Disney Dining Serving up the latest Disney Eats, Treats, News, and More!
We recently asked Walt Disney World Annual Passholders, “what is the one thing you never buy in the parks?” to hear from park-going experts about what is a good deal and what isn’t. Their responses ran the gambit of items, and opinions were varied, but a few things stuck out as exceptionally bad buys. You might want to avoid these items or bring them with you from home on your next trip.
Water
Credit: Jill Bivins
The number one answer overwhelmingly was water. It’s not hard to see why either. At $3.50 each, buying bottled water in one of the parks is absolutely a bad deal. I just bought a 40-pack of bottled water for just a dollar more from my local grocery store. This is definitely an item to bring with you. Pro tip: if you have access to a freezer on your trip, freeze a couple of water bottles to throw into your park bag; as they melt, you’ll have cold water throughout the day.
Hand Sanitizer
Credit: Spectrum News 13
This one surprised us. Hand sanitizer is free throughout the parks, so the fact that frequent guests choose to bring their own was perplexing. The reason they gave, though, made total sense- the Hand sanitizer at Disney makes your hands sticky. Instead of having uncomfortable hands, these experts keep their hands germ-free and feeling fresh by bringing a bottle of their own sanitizer with them.
Ponchos
Credit: Jill Bivins
This “must have” item, for many, is a no-brainer. Me? I prefer to dance in the rain! However, I’m probably in the minority on that one. Disney summers are wet. You’ll experience a rain storm nearly once a day so staying dry is essential. While Disney sells Ponchos in the park, you’ll pay dearly for them. This is partly because they know you’ve already paid dearly to be there, and you don’t want to give up valuable vacation time to wait out the rain. Beat them at that game by bringing your own! Disney ponchos cost $12. You can pick them up in the camping section of your favorite big box store for around .99 cents.
Cooling Towels
Credit: Amazon
This is another item that is helpful in the dog days of summer but will break the bank to buy in the park. These ingenious little towels use evaporative cooling to help keep you from overheating and trust me, there are few things better on a hot Disney day than a nice cooling towel. Coming in at $22 each, this is definitely an item you’ll want to come prepared with. A four-pack of cooling towels is available on Amazon for $17.99.
FuelRod
Credit: FuelRod
Several Passholders offered the tip that FuelRods, the convenient portable charging device that can be swapped out for new ones when empty, can be bought cheaper than the price you pay in the parks. One passholder said she got a two-pack of them on Amazon for $29! Considering they’re $30 each on Disney property, that’s a great deal! Others have said they bring a different brand with them or just don’t bother with charging their phones at all!
Snacks
Credit: Jill Bivins
This one is hard to get on board with. Yes, Disney food is pricey, but it’s also amazing! I’d rather have a rose-shaped cake pop than a generic bag of chips any day! But we do see the value in bringing your own- for those who don’t need absolutely everything mickey shaped. You can save quite a bit if you bring snacks with you. We love our Disney snacks, though. Pro-tip: Disney does allow you to bring your own food and drink, but there are limits on cooler size.
Uncrustable
Credit: Smuckers
Last but not least on our list is Uncrustables. These convenient (and crust-free) peanut butter and jelly sandwiches make feeding kids in the park a breeze! However, at $4.99 each, this hurts to buy in the park. You can buy a box of 6 for that price at your local grocery store, so do your wallet a favor and bring these quick bites with you for easy feeding on the go!
There you have it, straight from the guests who visit Disney most- don’t waste your money on these low-value items on your next Walt Disney World vacation! Do you agree with this list? Let us know in the comments why or why not!
