8 Ways to Save $20 at Disney World (So You Can Buy Genie+)

So you want to buy Genie+, huh? The FastPass+ replacement service can be helpful in getting you faster access to some of Disney World’s most popular rides.

But you’ll have to shell out anywhere from $15 to $29  (or maybe more) per person per day for the standard Genie+ service, and you might want to add on some Individual Lightning Lanes too (which is a separate cost). So how can you save money at the Most Magical Place on Earth so you can have enough cash in the budget to afford Genie+? We’re going to tell you.

Here are 8 of our top tips for saving $20+ so you can use that money to buy Genie+ in Disney World!

Split a Meal (and Don’t Overlook Counter Service Spots)

Disney World meals can be pretty substantially sized, whether you’re eating at a table service restaurant or counter service spot. If you aren’t super hungry or just aren’t that big of an eater, splitting a meal can help you save some serious cash.

This can be especially true for little ones who might not eat as much. So before you go ahead and order an entree for every single member of your party, ask yourself (1) how much will these people actually eat? (2) do they need their own entrees or can they split one?

You may even save a few bucks if you split an entree/main meal but order an extra side (which is usually fairly cheap), to make your meal more “substantial” for 2 without buying 2 entirely separate meals.

And remember that while Disney World table service food can be great, there are some fantastic counter service spots too where you can get top-notch food for MUCH less. We’ve actually ranked ALL of the counter service restaurants in the parks to help you decide which ones are the best. Check out our rankings for:

• EPCOT
• Animal Kingdom
• Magic Kingdom (ranking all the restaurants)
• Hollywood Studios (ranking all the restaurants)

Click here to see how to get table service quality food for LESS in Disney World

Opt for a Big Snack Instead of a Meal

Speaking of food tips, there are some snacks in Disney World that are seriously BIG enough to have as a meal all on their own.

A colossal Mickey-shaped cinnamon roll (which you can find at a few spots) could be awesome for breakfast (and could totally be split too). The fried rice from Yak and Yeti Local Foods is tasty and a MASSIVE portion for only $6.99.

Ordering one or even two of these larger snacks could still be cheaper than a full meal and could easily fill you up, so don’t overlook these while on your eating journey around the parks.

Click here for our list of the best shareable snacks in Disney World

Don’t Overlook Kids Meals

The food tips continue (hey, food can be a BIG cost during your trip)! Our tip here is to remember to look at those kids’ meals. Again, portion sizes in Disney World can be pretty good, even with kids’ meals. And sometimes there’s nothing wrong with some chicken tenders and fries.

If you’ve got some people in your group that don’t eat all that much, a kids’ meal could be more than enough to fill them up. You should have no trouble ordering kids’ meals to your heart’s content at counter service restaurants, but note that it might be a little more challenging at table service restaurants. Still, it’s worth a try!

Click here to see what CONTROVERSIAL kids’ meal change was made in Disney World

Bring Snacks

If you really want to save on food, bringing your own is the way to go. Whether you pack a few granola bars for breakfast/snack or even pack peanut butter and jelly sandwiches with chips for lunch, the prices for the food you can get at the grocery store will be FAR cheaper than what you’ll find in Disney World.

You could stop by a local grocery store if you’ll have a car with you. But don’t let the lack of a car deter you from getting your own grub. Various grocery delivery services — like Instacart — are available and can bring everything you need directly to your Disney World hotel. Just keep in mind that Disney’s in-room mini-fridges aren’t huge, so plan your orders accordingly!

Yes, it might not be as exciting to eat your SunChips as it is to grab a Mickey Krispie Treat, but the savings could really add up, particularly over a longer trip.

Click here to learn what you should NEVER bring to a Disney Park — including some snack considerations

Check for Discounts on Restaurants & Merchandise

Another big thing to do when in Disney World is ask if any discounts are accepted for the things you’re buying. Mainly, you’ll find discounts offered at various restaurants and merchandise spots (typically Disney-owned and operated ones).

These include potential discounts for Annual Passholders, Disney Vacation Club Members, and Disney Visa card members.

