How to save as much money as possible is always a burning question among visitors to Florida’s theme parks! We asked 6 top bloggers who love the Sunshine State to share their best tips for doing Florida on a budget….
Blogger Tip #1 – Staying in-resort can help you save!
“Don’t discount the Disney resort hotels as too expensive. They often have dining offers available, as well as free transfers and transport to and from the parks”
Becky – englishmum.com
Blogger Tip #2 – Refill for free – all day
“Take empty water bottles and fill them up from the free water fountains around the parks. You don’t need to buy fizzy drinks all day, but it is important to stay hydrated so grab a bottle and keep it for the whole trip”
Tanya – mummybarrow.com
Blogger Tip #3 – Save on official merchandise & souvenirs
“Keep the costs down on keepsakes by visiting the Disney Character Warehouse at the Orlando Vineland Premium Outlets Mall, near Downtown Disney. This is one of my favourite places to shop for souvenirs as they sell official park merchandise with massive savings – most items are 50% or even 80% off! They have the same stock that is sold at the parks, but it’s either overstock or from previous seasons”
Lynsay – misswestendgirl.com
Blogger Tip #4 – Create your own autograph book
“If your children want to collect autographs from characters in the parks, it’s much cheaper to buy a notebook and pen before you get to the park. You can always have fun customising a plain one yourselves before you travel!”
Jennifer – jenniferslittleworld.com
Blogger Tip #5 – Only pay for parking once per day
“Don’t forget that you can re-use the same parking ticket for all Disney parks when you visit more than one park in a day. Parking is generally not included with your Disney ticket and is a cost to be factored in every time you visit.”
Carly – adventuremummy.com
Blogger Tip #6 – Visit after the holidays
“One way to save is by travelling immediately after a major holiday on the first Wednesday back to school. Not only is airfare cheaper on Wednesdays, but the parks are barren (and the weather is awesome!). I also do Disney World on a budget by staying at a hotel like Gaylord Palms, which shuttles guests to and from the park.”
Christa – thefairytaletraveler.com
Bonus Tip – Don’t wait til you get there to buy your park tickets!
You’ve got the best chance of getting a good deal if you book Florida park tickets in advance, and you can even avoid making one big payout by paying them off in instalments!
Planning your Florida holiday in advance will make sure you get the most for your money! Use our Florida holiday checklist to make your holiday as cost-effective and stress-free as possible.
Top Image: instagram.com/thegoldknight
Staying hydrated is important but you don’t need to carry water around with you. All restaurants and quick service counters which serve draft fountain drinks will give you free iced water, all you have to do it ask! It’s less metallic tasting and colder than the water you get from the drinking fountains.
There are some great boat trips you can take while on Disney property, our favourite short cut is the back of world showcase (Epcot) to Hollywood studios. If your hungry you can pick up mickey muffin on the way at the boardwalk bakery, and the walk from there is very scenic.