Money Saver #6: Save on the Little Things

As much as I love Disney World, I know that there are thousands of ways for me to overspend. I also know that there are many little ways to save or get the most from what you do spend.

Check it out…

Get Annual Passes

If you get an Annual Pass for your next trip, you can return within a year and save the cost of theme park tickets. Here’s the comparison.

Get a Magic Your Way ticket with Park Hopper for seven days — the cost is $255. Come back next year for another seven days and spend at least $255 (probably more because Disney raises price at least once a year). The total would be $510 for 14 days in the theme parks.

Or buy an Annual Pass for $434. That’s about $70 less and you get unlimited days in the theme parks. Come back for a second trip within one year with “free” theme park admissions.

Then you can let it expire and buy a new Annual Pass the following year.

Photo: World of Disney at Downtown Disney, where Annual Passholders get a discount! My husband has done this for the last few years. It’s a great way for us to save! (I keep an Annual Pass for my research trips.)

You get other savings with your Annual Pass: 10% discounts at many table-service restaurants and Downtown Disney shops, $25 off the Disney Dining Experience card, and occasional discounts on Disney hotel rooms. (The Disney Dining Experience card is a discount card you can use at selected restaurants.)

Take Advantage of Free Activities

Many activities at Disney World don’t cost anything extra! They’re part of what you get by taking your vacation at Disney World:

Campfire Sing-Along and Outdoor Movie and the petting zoo at Fort Wilderness
Tours and crafts at Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom Lodge
The Electrical Water Pageant on the Seven Seas Lagoon
Ride the monorails!
Swim at the themed pool and let the kids play at one of the unique playgrounds at your Disney resort.

Read more about these activities on Page 70 of the Mouse Map.

Look for Discounted Merchandise

Look for clearance and discounted merchandise at the shops in your resort and the theme parks. These won’t be the most current products, but it’s still Disney merchandise.

Stick to Inexpensive Souvenirs

It’s easy to drop some big bucks on souvenirs. You could spend $60 for a large Mickey plush toy or hundreds on a toy monorail kit and accessories. Think about it: Will they end up in the bottom of the closet?

Why not make less expensive choices? A small plush toy is only $10-12, and a small monorail toy is less than $10.

I love getting packages of Disney World pencils and pens to share with my friends. You’ll find many small candles and wind-up toys for less than $5.

And the least expensive and perhaps best souvenir … character autographs! Buy an autograph book for $8 or bring your own.