money, even compared to doing a quick service breakfast.

view ON amazon

Splitting Quick Service Meals

Sometimes, between all the snacks you’ve eaten and the heat of the day, you might not be hungry enough for your own quick service meal. Several restaurants offer large portions that you can split between two people. For example, Flame Tree Barbecue in Disney’s Animal Kingdom has large platters.

What Does Not Save You Money:

Using the Disney Dining Plan

Alright, this one might be controversial, but for the Dining Plan to be “worth it,” you really need to focus on maximizing your credits. This means going to restaurants with more expensive meals, ordering higher-priced items, and more. Honestly, to me, I’m exhausted even trying to think about that while on vacation. It could save you money if you know you’ll maximize the credits and stick to what you are allotted each day. However, if you don’t typically order a drink with your meal or are still having to purchase another meal each day, then the math won’t work.

Snacking Over Meals

If you think that buying a few snacks will save you money instead of ordering a quick-service meal, you’re likely wrong. Some snacks can be $7 to $9, and it could take a few to fill you up the way a meal could. Now, if you just want to snack instead of doing one meal, totally go for it! But you shouldn’t do it thinking it’s going to save you money.

Staying Off Property

Another slightly controversial one: staying off property might not be saving you as much as you think. By the time you pay for parking and resort fees, you could probably have stayed at a value resort for the same price. Then add in the cost of outside transportation to get to the parks, whether that’s paying for parking every day at the parks, using a rideshare, or renting a car; it can add up quickly.

Skipping Midday Breaks

If you are trying to do it all from rope drop to fireworks, without a break, you might regret it. While guests might think they are maximizing the value of their park day, you could end up burnt out. No one wants to be cranky at Disney. A break also doesn’t have to mean leaving the parks; you can find a nice shaded area to relax, see a show, or just grab a sit-down lunch to cool off.

We hope this helps you plan for your next trip so you can save money. Be sure to follow us at DFB for more Disney World tips and news.

We Just Planned the CHEAPEST Trip in Walt Disney World History

What is something that doesn’t actually save you money at Disney World? Tell us in the comments.