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 received to make that dream come true! (And we did it on a finances!)

So many individuals requested me for extra particulars on how we managed to go to Disney with out spending hundreds of {dollars} and what recommendations I’ve for easy methods to take advantage of a Disney journey. This submit is a compilation of particulars on our one-day journey to Magic Kingdom. Plus, I share some suggestions I’ve discovered for tactics to economize and take advantage of your time at Disney (I’ve gone 3 times within the final two years — as soon as with Kierstyn after which twice for a consumer getaway with my enterprise coach, Alli Worthington.)

What Tickets We Purchased

We purchased one-day tickets to Magic Kingdom and didn’t purchase something further (no upsells, meals plans, experiences – nothing). I do know that lots of people will say you must go greater than at some point, however for Kierstyn’s first expertise at six years outdated, it was excellent.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 take advantage of that at some point however at some point was loads for a 6-year-old. In reality, I feel attempting 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’d advocate that in case you are going as an grownup or with older kids and wish to go for greater than at some point. You should purchase tickets by way of a Disney journey agent or you may as well examine websites like Undercover Vacationer or Get Away At this time.

Why We Didn’t Purchase Any Upsells

Disney tickets typically price $129 or so for a single park ticket (they will price extra throughout peak season), the place you’ll normally pay probably the most is if you happen to purchase the upsells. Issues like Character Meet & Greets, Meals Plans, VIP experiences, or Lightning Lanes.) It could possibly added as much as tons of of additional {dollars} per individual actually rapidly.

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 so much quieter. We went on a Tuesday (among the best days to go, I’ve been informed) and selected per 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 so much fewer individuals. I watched the app for wait occasions in order that we went to the place the shortest wait occasions have been. I feel the longest we waited for something was 25 minutes however we principally solely waited 10-20 minutes for every thing we needed to do!! Being strategic about going the place the shortest traces have been and conserving an in depth 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 top of the day are usually the very best occasions to go to the extra common 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. (Notice: I feel 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 received to fulfill 5 princesses which was the spotlight for Kierstyn. (I extremely advocate the Princess Fairytale Corridor expertise — I couldn’t consider it was free! You bought to spend a couple of minutes one-on-one with every Princess they usually have been so type and made Kierstyn really feel so particular!)

We additionally went to Enchanted Tales with Belle and Kierstyn received to be a part of the play and appearing out the story with Belle, which she simply thought was wonderful! There was nearly no line for this in any respect within the late afternoon.

We additionally rode on lots of totally different rides, went to 2 exhibits, noticed each parades, and stayed for the fireworks. It was a really full day, however we paced ourselves and we stopped for just a few 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!

How one can Save on Meals & Drink

You possibly can convey your personal food and drinks in to the park! I introduced a backpack with numerous snacks plus a water bottle and electrolyte packets. There are water bottle refill stations at just a few locations within the park, however the water at Magic Kingdom tastes fairly funky, so I extremely advocate bringing electrolyte packets or one thing else to combine into it to make it a bit of bit extra drinkable.

I additionally was informed you might ask for cups of ice water without spending a dime at any meals service place. I solely discovered this out after we had already gone, so I haven’t tried it myself.

If you will purchase meals, the very best worth I discovered was to purchase the youngsters’ meals. All of them are below $10, they’ve some wholesome choices, they usually normally include a important dish, two sides, and a drink (you will get a water bottle as a drink). You can even cut up grownup meals, as another choice.

Decide Your Priorities

I extremely advocate 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 might 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 achieved early within the morning after which you may return and get it redone midway by way of the day if want be!

Kierstyn was exhausted by the top of the day and fell asleep whereas we have been ready for the bus so I carried her for the final half-hour (was form 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 tactics to do it on a finances! I at all times thought Disney needed to price hundreds and {dollars} and was so, so thrilled to be taught in any other case!

Fast & Straightforward 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 personal 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 have to pay for lightning lanes.
• Take note of the app for wait occasions. It could possibly differ 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 resort. 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 dropped at Disney the previous three journeys — and have felt it totally 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 likewise 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 assist package (band-aids, blister patches)
• Comfy strolling footwear (damaged in beforehand)
• Additional socks (nice for rain or sweat)
• Gentle sweater or hoodie for evenings
• Moveable handheld fan or neck fan
• Electrolyte packets
• Small umbrella – maintain this out whenever you undergo safety or your bag will get pulled for further screening. (Use this for solar safety and/or rain.)
• Disney ears
• Additional footwear + further change of garments (particularly good in case you are bringing younger youngsters – you simply by no means know what would possibly occur!)

What suggestions and recommendations would you add for profiting from a visit to Magic Kingdom/saving cash at Disney? I’d love to listen to!