More than just the parks and resorts, Disney World is a bustling marketplace. Expect your senses to be overwhelmed and your desires to be tapped. To keep from buying everything you come in contact with while at Disney World, here is our list of 15-plus things that you should never buy while visiting the parks.
Sunglasses
You really don’t want to forget your sunglasses at home when you visit Disney. The overpriced options in the gift shop aren’t anything special and in many cases won’t even give you as good of protection as a drug store option that you could bring from home.
Batteries
Batteries are an overpriced item at the parks and there is nothing cool to say about having purchased your batteries at Disney World. Pack some extra batteries from home and keep a charger with you so you won’t get caught in need and be forced into a pricey option.
Sunscreen
You will definitely need sunscreen while you are out exploring the parks. Florida will bring the heat. However, you can find much better-priced items at your local grocery or drug store than those available once you arrive.
Bottled Water
Did you know that you can get free water from any resort pool, quick-service dining location, or fountain? There is no need to spend a whopping $4 on a single-use bottle of water. Make the better, fresher, and more economical choice, and just grab water at these places instead.
Disney Branded Autograph Books
While they sure are cute there is nothing super special about the Disney-branded autograph books. You could bring any Disney notebook (or regular notebook for that matter) from home and it would work just as well and still provide you with a fantastic piece of memorabilia.
Hand Sanitizer
If you forget to bring hand sanitizer as part of your vacation bag, you could end up paying a lot more for it at the gift shop at one of the parks. Do yourself a favor and invest in single-size sanitizer bottles at a local store before your trip.
Balloons
Balloons are a fun novelty and it seems like they would make a cute keepsake, but they don’t. Not only do these types of balloons not last, but you can buy them in other places outside of the park. Not to mention hanging on to a balloon all day just isn’t practical. If you just have to have one, at least wait until the end of the day to make your purchase.
Cupcakes
You will find novelty cupcakes spread throughout Disney World, keep in mind that there are better treats out there than these average-tasting cupcakes that are always priced at more than $5 or $6.
Misting Fans
Let’s face it, you can buy misting fans just about anywhere. The ones at Disney aren’t outstanding and likely won’t last through your trip. Try investing in a model that you like and fits your needs before you leave home. This guarantees you’ll have a great misting fan at a great price that actually does all of the things that you want it to.
Cooling Towels
Cooling towels are cooling towels. Pick one up on your way to the park instead of after you arrive to save yourself a few dollars. It can add up if you are buying one for each member of the family.
Snacks
Snacks in general are overpriced in the parks, especially the ordinary prepackaged kind. You are allowed to bring your own snacks, and I would encourage you to do that. This ensures that you get exactly what you want and you will be saving yourself some money on the purchase.
Funnel Cake
We all like a tasty funnel cake, but you can get them at any fair or festival. When at the parks, stick to trying the treats that you can only get at Disney to maximize your full Disney experience. You will find so much better treats at the parks than funnel cake, don’t settle for an old stand-by.
Personal Care Items
The gift shops make a fortune on the things you forgot to bring. Make sure that you pack a small emergency kit that includes things like common medications, bandaids, tampons, and a sewing kit. Try to include things that will cover any small unforeseen disasters so you don’t have to overspend on basic necessities.
Holiday Party Tickets
Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party have price tags in the hundreds of dollars. While these events are nice add-ons, they aren’t necessary to the enjoyment of your trip. Don’t be caught off guard by the price if you plan to attend one of these events after hours.
Epcot Festival Food Walks
While these can be fun for the foodie at heart, getting caught up in the scavenger hunt for great food can take away from your overall Disney experience and be a real hit in the wallet if you aren’t careful. Avoid these unless you came to Disney World as a culinary destination on purpose.
Genie Plus
Genie Plus can get you access to the lightning lanes of all of your favorite attractions, but if you are spending a few days enjoying the parks, you may not need it. I haven’t found Genie Plus to be worth its price unless the park is packed and attractions become less accessible without a much longer wait in line.
Park Hopper
If you have taken the time to plan your vacation so that you get time to experience each park you probably won’t be interested in the Park Hopper option. Park Hopper allows you to go from park to park, but you ultimately may not have time to enjoy much of anything if you choose this option.
Magic Bands
Magic Bands and Magic Bands Plus are cute and trendy keepsakes, but unless you live close and spend a ton of time in the parks you aren’t going to get enough out of the bracelet to justify its price. It also really doesn’t add that much to your Disney experience.
Large, Expensive, Limited Time Desserts
Many of the large, fancy limited-time desserts offered at Disney’s restaurants cost an arm and a leg. It isn’t necessary to pay the price of a whole meal just to get a dessert. Check out some of the fun and cute snacks that Disney offers around the resorts and parks instead.
Shoulder Pets
They are so fun and so cute, but the problem is that you end up spending all of your time worrying about losing this thing you are wearing around and end up missing out on the joy of the overall experience. If you have to have one, buy it as you are exiting the park.
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