One simple tip could be the difference between a magical vacation and an $800 mistake.

Magic Kingdom

Planning a trip to Disney World can get expensive fast, especially if you’re traveling with a large group or family. Between souvenirs, food, and hotel stays, it’s easy to watch your budget disappear before you’ve even made it to your second park day. But one of our readers recently shared a simple planning trick that helped their family avoid spending an extra $800, and it might work for you, too.

Buying Park Outfits Before Your Trip

If you’ve been to Magic Kingdom recently, you’ve probably noticed the sea of matching family shirts walking down Main Street, U.S.A. The coordinated outfits are practically a tradition at this point, and honestly, we love the energy. But here’s where things can add up quickly.

Fantasyland Crowds

Our reader told us their extended family trip included ten people, and everyone wanted matching shirts for each park day. When they first looked at custom vacation shirts online, the average price hovered around $20 per shirt. That might not sound too bad until you do the math. Ten people multiplied by $20 per shirt multiplied by four park days equals $800. That’s a lot of money for shirts that might only be worn a handful of times.

©Amazon

Instead of going with custom shirts for every day of their trip, they looked for similar themed shirts on Amazon before leaving for their vacation. They found plenty of Disney-inspired options for significantly less, often around $8 to $12 each, depending on the style. By ordering ahead of time, the family still got the fun coordinated look they wanted without blowing hundreds of dollars on outfits. It also meant they weren’t tempted to buy shirts inside the parks, where merchandise prices tend to be even higher.

Bring Your Own Water Bottle

Here’s another expense that sneaks up on a lot of visitors. Bottled water in the parks usually costs around $4 to $5 each. If you’re visiting during the hotter months in Florida, which is most of the year, you’re going to be drinking a lot of water.

Rapunzel Owala

Let’s say each person in your group buys three bottles of water during the day. For a family of four, that can easily climb to $48 to $60 in a single day just on water. Now stretch that across a four-day vacation, and you’re suddenly looking at close to $200. The easy solution is to bring a reusable water bottle into the parks. Disney World has filtered water refill stations in multiple locations, and most quick service restaurants will also give you cups of ice water for free if you ask.

But it is important to note that Florida water has a distinct taste that may not be for everyone. So you may still find yourself buying water and using the bottle to ensure it stays cold longer!

Water Bottle Refill Station By TRON

Refilling throughout the day takes just a minute and can save you a surprising amount of money over the course of your trip.

Look Into DVC Rental Agencies

Now let’s talk about one of the highest costs of any Disney vacation. Hotels. Staying at a Disney resort is an incredible experience, but those nightly prices can get pretty steep depending on where you stay. Deluxe resorts in particular can climb into the $600 to $900 per night range during busy travel seasons.

DVC Villa at Wilderness Lodge

That is where Disney Vacation Club rental agencies come in. Disney Vacation Club members sometimes rent out their unused points through reputable rental companies. Guests can then book rooms at Disney Vacation Club villas for a much lower price than booking directly through Disney. We’re talking hundreds of dollars less per night in many cases. It can be one of the easiest ways to experience resorts like Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge, or Disney’s BoardWalk Villas without paying full deluxe resort prices.

Polynesian Island Tower Villa

Saving money at Disney World doesn’t always require huge sacrifices. Sometimes it just takes a little planning before your trip begins. Buying a few items ahead of time, packing a reusable water bottle, and exploring alternative hotel booking options could easily save your family hundreds of dollars. And if one reader managed to avoid an $800 mistake with just a little preparation, imagine what a few smart choices could do for your vacation budget.

If you’re looking for help planning your next Disney World vacation, check out our friends over at Small World Vacations! They can help you plan your trip from start to finish and ensure you’re getting the best deals in the process.

In the meantime, we’ll be on the lookout for the latest Disney news and beyond, so stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for more!

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Have you ever discovered a Disney World money saving tip that made a big difference for your trip? Let us know in the comments.