Disney World and Universal studios are some of the happiest places on earth, but after a day it can make you and your wallet very, very sad. Everything under the sun is subject to price hikes from butter beer to keychains, but in my ever-growing wisdom I've learned a way around it and I'm more than happy to share a few tips with you.
Food For Days
Worried about what to eat for a day at the park? Worried if you'll even be able to eat at all? I get it, theme park meals are usually upwards of $15. After breakfast, lunch, dinner and ice cream you're already at 50 bucks in the hole.
Avoid the pain of sending your precious dollars off to die by seeking out the most bang for your buck. I found that bang in mac and cheese from the Friar's Nook at Disney World, Orlando. You can get a whopping amount of macaroni and cheese (with or without breadcrumbs) for just over $8. There is so much thick, buttery goodness in one bowl that I ate a three fifths of it and immediately had to give up on the rest.
Even if you make it through the whole bowl, that stuff will last you. All that enriched bleach flour and cheese isn't the healthiest thing, but it will sure keep you from buying anything else for a while.
Alternatively...
You could bring your own food. Believe it or not, many parks either don't check that well or don't care if you bring in outside food. Besides, the worst that could happen is you're forced to throw it away, so shove an apple, banana or last nights dinner way into the bottom of your bag and hope for the best.
Free Water
Let's say you got a lemonade slushy from the Friars Nook, because they're delicious and you were feeling a little risky. Well, don't toss the cup because you can rinse it out and reuse it.
There are water fountains all over Disney World, so theoretically, if you keep the cup and chug the water before every ride, you can keep refilling all day. The same is true for Orlando's Universal Studios and parks like six flags and Hershey. This is often a more frugal option than purchasing multiple bottles of $4 water, but fair warning, the water taste the way eggs smell. So far the worst offender of the egg water is Disney World. Personally I think it's a conspiracy to make you buy more, hence making all of their dreams come true.
Cheaper Souvenirs
Sure you don't have $19.99 to spare on a pair of mickey mouse ears, but you know what you do have? A camera. You can put on and pose with just about anything you want and honestly, that's probably all you were going to do with it anyway.
For instance, the Harry Potter robes for $109 at Universal Studios. My friends and I found our size, draped them over ourselves and took a few selfies. I mean honestly, when was I going to use that Gryffindor robe? After I step out of the shower? Besides, I wouldn't want to be a part of the consumerist capitalist system, you know? Way to mainstream.
And Remember...
When you get out of that theme park and back into the real world, there will be other things you will want and need. There is no need to buy up the entire park on a whim. Not to mention, most of that stuff can be bought on Ebay for way cheaper. Spider man mugs? They sell them at Target. SpongeBob t-shirts? Try Walmart, buddy. Chipotle with guacamole is only $8 so don't go spending twice that on a bowl of subpar nachos with nasty cheese.
So, whether your stingy, dirt poor, or saving up for a longboard, I hope these Theme Park Hacks will keep a few dollars in your pocket. I pray you all can stick it to the man, save some money and have a grand old time, after all, that's what life is for.