If you’re dining at a Disney restaurant or buying something at a Disney merchandise store, ask to see if there are any memberships that qualify for a discount. Some spots might even offer discounts for other groups, like first responders (we encountered this once at The Polite Pig in Disney Springs). Worst case scenario? There are no discounts. Best case scenario? You save some cash! Doesn’t hurt to ask!

And look out for time periods when discounts for some of these groups may get increased for a limited time.

Click here to see how Annual Passholders can save 20% at EPCOT’s Festival of the Holidays in 2022

Bring Your Own Water Bottle (And Get FREE Water)

Disney World can get HOT, HOT, HOT. Staying hydrated during your trip is key, but if you constantly buy bottles of water you could spend a whole lot of money. Our tip is to bring a water bottle that you can continuously refill throughout your trip.

You can buy refillable water bottles in Disney World too, but these will generally cost you a pretty penny. So our advice is to search through spots at home or on the internet, like Amazon, to get one at the right price! You can then refill them at water fountains or (pro tip) get a FREE cup of water at most counter service spots in Disney World!

If you absolutely MUST buy a bottle of water (or a bottle of soda or another snack) while in Disney World, try (whenever you can) to buy these within a merchandise location. If you do, and you qualify for a discount on merchandise (for example, if you’re an Annual Passholder) you should be able to get a discount on that drink or snack, making it a little bit cheaper.

Click here to see 5 items EVERYONE forgets to pack for Disney World

Grab Souvenirs Online or Elsewhere for Cheaper

The souvenirs are SO tempting in Disney World, we won’t deny that. But they’re also SO expensive. Sure, we could tell you to avoid all souvenir shopping to save money, but how realistic is that?! So here are our souvenir money-saving tips.

First, check to see if an item in the parks that you want is CHEAPER online. Sometimes, you’ll find that an item is cheaper on shopDisney than it is in the parks (or shopDisney will be running a sale online that the parks are not). You’ll need to factor in shipping costs when buying from shopDisney, but if the numbers add up, buying the item only could save you some money.

Visiting a nearby Disney outlet store could also help you get that Disney merch for less. There are some in Orlando, so you could stop by those ahead of your trip and stock up on souvenirs at a discount and avoid the temptation of in-park merch.

You can also look to get Disney merchandise from other spots like Target, Amazon, Walmart, etc. where they’re often cheaper. If you want to surprise little ones, buy some Disney merchandise from these locations ahead of time and then hold them until the trip. They can maybe open one each day, which will keep them excited but also save you some cash.

If you ARE going to get a souvenir in Disney World, why not opt for a unique one? Click here to check out some of the RAREST souvenirs!

Don’t Forget the Essentials

Did you pack your raincoat, umbrella, medicine, and phone charger? If not, go grab those NOW. Buying essentials like these in the Disney parks will (typically) cost you way more than buying them outside the parks.

If you want to save money, be sure to bring these essentials with you! You can click below to get our packing list so you don’t miss some of the most important things!

General Money-Saving Tips

And finally, we end with a more rapid-fire section of general money-saving tips.

1 — Travel during days/times when it’s slower. If you travel during Disney’s “slower” periods, you’ll likely pay less for your park ticket, hotel, and even Genie+.

Click here to see the cheapest days to visit Disney World in 2023

2 — Look for discounts on ticket packages/hotels. These are offered from time to time for different groups and can really help you save a lot on your trip.

Click here to take a look at some of the discounts offered right now

3 — Skip the Park Hopper option if you don’t really need it. Will you realistically be hopping between the parks on a daily basis a lot? Or will you mostly be staying in one park? If you could realistically fill your days at 1 park each, then skip the Park Hopper option, which is more expensive than a 1-park per day ticket.

4 — Don’t forget about those Disney Visa Points if you are a Disney Visa Card member. You can use these points (once loaded to an appropriate redemption card) essentially as a Disney gift card.

5 — Save 5% on Disney gift card purchases at Target with the Target RedCard.

These are a few of the big ways you can save money during your Disney World trip so that you can afford all those Genie+ purchases. Each week we also take a look at the available discounts in Disney World, so be on the lookout for those posts!

To get the latest Disney World news, check out the posts below, and stay tuned for more.

What are your best tips for saving money in Disney World? Tell us in the comments!

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