The One Thing You Should Never Pay For In A Disney Park

First, the free Magical Express service disappeared, then the free MagicBands, then the wonderful free FastPass offering.

Disney Guests have seen a lot of change come to the theme park experience at Walt Disney World, with a lot more experiences requiring money to be exchanged.

The new Disney Genie system, Mears Connect, and the controversially smaller portion sizes at restaurants have caused much debate with Guests about how Disney Parks are charging more for the same things. And, of course, “cost-cutter” Disney CEO Bob Chapek has come under fire for his approach to leadership of The Walt Disney Company.

But, there are things Guests can do to help alleviate some of their spending during their Disney vacation, including one small thing you should never pay for at a Disney Park!

A theme park day at Disney World is made up of a lot of steps, a lot of crowds, and a lot of hungry mouths to feed.

From the bread pudding at ‘Ohana at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort to the Mickey Premium Bar snack, there are a lot of choices when it comes to dining at Disneyland or the Walt Disney World Resort.

In Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, as well as at Disney Springs, Disney offers an array of treats for Guests to pick from, but this all requires money. A day at Walt Disney World can prove quite costly after paying for parking, Resort Hotel, tickets, and then all of your food and drinks. 

Of course, you can bring your own packed lunches into the theme parks for picnics in the sun, but there’s also one other little trick that means you’ll never pay for a refreshing drink again at the Walt Disney World Resort.

It’s simple but will save you those special pennies that can be used for merchandise, Disney Genie+, or even that Dole Whip you’ve been looking forward to. 

Bring your own water bottles! With all that walking, plus the heat of Florida to deal with, you’re going to need to be hydrated, so bringing a water bottle (or buying a themed Disney water bottle on property) is a necessity.

There are plenty of water fountains throughout Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Parks, giving you multiple opportunities to refill your water bottle.

Furthermore, many quick-service dining locations offer free cups of ice water, even without purchasing a meal. Places like Backlot Express, Pinocchio’s Village Haus, and Pecos Bill’s also have fountain drink dispensers, allowing you to get some free water for your big theme park day.

Sure, you could buy bottled water in the Disney Parks, but that will add up quickly. Bringing your own bottle is much more environmentally friendly anyway!

So, next time you’re making that budget spreadsheet and worrying about everything adding up for your Walt Disney World vacation, remember to bring water bottles for you and the kids – it will save you lots of money over a long trip!