Mickey Pretzels are a great snack, but at $6.59 each the cost adds up!Food is going to literally eat up a large chunk of your vacation budget. If you’re looking to visit Walt Disney World and save as much as possible, this is an easy place to cut back on your expenses. Walt Disney World allows you to bring snacks into the parks, so do it! Not only will this save you money, it can also help you to make healthier choices, depending on the type of snacks that you bring in.
When choosing snacks, take the Florida weather into consideration. Chocolate will not hold up well, even in the winter months because the sun is so strong. I’ll sometimes bring an insulated lunch bag and keep a couple of items in that. If you have access to a freezer, make sandwiches the night before and freeze them. You won’t have to pay for lunch, and they should thaw out nicely.
Sandwiches such as peanut butter and jelly usually hold up well, and they can be your lunch. Bagels are also a good choice, just be careful with the cream cheese. (That’s the type of thing that I will put into the insulated lunch bag.) Throw in a couple of bags of chips and some grapes, and you have a filling meal for your family.
One problem that some people have is that they don’t have access to a car. If you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can use Prime Now to order some groceries and have them delivered to where you’re staying. There are other services that you can use such as Garden Grocer. (That’s not an endorsement, I have never used them, but I have seen their vans at the resorts.) You could also take Uber, Lyft, or a cab to the local Publix or Target. (Walmart will be packed.) The ride will cost less than buying all of your snacks in the parks.
Bringing in your own snacks can also save you time, especially on the busiest days of the year. You won’t have to wait in yet another line to buy your snack. You can also eat a snack while you’re waiting in line for a ride. While that saves time as well, you’ll need to be prepared to get stares from the hungry children in the line who wish that they had what you’re eating.
One other thing to keep in mind when you’re packing snacks, you’ll need to carry them with you until you eat them. If the bag weighs too much, there are lockers that you can rent in the parks. Remember that your bag will get lighter as you eat some of what you brought. You are allowed to bring in drinks as well as food (no glass bottles or alcohol). Just remember that drinks are heavy.
Even if you’re trying to save money, I will always recommend that you purchase one iconic snack when you’re at Walt Disney World. Save it for the last day of your vacation, and savor it. A Dole Whip or a Mickey Pretzel is a great way to end a vacation, and one shouldn’t break the budget.