I’ve been going to Disney World for over 30 years and visit the Orlando theme parks multiple times a month.
Over the years, I’ve bought my share of souvenirs and merchandise. However, I’ve also narrowed down what’s not worth the money at the parks and resorts.
Preparing for a new year is a prime time to reassess my travel budget.
Here are some of the things I don’t plan on buying at Disney World in 2025.
It doesn’t make sense to buy plain coffee when I can make it at my hotel.
I inevitably need a morning boost at Disney World, especially after spending a few days in the parks. But I try not to buy cups of hot black coffee.
I’m always at a hotel when I visit the parks — usually a resort on the Disney property — so I have access to at least a single-serve coffee machine that makes a decent cup at no added expense to me.
Even better, when I stay at a Disney Vacation Club villa, there are usually larger machines that brew full pots instead of single cups. I can bring my own ground coffee and filters for my perfect cup.
I skip buying ponchos in the parks since they’re cheaper elsewhere.
Rain and Disney World seem to go hand-in-hand. When it rains at one of the theme parks, you’ll likely see people donning thick, branded ponchos from the gift shops that cost about $12.
I’ve been guilty of buying these when I’ve been ill-prepared in the past, but I can get much cheaper disposable ones on Amazon or at Target before the trip.
The thinner, disposable ones are smaller anyway, so it’s easy to pack multiple in any bag I have with me. Then, when it’s done raining, I can simply throw the poncho away instead of carrying around a wet bundle of plastic.
Simple room upgrades usually aren’t worth the extra cost.
I like to stay at the Disney World resorts, but I usually skip upgrading my booking from a standard to a preferred room closer to the hotel’s front or its transportation options.
I imagine this is a nice feature for families with kids, but the rooms themselves seem to be exactly the same. Plus, it only saves me a couple of minutes of walking.
Prices vary depending on which kind of resort you’re at — value, moderate, or deluxe. Sometimes, it’s only about a $20-a-night difference between standard and preferred, but I could use that money on plenty of other things.
Dining packages for fireworks shows are overpriced.
Disney World sometimes offers dining packages for its bigger shows, but I often find them to be of poor value. I’d rather grab something quick and easy and save my money.
For instance, you can book a dining package to watch “Fantasmic!” at Hollywood Studios. The price includes your meal, a drink, and guaranteed seats to the show, starting at $57 for adults.
That’s much more than I’d normally spend on a meal at Disney World, and as long as I get to the theater early, open seats are usually plentiful.
I don’t think Lightning Lane Single Passes are worth it.
If you’re not as familiar with Disney World, all the different ticket add-ons can be confusing — plus, they always seem to be changing.
For now, there are still times when I think it makes sense to pay $15 a person per day for a Lightning Lane Multi Pass that I can use to expedite three lines at certain attractions. However, the individually priced Lightning Lane Single Passes for the most popular rides cost $10 to $25 each.
I understand that some people only have one opportunity to visit the parks and get on these rides, but I’m there often enough that the added expense isn’t worth it.
Instead, I just get to the park early or stay late since lines are usually shorter during those times. I also keep my eye out for virtual queues on rides like Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. When they’re open, you can reserve one a day for free on the My Disney Experience app.
The post I’ve been going to Disney World for 30 years. Here are 5 things I won’t be buying at the parks in 2025. appeared first on Business Insider.
