Hey, y'all! We gave our little girl the choice between having a birthday party or going to Disney World. She, of course, picked Disney World. Between the 3 day passes, hotels, food, and souvenirs we spent an arm and a leg but it was worth it to see how happy she and the boys were!
To help save a little bit of money, we stocked up on some essentials before ever leaving home. Some of these items will be a total game-changer for your trip- especially if you're visiting during the summer months!
Come on, mouse ears are a must-have accessory for Disney World. They come in all kinds of crazy variations ranging from the traditional Mickey and Minnie to wedding ears, holiday-themed ears, special character designs, etc. The ears cost $25+ in the parks so we got ours online and brought them along with us.
Believe it or not, a ton of Disney World souvenirs can be purchased online for a fraction of the cost that they sell them for in the parks and resorts. And...there's a ton more options. We got all of our Disney apparel online before we hit the parks. You can buy anything from stuffed animals, toys, clothing, picture frames, etc. If you can think of it, chances are they make it!
For example, when 6 saw other kids with a bubble wand, she just had to have one! We shelled out $30 for an Ariel bubble wand. Yes, $30!! You can find Disney themed bubble wands on Amazon for 1/3 of the price!
One of my favorite parts about character meet and greets when I was younger was collecting everyone's autographs! If you're traveling with little ones, be sure to snag one of these autograph books. It makes for a great inexpensive keepsake that they'll cherish for years to come. Don't forget to bring along Sharpies as well! They are easier for the characters to grip and most characters won't have pens with them.
Imagine your phone dies while your kid is having the most adorable moment with their favorite character. Don't be that mom! Make sure you have a portable charger with you so that you have plenty of juice to capture all of those precious memories! You'll not only use your phone for taking pictures, but also for checking on wait times, seeing the schedule for parades and shows, ordering food, and playing Disney videos while you're waiting in line.
Disney sells "Fuel Rods" for $30 in the parks.
Bottled water typically goes for $3 in the parks. During the hot months, you'll easily go through quite a few bottles! Bring along a refillable water bottle and stock up on free water from water fountains.
I probably don't have to remind you that it gets hot as hell in Orlando. It gets so hot that even Florida residents are miserable during the summers. The average temperatures in the summer are just below 100 (and that's not always including the humidity!). Even in the fall and winter, it can easily be in the '80s. Remember, our seasons are different than yours! Cooling towels are an AMAZING way to get a reprieve from the heat. They are great to wrap and put around your neck or to lay down in the stroller for your little one.
In keeping with the idea of keeping cool, toss one of these small misting fans in your backpack to help you stay cool. You won't regret this purchase. If you have a little one in a stroller, you should by one that can clip on to their stroller.
Sun Screen
Listen...you DO NOT want to be the person that gets sunburned on day one of your trip. I promise you that you'll be miserable for the rest of your stay. The sun is extremely hot here in Florida- I mean...we are called the Sunshine State, after all. You can easily get burned on even a cloudy day. Do yourself a favor and bring along the sunscreen.
Purchasing this liquid gold will cost you an arm and a leg in the parks and resorts.
Not only will you have to battle the sun in the summers but chances are you'll also have to deal with rain. It rains a TON here in Florida- in fact, it rains almost every day during the summer due to the high humidity. The rain typically only lasts for a few minutes but you'll most definitely want to be prepared.
You can shell out $10 per poncho in the parks or you can plan ahead and save some dough.
Glowy Things
Trust me, the minute your kid sees someone else with a glow stick, they are going to want one! Glow sticks and glow accessories are all the rage when the sun goes down. Pick up your glow accessories in advance to avoid the lines and to save a butt-ton of money!
**This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience**
Comments