Pack These Items To Save Money At Disney

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Updated August 2026

Planning a Disney holiday can be exciting, but there’s no getting away from the fact that it can be expensive. From food and drinks to souvenirs and character experiences, it’s very easy to spend more than you planned once you’re inside the parks.

One of my favourite ways to save money on a Disney holiday is to think about what you can take with you before you go.

A little bit of planning can save you from paying inflated theme park prices for things you could have bought much more cheaply elsewhere.

Here are some of the things I’d consider packing for Disney World, and many of these tips work for Disneyland Paris or any other Disney park.

1. Kids’ Costumes

If you’re travelling with children, there’s a good chance they’ll want to dress up as their favourite Disney characters at some point during your trip.

And while there’s nothing wrong with buying a beautiful Disney costume in the parks if that’s something you want to do, you don’t have to wait until you’re there to buy one.

Buying costumes before you travel can save a significant amount of money, particularly if you’re happy with a non-Disney version.

Try Vinted for second-hand Disney costumes

Vinted is one of the first places I’d look now.

Kids often grow out of costumes after wearing them once or twice, which means there are plenty of barely-worn Disney costumes available second-hand.

You can also search for specific characters, so if you know your child wants to dress as Elsa, Belle or Stitch, you can start looking well before your holiday.

This is actually what I’m doing for our 2027 Disneyland Paris trip. I’m gradually picking up Disney costumes and character ears on Vinted rather than waiting until we’re in the parks and potentially paying much more.

Buying second-hand also means you can potentially resell the costumes after your holiday and get some of your money back.

Top tip: If your child is likely to ask for a particular costume while you’re away, you could buy it beforehand and save it for the trip. For younger children, you could even have it magically appear in the room while you’re out!

2. Disney-Themed Clothes

You don’t need an entire Disney wardrobe to enjoy a Disney holiday.

But if your children (or you!) want to wear Disney-themed clothes, buying them before you travel is usually going to be much cheaper than buying them in the parks.

Primark, supermarkets, B&M and other high-street shops regularly have Disney ranges, while Vinted and eBay are worth checking for second-hand options.

You could also look for Disney-themed accessories such as bags, hair accessories and ears.

3. Character Ears

Character ears are one of those things that can make you feel like you’re properly on a Disney holiday – but you don’t necessarily need to buy them inside the park.

There are lots of cheaper alternatives available online, and Vinted is another great place to look for second-hand ears.

I’m currently picking some up for our Disneyland Paris trip, rather than buying four new pairs when we arrive.

There’s nothing wrong with buying official ears if that’s important to you, but if you’re mainly after the look for your holiday photos, cheaper alternatives can do the job perfectly well. And, I speak from experience here, they’re often much more comfortable!

4. Snacks

This is one of the easiest ways to avoid unnecessary spending.

Disney parks have plenty of delicious snacks, and I’m absolutely not suggesting you don’t buy any – that would be a very sad Disney holiday!

But you don’t need to buy every snack you eat once you’re inside the park.

Take suitable snacks with you for when the kids are hungry between meals. Things like cereal bars, crisps, crackers and dried fruit can be useful, particularly if you have children who seem to become starving approximately three minutes after leaving the restaurant.

Just make sure whatever you’re taking complies with the current rules for bringing food into the park.

And don’t forget that you’ll also need snacks for travel days and waiting around at airports or stations.

5. Refillable Water Bottles

Staying hydrated is really important when you’re spending long days walking around a theme park.

Rather than repeatedly buying bottled drinks, take a refillable water bottle with you.

You can refill it throughout the day at water fountains and refill stations. Disney also provides free cups of water at locations serving fountain drinks, so you don’t necessarily need to spend money on bottled water every time you’re thirsty.

If your children don’t like plain water, you could take a small bottle of squash or water flavouring to make it more appealing.

Just check the current rules about what food and drinks can be brought into your particular Disney park before you travel.

6. A Lightweight Poncho

Florida is known as the Sunshine State, but that doesn’t mean it never rains.

If you’ve ever experienced a Florida summer storm, you’ll know that the weather can change very quickly. Disneyland Paris can also produce some very wet days!

A cheap lightweight poncho takes up hardly any space in your bag and could save you having to buy one at a theme park when the heavens open.

You can pick them up cheaply before you travel, so I’d much rather have one stuffed in the bottom of my bag and never use it than find myself standing in torrential rain looking at a much more expensive Disney poncho.

7. Lanyards

If you’re planning to visit other theme parks during your Florida holiday, it may be worth taking a lanyard with you.

I learnt this lesson the hard way on our own trip.

I’d nearly bought lanyards before we left but decided we probably wouldn’t need them at Disney. Then we had three days at Universal Studios and ended up paying almost $30 for three lanyards when I could have bought similar ones much more cheaply before we travelled.

You may not need one at Disney itself, but if you’re visiting multiple parks, it’s worth checking what you’ll need before you go.

8. Autograph Books

If your children want to collect character autographs, don’t wait until you’re inside the park to buy an autograph book.

You can buy Disney-themed books from somewhere like Etsy before you travel, or simply buy a plain notebook and decorate it yourself.

Vinted, eBay, and other online marketplaces are also worth checking for second-hand or unused Disney autograph books.

This is another item where a little preparation can save you paying a premium simply because you’re already inside the park.

9. Small Souvenir Alternatives

This one is particularly useful if you have younger children.

If you know your children will want souvenirs, consider buying a few small Disney-themed items before you travel and putting them aside for the trip.

I’m not suggesting you completely deprive them of the fun of choosing something in Disney, personally, I think choosing a special souvenir is part of the experience.

But you don’t necessarily need to buy every single thing they ask for while you’re there.

Having a few small surprises packed away can help satisfy the “I want something!” moments without spending $30 every time.

Bubble Wands (and Don’t Forget the Bubble Liquid!)

Bubble wands are another thing I’d be tempted to buy before your Disney holiday, especially if you’re travelling to Disneyland Paris.

They’ve become very popular at Disneyland Paris, and the light-up bubble wands you can buy in the parks aren’t exactly a budget souvenir. Recent visitors have reported paying around €30 for the regular wands, with some seasonal versions costing even more.

10. A Small Backpack or Day Bag

You don’t need to buy an expensive Disney bag for your park days.

A comfortable backpack you already own can carry everything you need, including water bottles, snacks, ponchos and spare clothes.

If you do want a Disney-themed bag, again, check Vinted and eBay before buying new.

What I wouldn’t necessarily buy in advance

It’s also worth remembering that you don’t need to pack everything just because you could save money by doing so.

Part of the fun of a Disney holiday is buying something special while you’re there.

I’d rather save money on the everyday things like drinks, snacks, costumes and accessories and then have a bit more of the budget available for the one souvenir or experience my children really want.

A Little Planning Can Save A Lot

Disney holidays aren’t cheap, but you don’t have to pay Disney prices for absolutely everything.

Think about the things you’re likely to need before you travel and see what you can pick up more cheaply elsewhere. Vinted is particularly useful for Disney costumes, ears and other accessories, while supermarkets and high-street shops can be great for snacks and Disney-themed clothing.

I’m already doing this for our own 2027 Disneyland Paris trip, gradually picking up costumes and ears rather than leaving everything until we arrive.

It might only save a few pounds here and there, but those little savings can add up, and I’d much rather spend that money on something memorable while we’re actually in the parks.

Looking to save money on travel? Head over to my Budget Travel & Days Out Hub

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